Romandre

Romandre is a term used in speculative fiction and worldbuilding to denote a fictional writing system and the language associated with a particular ancient or secretive culture. In many works, Romandre serves as a cryptic medium for lore, treaties, and genealogies, and it is frequently used in puzzles and treasure-hunt elements within role-playing games.

Etymology and development: The name Romandre is employed as a proper noun across different authors, and there is no single canonical origin. Writers vary its linguistic background, sometimes linking it to a Romance-derived lineage, other times treating it as an entirely isolated system. Because it is a fictional construct, the details of its derivation and history differ by work.

Script and language: The Romandre script is typically described as a hybrid system—combining logographs with an auxiliary alphabet. Sign inventories commonly range from two dozen to several dozen signs, and inscriptions appear on stone, wood, or metal. Features often include diacritics for vowel length or tonal distinctions, ligatures for frequent sounds, and sometimes variable writing direction, such as right-to-left or boustrophedon. Grammatical descriptions in fiction portray Romandre as synthetic and agglutinative, with a flexible word order that authors use to suit narrative needs.

Cultural role and usage: In fiction, Romandre encodes genealogies, sacred oaths, and maritime laws. The script is valued for its ceremonial resonance and the sense of mystery it imparts to inscriptions. It is commonly depicted in fantasy novels, ethnographic supplements for tabletop role-playing games, and conworld-building guides.

See also: constructed language, fictional writing system, paleography, conlang.