Runic Alphabet

Overview
Since the first entry in the series, the Ultima games made use of the Runic Alphabet on its maps and game manuals (see especially The Book of Mystic Wisdom from Ultima IV). Beginning with Ultima V, it was also used for many of the in-game signs, books, etc. For example, the words of power are only told in runic and one important message from the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom has to be manually translated. This alphabet is especially present in Ultima V and Ultima VI, less so in Ultima VII and Ultima VII Part Two. In the former, Batlin claims that it is slowly being replaced by the lital alphabet. While this can't be claimed for most of the signs, tombstones, etc. in Britannia, the Fellowship was never seen using the runic alphabet.

The Translation spell found in Serpent Isle can translate both these runes and the ancient Ophidian writing. Runic is strong in use on Serpent Isle, but not in the ruins of the Ophidians, who had developed their own alphabet.

By Ultima IX, the runic alphabet could only be seen on the Maps of Ultima IX Towns and it was stated that the usage of it (probably in no small part due to the Great Cataclysm) has went down significantly.

It is based on the Germanic / Norse runic alphabet.

High resolution image


Note that Q is missing. Q has its own symbol, but it's on the chart above.

Trivia

 * The letters that are used for two latin letters are only seldomly used, since most likely they couldn't be typed into a translator without problem by a programmer. This also goes for all true-type fonts.


 * The alphabet is used in both parts of Ultima Underworld for the magic system.


 * The Stranger can't read runic in Ultima IV, which hints that he or she didn't have much exposure to it in the previous adventures in Sosaria. This kind of makes sense as a medival society in the midst of huge wars wouldn't have much to read.