A Nordic warhorn bearing runic engravings - by Yulia Startsev; ©Fantasy Flight Games
Runes were used by the early Nedes and Atmorans as a writing system. They were engraved on stones and other objects but were not written in books or scrolls. They are thought to be magical.
About[]
The Atmorans and early Nedes used runic writing systems. In the College at Lillandril, the exact meaning of most runes is disputed to this day.
The runes of the Nedes can be found all over Tamriel. In High Rock, on the lid of the sepulcher of King X, located in Leyawiin, depicts the King with his hands folded over the shaft of a stone greatsword. The runes upon the sword, telling the sword's name and history, have been worn away. From the countless petty kingdoms once found in Cyrodiil, the names of only a few legendary kings and heroes can be found in runes on weathered stones.
The runes of the Nedes can also been found upon stone monuments.
History[]
The Nedes left their runes on cave walls, stones, and the ruins of now-fallen strongholds in most of central and northern Tamriel, which tell their stories to this day. In Hammerfell, where the Nedes were few, the Nedes resorted to carving their tales into the trunks of trees, few as they may be, which have rotted away through time.
Runes themselves come from the Atmoran culture of the northern continent of the same name. The Atmorans used runic writing systems, which were brought to Tamriel over many centuries when Atmorans gradually left Atmora in search of new lands. Those Atmorans that left would eventually become the Nedes of antiquity, and maintained both their runic writing system as well as their language, known as the Old Tongue, with few variations.