Uncommon Tongues

Mortal dialects, vast in number, are mere condensation of countless languages that came before them. Time flows without end, and each generation carves into it their collective thoughts, feelings, concepts, dreams; Context-specific expressions that to any who did not share their experiences become enigmas over which philosophers are driven to madness, or the nonsense consigned to oblivion.

That is not to say that all ancient tongues are lost to time. The clearest example is omnipresent, its scrawls discernable in tree bark and constellations—You need only look.

Bygone voices do not die with the regularly scheduled erasure of reality. They echo throughout all-consuming Atzynva. The many creatures born of its living shadows hold innate understanding of its basics and can easily pick up the rest immersed in the cacophonous whispers of Atzynva.

Abstract

At first glance, Atzynvyla (shortened to Avn) is a savage language compared to other tongues’ flowery sophistication. When directly translated it is broken, crude, and inelegant. Its phonology is sharp and harsh. However, learning it should minimal memorization.

Beside Common, (shorthand for “common mundane speech”,) it is the most “common” language amongst Destonians. It is credited as the first script. Its runes are designed to be easy to write and carve as well as recognize at a glance. Whereas Common changes much over the centuries, Avn remains largely the same with new words added sparingly. Its borderline brutish simplicity has weathered the test of time.

Structure

Traditional avn script follows a few basic rules:

1. Per word, letters are writ left to right.
2. Series of words are writ vertically, top to bottom.
3. When the end of a page is reached or at any time, script wraps to the top of the next column to its right, typically divided by a line.

Avn runes are typically carved into rock; Wood secondarily and, rarely, paper.

Each tablet would hold one vertical panel of script to be read when laid in a row. Ancient sets sustain damages that require piecing together incomplete stories.

Dictionarium