The script has only ever appeared in the Akaviri Diary found in a display case behind the Countess of Bruma’s throne in TESIV: Oblivion. The diary is believed to have belonged to an Akaviri messenger during the Akaviri invasion of northern Tamriel in 1E 2703.
The Countess provides a translation of the Akaviri text, indicating that people in the 3rd era are still capable of reading Akaviri. However, the symbols found in the original text have not been matched to those of the translated version.
Some symbols and the style of some symbols of the Akaviri Script resemble those of the “Divine Script”, that is the script found on the Eye of Magnus and various items associated with Apocrypha.
Character Map
The numbers assigned to each symbol are arbitrary are only there to assist with discussions about the symbols. They should not be taken as that symbol’s translation.
It should be noted that while the symbols found in Sky Haven Temple are known to be Tsaesci (Dragonguard), the script in the Messenger’s Diary is only ever referred to as “Akaviri,” and could therefore belong to a different culture.
Symbols of Interest:
- D1: This symbol is almost identical to the #2 symbol on the Divine Script character map.
- E7: This symbol is similar to the letter “D” in the Dragon Alphabet.
- A7: This symbol is very similar to the #1 symbol on the Divine Script character map.
- #1: This is the only symbol to have a known translation. It means “Dragonborn”.
Please note that some of the symbols are similar to one another.
The following is a list of those symbols.
- A6, B2, B6, C6, D6, E2, E6, H6
- A7, B8, C2, F9, G1, G9, H9, I1, I2, I3, I4
- D4, E4, F4
- A2, A8, D2, D8, E8, F8
- A4, C8, F1
- A3, B3, B9, C3, D3, E3, F3, G6, H7
- G4, G5
- D9, E9
- D5, H1
- G3, H2
- B7, C7, D7
Akaviri Diary Translation
Based on the layout of the letter, it is very likely that the text is written in vertical columns, starting at the top and going down. Based on the location of the Date sign, it’s likely that the columns are meant to be read right to left.
These lines of dots and dashes appear at the top-right corner of both pages of the Messenger’s Diary. Based on the translated text, these can be inferred to be dates.
If one assumes that the dots represent zeros and the slashes ones we end up with two numbers: “00011” and “000111”. In binary this translates into “3” and “7”. Whether by coincidence or by design, the first two entries of the translated version of the diary (as seen in-game) are “Day 3” and “Day 7”. This strongly implies that the Tsaesci used binary numbers. We can assume that that the + symbol represents the word “day” and is not part of the actual binary number. The translated version of the diary also contains entries for Days 8, 9, and 11. This means that there are missing pages in the untranslated version.
It has also been speculated that the — symbol represents a full stop, given the sentence length and structure.
The following are the two images found within the untranslated version of the Messenger’s Diary accompanied by the in-game translations of the first two entries, Day 3 and Day 7, of the diary.
Day Three
It is with a heavy heart and a trembling hand that I pen this latest entry. It has been several days since I have seen anyone else on the road from our garrison at Grey Ridge. The road is lonely and treacherous. I am rationing my supplies to prepare for a tough path ahead. As long as Reman Cyrodiil’s army hasn’t located our headquarters at Pale Pass, the journey should be fairly uneventful. I admit, I am nervous. It is an honor to be selected to carry these orders to our fort, but sending me alone is a calculated risk. While it is not my own life I am worried about, it is the importance of the contents of the orders that aggrieves me. If they are somehow lost, the fort will not know that their supplies are going to be delayed by a month. Without that knowledge, the fort may choose to press the attacks on the front line as their supplies dwindle. They are counting on those supplies to be there sooner. I must not fail getting this message there. The slate rock that the orders have been carved upon for safety weighs me down; it is a constant reminder of the more than physical burden that I carry.
Day Seven
It has been two days, and I have finally arrived at Dragonclaw Rock. The huge formation is a welcome and invigorating sight. The giant stone appears to reach down from the north and strike at the heart of Remus’ forces like our armies have been doing for the better part of a year now. I have still encountered no one else on this trail. I hope that as I head due west along the narrow path, I will find someone who can give me some news as to how our men are faring in the war.
