In canon Glorantha, the language of sorcery would be Western - I'm not philologically certain, but I'd guess most of the western tongues are corruptions of an ur-language from Brithos. Certainly whatever was written would be Brithini. The closest language to that today would almost surely be in Arolanit. <div>
<br></div><div>So I'd say that each Western language has its sorcerous version, that each sect probably would itself speak the language (or a corruption) of the region where it was founded. Mystical writing would probably be much closer to the Brithini original than the spoken version.</div>
<div><br></div><div>For a fantasy medieval campaign, I'd probably be inclined to use Arabic - considering the preeminence of Arabs in astronomy/astrology at the time, and its 'exoticness' for most Euro/Western RPG players, it would fit, I think.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Re your PPS, I think that was the intent; in fact I'd say the effort 'not to be Tolkien' showed through in some places. However, not with Halflings, lol.</div><div><br></div><div>Re the PPPS: it seems a way to make sorcerers more playable more quickly. The only danger is that that might let them ramp up TOO quickly in the middle/later stages of development.</div>
<div>Note - normally you only roll once anyway, with the lowest % applicable. So intensity 54%, range 13%, Viagra Spell 88%, duration 6% would be rolled as 6% to cast.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">
On Tue, Aug 9, 2011 at 8:54 PM, <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:royce@efn.org">royce@efn.org</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
Hi, Guys,<br>
What is the language of sorcery? Or, am I wrong in assuming that<br>
sorcery is written and cast in a mode that we would call language?<br>
(That'd be hard to explain.)<br>
In a Fantasy Medieval Europe settings, what would be the historically<br>
logical linguistic choices for sorcery? I had a few ideas, mentioned<br>
below, but I'd be more interested in your opinions -- especially where<br>
they disagree with my superficial notions.<br>
<br>
A few superficial notions:<br>
One could argue that sorcery is handed down from the Babylonians and<br>
Egyptians, and is therefore recorded in one or both of these<br>
pre-classical tongues. Or one could argue that the classical Greeks<br>
would've been the ones to systematize sorcery; presumably through the<br>
Library of Alexandria. And there is Latin, which was the language of<br>
the Empire, and then of the Church.<br>
Further, if one were to assume that the Church worships the Greco-Roman<br>
pantheon (with a dozen altars in every Church), then Latin and Greek<br>
would be the languages of Church divine magic, as well.<br>
<br>
Anyways, all thoughts are welcome.<br>
Sincerely,<br>
Asher<br>
<br>
P.S. It just now occurred to me that a GM could go in plenty of other<br>
interesting directions. Perhaps sorcery could be written in a language<br>
from fabled Atlantis -- or even from Neanderthals. Talk about a dead<br>
language!<br>
<br>
P.P.S. By the way, did the description of orcs in RQ III (AH edition)<br>
remind you more of extinct hominids than of Tolkien? Just a thought.<br>
<br>
P.P.P.S. Not that anybody really cares, but I decided to simplify my RQ<br>
sorcery rules by eliminating the manipulation skills and simply limiting<br>
the magic points that can be allocated to manipulating a spell (intensity,<br>
duration, & range) to 20% of the spell skill level. In other words, if my<br>
wizard has 53% in Erectile Enhancement, then he can spend up to 10.6, or<br>
11 magic points to manipulate the spell. He rolls to cast the spell, but<br>
need not make a roll to manipulate the spell. Sound practical?<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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</blockquote></div><br></div>