Overview
Within this guide is a cypher that will show you how to translate the HLD language to English. Also included are the translations for all the monoliths and the Library (hidden behind spoiler tags for those who want to decode them themselves).
Introduction
Throughout the world of Hyper Light Drifter you will come across glyphs such as at the shops or on the monoliths. This got me curious and thinking, what do they say? I used the glyphs at the shops in town as a starting point and managed to create a full cypher for decoding the glyphs throughout the game. If you’re thinking about decoding them yourself be ready to spend quite a bit of time decoding!
Cypher
This cypher shows the letters of the alphabet and their corresponding in-game glyphs. Some glyphs represent two letters instead of one and are color coded accordingly.
Using the Cypher
The glyphs are read from top to bottom instead of from left to right.
With this knowledge, we can start matching glyphs to our cypher. Let’s decipher the sign above.
Using the cypher we can see that the first word on the sign is “Sword”. Try using the cypher to translate the second word. The completed translation should spell out “Sword Master”.
Decoding the Monoliths
This is what many of us are really here for, so let’s get to it! Myself and my friend NoDuckNoDodge have spent hours going through and decoding each of the 16 monoliths.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Click for enlarged image⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀—⠀N⠀O⠀R⠀T⠀H ⠀—
- Monolith 1: TRANSCENDENCE FAITH IN MORTALITY
- Monolith 2: RIFTS CRAFTED, DANGEROUS POTENTIAL
- Monolith 3: A FOUNDATION FOR FAITH & VIOLENCE
- Monolith 4: A LOSS OF SELF, A NARROW PATH TRAVELED
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀—⠀S⠀O⠀U⠀T⠀H ⠀—
- Monolith 5: OVERWHELMING WONDERS AND POWER
- Monolith 6: DESPERATE HUNGER FOR PROGRESS
- Monolith 7: DISTORTION OF LIFE, DEVOURING BODY
- Monolith 8: THE FIRST VICTIM OF THE INVASION
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀—⠀E⠀A⠀S⠀T⠀—
- Monolith 9: AN ISOLATED PEOPLE FEARFUL & OBSESSED
- Monolith 10: OFFERING OF A GREAT CLEANSING FLAME
- Monolith 11: A POISONED, MADDENED HOMELAND
- Monolith 12: FRAGILE BALANCE SCORCHED, UNDONE
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀—⠀W⠀E⠀S⠀T⠀—
- Monolith 13: PRECIOUS MOMENTS CAPTURED BY CRYSTAL
- Monolith 14: A STILLNESS OF MIND, SKILL HONED SHARP
- Monolith 15: MIDNIGHT LOOMING
- Monolith 16: TRAPPED BY DESPERATION TO REMAIN
The Library
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Click for enlarged image
After finding all 16 monoliths the full text of the library is revealed. This text translates to the following:
HARNESSING A GREAT WELLSPRING, A PERFECT IMMORTAL CELL WAS CRAFTED TO BE IMBUED WITHIN ALL SENTIENT LIFE A NOBLE GOAL, THOUGH SUCH A POWER TERRIFIED OTHERS, AND BROUGHT RUIN AS ITS PURPOSE WAS TRANSMOGRIFIED
THE ABHORRENT CELL STILL FESTERS DEEP IN THE CHAMBERS OF THIS WORLDIf you have any suggestions on what you want me to add, feel free to ask below!