Inscription Inscription is a profession which was introduced in Patch 3 . 0 . 2 . Inscription allows players to create glyphs , scrolls , Darkmoon cards , vellum and various off - hand tomes . Inscription includes a " gathering " skill : milling . This skill creates base materials from herbs , and is similar to disenchanting and prospecting . Proficiencies and training . Inscription is taught by various inscription trainers located throughout the world . Prospective scribes must be level 5 . Initial training costs 10 copper , granting the Apprentice level with a potential skill of 75 . Inscription Trainers are available in every racial capital , allowing players to train in all proficiencies . Trainers are also available in Hellfire Peninsula and Northrend . The following are the required levels and potential skill of each stage of the profession : Tools required . Inscription requires a , sold by Inscription vendors near each of the trainers . Basic materials . Base crafting materials are obtained from milling herbs . This makes almost compulsory if one plans to level Inscription without incurring major expenses , or a gathering alt . Milling creates various pigments , which are in turn used to create inks . Glyphs and scrolls are created from inks , while tomes and Darkmoon cards require both and inks . Most recipes require various grades of parchment , which are only available from trade goods and Inscription supplies vendors - there is so far no profession which can gather them . Glyphs . The " meat and potatoes " of Inscription , glyphs comprise the majority of its recipes . Glyphs come in two grades : major and minor . Each glyph provides a modification to a specific class spell or ability . Glyphs are learned from trainers or discovered through research or books . major and minor glyphs up to and including some grand master recipes are learned from trainers . Minor glyphs are discovered through daily Minor Inscription Research , while major glyphs are discovered through daily Northrend Inscription Research . A second set of major and minor glyphs can be learned one at a time by using a , which can be dropped from any Northrend mob . This second set is not limited to daily discoveries , a scribe can use as many books as their pocketbook allows . A few glyphs are also learned from recipes , just like in other professions . A recipe used in Inscription is called a technique . Each glyph requires 3 ink and a parchment to create . Glyphs stack to 20 and are not bound , so they can be traded or sold for high prices . Each glyph icon is color - coded to match the class it can be used by . Darkmoon cards . Scribes are able to create various Darkmoon Cards ( whose were re - done with Wrath of the Lich King ) , which players can combine into decks and turn in to Darkmoon Faire NPCs for various equipment rewards . These cards include higher - level cards which were previously only obtained from mob drops , and new lower level cards . High level decks can only be turned in when the faire is in town , but lower level ones can be used to summon an NPC at any time , in any location . All the cards , decks and rewards are tradeable ( or can be bought and sold on the Auction House ) . Enchantment vellums . Scribes can create that can hold armor or weapon enchantments ( prior to Cataclysm there were various vellum s ; each kind of vellum did one or the other ) . These do not bind and can be sold or traded to enchanters , who can then sell enchanted scrolls on the auction house or mail them . Off - hand tomes . Scribes are able to produce several BoE off hand tomes . Each requires a fairly hefty amount of raw materials . Players should be aware that wielding an off hand item precludes the use of shield s , dual wield ing , or two - handed weapons . Master ' s Inscriptions . Master scribes are able to apply permanent augments to their shoulder items , which causes them to become soulbound . Each inscription requires 400 Inscription skill , is learned from trainers , and requires 1 .