Languages
Languages Overview
| Language | Type / Rarity | Who Knows | Player Learns | Written | Spoken | Mastery Range | Notes | |
| Common | Common | Everyone | Character or NPC that speaks | Yes | Yes | 1-2 | Trade language. | |
| Dwarven | Common | Dwarf ancestry, scholars | Character or NPC that speaks | Yes | Yes | 1-2 | Standard PF2e | |
| Elven | Common | Elf ancestry, scholars | Character or NPC that speaks | Yes | Yes | 1-2 | Standard PF2e | |
| Gnomish | Common | Gnome ancestry | Character or NPC that speaks | Yes | Yes | 1-2 | Standard PF2e | |
| Halfling | Common | Halfling ancestry | Character or NPC that speaks | Yes | Yes | 1-2 | Standard PF2e | |
| Orcish | Common | Orc ancestry | Character or NPC that speaks | Yes | Yes | 1-2 | Standard PF2e | |
| Goblin | Common | Goblin ancestry | Character or NPC that speaks | Yes | Yes | 1-2 | Standard PF2e | |
| Sylvan | Common | Druids, Fey researchers | Character or NPC that speaks | Yes | Yes | 1-2 | Fairly common around older forests | |
| Moonrest Tongue | Regional / Common | Moonrest locals | Character or NPC that speaks | Yes | Yes | 1-2 | Born in Moonrest Fishermen Coastal traders Refugees who have lived there several years It is essentially Common with enough unique words that outsiders immediately sound foreign. |
|
| High Imperial | Regional / Common | Old Language - Fallen Kingdoms | Character or NPC that speaks | Yes | Yes | 1-2 | Used in: Government records Noble houses Historical texts Old military writings A noble from elsewhere would almost certainly know this. |
|
| Northern Speech | Regional / Common | Spoken throughout the northern settlements. | Character or NPC that speaks | Yes | Yes | 1-2 | A traveller arriving from the mainland north would likely know it. | |
| Giant | Uncommon | Character or NPC that speaks | Yes | Yes | 1-3 | |||
| Draconic | Uncommon | Character or NPC that speaks | Yes | Yes | 1-3 | |||
| Priomordial | Uncommon / Very Rare | Character or NPC that speaks | Yes | Yes | 1-6 | |||
| Celestial | Uncommon | Character or NPC that speaks | Yes | Yes | 1-3 | |||
| Infernal | Uncommon | Character or NPC that speaks | Yes | Yes | 1-3 | |||
| Tide Cant | Uncommon | A sailor's shorthand. Part spoken language. Part coded phrases. Part hand signs. |
Tidewarden Maera | Partial | Yes | 1-3 | Known by: Sailors Smugglers Pirates Harbourmasters Useful for: Secret messages Ship logs Hidden caches |
|
| Verdant Speech | Uncommon | The language of the oldest druids. | Shrinekeeper Torv | Rarley | Yes | 1-3 | Known by: Circle Druids Ancient Wardens Certain Leshies Not commonly written. Many rituals are oral only. |
|
| Stone Cant | Uncommon | An old mining language. | Blacsmith NPC doesn’t exist yet | Yes | Yes | 1-3 | Known by: Master miners Ancient dwarven clans Tunnel explorers Very useful underground. |
|
| Hearth Sign | Uncommon | A silent sign language developed by isolated settlements during harsh winters and hunting expeditions. | Garric Fen ?? Poss someone else | No | Yes | 1-3 | Known by: Moonrest hunters Rangers Scouts Allows communication without speaking. |
|
| Scholar's Script | Uncommon | Less a spoken language than a standard written system. | Will Tosscobble - also possibly Herbalist Yselle Marr | Yes | Rarley | 1-3 | Likely Inscription specialisation player will want to know Used in: Libraries Universities Arcane colleges A wizard might know it despite never having visited Moonrest. |
|
| REDACTED | LANGUAGE | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | |
| Warden Signs | Uncommon | Trail markers, warnings and silent communication | TBC - When they start to encounter elements / symbols of the language | Yes | No | 1-3 | Yes | |
| Circle Glyphs | Uncommon | Ritual markings and sacred sites | TBC - When they start to encounter elements / symbols of the language | Yes | No | 1-3 | Likely Druid will want to learn | Yes |
| Ash Cant | Uncommon | Funeral symbols and tomb markings | Gravekeeper Lysa Venn | Yes | Yes | 1-3 | Likely Death Cleric will want to learn | Yes |
| Heartwood | Rare | The "language" of the forest. | Learnt - Players possibly may start learning level 1 | No | Yes | 1-5 | Not truly spoken. Instead it consists of: pulses vibrations rhythms root patterns harmonic tones Creatures touched by the Heartwood gradually begin to understand fragments. No player can normally start with this. It is earned. |
Yes |
| First Speech | Rare | The language spoken before civilisation. | TBC - When they start to encounter elements / symbols of the language | Yes | Yes | 1-6 | Legends say: Animals Spirits Mountains Storms Trees all understood it. Very little survives. Mostly inscriptions. |
|
| Further | Entries | Remain | Unknown.... |
Language Categories
Languages are intended to be an exploration mechanic within Ashes of the Shrouding. While many are available during character creation, others can only be discovered through adventure, research and interaction with the world.
Tier 1 - Everyday Languages
These languages function exactly as standard Pathfinder 2e languages and may be selected during character creation through ancestry, background or Intelligence.
- Common
- Dwarven
- Elven
- Goblin
- Orcish
- Halfling
- Gnomish
- Sylvan
- Moonrest Tongue
- Northern Speech
- High Imperial
Tier 2 - Specialist Languages
These require an appropriate background, mentor, organisation, specialised training, or significant in-game justification.
These cannot simply be chosen because you have high Intelligence. Instead you must justify them.
For example:
- "I grew up on merchant ships."
- → Tide Cant.
- "My mentor was one of the last Wardens."
- → Warden Signs.
- "I'm a druid of the Emerald Circle."
- → Verdant Speech.
Professional and Specialist
- Tide Cant
- Verdant Speech
- Stone Cant
- Scholar's Script
- Ash Cant
- Hearth Sign
Organisational
- Warden Signs
- Circle Glyphs
- REDACTED
Ancient Languages
- Giant
- Draconic
- Celestial (Empyrean)
- Infernal
- Primordial
Ancient languages are seldom encountered in the modern world. While some are still spoken by their original peoples, most survive only through specialist scholars, ancient orders, or the few creatures that continue to preserve them.
Tier 3 - Lost Languages
These languages lie beyond the knowledge of almost all modern societies. They cannot be selected during character creation and cannot normally be taught by conventional means. Characters may only begin to understand them through exploration, research and major campaign discoveries.
- Heartwood
- First Speech
- Whisper Speech
- Further entries remain unknown
Learning New Languages
Unlike standard Pathfinder 2e, languages are not limited to those chosen during character creation. Characters can discover, study and learn additional languages throughout the campaign through downtime, exploration, roleplay and research.
For more information, see Learning Languages.
Learning Languages
Unlike standard Pathfinder 2e, languages in Ashes of the Shrouding form part of the campaign's exploration and discovery systems. Characters are expected to encounter, study and gradually master new languages throughout their adventures.
Learn Language (Downtime Activity)
(This covers Tier 1 and Tier 2 languages.)
Requirements
To learn a new language you must have access to one or more of the following:
- A fluent teacher
- Suitable books or reference material
- Ancient inscriptions or written texts
- Prolonged exposure to speakers of the language
Learning a language normally takes 4 weeks of Downtime, modified by your Intelligence modifier.
| Intelligence Modifier | Time |
|---|---|
| +0 | 4 weeks |
| +1 | 3½ weeks |
| +2 | 3 weeks |
| +3 | 2½ weeks |
| +4 | 2 weeks |
| +5 | 10 days |
Example
- Study a Draconic grimoire → +1 progress.
- Spend two weeks researching in a library → +1 progress.
- Speak to an ancient dragon → +2 progress.
- Recover a lost lexicon → Automatically unlock the next Mastery Stage.
- Cast Comprehend Languages on a forgotten inscription → Grants insight but not permanent mastery.
Researching Ancient Languages
Whenever you successfully Decipher Writing, Recall Knowledge or perform Research involving a language you are currently learning, the GM may award additional progress towards its next Mastery Stage.
Specialist and Lost Languages
Specialist and Lost Languages are not learnt normally. Instead they are progressed. Different specialist and lost languages have different numbers of Mastery Stages depending on how complex or mysterious they are.
For Example Primordial:
| Mastery Stage | Knowledge Gained |
| I | Recognise the script. |
| II | Identify repeated words. |
| III | Read simple phrases |
| IV | Translate historical texts. |
| V | Speak the language |
| VI | Understand idioms and hidden meanings. |
Other Ancient and Lost languages follow similar progressions, although the number of stages and the knowledge gained may differ.
Some languages, such as Heartwood, do not have written or spoken forms. Their progression represents increasing understanding rather than linguistic fluency.
Gifted Linguist (New Skill Feat)
This feat reduces the time required to learn Tier 1 and Tier 2 languages. It does not affect Ancient or Lost language progression unless specifically stated by the GM.
Available at Level 2.
Benefits:
- Learn new languages in half the normal time.
- Can hold simple conversations after only one week of exposure.
- Gain a +1 circumstance bonus when Deciphering Writing in an unfamiliar language.