Xillidi Culture

Placeholder. This is a re-remaster.

The Xillidi language comes in three types of spoken form (five in written, one "other"), used interchangeably depending on the type of interactions.

Common - The common dialect that was adopted during the Twenty Year Impasse. Since then it has become an integral part of the Empire's society, due to it being necessary to interact with the rest of Kayre. Most Xillidi will be able to speak this language. It does not have a written form, however.

Ah'La - The Ah'La style is the first of the five writing styles of the Xillidi Empire and is the most widely used. It is commonly identified as runes that are comprised of straight strokes intersecting with triangular geometry. Xillidi sentences do not have spaces, words are instead separated by commas "kind'of'like'this". Additionally, there are no past, present or future tenses in this language. The "tense" is usually identified literally (example: He speaks of the traitor, in the past). This is primarily what makes it confusing for beginners trying to translate it into common words.

Ah'Gek - The spoken form of Ah'La, but it is also a writing language. As a written language, it is the transcription of Ah'La into "common alphabets" (example: "Ahk'Mahl" written as it is shown here). It was only adopted as a written language in response of the emergence of the Gurr'Mai racial class. Because of this, Zephss and Cryxo never use this language and deem it "dirty". Aside from that, it is commonly used between Xillidi denizens within their own countries. It makes recurring usage of long, drawn out sounds emphasized by strings of letters ("rrr", "ahh" and "sss" to name a few). It also includes many Gurr'Mai "corruptions" that have been carried in from human cultures. The "Gurr'Mai dialect" is sometimes considered a separate writing form, known as "Gurr'Gek".

Zzar'La - The ancient language, used primarily by members of Zephss and a few of the older generation members of the Dsnia and Cryxo classes. It is a very unique language, usually only audible to others in the form of long, drawn out chants and hums. They can be said to be "almost hypnotic" in a way, due to being the language of the Empress that has influenced many of the Xillidi. Some believe the ancient language holds mystical powers in its verses, but often its used in prayers by denizens of Zephss to their Empress, and can be heard prominently in their religious structures.

Zzar'Ma - The written form of Zzar'La, the most difficult language in Kayre to comprehend. The "writing" can only be identified by one who has studied it. To an untrained eye, it'll either come across as a messy mesh of etchings written in structured fashion, or some kind of musical sheet. The language is written similarly to how one would write a song. However, in truth, it is read from both ends of the "sentence", ending in the centre. This is thought to be because the original users of this written language would write it with two hands using both eyes simultaneously. It can found all over the walls of religious buildings and deep within the confines of Xillidi ruins as well.

Zzar'Ful - The other ancient writing type that is only used by members of Zephss. These strongly resemble Egyptian hieroglyphs, in that it is mostly abstract symbols of varying designs that represent "concepts". These symbols are organized in a sentence-like structure to tell a story of sorts. The use of them is typically outdated in favor of the more recent languages. However, some Zephss and even a few members of Cryxo use them as a form of encrypting messages to make them unreadable to unwelcome eyes.

Cxlyxtz - A "secret" language used by Xillidi exclusively (excluding the Gurr'Mai). While Dsnians typically only use it recreationally, Cryxo and Zephss will often use it to converse with each other in the presence of foreigners. It is a "physical language", comprised of buzzes, clicks and other types of sounds made by vibrations of their own physiology. It often cannot be transcribed into words, the only form of translation being one writing down what they are told in the strange dialect. It was notably used a lot in the Twenty Year Impasse, as a way for Xillidi to relay orders to each other without tipping off enemy intelligence.

Common Xillidi words and phrases

Iitaa - Casual greeting. Can only be translated as "hello".
Cros'harr - Universal way of saying "goodbye".
Tal'hewa - "Praise the day." A formal greeting.
Tal'neer - "Praise the night." A formal greeting used at night.
Hedj'il'hewa'raa'? - "What is the matter of the day?" Basically asking how someone is doing.
Zrrsh'ko'thar - "Death to those who oppose." A traditional battle-cry used anywhere from scuffles in the bar to skirmishes on the battlefield.
Shra'lek - Curse word, literally means "damnation of filth".