40 CHAPTER 2 | MAGIC IN KHORVAIRE
LANGUAGES IN EBERRON
In Eberron, languages are tied to culture and
geography as opposed to biology. A dwarf raised
in Breland might not actually know Dwarvish,
while the language of the giants is closely tied
to the distant land of Xen’drik. The following
optional rules are a way to explore this aspect of
the setting.OPTIONAL RULE: COMMON LANGUAGES
Common is the language of the Five Nations.
The Mror dwarves speak Dwarvish and the
Aereni elves speak Elvish, but they know
Common as the language of trade.
In Eberron, there are a number of other
TIVO]IOM[\PI\[MZ^M\PQ[ZWTMQVLQٺMZMV\ZMOQWV[
or cultures. The DM may change the languages
I[[QOVML\WIUWV[\MZWZ68+\WZMÆMK\\PQ[
Giant is the common tongue of Xen’drik. It
is rarely encountered on Khorvaire. Monsters in
Khorvaire usually speak Goblin.
Goblin is the common tongue of Darguun,
Droaam, and the Shadow Marches, along with
most “monstrous” creatures in Khorvaire. It was
the language of the goblin empire that dominated
the continent before humanity arrived. Orcish is a
dead language; it may be encountered in ancient
inscriptions, but modern orcs speak Goblin.
Infernal is spoken by spirits that embody
M^QT<PQ[QVKWZXWZI\M[)Ja[[IT#ITTÅMVL[[XMISI
common language. Infernal is sometimes called
“Khyber’s speech,” while Celestial is “the tongue
of Siberys.”
Riedran is the common tongue of the
continent of Sarlona. Quori is spoken by the
kalashtar, spirits native to Dal Quor, and the
Inspired lords of Riedra.OPTIONAL RULE: SWAPPING RACIAL LANGUAGES
This optional rule allows you to exchange a
TIVO]IOMOZIV\MLJaaW]ZZIKMNWZILQٺMZMV\
standard language. Your DM must approve the
TIVO]IOMaW][MTMK\<PQ[Q[I_Ia\WZMÆMK\I
character with no ties to the culture of their race.
0ITÆQVOQ[\PMTIVO]IOMWN\PM<ITMV\I8TIQV[#QNI
PITÆQVO_I[ZIQ[MLQV\PM5ZWZ0WTL[\PMaUQOP\
ZMXTIKM0ITÆQVO_Q\P,_IZ^Q[P\WZMÆMK\\PQ[NAMES IN THE FIVE NATIONS
Naming conventions vary by nation. The Zil
gnomes always use three names—a given name,
a family name, and a clan name. Warforged
often use a single name. Within the Five Nations,
most citizens have a given name followed by a
surname. This surname is either a family name
or related to an occupation or region of origin.
So ;WZV.MTTPWZV, 3IZIWN?QVL[PQZM and Tellan
5IOM_ZQOP\IZMITTVIUM[aW]UQOP\ÅVLIUWVO
the common folk of the Five Nations.
The noble families of Galifar—along with
those granted land and titles by one of the
[W^MZMQOV[WN\PM.Q^M6I\QWV[ ̧ILL\PMXZMÅ`
ir’ to their surname. So the name ,IZZWQZ¼4IQV
tells you that this individual is a landed noble.
The Wynarns were the royal line of Galifar,
and the current rulers of Aundair, Breland, and
Karrnath are all heirs of the Wynarn bloodline.
Thus, Queen Aurala of Aundair is )]ZITI
QZ¼?aVIZV
)VW\PMZKWUUWVXZMÅ`Q[d’, used by
any heir of a dragonmarked house who has
manifested a dragonmark. So 5MZZQ`L¼+IVVQ\P
is a member of House Cannith who has
manifested the Mark of Making.