The Beholder language was the language spoken by the many-eyed monsters of the same name, as well as beholderkin. The beholders of Faerun knew their own language as Quevquel or "Speech", distinguishing it from telepathic communication.[1] Regardless of any language they knew (most spoke Common so as to interrogate captives), beholders found any tongue but their own crude and denigrating to speak, as if doing so was to acknowledge the intelligence and creativity of other species.[2]
Speakers[]
Beyond beholders and beholderkin, this was a common secondary language among some spacefaring races, such as the aartuk[3] and space mimics.[4]
Beholder was also somewhat common as a secondary language among some specialty priests in the Realms, more specifically those who tended towards learning the tongues of monstrous creatures.[5][6] These included the dreadmasters of the Church of Bane[5] and the noroghor of Abbathor.[6]
Phonology[]
The beholder language was difficult for most humanoids to understand and speak, but not impossible. It was a guttural tongue with much lip-smacking, gurgling, and slobbering. A long conversation between two beholders (assuming they didn't immediately try to kill each other) quickly covered their surroundings with spit.[2]
Beholder names[]
Beholders normally named themselves within the first year of their lives,[2] picking out sounds and syllables that had meaning and importance to them and piecing them together.[7] Their names were long and complicated, and pronouncing them produced much saliva. Beholders that could allow themselves to dwell in humanoid settlements, establishing themselves as the unseen leaders for guilds of lesser beings, adopted more easily pronounceable names in their minions' language.[2]
- Example Chosen names
- Barixis, Blorghathus, Chelm, Derukoskai, Eddalx, Famax, Gazriktak, Irixis, Irv, Ixahinon, Jantroph, Khoa, Khuxristul, Kreskalat, Lanuhsh, Murlbalbluthk, Nagish, Orox Qeqtoxii, Qualnus, Ralakor, Selthdrych, Sespetoxri, Sikrewxes, Sokhalsh, Thimnoll, Velxer, Vhalantru, Xanathar, Xeo, Zalshox, Zirlarq, Zommist, Zulnethrak[2][7]
- Example Nicknames
- Cinderglare, Eyebiter, Gobblegut, Manglecramps, Orbius, Slatherjaw[2]
Grammar[]
The beholder language had no word for the name of their species and the eye tyrants didn't even recognize the term "beholder" as anything more than the assigned label of inferior creatures.[2] They universally believed themselves to be unique entities, and perceived the idea of belonging to a beholder "race" to be revolting, although other beholders could theoretically be "correct" and acceptable variations on their one true form.[2][8] In the rare situations where a beholder befriended another, they normally called the other by its own name, perhaps the greatest form of respect they could show.[2]
Suffix[]
The suffix -hurr or -urr indicated an illness. The suffix -rakk or -akk indicated a temporary condition, and could apply to something such as the weather.[9]
History[]
Beholders had possessed many different languages over the long ages of their existence,[10] although within minutes of being born, most could speak the beholder language.[2] Quevquel was the swifter and simpler version of an elder, Faerûnian beholder language, the largely forgotten "Uibilaqthraxx" or the "True Tongue".[1]
For example, the word "sarruin" in Quevquel, referred to tiny beholderkin (such as gazers), and could be translated to mean "little-kin". This word was either descended or borrowed from the Uibilaqthraxx word "lurl'uk'lok'lahassarruin".[1][10]
Notable Speakers[]
- Bryth Moonaxe, an ancient half-dwarf champion.[11]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
Appearances[]
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
Twilight of the Dirty Turtles
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ed Greenwood, The Hooded One (2013-01-28). Questions for Ed Greenwood (2013). Candlekeep Forum. Archived from the original on 2023-03-20. Retrieved on 2024-04-26.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Richard Baker, James Jacobs, and Steve Winter (April 2005). Lords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 47. ISBN 0-7869-3657-6.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (1990). Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix 1. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 4–5. ISBN 0-88038-871-4.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (1990). Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix 1. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 33. ISBN 0-88038-871-4.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 39. ISBN 978-0786903849.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 45. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mike Mearls, et al. (November 2016). Volo's Guide to Monsters. Edited by Jeremy Crawford, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 9. ISBN 978-0786966011.
- ↑ Aaron Allston (1996). I, Tyrant. (TSR, Inc.), p. 9. ISBN 0-7869-0404-6.
- ↑ Aaron Allston (1996). I, Tyrant. (TSR, Inc.), p. 8. ISBN 0-7869-0404-6.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Ed Greenwood (December 2012). “Eye on the Realms: The High Priest of Beholders”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #418 (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 55–59.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (July/August 1998). “Sleep of Ages”. In Christopher Perkins ed. Dungeon #69 (Wizards of the Coast) (69)., p. 70.
Connections[]
Dwarvish • Elvish (Drow • Drow sign language • Sea elvish • Seldruin) • Gnim (Gnomish) • Luiric (Halfling)
Draconic Languages
Aragrakh • Auld Wyrmish • Draconic • Draconic sign language • Glav (Troglodyte) • Tymantheran (Abeiran) Draconic • Yipyak (Kobold)
Faerie (Sylvan languages)
Brownie • Dryadic • Korred • Nereid • Nixie • Nymph • Pixie • Satyr • Sirine • Sprite • Sylph
Jotun (Giant languages)
Hill giant • Ogre Magi • Ogrish
Miscellaneous Languages
Aarakocra • Aboleth • Blink Dog • Bugbear • Bullywug • Daraktan (Orcish) • Diabolan • Dolphin • Ghukliak (Goblin) • Gith • Gnollish • Grell • Grimlock • Hag • Hobgoblin • Jermlaine • K'azz'jak'n (Neogi) • Kentaur • Ki-rin • Kuo-toan • Lammasu • Lizardfolk • Locathah • Manticore • Merfolk • Minotaur • Modron • Mongrelfolk • Morkoth • Otyugh • Pegasus • Qualith (Illithid) • Quevquel (Beholder) • Saurial • Sahuagin • Selkie • Slaadi • Sphinx • Sshai (Invisible Stalker) • Tabaxi • Thri-Kreen • Treantish • Triton • Trollspeak • Uibilaqthraxx (Ancient Beholder) • Umber Hulk • Unicorn • Vegepygmy • Were-Tongues • Whalesong • Will-o'-wisp • Worg • Yeti • Yuan-ti