The Phonetics of Magic Syllables

From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki

These syllables are the basis of the magic spells as used in Ultima V. They are interesting for the understanding of the Gargish language, because the Gargish alphabet is based on phonetic sounds. The importance of the following table was first shown by Minstrel Dragon. It should be noted, that the Gargish runes are substituted by their equivalent modern characters. Note that the Gargish characters ng and zh are written as a single rune.

Syllable Idea Sound Gargish Writing

AN negate ah n an

BET small b eh t bet

CORP death k oar p korp

DES down d eh ss des

EX freedom x eks

FLAM flame fl ah m flam

GRAV energy gr ah v grav

HUR wind h oo r hur

IN create ih n in

KAL invoke k ah l kal

LOR light l oa r lor

MANI life m ah n ee mani

NOX poison n ah ks naks

POR movement p oar por

QUAS illusion kw ah ss kuas

REL change r eh l rel

SANCT protection s aa ng kt sae(ng)kt

TYM time t ih m tim

UUS up oo ss uus

VAS great v ah ss vas

WIS knowledge w ee ss uis

XEN creature z eh n (zh)en

YLEM matter aye l eh m ailem

ZU sleep z oo zu

In the era of Ultima VI ancient syllables and spells were rediscovered, obviously closely linked to the Gargish language. The pronounciation of these syllables is not sure, but if we compare with the Gargish words, the following table is quite assuring:

Syllable Idea Sound Gargish Writing

JUX danger j oo ks juks

ORT magic oa rt ort

Another important role in Gargish language play the mantras an Avatar must know to pray in the ancient shrines of Britannia. The mantras are associated with the virtues the Britannian society used to consider important.

Mantra Virtue Sound Gargish Writing

AHM Honesty ah m am

MU Compassion m oo mu

RA Valor r ah ra

CAH Sacrifice k ah kah

BEH Justice b eh beh

SUMM Honor ss oo m summ

OM Spirituality oh m om

LUM Humility l oo m lum

MUL Pride m oo l mul