Difference between revisions of "Runic Alphabet"
DewiMorgan (talk | contribs) (Kludge Eiwaz' icon, too.) |
DewiMorgan (talk | contribs) (If you're missing four runes, it's because they *don't exist in the game*. At least, if they do, they have no name.) |
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Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
! Purpose | ! Purpose | ||
! Type | ! Type | ||
+ | ! In game | ||
! Description / Notes | ! Description / Notes | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 19: | Line 20: | ||
| ? | | ? | ||
| n/a | | n/a | ||
− | | From the Loading screen "ᛚᛟᚫᛞᛁᚾᚷ" message. | + | | No |
+ | | (From the Loading screen "ᛚᛟᚫᛞᛁᚾᚷ" message.) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Image:ua-berkanan.png|center]] | | [[Image:ua-berkanan.png|center]] | ||
Line 28: | Line 30: | ||
| Create/Most | | Create/Most | ||
| Effect/Power | | Effect/Power | ||
+ | | Yes | ||
| Symbolic of growth, fertility, and beginnings. | | Symbolic of growth, fertility, and beginnings. | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 37: | Line 40: | ||
| Light? | | Light? | ||
| ? | | ? | ||
− | | Represents light and darkness, clarity and illusion. | + | | No |
+ | | Represents light and darkness, clarity and illusion. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Image:ua-ehwaz.png|center]] | | [[Image:ua-ehwaz.png|center]] | ||
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| Move | | Move | ||
| Effect | | Effect | ||
+ | | Yes | ||
| Associated with movement, transportation, and unbinding. | | Associated with movement, transportation, and unbinding. | ||
|- | |- | ||
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| Beast | | Beast | ||
| Target | | Target | ||
+ | | No | ||
| Literally "wealth", but associated with beasts. | | Literally "wealth", but associated with beasts. | ||
|- | |- | ||
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| ? | | ? | ||
| ? | | ? | ||
− | | (From the Loading screen "ᛚᛟᚫᛞᛁᚾᚷ" message | + | | No |
+ | | (From the Loading screen "ᛚᛟᚫᛞᛁᚾᚷ" message.) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Image:ua-hagalaz.png|center]] | | [[Image:ua-hagalaz.png|center]] | ||
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| Air | | Air | ||
| Target | | Target | ||
+ | | Yes | ||
| Signifies weather, air. | | Signifies weather, air. | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 82: | Line 90: | ||
| ? | | ? | ||
| ? | | ? | ||
+ | | No | ||
| (From the Loading screen "ᛚᛟᚫᛞᛁᚾᚷ" message. Not used in magic.) | | (From the Loading screen "ᛚᛟᚫᛞᛁᚾᚷ" message. Not used in magic.) | ||
|- | |- | ||
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| Plant | | Plant | ||
| Target | | Target | ||
+ | | Yes | ||
| Symbolizes plant life, fruitfulness. | | Symbolizes plant life, fruitfulness. | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 100: | Line 110: | ||
| Fire | | Fire | ||
| Target | | Target | ||
+ | | Yes | ||
| Fire, fiery power. | | Fire, fiery power. | ||
|- | |- | ||
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| Water | | Water | ||
| Target | | Target | ||
+ | | No | ||
| Water, the sea. Mastery of flowing or shapeless things. | | Water, the sea. Mastery of flowing or shapeless things. | ||
|- | |- | ||
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| Person | | Person | ||
| Target | | Target | ||
+ | | Yes | ||
| Linked to fellow-beings, friends and enemies, and the social order. | | Linked to fellow-beings, friends and enemies, and the social order. | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 127: | Line 140: | ||
| Bind | | Bind | ||
| Effect | | Effect | ||
+ | | Yes | ||
| Denotes restrictions, delays, or bindings. | | Denotes restrictions, delays, or bindings. | ||
|- | |- | ||
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| ? | | ? | ||
| ? | | ? | ||
+ | | No | ||
| (From the Loading screen "ᛚᛟᚫᛞᛁᚾᚷ" message. Not used in magic.) | | (From the Loading screen "ᛚᛟᚫᛞᛁᚾᚷ" message. Not used in magic.) | ||
|- | |- | ||
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| Magic? | | Magic? | ||
| Target? | | Target? | ||
+ | | No | ||
| Calls on fate, mystery, and hidden forces. Magic. | | Calls on fate, mystery, and hidden forces. Magic. | ||
|- | |- | ||
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| Sense | | Sense | ||
| Aiming | | Aiming | ||
+ | | Yes | ||
| Symbolically associated with discovery. Seeking after truth. | | Symbolically associated with discovery. Seeking after truth. | ||
|- | |- | ||
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| ? | | ? | ||
| ? | | ? | ||
+ | | No | ||
| (From? Not used in magic.) | | (From? Not used in magic.) | ||
|- | |- | ||
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| Destroy | | Destroy | ||
| Effect | | Effect | ||
+ | | Yes | ||
| Indicates destruction, ruin, and naked violence. | | Indicates destruction, ruin, and naked violence. | ||
|- | |- | ||
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| Spirit/Mind | | Spirit/Mind | ||
| Target | | Target | ||
+ | | Yes | ||
| Giver of law, leadership, and purpose; the guiding spirit. | | Giver of law, leadership, and purpose; the guiding spirit. | ||
|- | |- | ||
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| Strengthen/Much | | Strengthen/Much | ||
| Effect/Power | | Effect/Power | ||
+ | | Yes | ||
| Emblematic of toughness, health, and potency. (Sometimes drawn as "Λ") | | Emblematic of toughness, health, and potency. (Sometimes drawn as "Λ") | ||
|- | |- | ||
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| Earth | | Earth | ||
| Target | | Target | ||
+ | | Yes | ||
| The fabric of the world, which is solidity and earth. | | The fabric of the world, which is solidity and earth. | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 208: | Line 230: | ||
| Protect | | Protect | ||
| Effect | | Effect | ||
+ | | Yes | ||
| A totem of stalwart strength and mighty defense. | | A totem of stalwart strength and mighty defense. | ||
|} | |} |
Revision as of 22:54, 6 January 2019
An ancient series of runes can be found in use throughout the Stygian Abyss. Perhaps a remnant of a previous age, or something brought with one of the Underworld's inhabitants, these runes nonetheless are worth learning, as many challenges in the depths can be overcome (or avoided) with the knowledge they impart. Mages especially will need to know runic, as they are at the heart of the power of magic.
Icon | Char | Sound | Name | Meaning | Purpose | Type | In game | Description / Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ᚫ | A | Ansuz | God? | ? | n/a | No | (From the Loading screen "ᛚᛟᚫᛞᛁᚾᚷ" message.) | |
ᛒ | B | Berkanan | Birch | Create/Most | Effect/Power | Yes | Symbolic of growth, fertility, and beginnings. | |
ᛞ | D | Dagaz | Day | Light? | ? | No | Represents light and darkness, clarity and illusion. | |
ᛖ | E | Ehwaz | Horse | Move | Effect | Yes | Associated with movement, transportation, and unbinding. | |
ᚠ | F | Fehu | Cattle | Beast | Target | No | Literally "wealth", but associated with beasts. | |
ᚷ | ᚷ | G | Gyfu? | Gift? | ? | ? | No | (From the Loading screen "ᛚᛟᚫᛞᛁᚾᚷ" message.) |
ᚺ | H | Hagalaz | Hail | Air | Target | Yes | Signifies weather, air. | |
ᛁ | I | Isaz? | Ice? | ? | ? | No | (From the Loading screen "ᛚᛟᚫᛞᛁᚾᚷ" message. Not used in magic.) | |
ᛃ | J | Jera | Harvest | Plant | Target | Yes | Symbolizes plant life, fruitfulness. | |
ᚲ | C and K | Kenaz | Torch | Fire | Target | Yes | Fire, fiery power. | |
ᛚ | L | Laguz | Lake | Water | Target | No | Water, the sea. Mastery of flowing or shapeless things. | |
ᛗ | M | Mannaz | Mankind | Person | Target | Yes | Linked to fellow-beings, friends and enemies, and the social order. | |
ᚾ | N | Nauthiz | Need | Bind | Effect | Yes | Denotes restrictions, delays, or bindings. | |
ᛟ | O | Odal? | Heritage? | ? | ? | No | (From the Loading screen "ᛚᛟᚫᛞᛁᚾᚷ" message. Not used in magic.) | |
ᛈ | P | Peorth | Game piece | Magic? | Target? | No | Calls on fate, mystery, and hidden forces. Magic. | |
ᚱ | R | Raido | Journey | Sense | Aiming | Yes | Symbolically associated with discovery. Seeking after truth. | |
ᛋ | S | Sigel? | Sun? | ? | ? | No | (From? Not used in magic.) | |
ᚦ | Th | Thurisaz | Giant | Destroy | Effect | Yes | Indicates destruction, ruin, and naked violence. | |
ᛏ | T | Tîwaz | The Hero | Spirit/Mind | Target | Yes | Giver of law, leadership, and purpose; the guiding spirit. | |
ᚢ | U and V | Uruz | Ox | Strengthen/Much | Effect/Power | Yes | Emblematic of toughness, health, and potency. (Sometimes drawn as "Λ") | |
ᛇ | ᛇ | Y | Eiwaz | The World Tree | Earth | Target | Yes | The fabric of the world, which is solidity and earth. |
ᛉ | Z | Algiz | Elk | Protect | Effect | Yes | A totem of stalwart strength and mighty defense. |
Rune Stones
- Main article: Rune Stones
Scattered around the Abyss is an alphabet of rune stones, each inscribed with a runic letter. The Avatar discovers these stones as they explore the Abyss, over time building a vocabulary of spells used in Runic Magic.
Trivia
- The runic language in Underworld Ascendant differs slightly from the runic in Ultima and Shroud of the Avatar.
- The runes also do not match any known runic alphabet from Earth, whether Elder Futhark, Short- or Long-Twig Younger Futhark, Anglo-Saxon, or Medieval.
- One form or another has been taken from just about all entries in Wikipedia's runes category.
- The runes all exist in the Unicode Runic block, and the game uses those Unicode characters for the runes in graffiti.
- The rune names are as in Unicode, with a few slight spelling differences.
- The meanings of the runes are also essentially the same as their generally accepted Earth meanings.
- In early prototypes, Thurisaz was called Thurs, with the meaning Thunder. Though the meaning is Giant, the rune Thurisaz is considered tightly bound with Thor and Thunder.
- In early prototypes, Fehu originally had the meaning "Chattel" rather than "Cattle": both meanings (and "wealth", and "beast") are appropriate for this rune.
- In the resources.assets file, there is a list of translation strings for Runes/b through Runes/z, missing only (agioswx), with c and k both mapped to Kenaz, u and v both mapped to Uruz. These matched the common transliterations of the runes.
- That all their sounds, names, meanings, and purposes are appropriate for each rune suggests they did some serious research into correct rune usage.
- Runic is often written phonetically, excluding unnecessary letters instead of being a simple letter cypher. For example, the Kickstarter exclusive Backer's T-shirt has "Kickstarter backer" on the back in runic, but uses the characters "Kikstarter Baker", eliminating the phonetically duplicate "c".
- The runes have changed a couple of times through the development process, with some logos using the Ultima runes and some using the updated alphabet.
- Algiz, Berkanan, Dagaz, Ehwaz, Eiwaz, Fehu, Hagalaz, Jera, Kenaz, Laguz, Mannaz, Naudiz, Peorth, Radhio, Thurs, Tiwaz, and Uruz were present in the first Playable Prototype released to players. Of these, Berkanan, Ehwaz, Eiwaz, Hagalaz, Jera, Kenaz, Naudiz, Thurs, and Uruz could be used to cast spells.
Pledge Reward
Backers at the Legendary Hero tier and higher will receive a poster with a language and runic translation guide as part of their Collector's Edition Box.
Previous Appearances
- The Runic Alphabet was used through the Ultima series, including both Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss and Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds. Shroud of the Avatar uses a similar Runic Alphabet.