Runecharm

Runecharms are items that allow their users to cast spells without any magical talent. Used by all citizens of Ellondoth to access the Weave and cast spells at will, runecharms are truly wondrous items that work as an easy interface for any person to make use of the various applications of runemagic conceived by high elven arcanists.
Contents

Properties

Runecharms are made to resemble jewelry, infused with runemagic and fixed with gems that can store arcane energy. The final product works by accessing arcane information, i.e. spells, from the Weave and using metamagic to resolve incantations without the need for traditional spell components.
Runecharms are telepathically linked to their wearers, and through the runecharm the wearer is connected to the vast telepathic communication network of the Weave. The various functions of runecharms are controlled by the wearer through this telepathic link, but some models also recognize somatic gestures and spoken keywords.
Greater Arcane Focus. Runecharms channel arcane energy thanks to the magical gemstones embedded in them and the runes inscribed on them. They not only function as spell focuses for a person's own spellcasting but also potentiate any spells cast through them. Depending on the chosen gemstones and runes, runecharms can also store varying amounts of arcane energy.
Metamagic Focus. Almost all runecharms allow spellcasters to modify their spells easily with metamagic. Casting times can be shortened, material costs ignored, and so on.
Magic Wands Redesigned. Runecharms function like traditional -- or, rather, archaic -- magic wands and rods do, in that they can store spells that can be released by the wielder. Runecharms improve upon this concept by using metamagic to remove all demands that would be imposed on the person releasing the spell; absolutely no magical talent is required to cast any spell stored within a runecharm. Moreover, the spells can be replenished by accessing the myriad merchants that sell spells via the Weave. For a certain price paid in Glyphs, the currency of Ellondoth, the wielder of a runecharm can receive new spells into their runecharms from anywhere across the nation in an instant.
Personal Repository. Runecharms facilitate their spell-storing and metamagic functions with so called channeling-components -- gemstones or crystals that have been made into miniature runic repositories. These downsized repositories can be used by the wielder to store any kind of knowledge in the runecharm: short notes or textbooks worth of text, mental images, songs, smells, feelings, and even complete memories that can be later recalled with perfect clarity.
Easy to Use. Runecharms are designed so that they can be used by anyone regardless of intellect, skill or arcane talent. Different kinds of telepathic control mechanisms are used, but most typically runecharms communicate with their wielder by telepathic messages or by manifesting visual images and symbols that can be interacted with. Such visualizations can be made either with enchantment spells -- to make only the wielder see the images -- or with illusion spells -- to allow other people to see the images as well.
Compound Effects. Multiple runecharms can be worn at any one time. Their control mechanisms facilitate the linking of runecharms with each other, seamlessly combining the effects of their repositories and spell stores.

Practical application

Runecharms can be made from practically any material, metal being the most common followed by certain rare woods. However, the very nature of magical runes demands that their form is not altered lest they cease to function, and thus all runecharms are enchanted with strong magics that make them immune to all wear and tear.
Runes are most often inscribed on the hidden back sides of surfaces so that they do not tarnish the aesthetic of the otherwise fashionable accessory, but certain manufacturers, such as Paragon Craftworks, produce series of runecharms with visible runes for niche audiences.

Benefits

The invention of runecharms was a critical point in the development of Ellondothan society. Allowing spellcasting of practically limitless degree to anyone and everyone, runecharms allowed the harnessing of magical solutions in every aspect of life for every citizen of the nation. They ushered in a golden age that lasts to this day -- an age in which everyone can live in comfort and prosperity, nature thrives due to civilization no longer being reliant on exploiting it, and everyone is free to pursue activities beyond those that are necessary for mere survival. Truly, runecharms are a revolutionary innovation and the pinnacle of Ellondothan advancements in the art of runemagic.

by Beyhan Akman

Above: Small wrist-worn runecharm with a single focusing gemstone. Such runecharms are not the most powerful nor the most expensive, but many elves favor them during leisure activity for their lightness and practical size. This particular piece is from the Starlight series made by Talion, one of the largest manufacturers of runecharms.

Access and availability
Runecharms are an innovation unique to Ellondoth and kept entirely secret from other civilizations.
Utility
Runecharms allow their wearer access to the Weave and cast arcane spells regardless of magical talent.
Manufacturing
Runecharms are made from beautiful metals and magical gemstones. They are deeply enchanted and inscribed with runes.
Complexity
The physical production of runecharms is no more complex than jewelcrafting, but turning a simple fashion accessory into a runecharm requires absolute mastery of so many arcane fields of study -- spellcraft, item enhancement and metamagic to name a few -- that their production is, simply put, the pinnacle of Ellondothan mastery of magic.

by Armando Grillo

Above: Runecharms can be made into fashion statements. Despite looking physically unwieldy, even the most extravagant runecharm does not need to sacrifice magical power.

Gallery

by Jana Kriger Beads & Wire

Above: Simplicity is the calling card of Paragon Craftworks, a high-end runecharm manufacturer owned by the Feriond circle. Their models focus on streamlined design. This piece is from Paragon's Charisma series.

by Alena Stavtseva

Above: Not all runecharms are worn on the wrist or hands. Mid-tier manufacturer Talion is known to release collections that contain not only bracelets but anklets, armlets, diadems and necklaces.

by Julie De Moura

Above: A powerful set of three runecharms made by Hyperion Designs, consisting of a pauldron, bracer and gauntlet for one arm. Runecharms are made in all sizes, and more than one can be worn at once for increased effects.