Inscribing Magic: Runes

In which Dyo waxes poetic about runes: the perfect marriage of linguistics and artistry that gives rise to magic!

I love runes! If I didn't feel strongly opposed to always choosing the same powers and features for my characters, I would always possess a runic magic feature. Actually, as a number of themes have an option for runic magic but also have hundreds of additional features, the likelihood is that any two rune-crazy characters would be different enough otherwise that there would be very little duplication. But before I try to convert all of your characters into rune scribes, let’s begin with the basics of runes:

Runes represent the power of language and the rites of ownership. In all cases, they are designed to transmit meaning, but there is an exclusionary aspect that invites those who desire knowledge not available to the average party-member. Runes are those mystical markings that appear arching over the top of a strange statue in the temple of some long-lost deity instructing you on her identity or some aspect of worship, or in the strange scrawling found on a note tucked into a book about astronomy that you discovered in your captain’s chambers—pirate treasure? Probably not. Perhaps a would-be ally inadvertently reveals an unusual rune tattooed onto his body— knowing that rune might help you pitch your cause to resonate with his values. In short, runes deliver information, often information that is closed to anyone who has not studied runes. Runes are considered arcana, and you might crack the code with a well-timed linguistics, ancient history, or even a faith check.

Knowledge is power— but in this case, power is not limited to KNOWING, but expanded to ENDOWING. That’s right, your character can also make runes as a form of inscribed enchantment— a great way to participate in magic without being strapped to a wand or investing all of your time and points in developing your talents.

RISE offers a certain number of pre-designed runes that pack a serious punch. Looking for a way to increase fire damage? Perhaps you’d like to increase your Intelligence modifier? Or maybe you’re a team player (I’m not saying you’re a cleric necessarily) and you’d like to grant a bonus to all of your allies’ mental defense. There are runes for each of these things. Indeed, you can even tattoo a rune on another character’s body, granting that character the rune’s effect!

To tap into the magical energy of runes, you must invest in a Runic Feature, several of which are available among the various themes. Runic magic is a form of Crafting, which means that runes require knowledge of how to make the rune in question (gained by research), materials with which to make the rune, and adequate time to make the rune. Runes also require their creator or creators to sacrifice a surge, which is really the only daunting part of making a rune, besides abject failure, resulting in a botched rune that is not activated, and the permanent loss of two hit points (but not a surge—that’s only if you’re successful). So, it’s worth taking the time to make sure that your skills are up to the task of making the specific rune you have in mind—let’s say, oh, the Rune of Learning. (If you’re reading a blog, I assume you like learning.)

Note that at a glance, runes are formatted much like any other power, but with specific rune components.

The Requirements indicate that (beyond the Runic Feature you are expected to possess) you must have a crafting competency for the medium upon which you are making the rune (leather, jewelry, stone, cloth, etc.). In general, any rune can be inscribed on any appropriate surface.

The Bonus section shows any knowledge areas that will aide you in crafting a specific rune. The Rune of Learning should appeal to folks who have invested effort in Ancient History, Artistry, and/or Linguistics; similarly, the Rune of Wounds (a +1 bonus to melee weapon keyword Hit damage) privileges those who possess Artistry, Linguistics, and Pankration. (Artistry and Linguistics are always assets to rune scribing, as runes are the ideal coalescence of the two; the other bonus-granting categories indicate the nature of the rune being inscribed.

The TC represents the amount of time and knowledge it would require. Thus, the formula seeks to replicate mathematically the real-life experience of making such a rune. In the case of the Rune of Learning, a 26 indicates a rather average difficulty, neither low-hanging nor out of bounds for a competent crafter. Runes are also a great forum for Collaboration, especially as players strive for more powerful runes to the benefit of the entire party.

The formula for making a rune is called a scribing check, which looks a little complicated.

Scribing check= 1d20 + scribing bonus + bonus to the selected competency + the attribute associated with the competency + the sum of each unmodified bonus from the acumen categories and competencies listed in the bonus section of a given rune. If your check equals or exceeds the rune’s listed TC (threshold check), the rune is scribed, and you may then empower the rune by sacrificing one surge. This is a permanent loss, unless the rune is later erased. However, RISE softens the blow by offering the opportunity to benefit from the Inscribed keyword power, which grants additional bonuses to particular powers.. This necessitates keeping up with how many runes you have created, but as each one is a work of art, and rather costly, so that shouldn’t be hard to do. These rune dice effects grant various forms of Wealth (added hit points), Power (bonus surges or a temporary boost to a given attribute score), or Victory (regain hit points or gain bonuses to attack and critical hit rolls).

Finally, the moment you’ve been waiting for: at the bottom of the rune’s description is its Effect. Although the name and the flavor text indicate its effect, the specifics are what help you choose between runes— because I guarantee that once you begin inscribing runes, you will find that your desire to create outstrips your surge availability. (But fear not: RISE offers a number of opportunities to gain bonus surges, like rune dice—and other means I will save for another post, another day. Keep reading the blog! We have lots of secrets to share with you).

I personally like to give runes as gifts, enhancing my allies’ experience while pointing out my character’s utility to the group and getting a little bonus return with the rune die. Additionally, runes offer opportunities for your creativity to range free, especially if your GM requires you to create a physical copy of the rune that your character is inscribing. We encourage you to offer your own rune ideas for consideration to your GM—and if you do so, please also submit it here, to RPGRISE.com— if we like it enough, we will take it for our own and include it in the official RISE runes. In that spirit, I will leave you with my first effort, the Rune of Grace.

May you find grace as you seek to meet or exceed your TC, and, in the event of success, may you always remember to roll your rune dice!

Original Rune of Grace