The Old Tongue

The Old Tongue evolved from its predecessor, The First Tongue. Similar to its parent, The Old Tongue is for lack of a better term, a language. Unlike modern language, The Old Tongue must be spoken with more than just words, and occasionally involves no words at all.

As an example, the modern language of Common must be spoken with the correct pronunciation, grammar, inflection, cadence, et cetera. The Old Tongue must be spoken with great knowledge, emotion, will, artistry, movement, faith, and a mighty Vizir. There are words in The Old Tongue, but they are fathoms more complicated than a mere dialect.

The Old Tongue can be used to harness wonderous Magic via access to The Wills. Those who know even a small fragment of it are called Speakers. Access to this power is rare in Zol, most people encounter only a single Speaker in their lives.

Binding The Wills with the power of The Old Tongue is a step above binding them with one’s Vizir. While the former requires great focus, and convincing ones mind of a reality different than that of what is occurring around them, The Old Tongues feels more akin to that of fairy tale magic. Rather than forcing ones will to bleed out into reality, reality naturally bends to fit to ones will. Almost as if it is working as your ally. It is theorized The Old Tongue temporarily re-binds one’s Vizir to The Trinity itself.

Learning The Old Tongue in any capacity changes a person. From their emotions to their very brain structure and physiology. Especially in the case of Arcana. Many who study in this field lose themselves to madness. Any being that possesses a Vizir may learn The Old Tongue.

Additionally, learning The Old Tongue does not come from books or lessons like other language. An individual must discover pieces of it on their own, almost like rediscovering forgotten memories. Great practice with one’s Vizir is known to increase the likelihood of discovery, but it is truly found by great willpower, dedication, craft, study, acts of heroism, and even traumatic experiences on occasion. Every individual uses it in a manner unique to themselves.

No one person knows the entirety of The Old Tongue, and it is thought by some to be boundless. It is only referred to as a language as many Speakers have described it as such. Due to its nature it is very hard to record. However, Speakers have discovered a written version of The Old Tongue, and have been able to use it in Imbuement Perpetuum. The runes and diagrams associated with The Oldshards are called Iszertion, and it is a well kept secret. Even if one was to find it, if theThe Old Tongue, the harbor no chance at making sense of Iszertion.

Many also do not wish to share their secrets, as the power takes much to wield, and could do wrong in unprepared hands. Others merely do not want the unworthy to benefit from their hard work.

Many individuals describe their first experience with the Old Tongue as something unlike anything else. It brings you into a state where you feel for first the first time in your life, you are existing fully. A euphoric feeling is said to flood your mind. Your senses and emotions amplify to new heights. Colors are seen in their true forms, the edges of solid objects appear more defined. The air itself is said to feel like a sea flowing all around you, where all movement sends waves that can be felt all across your being. It has been called a ‘drug like no other’ by some.

Every account of it has these commonalties, but with a unique difference from person to person. Some say they are able to harness magic in a way only possible during the first encounter. Others say they witness events from the past, future, or other worlds. Some even claim to hear the words of the gods, or strange secrets spoken by Zol itself.

After the feeling leaves, may people are left feeling emotional or lost. The feeling never returns with the same intensity. As one masters their craft in The Old Tongues their normal experience of reality begins to grow closer and closer to that of the first time in a permanent way.

It is believed that knowing something in The Old Tongue is the first step in learning it in The First Tongue, but this is based more on intuition than fact.

Speakers are both revered and feared across Zol. Many people believe they are the ideal of the sapient world, while others claim they are a large problem to be feared and avoided. The sheer amount of myth and legend alone that revolves around speakers is enough for common folk to acquire very opinionated stances on Speakers.

Some speakers hide their abilities while others wear it with pride. Sporting special jewelry and clothes to denote their status. Some cultures like that of Kapesh treat speakers as the highest degree of nobility.