Redemption The Third Era – Languages of the Third Era

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The various ethnic groups of the Third Era, that is all the races included in the Homo species that populate the Redemption The Third Era world have their own idiom. Many of these language systems have been influenced by the ‘mother’ tongue that was used in a certain geographical area at the moment of the Catastrophe and that have then evolved being embellished with own terms and expressions. The ability to communicate with others is one of the most distinguished features of mankind and the inter-racial communication has always been one of the first needs in order to have relations and create social bonds.

Just to facilitate the interpersonal exchanges even amongst different races, with time a Universal Language has developed which is acknowledged and is spoken by the most part of the individuals that have traveled a lot and have made of their trades their life style and that is used in the relationships that pertain to people belonging to various ethnic groups. The Universal Language (generically called the ‘Universal‘) is formed by words and expressions that derive from the languages used by the various people and for this dynamic it is constantly evolving. Compared to the languages that are currently in use in the Third Era, the Universal has a more simple basic structure (subject, verb and complement) and the terms that compose it are limited. This makes it a language that is easily popularized and comprehended, but that lacks all that is descriptive or poetical. The use of the Universal is relegated to the ‘need’ to communicate and to be understood by ‘all’ to the disadvantage of everything that is ‘language embellishment’ and falls outside the ultimate scope. Even if the Universal is a language that is spoken and written, in this idiom there are no novels, poems, nor songs because the scarcity of expression does not allow harmonious literary composition. All that pertains to ‘linguistics art’ has been left to other languages like the Salk (Salkiis) rich of nouns and adjectives, or the Tamiara (Tamiala) that has sweet phonetics easy to be reproduced, up to the Human that is the idiom with the greatest numbers of words in the Third Era and that, correlated to our days, is a mix of English, Spanish and Mandarin. Another language that is considered to be ‘elegant’ is the Vampiric that represents also an exception compared to the other idioms, because, starting from the original language spoken by the Vampires it has had ‘driven’ variations due to the study, from this race, of the texts written in latin retrieved from the Old Era and for this reason considered a ‘young’ language subjected to continuous evolutions.
Mechanics and technology are at the centre of the Damas life, this couldn’t but influence their language as well (Damarshan) that, out of necessity, includes a vast amount of ‘technical’ terms that often are not used by the other races, but that are indispensable for living in the Chasm and for any scientific book or handbook. The Graunt language (Grauntar) is the hardest to understand and replicate for the other races because it is made of hard guttural sounds that make it difficult to comprehend by any non specialist ear.

Independently from the language differences, communication is a priority that affects all races and it is not unusual that many people could be able if not to speak, at least to understand the various idioms beyond their own. In any discussion it is a good habit, which is interpreted as a sign of respect, to cheer or thank in the language of the interlocutor, which has pushed even the laziest ones regarding education to make an effort in order to learn the most common welcoming sentences in the greatest number of languages, a sagacity that in the most extreme situations can make the difference from a ‘normal’ life and a very short one.

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Redemption The Third Era – Atmospheres of the Third Era – In a Line …

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In a Line …

Evidently it had been the wrong time to stop and fill up the water bottles and thermos at one of the Water Posts of Chasm City, but he had got up late, he had to leave and needed some supplies for the trip.
Despite there had been a dozen of small fountains, there was a long line of people at that time and Dustin was in a queue for some time, the only Human amongst the Damas.
He was moving his gaze here and there stopping now on the guy with a bored look that was playing with the gecko climbed on his shoulder, now to a knot of kids that were playing around noisy a little further away, now on the gorgeous Damas that was waiting with a jug in the line next to his own …
The girl raised her eyes and for the umpteenth time she surprised him gazing at her. Dustin took away hastily his gaze: ‘Damn it! – he cursed between himself – Stop looking at her, jerk!
She smiled, but he didn’t notice that.
Scattered for the whole Damas capital there were various Water Posts like that, or Water Caves as they had been called by the inhabitants of that place, that is caves set up with dispensers that were distributing potable water for all the population. The Water Posts had been common in the cities of all the ethnic groups and Dustin, along his pilgrimages, had seen many of them. He was used to the imposing tanks that were showing up here and there in the cities of the humans to gather rainy water to be purified and distributed through taps linked to the tank itself. The salk Water Posts were the freshest places of the desert cities that had been built purposely under the level of the streets in order to be located perpetually in the shade and furnished with couches fattened up with soft and shining pillows, that they had been used like real meeting places. The Graunt, being nomads, were the only ones to have portable Water Posts, huge tanks that were assembled on wheels in order to gather rain, purify it and then tap it from basins of polished bone. The tamiara Posts, built on the lowest levels of the cities, those that were closer to the Underwoods fed by three or four big wells, one of which was provided with a canopy and wooden benches, that were getting the water from the forest’s streams and brought it upstairs through a system of buckets and pulleys. The only Water Posts he had never visited were those of the vampires and he had no intention to do it.
Amongst the various systems of potable water distribution, what mostly fascinated him was just the Damas one. Along the semicircular wall of the cave, popped up a line of small fountains that endlessly were dispensing water, with no help from taps or nothing else. The unused water was disappearing inside the grills that were positioned along the collection tanks. In a previous visit he had asked explanations at a Damas Engineer that was in line with him and he had shown to be very happy of being able to explain, in the smallest details, the mystery of the endless water. Dustin had understood more or less half of the technical terms used by the engineer, but at least had succeeded in creating an idea on the dynamics of that phenomenon. Through hydraulic pumps, the water was sucked by one of the many underground lakes of the Crack. Then it was going inside big metal tubes, reached a ‘furnace’ inside which its few impurities were filtered, then channeled in a system of cooling down spirals and from here pushed to the fountains. The one that won’t be used, will go down from the grills in an underground collection basin and from here sent to the lab or shop closer to be used for other production processes.
“My boy, you have no idea of how many things can be done with a little vapor!” had said the Engineer winking his eye.
Suddenly an idea came through Dustin’s mind, he swallowed and turned towards the gorgeous girl that continued to attract his gaze: “Excuse me, – he told her in an awkward damas language, but flaunting his most fascinating smile – while we are waiting … could you explain to me how these fountains of endless water do work?”
She raised her eyes on the Human and with a big smile answered: “Sure, I can.”
That wait could be a sweet one …

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Redemption The Third Era – ‘Critters’ of the Third Era – Part II

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Below you can see other three examples of ‘critters’ populating the ‘Redemption – The Third Era’ world.

TAMIARA – Blue Squirrel

Blue Squirrel

Blue Squirrel

The Blue Squirrels have always been the natural inhabitants of the immense forests of Khun where the Tamiara people lives. People that loves nature had made a symbol and guide of these soft rodents, free and independent. The wingsuits of the tree people have been inspired by these small creatures and simulate the conjunction membrane that connects the front and hind legs so useful for flying. The appearance of the Blue Squirrel is very similar to the common flying squirrels, but they are slightly bigger. The nickname ‘blue’ derives from the dorsal streaking of the hair that assumes blue tones, passing from a lighter to a darker color as the animal grows older.

DAMAS – Caves Gecko

Caves Gecko

Caves Gecko

The caves and underground tunnels of the Damas cities are inhabited by a great number of these nice creatures. There are two different species of them, but the most common ones are those with six legs or two tails. The coloring of their skin reminds that of the stone of which the tunnels are made and allows these small reptiles to camouflage in case there had been some enemies nearby. For the Damas they are really considered true ‘friends’ to cuddle and take care of. They are carnivores and it is not unusual that in a burst of anger they could even bite their own master, that is why every Damas respects them and treats them with extreme care.

VAMPIRES – Frozen Wolf

Frozen Wolf

Frozen Wolf

The Vampires cities are all deployed along the semi darkness strip that announces the approach of the Frozen Lands. The Frozen Woods is a long strip of land covered by frozen trees that is infested by large white wolves, amongst other beasts, the Frozen Wolves. They got their name from their white hair that is often covered in frost and that gives them a spectral and ‘frozen’ appearance. Their eyes are reddish and they are able to catch any minimal sparkling of light, lighting up with illuminating effects. They cannot be considered ‘pet animals’, but the close proximity to the Vampires ensures these creatures to often circulate in the cities looking for food or other things and, if approached with the right prudence, they can also show to be docile and to be tamed. The cases of Vampires that have as travelling companion a Frozen Wolf are rare, while tales of people that have died from the aggression of such specimens are on the agenda.

       

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Redemption The Third Era – ‘Critters’ of the Third Era – Part I

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Even the world of Redemption The Third Era is populated with various types of fauna, some of these brutal, others more docile that, over time, have learned to live with new people often becoming an integral part of them too. A fitting example in this framework is that of the Kepak, for the Graunt people, or of the Blue Squirrels for the Tamiara people, but there are also some examples of something that is more than integration between animals and people that show a sort of ‘mutual tolerance’ as in the case of the Frozen Wolves with the Vampires.

The fauna as population has suffered many a twisting due to the Catastrophe that happened many centuries before that had brought mutations, more or less noticeable, both from the physical and behavioral standpoint.

Hereafter you will find some examples with a small description of the Third Era creatures that inhabit the cities and the immense spaces of the New World and of their relationship with the ethnic groups that are closer to them.

 GRAUNT – Kepak

Kepak

Kepak

The Kepak are considered by the Graunt as real members of the tribes inside which they provide assistance in every area. According to the race they belong to they are employed as beasts of burden or race animals, for work or in the battles. Their meat is eaten, their hair is used to cover and as clothing, the scales become part of weapons or decorations, the their tanned leather and the bones are processed in order to get useful tools or very sharp sandstone colored knives. Their body is covered with thick hair that is shorter along their legs and their ears look like those of any common donkey. On the top of their head they have a ‘triangle’ of fish bones and scales that have a protective function, the scales covering also the front part of their chest, the shoulders and the top part of their thighs and their color varies from white to black concurrently with the color of the fleece. In battle they are very fearsome because of their incredible strength, endurance and speed.

SALK – Dune Cat

Desert Cat

Dune Cat

The Dune Cat, so dear to the Salk population, is the most common mutation of the more common Serval, but it has a more compact and less slender physical structure. Its size is limited too. Even the size is less impressive in regards to their ancestor’s, but he is still larger compared to the domestic cat. His coat, of the same color of sandstone, presents some darker spots that can take the form of stripes along the tail and legs, while they donate to the rest of the hair a spotted pattern. The ears are very large and elongated and the legs are stocky but powerful compared to the body. Of the common cat it has maintained his independence and its inner elegance that pleases so much the Salk people, this motivates them to be surrounded by these felines and to share with them even their dwellings.

HUMANS – Dog

Dog

Dog

The Catastrophe, the years of stabilization and the tribulation of mankind have not changed the deep bond of friendship that has always linked man with dog and it has stayed unchanged also in the Third Era of the world. The races of dogs have become so varied that nobody has bothered to classify them anymore, and so they refer to all members of this specie simply calling each one by the name of ‘Dog’. Some of these races have been heavily affected by the disorder due to the Catastrophe suffering mutations that, in the worst cases, have undermined the behavioral aspects rendering them very aggressive and dangerous. In the cases when the mutations have acted only on the physical side, the friendship bond between man and dog hasn’t changed and they are the best friend any adventurer may hope to have alongside for a trip or for everyday’s life.

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