Runic (ROO nik)

Runic has the rare distinction of being a language written before it was a language spoken. Originally invented by Wosoia with the rune stones that he created, he quickly mapped out the rules of language and grammar for Runic. He and his followers set to making the language theirs. Though it has roots in Old Kyleni, as Wosoia and his followers spoke Old Kyleni, there are many differences between the two languages as far as pronounciation and grammar.

Although The Godless Clan of Black Shore schismed from The Kylen shortly before Wosoia and his followers invented this language, it is common for both clan and tribe to speak both Runic and Kyleni.

Writing System

This eighteen rune set was crafted by Wosoia, reportedly the first to cross the Pass of Stone, the only way in or out of Caldera except trying to scale the steep mountains. Considered by The Godless Clan of Black Shore as a holy and reverred ancestor, these runes have been passed down from clan priest to clan priest for thousands of years, ever since the clan first scismed from the Kylen.

While the runes are kept by the clan priest, all of the clan learns the runes and can read and write them from a young age.

Phonetics

There are 18 base sounds in Runic, corresponding to the 18 runes. They have specific sounds. But there are also 4 special sounds based on the runes v and ws and where they fall within the word.

• i - EE
• a - AH
• e- EH
• u- OO
• wo - WOH
• so - SOH
• wi - WEE
• wa - WAH
• we - WEH
• wu - WOO
• ws- ohss
• v - (rare) vuh, (rare) vah, (common) vv

When unpaired or before another consonant the sound, vuh is used. When paired with ws and no other rune, vah is used. Vv is the most common usage.

• si - SEE
• sa - SAH
• se - SEH
• su - SOO
• sh - shh

When the rune ws comes before the rune sh, the shh sound is elongated.

• ta - (rare) CHAH, (rare) DAH, (common) TAH

When the rune ws comes before the rune ta, it makes the sound CHAH. When the rune v comes before the rune ta, it makes the sound DAH. In all other cases, TAH should be used.

Sentence Structure

In Runic the parts of speech are weighted.

1. "a" "wa" and "sa" are used to denote time tense. While not considered part of the sentence in the traditional sense, this always come first when speaking
2. Conjuctions, though rarely used as they are long and complicated words, come next when in a sentence or clause
3. Verbs are thought to be the most important part of speech and usually come after the time
4. Adjectives, when used, come next in a sentence.
5. When asking a question, interrogatives (such as "what") come next.
6. Nouns come next in a sentence. If there is both an object and a subject, the subject comes first.
7. Pronouns come just after nouns when used.
8. Prepositions come after nouns and pronouns.
9. Adverbs, considered by many to be unnecessary parts of speech, come last when used.
10. Finally, interjections are used solo, never as part of a sentence.

An example of a sentence might be:

A wiusa Ta, ev Ta wsashwo!

— Pronounced AH WEEOOSAH TAH, EHvv TAH ohssAHshhWOH - Runic for "I think, therefore I am!"

A denotes this sentence takes place in the present. Wuisa and ev are both verbs - to think and to be, specifically. Ta is a pronoun, I. Wsashwo is an adverb, meaning therefore, hence, because. As you will note in the example above, the verbs come first, the pronouns next, followed last by the adverb. Some parts of speech are not represented, but the grammar is consistent with the rules above.

A better example might be:

Wa tavsha vesh siws Ta wusu isesh.

— Pronounced WAH TAHvvshhAH vvEHshh SEEohss TAH WOOSOO EESEHshh - Runic for "I sat lightly on the rickety table."

Wa denotes this sentence is past tense. Tavsha, being the verb to sit, otherwise comes first. Vesh, rickety, comes next, and describes siws, table. Ta is the pronoun I, as previously stated. Wusu is the preposition "on," followed naturally by isesh, the adverb for "lightly."

Interestingly, as in the example above, there is no word for "the" in Runic, it is only implied.

Dictionary

125 Words.

Root Languages

• Kyleni

Spoken by

• The Godless Clan of Black Shore

Common Phrases

Sa wstaev sev tawia suae. - "That ship will never leave" meaning "that will not happen."