Ghostwise Halflings (SCAG, p. 110) have the Silent Speech trait:
Silent Speech. You can speak telepathically to any creature within 30 feet of you. The creature understands you only if the two of you share a language. You can speak telepathically in this way to one creature at a time.
A halfling wanted to do intimidate using Silent Speech to distract a wolf during combat.
I allowed this as a free action at the start of his turn; however, I'm not sure what should happen.
What I've done is roll CHA vs Wisdom Saving Throw, and as it failed the wolf became frightened of the halfling.
Can Silent Speech be used to intimidate using growl, battlecry, or other unintelligible cry against an enemy that doesn't understand even Common tongue?
Can animal affected by Intimidation without understanding even a language? I've allowed it since he said "growling telepathically", and animals do understand growls, but I wonder if Silent Speech allows you to mimic sounds in your telepathy. As a joke, I might create a Ghostwise Halfling and beatbox telepathically to annoy a PC as we walk 😀
Best Answer
No, the wolf would not understand and would not be frightened.
The ability's description is clear in this regard.
Since the halfling and the wolf don't share a language, any of the telepathy would be nonsensical to the wolf -- even if it is just growling in an attempt to frighten them.
Animals aren't intelligent, and the wolf likely wouldn't be able to identify that the halfling was the one doing the growling. All it would know is suddenly it can hear phantom growling in it's head, and might not even recognize this as something worth fearing, let alone specifically being afraid of the halfling.
DM fiat applies, of course. If you think it is fine and have no issue with it happening, then allow it. It's your game.