Dark Speech, also known as Vile Speech, was a language of truly dark power, the language of evil itself. Its very name was derived from the simple fact that spite, malice, corruption and hatred filled it so inherently. Dark Speech was a dead language, for the ideas it contained were among those so obscene that to understand them was to never be clean again.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
There were things that mortals were not meant to know, and Dark Speech was one of them. It was the secret language of evil gods and the warped tongue of primordials. Such was the foul potency of the language that even the likes of demons and devils avoided speaking it for fear it might consume them. Simply hearing it, demons paused before its wicked majesty, and devils recoiled from that degree of vile darkness, little different to most of the gods themselves. It was therefore unsurprising that very few mortals knew even a few words of Dark Speech.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
However, there were those among mortals who were not put off by disturbing and horrid concepts and revelations, but who craved them, and sought out the means to learn the Dark Speech. And if mortals dared, there was little question that fiends did; for some evil outsiders, no special effort was needed to learn it, and they too knew smatterings of the vile tongue, if not more. So it was that there remained a few beings who yet spoke the words of Dark Speech, and the wise among them never underestimated the power of words.[1][2][6]
History[]
Supernal, the language of the gods, was the foundational tongue of much of the multiverse. It was from this language that Common, Elven, Dwarven, Goblin language, and Draconic language stem, as well as the Celestial language, and thus all derivatives of those languages. This was because Supernal was a universal language that, when not disguised by powerful being, was heard differently depending on the fundamental characteristics of the listeners.[5]
However, not every language could draw a link to Supernal, even among other foundational languages like Deep Speech, the language related to the Far Realm. This was notably the case for the language of the rivals of the gods, the primordials, a language simply called Primordial, which had none of the special, universally-translatable qualities of Supernal.[5][7] The Giants adopted a debased version of this tongue, seemingly granted by Annam, which the Orcs at least partially adopted due to associations and alliances between their pantheon and the primordials.[5][8][9]
But there was another people that picked up the primordial language, and that was none other than the creatures of the Abyss. Their language, Abyssal, is a form of Primordial warped and twisted by the evil at the heart of that place.[5] The first lesson learned by scholars of the vile is the power contained in the Abyssal tongue, and it is from doing so that they become adept in Dark Speech.[6]
Indeed, while both Supernal and Abyssal were actual languages that could be used to communicate, they also included words of power, words that did not have to be mastered to learn the basics of speaking with either tongue. What many knew as the Words of Creation were the syllables and utterances hidden within the Supernal language, syllables that contained the raw magic of creation, which were once used by the gods to give form to substance and create anything they desired.[5][10]
Perhaps most curiously of all, travelers frequently stumbled across syllabic echoes of the Words of Creation that had managed to endure through the long centuries since they were first spoken, and any speaker of Supernal *or* Abyssal could claim and use them. Indeed, as one's proficiency with Abyssal grew, so too could the student unlock the language's power to undo the creative forces that give things form and function through Dark Speech. By the end of such study, after pouring over myriad forbidden sources, one could unlock the secrets of creation, and the means to undo it. Such was the power of the raw magic of primordial evil.[6][10]
A possible reference to the Dark Speech could be found within the Book of Inverted Darkness, the baleful tome of the Ancient Brethren. According to that legendary tome, in the days before the Blood War, the words of the baernaloths had power. When shaped into dark secrets, they could wreak terrible consequences, for there were things no creature of purity should know, the mere hint of which could twist a celestial into a horrid monstrosity.[11][12]
Dictionary[]
Ironically for a language, it was difficult to communicate solely using the Dark Speech. For one, both speaker and listener needed to go through the arduous process of learning it, lest someone be harmed simply through the act of communication. Furthermore, though the tongue could be used to speak of concepts of misery, anguish, hate and betrayal with unparalleled accuracy, but it had no words for those such as kindness, mercy, and purity.[1]
Script[]
The Dark Speech had no written form, and written transliterations lost not only all power, but all meaning. Despite this, texts containing the words could unleash powerful effects, and could be artifacts in their own right, such as the Book of Vile Darkness.[1][5]
Methods of Speaking[]
It was incredibly difficult to master Dark Speech, with special training needed by mortals to speak even a single word of it correctly. Mortal tongues, after all, were not designed to utter the words of pure evil, and even many fiends would also need the training. Attempting to utter even a word of the Vile Speech without training in its dark power always ended in the immediate death of the speaker. Fortunately, the exacting pronunciation Dark Speech demanded also meant that it was essentially impossible to make someone use it against their will. Dark Speech could still however harm both speaker and listener if great care was not taken, even if all parties were trained in its use.[1][2]
There were known means to temporarily speak and understand Vile Speech, such as a special elixir of the same name. One could also recite words in Dark Speech from the pages of the legendary Book of Vile Darkness, although doing so was mentally damaging not only to most around the speaker (save perhaps fiends and undead), but to the speaker themselves.[13][3][4]
Usages[]
The safest way to use the Dark Speech was in the form of spells, such as dread word. Besides this, there were primarily four other ways to use the Dark Speech; striking fear into the enemies of evil, pulling creatures under evil's sway, as a boon to enhancing evil magic, and to weaken physical objects.[1][2]
Firstly, words of Dark Speech caused fear, loathing and dread in all nearby who heard them. Weaker folk who heard the intoned Dark Speech would flee out of sight and sound of the speaker, or if forced, fight in a shaken state. The more powerful would also be shaken, but still stand their ground, while mightier foes would be filled with such loathing of the enemy that they'd have no choice but to attack them. Evil individuals had slightly different reactions to hearing this Dark Speech however. The weak were still fearful, but cowered frozen in fear, while the stronger were either mastered by the Dark Speech for several minutes as if charmed or impressed, responding with wariness and respect towards the speaker.[1][2]
Notably, this dread use of Dark Speech was different to the dread word spell. Speaking words of dread was draining to the speaker, weakening their very presence, potentially to the point of no longer being able to use the Dark Speech, but it had an effect on everyone around them. The dread word spell saw the caster speak a single, unique utterance of pure malevolence, a word so foul that it harmed the very soul of one goodly creature that heard it. The power of the spell protected the caster from the damaging effects of both knowing and hearing the word, and attempting to use the unique word without the spell instantly killed the speaker before they could get it out.[1][2]
The Dark Speech also included words of dark unity, which could be used to form weak vermin or even normal animals into an evil hivemind. The united consciousness followed the speaker's commands as if under suggestion, but doing so was draining to the speaker and damaging to their physical fortitude.[1]
When used in conjunction with evil spells that had verbal components, or when creating evil magic items, words of the Dark Speech helped to energize them with their profane power. It seemed likely that the Dark Speech was a requirement for many evil artifacts, but as with other uses of the magic, it was draining on the soul and presence.[1][2]
The Dark Speech contained vile words of corruption and destruction that when whispered softly could weaken singular, inanimate physical objects, like a door or wall. Notably, this was a use of Dark Speech minor enough to not drain the speaker.[1][2]
Other Uses[]
There were countless other uses for the Dark Speech than the most universal ones, able to be learned through special exercises or specific applications. For example, in addition to the basic uses, it was possible to whisper foul utterances and words of incredible wickedness to drive one's enemies temporarily insane with grotesque visions. With another use, one could shriek a phrase in Dark Speech, loosing a blistering torrent of foul curses and wicked insults in a filthy outburst that deafened or tormented everyone nearby, at the cost of one's own presence.[14]
There were also applications of the Dark Speech that only worked for specific kinds of creatures. The Dark Chant, a number of particularly foul necromantic words and phrases strung together into a litany of evil power, was surmised to have its power because it actually used some words and phrases from the Dark Speech, if bastardized, barely understood, and mispronounced ones. When at least two intelligent undead intoned it together, all undead around became harder to turn, and incorporeal undead caused the words and phrases to take on an extradimensional energy as well.[1]
Furthermore, certain spellcasters were known to use the Dark Speech in unique ways. Warlocks could learn an invocation of baleful utterance by which they spoke a single syllable of Dark Speech to shatter physical objects and leave people dazed and deafened.[15] Vile scholars meanwhile learned to use the Dark Speech to assault their victims with Abyssal curses, rending body and mind with profanity, and with the secrets of creation and its undoing, unraveled the essential nature of their foes to defeat their resistances and turn their most reliable defenses into their greatest weaknesses.[6]
Notable Dark Speakers[]
- Drasek Riven was a Chosen of Mask taught a word of Dark Speech by that deity of thieves and shadows. The specific word he was taught hit with the force of a warhammer.[16]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
Appearances[]
Novels & Short Stories
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Monte Cook (October 2002). Book of Vile Darkness. Edited by David Noonan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 32–33. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Monte Cook (October 2002). Book of Vile Darkness. Edited by David Noonan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 48. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (December 2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray, et al. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6562-5.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (November 2024). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition (revised). Edited by Adrian Ng, et al. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6952-4.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 James Wyatt (June 2008). Dungeon Master's Guide 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 171. ISBN 978-0-7869-4880-2.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Robert J. Schwalb (December 2011). “Player's Book”. In Tanis O'Connor, et al. eds. The Book of Vile Darkness (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 19–20. ISBN 978-0-7869-5868-9.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), pp. 31–32. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ Richard Baker, Robert J. Schwalb (February, 2012). Heroes of the Elemental Chaos. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 20. ISBN 78-0-7869-5981-5.
- ↑ James Wyatt et al. (August 2023). Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants. Edited by Janica Carter et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 9. ISBN 978-0-7869-6898-5.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Robert J. Schwalb (October 2010). “Bazaar of the Bizarre: Illumian Echoes”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #392 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 20.
- ↑ Colin McComb, Monte Cook (July 1996). “War Games”. In Ray Vallese ed. Hellbound: The Blood War (TSR, Inc.), p. 42. ISBN 0-7869-0407-0.
- ↑ Monte Cook (August 1998). Vecna Reborn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 64. ISBN 978-0786912018.
- ↑ Monte Cook (October 2002). Book of Vile Darkness. Edited by David Noonan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 114. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ Schwalb, Robert J. (December 2007). Elder Evils. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 12–13. ISBN 978-0-7869-4733-1.
- ↑ Richard Baker (November 2004). Complete Arcane. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 134. ISBN 0-7869-3435-2.
- ↑ Warning: edition not specified for Midnight's Mask
Connections[]
Planar Scripts
Barazhad • Celestial alphabet • Infernal