MANY TONGUES Different languages can provide intriguing roleplaying opportunities, if the Lore master and the players are interested. This shouldn’t get in the way of the fun, however. While Tolkien used the linguistic differences among the various realms of Middle-Earth to good narrative effect, he also found it simpler to avoid steep cultural barriers and gave most ethnic groups (even Orcs and other more fantastical creatures, like Ents) at least a passing knowledge of what constituted a ‘lingua franca,’ the so-called Common Speech, or Westron. This allows players who don’t want to deal with the complex relations between the various peoples and their languages to ignore the entire subject altogether without damaging the setting. But if you are willing to explore this angle, it is certainly worth investigating.