Old Northern Gotic

An ancient language that has passed out of common usage by all but a few of the more secluded tribes in the north. It lives on mostly as a scholarly language, as may be seen in the ancient tome, The Book of Silver Words. However, few outside the north are now able to read it.

Wulfila bibel by Public Domain, wikimedia.org

The main remnants of this ancient tongue are to be found in many of the place names of the Free Cities of the north, as well as in small phrases such as the common greeting of the northern realms: Hails!

Writing System

The alphabet used by Old Northern Gotic is distinct from that of the Common Tongue . It is believed by some scholars to have descended from the ancient runic script of Elivagaer.

Gothic Alphabet by wikimedia

But the language itself is easily adapted to the alphabet of the Common Tongue. In truth, what little scholarly work has been written on the subject, within the Bound Realms at least, most often ignores the Gotic alphabet entirely except as a curiosity. There are therefore few outside the more remote lands of the north who can read the script at all. Tamlyn Danirov and, presumably, a few others within Varangia are the only known scholars of the language within the borders of the Bound Realms at present.

Common Phrases

Hails :: Hello (m)

Haila :: Hello (f)

Godana maurgin :: Good morning

Godana dag :: Good day

Godata andanahti :: Good evening

Goda naht :: Good night

Golja þuk :: Goodbye

Goþa fara :: Good journey

Awiliudo þus :: Thank you