Anapteros Glyphs

An Expedition Leader's Best Friend

Anapteros Glyphs (also known as Traveller Glyphs or Forest Friends), is a symbol-based language pioneered and practiced by citizens of The Northern Alliance as a means of marking safe passage, points of interest, and potential dangers throughout the Anapteros Forest and its environs. It is easy to learn and the symbols themselves are simple to draw onto any hardy surface; typically the bark of trees or the surface of rocks and stones are used, and the medium can be anything from knife cuts to non-toxic paint, although sometimes 'idols' of twigs and leaves are hung from trees and bushes instead. The Northern Alliance has made a point of closely guarding the meanings behind the glyphs, only sharing it with those outside of the faction that they know they can trust. This has been done to prevent people like The Red Network using it for their own benefit, such as in diversionary tactics against explorers in the region. Most outside practitioners of the language are those scientists from the Commonwealth Front of Arcadian Science who have learned it from The Northern Alliance, so as to make travelling in the Anapteros safer. The language itself is rather static and has not added many new symbols over time, supposedly to keep it simple to learn and remember. If deeper meaning is needed, multiple symbols are used at the same location to convey more information.

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Writing System

Glyphs are organised into three groups: singular glyphs, combined glyphs, and distance glyphs. Singular glyphs consist of a glyph with a singular meaning, typically 'Follow Path', 'Water Not Safe for Drinking', 'Shelter Nearby', or the like. Combined glyphs convey deeper meaning on a subject, such as 'Danger', which has many variations on it to signify what might be dangerous in the area. Distance glyphs mark distances alongside other glyphs, giving travellers some idea of how far they have to go before reaching landmarks and settlements. They only go up to 50 miles, but combinations of distance glyphs can denote a precise number much like Roman numerals of old. Below is a list of the glyphs used by practitioners of the language, with the dictionary containing examples of the symbols and their definitions.

Singular Glyphs

• Danger (General)
• Dangerous Water
• Follow Path
• Path Becomes Unclear
• Safe Water
• Settlement This Way (General)
• Shelter Nearby
• Supply Cache Nearby (General)

Combined Glyphs

• Danger (Dangerous Fauna)
• Danger (Deep Water)
• Danger (High Cliffs)
• Danger (Hostile Flora)
• Danger (Hostile Territory)
• Danger (Landslides/Avalanches)
• Danger (Strong Currents)
• Danger (Thin Ice)
• Danger (Unpredictable Tides)
• Hostile Settlement This Way
• Settlement This Way (Large or Capital)
• Settlement This Way (Port Access)
• Settlement This Way (Research Outpost)
• Settlement This Way (Small)
• Supply Cache Nearby (Food and Water)
• Supply Cache Nearby (Equipment)
• Supply Cache Nearby (Medical)
• Supply Cache Nearby (Weapons)

Distance Glyphs

• 1 mile
• 5 miles
• 10 miles
• 15 miles
• 20 miles
• 30 miles
• 40 miles
• 50 miles

Geographical Distribution

Forest Glyphs are a cultural phenomenon not seen outside of the Anapteros Forest, practiced mostly by citizens of The Northern Alliance and passed down to CFAS explorers who need to safely navigate the environment. The glyphs are particularly common in the boreal north where conditions are especially harsh and communication with others is either hindered or near-impossible. Beyond the vast river network, it is easier to get lost and navigation is much slower, with travellers relying on paths created by animals or those of previous expeditions. Glyphs left by previous travellers to inform others of what lies ahead can mean the difference between life and death in a region that is both sprawling and dangerous.

Dictionary

33 Words.

Spoken by

• Eco-Isolationists
• Isolationists

-PLEASE NOTE: This archive entry is still a work in progress and some of the information within may be missing or incomplete. Only verified information is permitted to be entered into the archive. Thank you for your understanding.-

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