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LANGUAGES and BLADE RUNES

Many of the Swords of the Ancients feature runes in several different languages on the blades. Though some of the runes are translated on the certificates included with the swords, some are not. Below are the complete translations of the runes for most of the swords. There are four languages used on the swords and knives from the Swords of the Ancients world:

AERLUNDTAL
Lower Anath speech used by the Ancient Ones when speaking to mortals. Used on Luciendar. This is the language of Nasnandos in Dagorlund, created in the Second Age.

ANGLECAL
This is the modern language of Men and Elves in the Great Realm, created in the Fifth Age. Resembles old Anglo Saxon runes. Used on the Mithrodin Sword, Elexorien, Anathros, and Vorthelok.

ANNUNDTAL
Language of old Annundos, from the Second Age. Used on several of the swords as a secondary language. Used on the Avaquar sword and dagger, the Mithrodin sword, and Valermos (text on sides of center text), and an old form is seen on Luciendar.

THANT
Ancient language of the Anath. Used on the Exotath, Valermos (middle text), Anathar, and the BlackJet Dagger. From the First Age.


BLADE RUNE TRANSLATIONS

Anathros - Sword of the Earth
Written in the Anglecal runes of the Fifth Age. The Anathros text loosely translates as this:
Top runes: Earth-Master of Ammon
Bottom runes: Blessed by the Anath


Avoloch - Sword of the Enethia
Avo means soldier and loch means steel, and when combined meant "soldier of steel". Runes are written in Anglecal, the common language of Men and Elves in the Fifth Age.
Sword blade rune: Elliasthol family crest
Side blade: Avoloch will yield to none but truth
Back blade mark: The maker mark of Tethietol, the Elven swordsmith from the city of Castel in Deylund who forged this blade for King Elliasthol's daughter Enethia, on her seventeenth birthday when she became a Mith-avoloch warrior.


BlackJet Throwers
These are not technically from the Swords of the Ancients universe, but many people have asked what the runes mean. The large pommel mark on most of the throwers is the maker mark of Mahgnim. Mahgnim was an Elven weapon smith in the service of the Ancient Ones. His name means "destiny". The writing on the blade of the BlackJet Dagger is in Thant and translates as "friend in steel, may you fly true and straight to your destiny".


Elexorien - Sword of War - reforged second version
Runes are in Anglecal, the common language of Men and Elves in the Fifth Age, and modified Annundtal, the language of old Annundos. The runes tell of Elexorien’s powers to give the wielder strategic power and command to unify great multitudes for a single cause.
Small script to sides of center runes: These tell that the blade has been reforged from the original Elexorien blade made by the great Elven sword smith, Mahgnim.
Center runes: “By the Anath I command the unified throng as one”


Exotath - Sword of Agnemmel
All runes are in Thant, the language of the ancient Anath. The engraved scrollwork type design is actually the signature mark of Firaneth, and elven smith of Ammoria from the Third Age of Ammon. Rather than a typical signature mark, Firaneth always incorporated his mark into the decoration he applied to his blades.
The Thant runes loosely translate as this:
Two small runes at top left and two at top right (blade pointed down): These essentially say the "two are one", referring to the twin Exotath sword's joint power.
Left text, top to bottom with blade pointed down: By the Anath that which is to come is revealed to me
Right text, top to bottom with blade pointed down: By Evruc, master of the Ancients, I am empowered.
The name Exotath is in Thant. The word exo translates as oracle and tathî as steel. "Oracle of steel".


Luciendar - Sword of Light
All runes are Aerlundtal, the language of the Ancient Ones used when speaking to mortals, except the small script on the guard which is an old form of Annundtal, the language of old Annundos.
Blade runes: "Sword of revealing illumination", or "Sword of Light".
Center rune on hilt: "Mahgnim". Mahgnim was an Elven weapon smith in the service of the Ancient Ones and this is his maker mark.
Large left guard runes (blade point up): By the Anath I am become veiled.
Large right guard runes (blade point up): By the Anath all that is concealed is revealed to me.
Small left guard script (blade point up): Revealer of the spiritî. "Spirit" in this case means moral fiber of the soul.
Small right guard script (blade point up): Revealer of the enchanted and the architect.


Mithrodin Sword
This sword has both Anglecal and Annundtal runes.
Runes toward blade tip: "Honor ruled by steel" in Anglecal runes of the Fifth Age.
Runes toward hilt: "By blood I am the protector of the sacred steel" in Annundtal runes, the language of old Annundos.
Center rune between runes on left and right: This is the maker mark of Toukol, the elven weapon smith who forged the sword.


Valermos - Sword of Fire
Center runes are in Thant, the language of the ancient Anath. The Thant runes loosely translate as this:
Center text, top down: “Eternal Fire” (the large question mark looking rune). This may actually be the runic name of one of the Ancients, Nostdiev.
Left and right of Eternal Fire rune: Creator and Master of the Flames of Ammon
Center text below the Eternal Fire rune, top down: Ruler of Fire by Blood, Commander of the Death Spirit, Holder of the Dead by the Anath
The script down outer left and right near the top of the blade is in Annundtal runes and refers to Salicrem, the smith who forged the blade, and where it was forged.


Vorthelok - Sword of Atnal
The blade features Anglecal runes near the tang in that translate as “Out of Darkness Comes Light”. There are also runes engraved in the fuller by Evruc, written in Thant, that translate as “From my fire this sword, from my teeth this edge, in my hands all will yield”. They only appear when an Ancient One is near (only featured on the limited edition gold Vorthelok blade).