runic script

Xenari uses a runic stroke-based script. Each glyph is built from vertical, diagonal, horizontal strokes and dots. No closed shapes. No curves. Sharp angles only. Designed to be scratched into stone, bone, or ward surfaces.

write it

type ordinary Xenari transliteration; the text remains selectable Latin underneath, but the font renders its runes. ny and ng are real ligatures.

Xenari transliteration ra vi qex ka neq ta toq sa xa

stroke inventory

stroke	description
│	vertical — a straight top-to-bottom carved line
─	horizontal — a short straight cross-cut
╱	diagonal — a straight rising or falling slash
·	dot-peck — a tiny horizontal incision used as a dot

vowels (5)

simplest runes, 1-2 strokes each.

i Needle 1 stroke

e Left Thorn 1 stroke

a Right Thorn 1 stroke

o Fork 2 strokes

u Low Fork 2 strokes

stops (8)

compact impact marks, 2-3 strokes.

p Split Fang 2 strokes

b Bound Fang 2 strokes

t Crown Stake 2 strokes

d Root Stake 2 strokes

k Upper Hook 2 strokes

g Lower Hook 2 strokes

q Deep Gate 3 strokes

' Cut Breath 3 strokes

fricatives (6)

the harshest sounds get the most complex runes. 3-4 strokes.

f Smoke Spur 3 strokes

s Hiss Ladder 3 strokes

z Voiced Hiss 3 strokes

c Glass Thorn 3 strokes

x Scratch Cross 4 strokes

h Open Breath 4 strokes

nasals & liquids (6)

rooted, resonant marks. 3-4 strokes.

m Twin Root 3 strokes

n Single Root 3 strokes

ny Bent Root 3 strokes

ng Deep Root 4 strokes

r Tremor 4 strokes

l Lateral Reed 4 strokes

particle markers

grammatical sigils, not phonetic letters. written before the romanized particle's normal phoneme runes in formal inscriptions.

case Claim Notch marks case particles: ka, ra, ta, na, fa, mo 3 strokes

tense Time Ladder marks tense/aspect: lo, ve, sa, du, pe, ko 4 strokes

evid Eye Trace marks evidentials: xa, xe, xi, xo 4 strokes

boundary & name marks

special marks for word separation and proper names.

sep Ash Break word boundary — separates words in dense inscription 2 strokes

name< True-Name Left Ward written before a proper name 3 strokes

>name True-Name Right Ward written after a proper name 3 strokes

proper name example

name marks wrap around a proper noun like a ward-frame. in a culture where true names give power over the bearer, this is both punctuation and protection.

[name<] n i q [>name] → marks niq as a proper noun

design notes

vowels are single-axis marks or simple forked marks
voiced/unvoiced stop pairs mirror each other without becoming identical
fricatives use scratch, hiss, or breath motifs — more visual turbulence for harsher sounds
nasals root downward or inward, reflecting resonance in the body
q is the heaviest stop — a gate-like form for uvular weight
glottal stop is a broken cut, not a staff — matching its role as interruption
particle markers use repeated dot-pecks or stacked bands — grammar before sound
name marks wrap around names like a ward-frame

full reference chart

all 25 phoneme runes, particle markers, and special marks in one chart.