A lot of animal communication is soundless, and most of that is through movement and posture. I've learned to understand that and make the appropriate motions in return. That much is obvious to anyone's eyes, though they may not realize that I intuitively understand the sounds animals make as well. When communicating back with them it can get tricky, I haven't learned many of the right sounds in their speech. Thankfully they understand my tone of voice for emotional context, even when I'm whistling to a bird or meowing to a cat. They seem to pick up on human language, at least when I say it, but it's like someone speaking with a bad accent. If I'm slow they get enough, and maybe part of the problem is that humans use more intricate concepts linguistically. Animals don't need most of that.
Anyhow, they get me and I get them, but I'll keep learning more of their sounds so we can talk easier and also not be understood by humans when we talk.
Some legends talk about humans learning the languages of animals, often from a mystical source like tasting dragon blood, but also as simple as being taught bird tongue by a bird. How did this ability spontaneously manifest? Honestly, it's through an inherent connection with animals that comes about from latent and innate shapeshifting abilities. It's in the blood, metaphorically anyway.
You gain the following benefits at all times.
You may understand and communicate to terrestrial animal as if you are fluent in a relevant language.
Rumbling along a highway deep in the night, she has taken many strange people into the plastic and steel of her vehicle. Sometimes a taxi, sometimes a boat, sometimes her truck. But too many of them disappear before their stop. Those are the ones she can really understand, and sometimes that's all a ghost needs.
Exert your Mind and spend an Action. Select a Dead target within 50 feet. For dead targets, you must possess their their spirit.
The target can communicate in your language for the next hour.
You may only use this Effect once per target per day.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are wearing this Artifact.
You may understand and communicate to humans and Sapient beings as if you are fluent in a relevant language.
You can speak to and understand any animal. Others who witness cannot make out what you are saying, just incomprehensible nonsense to anyone who cannot also commune with animals. Not words or babbling, more grunts and random mouth and throat noises. The animals only seem to make occasional, natural noises, not even constant. Closer observation will notice your irises have turned golden colored.
You gain the following benefits at all times.
You may understand and communicate to Creatures as if you are fluent in a relevant language.
As Perkins Cadbury smokes weed, the smoke in his lungs that gets spewed out creates a fog of 'understanding,' allowing those he talks to and hears from to be 'understood.' As in, he knows exactly what they're saying through the power of chill vibes, y'know?
You gain the following benefits at all times. You must actively and obviously be using weed to gain the benefits of this Effect.
You may understand and communicate to humans and Sapient beings as if you are fluent in a relevant language.
Dogs typically need a bunch of fancy buttons to talk, but Wally gets along just fine, when they want to. They speak in a normal human man's voice, but can also bark or whine to keep the act up. They can also speak, bark and whine in other languages. As a treat.
You gain the following benefits at all times.
You may understand and communicate to humans as if you are fluent in a relevant language.
The Necromancer spits into the mouth of a recently deceased corpse. For the few minutes, the corpse's head comes back to life and speaks to the Necromancer.
Exert your Mind and spend an Action. Select a Dead target within 50 feet. Dead targets must have died within the past week, and you must have their remains in your possession.
The target can communicate in your language for the next hour.
The beastmaster can speak to and understand any animal.
You gain the following benefits at all times.
You may understand and communicate to terrestrial animal as if you are fluent in a relevant language.