Sigils, and Glyphs

The symbols of Halidom.

In Halidom, meaning can be carried in shape as well as words. Children are taught marks early, copying them in chalk while elders pass down the stories they hold. A spiral to remember the return of water. A web of dots to preserve songs carried through air.

Not every mark is recognized. Some are only fragments in old archives, or strange patterns woven into ropes. Others changed as they passed from one generation to the next. Adding lines or dots can alter meanings or preserve something "the experts" overlooked.

Some symbols reveal their full meaning only when paired with another. Two symbols can unlock directions neither can do separately.

Sigils

Sigils can identify a person, family, or faction. They appear on seals, clothing, keepsakes, and official records. Some are drawn or carved. Others are living marks encoded into a bloodline. A sigil may remain recognizable long after the person carrying it forgets what it means.

Glyphs

Glyphs carry memory, location, warning, or instruction. The children learn familiar glyphs, but the surviving vocabulary represents only a fraction of the original language. A glyph is not simply a picture of an object. It holds the stories behind them.

Take the Climber's Quiz from Elyra's Halidom survival guide class.