Yep, ascii characters.

Step 1:
Click Start - Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Character Map. This will list all the characters you can put into your hotkeys. Pick the ones you want, click the Cut button. Now go to step 2.

Step 2:
Open your EQ folder, find the <character name and server#>.ini file for your character. Inside the .ini file near the bottom will be all your hotkeys. Paste the ascii characters you cut from step 1 into the spots you want.

Step 3:
Click the File button, then Save As. You will see an encoding line at the bottom of this, make sure it is UTF - 8, then save.

You can also modify this file by windowing EQ during play, but you need to zone after you save it to have the new keys work.