Glyphicons - Language of Tales

Glyphicons is a universal written language of the dreaming world, consisting of uncountable number of symbols used together to create contextual meaning. Each symbol is given meaning not only by the ones beside it, but by the context of the entire tale. It is a language innately understood by all who live in the Dreaming-World, surrounded and ruled as they are by symbolism and representation.

A Picture and A Thousand Words

Glyphicons consists of symbols, each with their own meaning both on their own and in the context in which they are placed. The same symbol can have vastly different meanings depending on its use. Glyphicons are written starting at the top and going downwards, though when carved into structures like archs or spirals, this is changed. Such changes are designated at the very beginning of the work, which can become confusing when time and weather has chipped away such symbols.
Each glyph is dependent on the context around it: the symbol of a tiger doesn't just represent the animal, but also the traits and characteristics of such an animal. It can be used to symbolize ferocity, strength or brutality. A Man symbol followed by a Tiger symbol can mean a man with the strength of a tiger. Such simple use of Glyphicons are popular and when less symbols are used, they can become incredibly elaborate.

Longer stories become a much more complicated process: their meaning can only be divined by reading each section in detail, as the symbols each have their own place in the larger tapestry of meaning. Man followed by Tiger take on a very different meaning in a missing person report.

There's no set number of symbols in Quentriandal, but there always seem to be just enough to get the point across. Regional variants exist and the context change depending on where in the world it is written and by whom. The Kaoh have far more aquatic symbols than the Naijima, for instance, and the way in which they relate to water is very different.

Each sentence of symbols is about four to eight symbols long. Any longer than that and the exact meaning tend to become too diffuse to easily grasp, but there's no limit on how many sentences a paragraph or document can consist of.

Glyphicons in the World

Glyphicons' is a universal language. It is used, in one form or another, across the entire Dreaming-World and all denizens can understand it, Sleepers and Awakened alike. While some have their own unique written language, even these cultures and kingdoms use Glyphicons to some extent. Sleepers will not always understand written Glyphicons from another country even if the cultural contexts are very similar, but the Awakened have no such problems and can read any equally well.
Glyphicons fill many functions in the tales in the Dreaming-World. From ancient script carved into old ruins to official documents to be read, deciphered and perhaps manipulated, Glyphicons feature in many tales. Even when it is not a primary point in the tale, the Glyphicons are everywhere in the world.

Names
Individual names aren't usually spelled out with Glyphicons. Institutes sometimes commission intricate and unique symbols to be their brand and representation, however. A martial arts dojo or noble house may use the symbol of a wolf, painstakingly drawn to specification, as their signature.

Ciphers

When its meaning need to be obscured, the most common mean of creating a cipher is to rearrange the structure in which the sentence is made without making note of it. Read backwards, skip every other symbol, only read diagonally, all of these trick are used when the writer only wants certain people to understand the words within the words.

Ancient Glyphicons

Besides regional variants, Glyphicons also come in the form of ancient Glyphicons. Most frequently found in crumbling ruins or long-lost grimoires, even Awakened have trouble easily reading these - part of their Narrative function is to be difficult to decipher. They'll sometimes use symbols of things that no one has ever seen and in odd combination that suggest things either terrible or wondrous.