Glimmertongue
Glimmertongue is what the gnomes spoke before the world broke. The language of Bailbor, the crescent city of Devindra's Reach, it developed over centuries as the gnomes traveled from the western forests to their valley home and built something remarkable there — a civilization where craft, magic, and scholarship were inseparable from spiritual practice.
The language carries that legacy in every character. Glimmertongue's runic script is angular and intricate, mirroring the gnomes' architecture and machinery. Its vocabulary reaches in two directions simultaneously: toward the cosmos — the Ohros of Alruoh, the rhythms of creation — and toward the workshop floor, where gears turn and knowledge becomes form. Innovation in Glimmertongue isn't just a practical act; it's a tribute.
Bailbor is gone. But Glimmertongue survives in written records, in the ceremonial practices of gnomish descendants, and in the structural bones of Gearscript — its practical successor. The ancient language is the soul. Gearscript is the working hands.
Vocabulary
| English | Glimmertongue |
|---|---|
| Knowledge | Erud |
| Magic | Zoral |
| Library | Biblior |
| Hammer | Kraz |
| Invention | Tinkol |
| Craft | Glinar |
| Innovation | Inventar |
| Mechanism | Gizmon |
| Gear | Ratik |
| Elder | Alrun |
| Celebration | Festin |
| Enchantment | Aruin |
| Rune | Runar |
| Automaton | Automar |
| Alchemy | Alkem |
| Infusion | Infuza |
Common Phrases
| English | Glimmertongue |
|---|---|
| A rune for every occasion | Runar na dorin aruin |
| Knowledge is the true wealth | Erud na dor volak |
| Gears of progress never stop | Ratiks na dorin gizmon |
| Magic flows where focus lies | Zoral na dorin fokus |
| The automaton never rests | Automar na dorin runar |
| Creativity is a gift from the Ohros | Volak na dorin ohros |
| Innovation is a tribute to the Ohros | Inventar na dorin ohros |
| Failure is a step to success | Falir na dorin volak |
| From failure, wisdom grows | Falir na dorin aldrin |
| Joy in every creation | Zoral na dorin glinar |
| War is a last resort | Falir na dorin warda |
Writing System
| Symbol | Sound |
|---|---|
| ⰰ | A |
| ⰵ | Ä |
| ⱄ | B |
| ⱆ | CH |
| ⱂ | D |
| ⰱ | E |
| ⰶ | Ë |
| ⱁ | G |
| ⱇ | H |
| ⰲ | I |
| ⰷ | Ï |
| ⱀ | K |
| ⰺ | L |
| ⰽ | M |
| ⰼ | N |
| ⰳ | O |
| ⰸ | Ö |
| ⱃ | P |
| ⰻ | R |
| ⰾ | S |
| ⱅ | SH |
| ⰿ | T |
| ⰴ | U |
| ⰹ | Ü |
| ⱉ | W |
| ⱈ | Y |
| ⱊ | Z |
Grammar
Sentence Structure: Subject-Verb-Object (SVO)
Noun Cases: Nominative, Accusative, Genitive, Dative
Verb Root Example: thron- (to build)
| Form | Glimmertongue |
|---|---|
| Present Simple | thron |
| Present Continuous | thronin |
| Past Simple | throned |
| Future Simple | thronel |
Proverbs & Idioms
- "By the forge and flame" (thron azur thron) — An oath of determination. Spoken before beginning something difficult or dangerous. The forge is both the tool and the trial.
- "Grim spas" (Stone speaks) — History is recorded in what you build. The structures and machines left behind are testimony. What you make outlasts what you say.
- "Erud na dor volak" (Knowledge is the true wealth) — The gnomish counter to every mercantile argument. A Glimmertongue speaker who says this isn't being idealistic; they're being precise.