A Warning in Gothic

Description:

This puzzling assemblage of symbols is a sample of text in the Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic idiom used by ancient tribes that invaded the Roman Empire in the 4th and 5th centuries A.D. The language seems to have served as a kind of coded messaging system for the reclusive guild of 17th-century artisans behind Tim’s family artifacts, enabling them to communicate their efforts undetected by the broader world. This particular text formed part of an inscription at the center of the portent-filled stone tablet among Tim’s family heirlooms. When deciphered, it was found to bear a dire warning about a shadowy force or entity that would arise in the wake of a horrific clash of arms. The nature of this entity is not elaborated upon anywhere else among the heirlooms, but Tim comes to fear its presence and a frightening connection to his own recent torments in May of 2025.