Runes are strands of magic pulled from a wielders' power, woven into geometric patterns for specific uses, then placed into an object for either immediate work or usage at a later date.[1]
| “ | Runes are the great equalizer. | ” |
–Trissa, Iron Flame Chapter 45 | ||
General Information[]
**To see more about the general magic system within the Empyrean series please read this.
Runes are technically a logo-syllabic language, which are unique to Tyrrendor and Tyrrish culture. After the Unification, runes were banned so that they would not fall into the wrong hands. Runes were such a part of Tyrrish architecture that changing it to remove runes after Unification couldn't be justified.[2]
Runes are wielded power that are woven for set purposes. They are strands of magic pulled from the magic wielder's power, woven into geometric patterns for specific uses, then placed into an object, either for immediate work or for usage at a different time. This process is called "tempering". The rune will activate when triggered to perform whatever action it was tempered for.[1]
Every shape has meaning. The points where the power is tied change the meaning. Combining shapes changes the meaning and thus changes the rune (ie: activation time, or frequency of activation before depletion). The combination of shapes to make specific symbols makes the use of runes nearly limitless. The wielder has to choose the object, or medium, and the amount of magic they imbue for their rune carefully (i.e. a simple heating rune on wood can start a fire with too much magic). Magic, or power, is temperamental when the wielder pulls it from their source (i.e. dragon, gryphon, or the ground). The closer a wielder is to their source, the easier it is to pull and manipulate the power.
When a flier becomes adept at runes, they are able to compete with a fair amount of signets. All fliers at the Cliffsbane Flight Academy are taught to create and use runes, whereas riders from Basgiath War College are not. The rider cadets that chose to join the revolution and went to Riorson House to continue to train started to learn how to create and use runes.
Tempering[]
Tempering is the act of weaving magic into geometric patterns and placing them into objects.
Process of Tempering[]
- Separate a strand of magical power, typically the most complicated step to learn
- "let the power fill your mind, then reach in and visualize plucking a thread of it from the current." - Trissa[1]
- Shape it, and tie it off to form the meaning
- Place the rune into an object by pressing it down or into it.
Limitations[]
- How much power is imbued
- Length of time the rune is set to last
- How many uses it has before depleting
Known Runes[]
| Rune | Ability | Appearence |
|---|---|---|
| Siphoning | Runes woven to draw specific power.[3] | TBD |
| Unlocking | Runes designed to unlock doors. This rune can be used by someone who doesn't possess lesser magic. | Intricate swirls and ties.[4] |
| Masking | Can hide something, or somewhere from detection. [5] | TBD |
| Countering Signets/Gifts | Can counter or block a specific ability. For example, one of Violet's daggers has the ability to block Cat from using her gift on Violet. | Intertwined Vs.[6] |
| Protection | Can protect whoever carries the rune. For example, Colonel Mairi created runes to protect the children of the rebellion leaders from dragonfire.[7] | TBD |
| Ward Raising | These are carved onto ward stones, which allow them to be imbued and set ablaze to raise wards. | Aretia's wardstone has a series of circles, at least six feet across, with each circle within the next and boasting a rune carved in along its path. It's almost the same pattern as on the pages of Warrick's journal.[5]
Basgiath's wardstone has identical runes, but they are interrupted by a diamond pattern.[8] There are seven runes in total on the stone. |
| Ward Extending | When imbuded on Alloy, it boosts the power of a wardstone to extend the protected area. | TBD |
| Summoning[9] | Acts as a beacon. Can be countered with an unlocking rune.[10] | TBD |
| Heating | Creates heat, enough to melt ice in seconds or set wood aflame.[1] | |
| Fire | Creates fire; often carried by fliers as a way to light a torch if they are in a dark area.[10] | TBD |
| Suspension | A rune which can suspend people or objects in mid-air. These runes are used on the Rybstand chest.[11] | TBD |
| Hearing | Can boost the user's hearing ability.[7] | Triangular with at least four shapes.[7] |
| Wyvern Creation | Venin can use this rune to turn a stone into wyvern.[12] | TBD |
| Tracking | Is capable of tracking someone else's rune.[13] | TBD |
| Explosion | Can be added and imbued onto arrowheads to explode on impact.[8] | TBD |
| Light | Can draw naturally occurring excess magic from humans and dragons to cause illumination (i.e. mage lights).[1] | TBD |
Trivia[]
- Felix Gerault uses siphoning runes to draw Violets power into a glass conduit that holds a suspended stone Alloy in the middle. Her power imbues the stone, which she frequently swaps out, and the stone is then used to manufacture daggers to fight Venin.
- Brennan has a rune embedded in his palm, with a use that has not been revealed.[14]
- Violet was gifted twelve daggers by Xaden, each with a unique rune he created for her.[4] These include:
- 1 unlocking rune with the element of need required to activate it
- 1 countering rune to block Cat's mind work abilities
- 10 runes that have yet to be revealed
Citations[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Iron Flame, Chapter 45
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 21
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 40
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Fourth Wing, Chapter 24
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Iron Flame, Chapter 39
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 48
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Iron Flame, Chapter 46
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Iron Flame, Chapter 59
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 52
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Iron Flame, Chapter 53
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 42
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 57
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 58
- ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 2