Tancred's Journal Entry: Runestones

[ImmortalShadowZ 1306]

 

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bHvk2hQXoY 

 

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As I have recounted in this journal already, the landscapes of Norland are littered with enigmatic runestones—silent sentinels standing as remnants of a past that continues to shape the present. [Refer to this forum - https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/244709-tancreds-journal-entry-guide-to-norland/#comment-2084207]

 

These monoliths, ranging from towering and imposing to barely visible above the frost, are greater than simple memorials; some recount the deeds of fallen warriors, while others stand as testament to Higher Beings long venerated. Yet, among them are those whose markings resist translation—symbols alien even to the learned skalds who devote their lives to the study of the old ways. These are the runes of the forgotten tongue, relics of an age beyond record, hinting at truths that lie buried beneath the veil of time.

 

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Runestones, as known within Norse tradition, were often erected as memorials to the dead, markers of territory, or offerings to deities. Their inscriptions, when legible, provide insights into societal structures, religious beliefs, and linguistic evolutions within Norlandic culture. However, some stones predate the known settlement of the region by Norse peoples, their inscriptions deviating from the standard Younger Futhark runes. The presence of these anomalous carvings raises critical questions about the linguistic landscape of early Norland: were these the writings of an indigenous, pre-Norse civilisation, or do they stem from an esoteric tradition lost to history?

 

The difficulty in deciphering these symbols is compounded by their scarcity. Unlike the well-documented runic inscriptions of Norlandic settlements, these arcane glyphs do not conform to established patterns. Some bear resemblance to the Elder Futhark, while others align with no known script. In some cases, their arrangement suggests an early form of logographic or ideographic representation rather than a phonetic writing system, indicating that they may convey meanings more complex than simple linguistic constructs.

 

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Beyond their linguistic significance, these ancient stones possess an ineffable aura. In Norlandic folklore, it is believed that runestones are imbued with power, serving as conduits between the mortal realm and the unseen forces that shape fate. This belief is not without basis; those sensitive to such things describe an energy radiating from the inscriptions, a force that evokes either reverence or unease. It is not uncommon for travellers to leave offerings at these sites, a tradition borne of both superstition and respect. Whether these energies stem from residual ritualistic practices, latent magical constructs, or the psychological weight of historical reverence remains a matter of debate.

 

One particularly intriguing theory posits that the older, unreadable runestones may have been part of a system of geomantic alignment, a network of sacred markers intended to channel natural energies across the land. Similar patterns can be observed in other ancient cultures, where standing stones and engraved markers are strategically positioned to correspond with celestial movements. If this were the case, these runes may serve not merely as records of past events but as active components of a forgotten metaphysical system.

 

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Within my time, it has been necessary to try and decipher many. Whilst placing easier symbols to letters and wording has helped. A few have been withered by age and some even crumbled. The listings below will need to be updated as I go within this. 

 

Runic	Latinised	English
ᛅᛚᚠᛅᚦᚢᛦ ᛚᛁᚦᛅ	Alföður leða	The All-Father Guides
ᛁ•IAÁ457•ᛘᛁᚦ•ᛚᛁᚦᛋᚬᚴᚾ•ᛅᛚᚬᚦᚢᚱᛋ•ᚴᚱᚬᚦᚢᚱᛋᛁᛏᚢ•ᚾᚬᚱᚦᛚᛁᚾᛏᛁᚾᚴᛅᚱ•ᚼᛚᛁᚾ	Í IAÁ457 með leiðsögn Alföðurs gróðursetu Norðlendingar hlyn	In IAÁ457 with the Allfather’s guidance, the Norlanders planted maple trees.
ᛅᛚᚠᚱᛁᛏ•ᚢᛁᚱᚾᛏᛅᚱ•ᛋᛅᛚᛁᚱ•ᛋᛁᛘ•ᚠᛅᚱᛅ•ᛁ•ᚢᚬᛏᚾᛁᚾ	Alfred verndar sálir sem fara í vötnin.	Alfred* protects souls that enter the waters.   *Alfred “The Martyr”
ᛅ•ᚦᛁᛋᚢᛘ•ᚠᚬᚱᛋᛁᚾᛏᚢᛘ•ᚠᚬᚱᛁᚱ•ᛋᚢᛁᚾ•ᚬᛚᚢᛘ•ᚴᛚᛁᚦᛁ	A þesum forsendum færir Sven ölum gleði	On these grounds, Sven* brings joy to all.   *Sven “The Bard” Eiriksson RuricOn these grounds, Sven* brings joy to all.   *Sven “The Bard” Eiriksson Ruric
ᚦᛁᛋᛁ•ᛋᛏᛁᚾ•ᚢᛅᚱ•ᚱᛁᛋᛏᚢᚱ•ᛅᚠ•ᚾᚬᚱᚦᛚᛁᚾᛏᛁᚾᚴᚢᛘ•ᛋᚢᚬ•ᛒᚱᛁᚾᛅᚢᛁ•ᚢᛁᚱᚦᚢᚱ•ᚢᚾᛏᛁᚱ•ᚢᛁᚱᚾᛏᛅᚱᚢᚬᚾᚴ•ᚠᚬᚦᚱ	Þessi steinn var reistur af Norðlendingum svo Brennawē verður undir verndarvæng Föðr	This stone was raised by Norlanders so Brennawē will be under protection of the Father.
ᚠᚨᛞᚢᚱᛉ ᚠᚱᚢᚦᛟ	Fadurz Fruþǭ	Father’s  Froth
ᚨᛚᛁᛊᚨᛊ  ᚨᚾᛊᛏᛁᛉ	Alisas Anstiz	Alisa’s Favour
ᚹᚨᚱᚨᛉ•ᛁᚾᚾᚨᚾᛖ•ᛗᚢᛚᛞᛟᛊᛏᚱᚨᚾᛞᛟ•ᛊᚨᛗᚨᛉ•ᛚᚢᚷᛟ•ᛖᛉ•ᛞᚨᚾᚲᚹᛁᛃᚨᚾᚨ	Waraz innanē Muldōstrandō samaz lugô ez dankwijaną	Beware within Mölströnd, as his flame darkens.
ᚦᛁᛋᛁ•ᛋᛏᛁᚾ•ᚢᛅᚱ•ᚱᛁᛋᛏᚢᚱ•ᛅᚠ•ᛋᚴᛁᛒᚢᚾ•ᚼᛅᚢᛅᚱᚦᛅᚱᛁᚾᛋ•ᛏᛁᛚ•ᛅᚦ•ᚼᛁᚦᚱᛅ•ᛒᚱᛅᚢᛏᚱᛁᚦᛁᚾᛏᚢᛦ•ᚾᚬᚱᚦᚢᚱᛚᛅᚾᛏᛋ	Þessi steinn var reistur að skipun yfirvarðarins til að heiðra brautryðjendur Norðurlands	This stone was raised by order of the High Keeper to honor the trailblazers of Norland
ᚺᚹᚢᚱᛒᛟᚾᚨ•ᛁᚾ•ᚷᚨᚷᛁᚾ•ᛊᛏᚨᛁᚾᚨᛉ•ᛁᚾ•ᛗᚢᚱᚷᛁᚾᚨᛉ•ᚨᛏ•ᛊᛖᚺᚹᚨᚾᚨ•ᚨᚢᚷᛟ•ᚠᚨᛞᚢᚱᛉ	Hwurbōną in gagin stainaz in murginaz at sehwaną augô Fadurz.	Look through the stone at dawn to see the eye of the Father.
ᛏᛁ•ᚦᛁᚾᛅᚾ•ᛋᛏᛁᚾ•ᛏᛁᛚ•ᚼᛁᚦᚢᚱᛋ•ᚠᚬᚦᚢᚱ•ᛋᛁᚾᚢᛘ•ᛋᛁᛘ•ᛚᛁᛋᛏ•ᛅ•ᛋᚢᚦᚢᚱᛚᛅᚾᛏᛁ•ᛁ•ᛋᛏᚱᛁᚦᛁ•ᚴᛁᚴᚾ•ᚢᛁᛚᛁᛏᛋ	[res]ti þenan sten til heðurs föður sinum sem lest a Suðurlandi i striði gegn Veletz	[rai]sed this stone in honor of their father who died in the Southernlands in the war against Veletz.
ᚦᚢᛁ•ᛅᚦ [???] ᛋᛏᛁᚴᚢ•ᚾᛁᚦᚢᚱ [???] ᚬᚴ•ᛏᚱᛅᛒᚢ•ᛒᛁᚬᚱᚾ•ᛅ•ᚦᛁᛋᚢᛘ•ᛋᛏᛅᚦ	Þvi•að [???]  stigu•niður [???] og•drapu•björn•a•þesum•stað	For the [???] descended [???] and slayed a bear at this spot.
ᛊᛁᛊᛁᛊᛁ•ᛊᛁᛜᚹᚨᚾᛞᚨᚢ   ᚢᚬᛏᛁᛦ•ᛘᚢᚾ᛫ᚢᛁᚱᚾᛏᛅ ᚢᛒᛋᚴᛁᚱᚢ•ᚬᚴᛅᚱ•ᚬᚴ•ᚠᚬᛚᚴ	Sisisi•singwandau   Vætir•mun•vernda upskeru•okar•og•fólk	Sing “sisisi”   “Fairies” will protect our crops and folk.
ᚢᛁᚴ•ᚱᛁᚦ•ᚼᛁᚱ•ᚼᛁᛋᛏᛁ•ᛋᛁᚾᚢ  ᚬᚴ•ᚼᛅᚾ•ᛋᛁᛏᛁ•ᛒᛁᚾ•ᚢᛁᚦ•ᛒᛁᚾ•ᚼᚬᛚᛏ•ᚢᛁᚦ•ᚼᚬᛚᛏ•ᚬᚴ•ᛋᛏᛁᚱᚴᛏᛁ•ᛅᛚᛏ	Vykk•reið•hér•hesti•sínu.    Og•hann•setti•bein•við•bein•hold við hold og styrkti allt.	Vykk* rode here on his horse.   And he put bone to bone, flesh to flesh, and strengthened all things.   *Vykk “The Builder” Volaren
ᚻᛖ•ᚹᚻᚩ•ᛁᛋ•ᚠᚪᛚᛡᚾᛏ•ᛘᚪᛁ•ᚠᛁᚾᛞ•ᚦᛖ•ᚷᚱᚪᛁᛚ•ᛁᚾ•ᚦᛖ•ᚳᚪᛋᛏᛚᛖ•ᚩᚠ•ᚪᚪᚱᚱᚷᚷᚻ.	He who is valiant may find the Grail in the Castle of AughhhARRGGH.	Castle of AARRGGH
ᚦᛁᛋᛁ•ᛋᛏᛁᚾ•ᚢᛅᚱ•ᚱᛁᛋᛏᚢᚱ•ᛏᛁᛚ•ᛅᚦ•ᚼᛅᚱᛘᛅ•ᛒᚱᚢᚾᛅ•ᛏᚬᚱᛁᛅᛏᚬᚱ	Þesi•sten•var•restur•til•að•harma•bruna•Toreador	This stone was raised to mourn the burning of Toreador
ᚽ ˎ ᛍ ˎ ◟ ⠃ ╮ ⡄	Högormur	Serpent
ᚼᛁᚱ•ᛁᚱ•ᛋᚬᛚᚴᛅᚱᛏ•ᛒᛁᚾ•ᛏᛁᛚ•ᚴᚬᚾᛅᚾ•ᛏᛁᚴᚾ•ᚬᚴ•ᚼᛅᚾᛋ•ᛘᛁᚾ	Her•er•Sólgard•byen•til•Konan•Tegn•og•hans•men	Ahead is Sólgaard, the vassal of Konan-Thegn and his men.
ᚢᚾᛞᛖᚱ ᚦᛖ ᚹᚺᛁᛏᛖ-ᛒᚨᚱᚲᛖᛞ ᛊᛖᚾᛏᛁᚾᛖᛚᛊ, ᚦᛖ ᚹᛁᚾᛞ ᚹᚺᛁᛊᛈᛖᚱᛊ ᛟᚠ ᛟᛚᛞ ᚷᛟᛞᛊ. ᛗᚨᛁ ᚦᛟᛊᛖ ᚹᚺᛟ ᛏᚱᛖᛞ ᚺᛖᚱᛖ ᚹᚨᛚᚲ ᚹᛁᚦ ᚲᛟᚢᚱᚨᚷᛖ, ᚠᛟᚱ ᚦᛖ ᚱᛟᛟᛏᛊ ᛟᚠ ᛁᚷᚷᛞᚱᚨᛊᛁᛚ ᚱᚢᚾ ᛞᛖᛖᛈ.		May those who tread here walk with courage, for the roots of Yggdrasil run deep.
᚛ᚐᚅᚅᚄ ᚐᚅ ᚉᚓᚐᚈᚆᚏᚐᚇᚇᚐᚏᚐ ᚁᚂᚔᚐᚇᚆᚅᚐ ᚈᚆᚐᚏ ᚃᚆᚔᚉᚆᚓᚐᚇ ᚐᚅᚅᚄ ᚐᚅ ᚇᚐᚏᚐ ᚂᚔᚅᚅ ᚉᚆᚐᚔᚇᚆ ᚇᚒᚅᚏᚐᚈᚆ ᚐ ᚄᚈᚓᚔᚇᚆᚓᚐᚉᚆᚐᚇᚆ᚜	Anns an dà fhicheadamh bliadhna, anns an dàrna linn, chaidh Dùnrath a stèidheachadh.	In the forty-second year, in the Second Era, Dùnrath was founded.
᚛ᚋᚑᚂᚐᚇᚆ ᚄᚒᚈᚆᚐᚏᚂᚐᚔᚅᚅ ᚐ ᚇᚆᚐᚑᚅᚐᚔᚉᚆ ᚇᚒᚅᚏᚐᚈᚆ᚜	Moladh Sutharlainn, a dh' aonaich Dùnrath.	Praise Sutharlainn, who united Dùnrath.
PRZED WAMI STOI LEDNA, OSADA LECHIAN, ZBUDOWANA PRZEZ KLAN KOS, NA CZELE Z TADEUSZEM KOS.    CHWAŁA PANU.	Przed Wami stoi Ledna, osada Lechian, zbudowana przez klan Kos, na czele z Tadeuszem Kos.    Chwała Panu.	In front of you stands Ledna, a Lechian settlement, built by the Kos clan, led by Tadeusz Kos.   Praise the Lord for it!

 

 

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This was made to bring attention, my underlying work of bringing core opportunities for people to explore Norland and its environment. I personally feel like LOTC has become enclosed in just jumping between Nation to Nation and not very much exploring environments that can be rp’d in solely, groups or even with Events. All of the discussed work here is just mundane ramblings and nothing has been confirmed by S.T presence. 

 

Work and chartered by: TheNameMCQ and Myself
Knights staring at runes: https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/8585055534261330/
Peasants pulling up runes: https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/1115766876405414647/ 

Viking & runestone: https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/208150814022286967/

 

[Samson Option 9652]

Spoiler

Are these runestones actually built & represented in-game? And are these all in Norland proper? I ask because I've raised a number of runestones as part of a separate culture but I don't believe any of them are in Norland and am happy to see that some care is being taken to appreciate between-nation landscapes!