WORLD BOOK WORLD BOOK WORLD BOOK 0081 0081
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Chapter 3: RACES & REALMS
Languages on Khitus
Human tribal languages trace their origins to premigration times. Attan, Prajal, and Chindan are all part
of the Attan language group; each is a related dialect.
The same is true for Makad and Nordran. Penaian is a
unique language involving complex hand signs that is
unrelated to other human tongues.
Pachyesh is the common language of the Brachachon
group, and Watish is a dialect of that language.
Krikis communication is strangely insectoid in nature,
involving clicking, vibrations, and scent signals; Krikis
can only communicate with other races in their languages.
Oritahl, or Cold Skins, speak a guttural pastiche of
human and pachyesh dialects that they have robbed
and pieced together. Oddly, they can sometimes act
as interpreters between others separated by a language
barrier, at least for simple concepts.
All human and pachyesh languages have a written
version, as well. Generally, only the upper classes,
leaders and those in a trade that specifically requires
written communication are taught to read and write.
Like so many things on Khitus, education in the written languages is in steep decline. The vast majority are
unlettered.
Human Attan Language Group
Attan-Prajal-Chindi
Human Makad Language Group
Makad-Nordran
Pachyesh Language Group
Pachyesh-Watish
Independent Languages
Penaian
Oritahl
Krikish
into doomed undead servants with no will of their
own. Others hint that the souls of fallen slaves spend
their afterlives in eternal bondage in some Watish
heavenly plantation. Either thought of eternal suffering beneath Pachyaur masters keeps humans
from traveling near their lands.
• The Watu do not keep Krikis slaves because they
allegedly find them a tasty delicacy raw or cooked.
(Untrue, but all Krikis are exterminated as pests,
which is why there are none to be found, save at
slaving markets.)
• Watu Pachyaur consider themselves to be the chosen race of the Dragon Kings. They are destined to
rule over their lands and gradually expand across
the face of Khitus, enslaving all the other races to
toil in their fields. Of course, they take the pachyesh long-view on this prophecy and so expect only
slow progress toward that from one generation to
the next.
• Watu are convinced that they, elephants, colossadants and dragons are all distantly related. In
Watu art, dragons are most often depicted in elephantine form, rotund with trunks and small tails
beneath mammoth wings.
• The gravest insult to Watu is to wonder aloud just
how close their ties are with their lesser elephantine cousins, insinuating that kubiti skills have
more to do with cross-species breeding than dedicated training. (No matter how hated a Watish foe,
Brachachon never use this horrific insult either.
Only humans fling this at their Pachyaur overseers.)
The Year of the Khundu Imhara
For centuries, one particular Watish legend languished among travelers’ tales and nursery stories, but
once again ascends into the cultural consciousness.
Bwasana and magistrates now whisper of it seriously in
the great marble halls of power. Many now believe the
Year of the Khundu Imhara may finally be at hand. According to the prophecy, one night shall see a brilliant
shooting star draw its bright line against the sky directly
across all three Khitan moons (which they have named
Mawezi (common: Luth), Achungwa (common: Yaluth),
and Tangara (common: Chalor)). This vision shall set
into motion the preparations for the final battle that
will determine the fate of the Pachyaur and the world of
Khitus. The Imhara will spawn young bulls prodigiously
and continuously from that day forward, swelling the
ranks of an army that none might stand against.
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