Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny/Runic Alphabet and Signs

Runic alphabet

The runic alphabet in the Ultima series is based on the Elder Futhark runes, used by Germanic and Scandinavian peoples at the time of the Roman Empire.

Runic signs

There are several signs around the world of Britannia written in runic alphabet.

• The signs on the overworld surface state the name of some locations, or give directions to nearby towns (e.g. "Deep Forest", "North to Britain, south to Trinsic")
• The signs in the dungeons are a sort of alternate name of the dungeons themselves; they are all translitterated on the dungeon maps, in the respective guide pages.
• The runes in the graveyards state the names of game testers and other staff members with funny epigraphs. All those real life people are alive and well!

Graveyard epigraphs

Graveyard in Yew:

• "May all who enter have forgiveness"
• "Here lies Jack,// Who was stretched on the rack"
• "Underneath is Leif,// Who turned out to be a thief"
• "Here lies Headwood,// No better than dead wood"
• "John was satanical,// He died on the manacles"
• "Here lies Yellowberg,// Cold as an iceberg"
• "Here lies Pat,// Got eaten by a rat"
• "Alas poor Fred,// He lost his head"
• "Here lies the lower half of Blackthorn's old jester"
• "Here lies the upper half of Blackthorn's old jester"

Graveyard in West Britanny:

• "Grave robbers will be prosecuted"
• "Strong and daring was young Laurel// Tried the falls in a barrel."
• "Tried to fly did poor young Tim// Fatal choice for a whim. "
• "Lost a fight did old Kirk// With the wrong side of a dirk."
• "Here we sadly buried Ian// What a bad boy he was bein'."
• "Here lies poor Colin// Off a cliff he had fallen."
• "Andre lies under earth's umbrella// Alas he died of salmonella."
• "In the pub was last seen Dale// The food he ate was more than stale."
• "Loved the women dashing Kurt// With the wrong one did he flirt."
• "Work harder said Miss Jean// Never again was she seen."
• "Far too frugal was Sir Robert// His employees lynched him to ease their povery."

Graves near Sutek's hut:

• "Here lies poor Richard buried alive// trying to finish Ultima Five."
• "Here lies Lebling in his coffin// kicked the dragon once too often."
• "He's no longer alive// he tried to drink and drive.// This has been a public service tombstone."

The first two graves on Sutek's island refer to Richard Garriott, author of the Ultima series, and Dave Lebling, lead programmer.