In the case of the Hafskjold–Stav tradition this means the 16 runes of the Younger futhork. The futhork is represented below.

Stav is a living tradition which has been passed down by the Hafskjold family over many centuries. From the 5th century until the present day the Hafskjold family have lived in the same part of Norway where their relative isolation enabled them to pass on their traditions from one generation to the next.