Chapter 1 - Non-weapon Proficiencies
Calligraphy - Oriental area only Non-weapon Proficiency
The written language of the Oriental Adventures world is much different from that commonly used in other AD8Dm settings. Other lands normally make use of alphabets to compose words and words to compose sentences. However, here the written language is composed of pictographs (or logograms). Each character (as a single written Pictograph is commonly called) represents a single word or part of a word.
Originally, the character was like a small painting of the thing it represented, but time has simplified and stylized these characters so that they have only a slight resemblance to the thing anymore. Instead they have meanings that can be added to or changed when used with other characters. Each word has a different character or combination of characters, and thousands of different characters are needed to write books. Great precision is needed to write clearly and correctly. Thus a character's style and artistic ability with the ink-brush is an important measure of his social worth in the Oriental Adventures world.
The first impression a stranger forms of a character may well be based on how graceful and beautiful his calligraphy style is. Indeed. How well one writes can often be more important than what the writing actually says. Therefore, calligraphy is a vital skill for those aspiring to high position in the Oriental Adventures lands.
The calligraphy proficiency has many uses. It is needed to inscribe magical scrolls. Prepare reports to one's lord, impress officials, and curry favor from Powerful NPCs. It shows the rank of the writer, and good writing can be used to add prestige to those of lower birth. A poetry contest at a court can also be a contest in calligraphy. A brilliant poem written in a crude and unformed hand can be less appealing than a good poem with fine calligraphy. Every time a character writes an important document, a die roll must be made to find the quality of the character's calligraphy. The DM can modify the reaction of any NPC to the message based on the quality of the calligraphy. Good calligraphy gives a more favorable reaction: bad calligraphy has the opposite effect.
Calligraphy requires the use of a writing brush, an inkwell, and an inking stone. These are normally carried as a set, but characters can improvise these items when they must.
