Gardiner’s Sign List: A Magical Addendum
written by Venita Wessex
Looking for a quick and easy reference for the uses of magical hieroglyhics? Look no further. Authors Arkaeus and Olin Baldric have created an excellent field guide for curse-breakers, magianthropologists, magiarchaeologists and more.
Last Updated
05/31/21
Chapters
31
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15,384
U. Agriculture, Crafts and Possessions.
Chapter 24
U2 (Variant of U1, “Sickle”)
Misinterpreted, not a variant. Miscategorized.
n/a || Manticore
Miscategorized: Is actually a manticore stinger.
Magical Uses, Meanings, Pairings: This sign implies either that something is imbued with a nasty Paralytic Curse created to mimic the effects of a Manticore’s stinger OR can mean that there are figurines in the shape of manticores that have been animated by enchantments. Neither situation is optimal.
U7 (Variant of U6)
Misinterpreted, not a variant. Miscategorized.
n/a || Phoenix
Miscategorized: Is actually a phoenix talon.
Magical Uses, Meanings, Pairings: Originally, this sign was more often involved in spells to assist the deceased into being reborn in the Afterlife. However, at some point in the many thousands of years its meaning shifted and began to be included in spells to do with fire.
U18 (Variant of U17)
Misinterpreted, not a variant.
n/a || Truth
Magical Uses, Meanings, Pairings: The next in a series of glyphs that judge worth, the presence of this symbol implies that one or more enchantments in the tomb are triggered by an enchantment that examines a person’s integrity. If they are found untrustworthy, or lie in its presence, the traps will be sprung. It is difficult to know if anyone has been judged worthy, as this glyph is most frequently noticed when a person is found unworthy and the traps have been triggered.
Anecdotes/Comments: Another anecdote to show the intricacy of these types of curses: Engaged in conversation, Archie promised me, adamantly, he never kissed that Ravenclaw bird we both liked back in Sixth Year. In the next instant he found himself hovering just inches above some ominous green substance (I had, being a kind soul, magically broken his fall) where before there had been solid floor.
U28 (Fire drill)
Ḏ3 || Be Prosperous, Be Healthy, May He Live
Magical Uses, Meanings, Pairings: Often used in conjunction with S34 and S29 to create the charm abbreviated as “LPH” or “life, prosperity, health”. Also used in both agricultural and semi-necromantic spells (the latter used for the deceased in tombs).
U29 (Variant of U28, “Fire drill”)
Misinterpreted, not a variant.
n/a || Flames, Fire
Magical Uses, Meanings, Pairings: Indicates the presence of Fireweed.
U30 (Kiln)
t3 || Hot, Mysterious
Magical Uses, Meanings, Pairings: Is used in Boiling Curses (if water is present) or in a number of spells such as the Heat-Wave Hex or the aggressive and dangerous versions of the Warming Charm applied directly to objects one might want to pick up.
U33 (Pestle)
ti || N/A
Magical Uses, Meanings, Pairings: Not necessarily magical. Can indicate a trigger that releases dangerous particles in the air (poison vapor) or can indicate that something sinister has been ground up in an inconvenient place. Think ground erumpent horn coating the provided, unlit torches on the walls.
U38 (Scales)
n/a || Scale
Magical Uses, Meanings, Pairings: Another of many glyphs that judges the worth of the person.
U40 (Variant of U39, “Scale post”)
n/a || Weight
Magical Uses, Meanings, Pairings: Indicates a spell is set off (or avoided) by pressure being applied or lifted.
Misinterpreted, not a variant. Miscategorized.
n/a || Manticore
Miscategorized: Is actually a manticore stinger.
Magical Uses, Meanings, Pairings: This sign implies either that something is imbued with a nasty Paralytic Curse created to mimic the effects of a Manticore’s stinger OR can mean that there are figurines in the shape of manticores that have been animated by enchantments. Neither situation is optimal.
U7 (Variant of U6)
Misinterpreted, not a variant. Miscategorized.
n/a || Phoenix
Miscategorized: Is actually a phoenix talon.
Magical Uses, Meanings, Pairings: Originally, this sign was more often involved in spells to assist the deceased into being reborn in the Afterlife. However, at some point in the many thousands of years its meaning shifted and began to be included in spells to do with fire.
U18 (Variant of U17)
Misinterpreted, not a variant.
n/a || Truth
Magical Uses, Meanings, Pairings: The next in a series of glyphs that judge worth, the presence of this symbol implies that one or more enchantments in the tomb are triggered by an enchantment that examines a person’s integrity. If they are found untrustworthy, or lie in its presence, the traps will be sprung. It is difficult to know if anyone has been judged worthy, as this glyph is most frequently noticed when a person is found unworthy and the traps have been triggered.
Anecdotes/Comments: Another anecdote to show the intricacy of these types of curses: Engaged in conversation, Archie promised me, adamantly, he never kissed that Ravenclaw bird we both liked back in Sixth Year. In the next instant he found himself hovering just inches above some ominous green substance (I had, being a kind soul, magically broken his fall) where before there had been solid floor.
U28 (Fire drill)
Ḏ3 || Be Prosperous, Be Healthy, May He Live
Magical Uses, Meanings, Pairings: Often used in conjunction with S34 and S29 to create the charm abbreviated as “LPH” or “life, prosperity, health”. Also used in both agricultural and semi-necromantic spells (the latter used for the deceased in tombs).
U29 (Variant of U28, “Fire drill”)
Misinterpreted, not a variant.
n/a || Flames, Fire
Magical Uses, Meanings, Pairings: Indicates the presence of Fireweed.
U30 (Kiln)
t3 || Hot, Mysterious
Magical Uses, Meanings, Pairings: Is used in Boiling Curses (if water is present) or in a number of spells such as the Heat-Wave Hex or the aggressive and dangerous versions of the Warming Charm applied directly to objects one might want to pick up.
U33 (Pestle)
ti || N/A
Magical Uses, Meanings, Pairings: Not necessarily magical. Can indicate a trigger that releases dangerous particles in the air (poison vapor) or can indicate that something sinister has been ground up in an inconvenient place. Think ground erumpent horn coating the provided, unlit torches on the walls.
U38 (Scales)
n/a || Scale
Magical Uses, Meanings, Pairings: Another of many glyphs that judges the worth of the person.
U40 (Variant of U39, “Scale post”)
n/a || Weight
Magical Uses, Meanings, Pairings: Indicates a spell is set off (or avoided) by pressure being applied or lifted.