Common



Common is the trade language of Faerûn. Almost every sentient civilized being speaks a smattering of it and most are fluent. While most cannot read or write the language, generally NPC's of Faerûn will be able to converse with player characters in this language. Dialects will vary from region to region, but generally, communication should be possible. For example, Bruenor Battlehammer has a distinct Scottish-style "accent", while his companion Drizzt Do'Urden seems to speak like a scholar, with little trace of inflection. Note the only two times this contributor has heard Drizz't "speak", was in the Baldur's Gate 2: Dark Alliance and Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone games, in which his accent could be described as "cultured," almost a "Harvard accent." Sometimes, an archaic form of common will be encountered, such as spoken by Elminster Aumar, complete with "thees" and "thous." In the gaming sense, PCs will begin with the common language automatically, without spending proficiency ranks in it. Please note this does not assume literacy, just the basic ability to speak. In other realms, "common" may be a different form. An example would be in the Underdark, as the residents there speak what is known as Undercommon. So, PC's traveling to different planes, may have to spend slots learning a new form of "common."