Languages
The native languages spoken by a player character are determined by the character’s class. These typically include the common tongue and an alignment language. Characters with high INT may learn additional languages (see Ability Scores).
The Common Tongue
The common tongue (sometimes simply called Common) is a language which is widespread among intelligent species. All player character races—as well as many monsters—are able to speak Common.
In some settings, the referee may decide that different cultures in the campaign world use their own language, instead of Common. In this case, characters must choose to speak Common or a specific regional language.
Alignment Languages
All intelligent beings know a secret, unwritten language of gestures, signs, and code words associated with their alignment. This secret language allows beings of the same alignment to communicate. Beings of another alignment will recognise when an alignment language is being used, but will not understand. It is not possible to learn another alignment language except by changing alignment, in which case the former language is forgotten.
Other Languages
Many demihuman and intelligent monster species have their own language, which player characters may be able to learn. The following languages are common and may be chosen by player characters with high Intelligence (at the referee’s discretion):
| d20 | Language |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bugbear |
| 2 | Doppelgänger |
| 3 | Dragon |
| 4 | Dwarvish |
| 5 | Elvish |
| 6 | Gargoyle |
| 7 | Gnoll |
| 8 | Gnomish |
| 9 | Goblin |
| 10 | Halfling |
| 11 | Harpy |
| 12 | Hobgoblin |
| 13 | Kobold |
| 14 | Lizard man |
| 15 | Medusa |
| 16 | Minotaur |
| 17 | Ogre |
| 18 | Orcish |
| 19 | Pixie |
| 20 | Human dialect |
