Runes

Table of Contents

Guild notice—Introduction to runes

Written by Mistress Alina Lange for the rune guild.

Runes are well known symbols used in runic magic in combination with geometrical pattern tracings so as to manipulate the flows of magic and give them certain properties.

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Runic diagrams vs Runes

Geometrical patterns

Runes are very basic geometrical patterns and act in similar ways to what we call the geometrical pattern tracings in runic magic.
One important difference is that magic does not travel through runes directly. Instead, runes exercise an external influence on the magic flowing through the lines traced near them.

Symbolism

Runes are also a form of symbolic magic. But don't be afraid, even if the term symbolic magic immediately make you think of rituals, which have all been oulawed for their dangerousness.
Rune magic is ancient, extremely well studied, and fully under our control. At least so long as you follow the rules and do not improvise.

Implications

What this means is that, while the geometry of the runes is determined by laws of nature and so is shared by all on the planet, their symbolic aspect makes them very country-dependant.
Thus, the possibilities are endless and so is the number of runes. Do not slouch in your studying.

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Examples of runes

Name: the circle
Symbols: stagnation, constant flow, protection
Uses: to surround & contain (e.g. wards), to trigger a movement or the flow of stagnant magic

Name: the branch
Symbols: division
Uses: to divide and sort flows of magic (the angle and lengths of the branch determining by how much)

Name: the broken circle
Symbols: an explosion
Uses: to accelerate flows of magic or to give magic the properties of shock (e.g. to create an attack)

Name: the buckle
Symbols: dead-end, slow down
Uses: to stop & immobilise flows of magic or give these properties to magic (e.g. wards & shields

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See our "Introduction to runic magic" to learn more about the applications of runes and how they differ from other forms of magic.

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