The Ancient Runic Codex

Pladeholder Dwof by Katy Smith

The dwarven language is one of two parts. The common tongue is the language most spoken and written and comes with a plethora of different dialects depending on social status, location and upbringing. The other is an ancient runic language base that the common tongue has been derived from. The runic language is formed of runic sigils that can be combined which in turn, enhances their meaning. Sometimes the runes are overlaid onto each other to accomplish this, sometimes they are listed separately. Due to the complexity of this ancient language, it is required to be studied by scholars and runesmiths for decades in order to obtain an artisanal mastery of the subject.

The Base Runic Alphabet

ᛒ - Brung - Power
ᛖ - Drun - Protection
ᚦ - Grelk - Hard Stone
ᚱ - Hurin - Water
ᚾ - Jurn - Pilgrimage
ᛟ - Kruln - Dark
ᛚ - Drog - Death
ᛏ - Mordun - Healing
ᚺ - Nark - Poison
ᛗ - Ordu - Light
ᚷ - Prak - Speed
ᛃ - Qurn - Magic
ᚼ - Rulg - Shield
ᛇ - Fjorn - Fire
ᛉ - Targ - Animal
ᛜ - Uld - Nourishment
ᚧ - Vork - Blood
ᛞ - Beyir - Bear
ᛋ - Yuln - Wisdom
ᛠ - Zurn - Soft Stone
ᚯ - Quorl - Ore

Example Combinations

Mordun & Hurin in an overlay would equate to Ale
Drog & Nark would overlay into the rune for Disease/Illness
Zurn & Uld would overlay into a rune which represents Food

Further combining these runes alters their meanings further into large webs of definitions, context and implied meaning.
Runesmiths and Runescribes take this a step further however. In order to imbue the runes with a power which will attribute itself to the item being inscribed upon, special dyes are created from rare ores and minerals. The properties of the ore will cause the resulting effects of the rune to be modified or to change in potency. Copper ore is very common and usually results in a low-powered effect and as such it tends to get used for basic keepsakes and trinkets. Rarer materials such as gold, platinum, mithril or cobalt generally provide a more potent magical effect and so are used sparingly for those in the most need or those with the largest coin purses.

This is a submission for my first ever Summer Camp in 2024 - I hope you enjoy my writings and I'm looking forward to hearing your feedback!