wrote:
>
> As we know, all western languages share the same written system -
> called simply "Western". The Brithini claim that their spoken
tongue
> is derived from this written language and this was the writing
system
> employed by Zzabur. This is the language of sorcery. Most Malkioni
> (and Brithini) believe that Western is derived from the actual
> language of creation - or actually is the language of creation (as
> demonstrated by the "Abiding Book").
>
> As Umburudu the Whisperer (an influential God Learner of the 9th
> century and founder of the Sight of the Great Mind movement) wrote:
>
> "Since the Invisible God created the world by combining written
Runes
> (or graphemes) it must follow that these Runes were not
> representations of preexisting things, but the very things by which
> the elements of the universe are molded."
>
> While wandering around the Pergamonmuseum, Lawrence Whitaker and I
had
> a realization that the art of writing Western is a key component of
> Malkioni art. Phrases from the Abiding Book in beautiful and
> elaborate calligraphy decorate not only books, but walls, ceilings,
> weapons, coins, sculptures and everything else. These "decorations"
> are often more than mere art - they reinforce the essential nature
of
> what is being decorated. A fortress tower may have inscriptions
taken
> from the Abiding Book proclaiming "Hold fast and steady through your
> faith in the Creator" and a meeting room might have elaborate
designs
> that read "Be peaceable and agreeable; do not quarrel brethren of
the
> Prophet".
>
> For non-Malkioni, this can be extremely disturbing: sorcerous
> enscriptions are everywhere and on everything!
>
> Jeff
>
I like this. I imagine sometimes secrets may be encoded in the text
that adorns architecture and art as well, similiar to the codes/keys
to Grimoires. Would that be likely?
This also had me thinking of beautifully illustrated tomes and
illuminated texts (no - not THAT Illuminated...), which got me to
wondering: Do the Malkioni have Printing Presses? If not in the Third
Age did the Middle Sea Empire have them in the Second Age?