Mage sigil

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Mage sigils, also called signature runes, personal runes, mage-runes, mages' sigils, or arcane marks were sigils designed by wizards to mark their possessions, sign their names on messages, or otherwise associate something with themselves. They were often—though not always—triggers for magical spells. Over time, common folk, being illiterate, would come to recognize the symbol of the most famous mages.
A wizard's rune played a role in many magical spells. For example, the sigil was used in the casting of any symbol spells and in many other spells that required a writing component, such as explosive runes, sepia snake sigil, fire trap, or glyphs of warding. A wizard could create a magical version of the personal sigil with the arcane mark spell.
Once created, wizards were not supposed to alter their personal rune, though some long-living mages might go through several.
No two mage sigils were identical, and using another mage's sigil was generally frowned upon and likely to result in punishment from a more powerful wizard. More importantly, the goddess Mystra herself was said to place a curse—administered by Azuth—on any person intentionally misusing a wizard's sigil for personal gain. This three-fold curse could result in weakening, loss of intelligence, or the appearance of a glowing apparition of Azuth boldly exclaiming that the writing of the symbol was "falsely done!" This apparation could sometimes remain for days, pointing out the offender. Alternatively, some reported the loss of the abilitiy to cast the usual number of spells in a given day, a punishment that last for one month. Modern scholars rejected the idea of the Curse of Mystra as a silly folktale, insisting that such bogus claims were only made by wizards to scare others.
==Appendix==
===See Also===
* Elder rune
* Harper's mark
===Gallery of Mages' Sigils===
Aerbront sigil.png|Sigil of Aerbront of Daerlun.
Aldeguth sigil.png|Sigil of Aldeguth of Mulhessen.
Alustriel sigil.png|Sigil of Alustriel Silverhand.
Ambraddon sigil.png|Sigil of Ambraddon of Iriaebor.
Amelior Amanitas Sigil.png|Sigil of Amelior Amanitas.
Ashemmi sigil.png|Sigil of Ashemmi of Darkhold.
Aubayreer sigil.png|Sigil of Aubayreer of the Dalelands.
Aurora sigil.png|Sigil of Aurora of Waterdeep.
Azala sigil.png|Sigil of Azala of Teziir.
Azargatha sigil.png|Sigil of Azargatha Nimune.
Azundel sigil.png|Sigil of Azundel of Ordulin.
Baskor sigil.png|Sigil of Baskor Tranth.
Bowgentle's Rune.jpg|Sigil of Bowgentle.
Chaspra sigil.png|Sigil of Chaspra of Selgaunt.
Corthrym sigil.png|Sigil of Corthrym of Marsember.
Durlan sigil.png|Sigil of Durlan of Selgaunt.
Elminster sigil.png|Sigil of Elminster.
Glanvyl sigil.png|Sigil of Glanvyl of Scornubel.
Gondal sigil.png|Sigil of Gondal of Baldur's Gate.
Gondeth sigil.png|Sigil of Gondeth of Westgate.
Khelben sigil.png|Sigil of Khelben Arunsun.
Laspeera sigil.png|Sigil of Laspeera Inthré.
Lhathassa sigil.png|Sigil of Lhathassa of Procampur.
Maskar sigil.png|Sigil of Maskar Wands.
Manshoon sigil.png|Sigil of Manshoon.
Mhaerokh sigil.png|Sigil of Mhaerokh of Telflamm.
Miiriskin sigil.png|Sigil of Miiriskin of Calimport.
Prespos sigil.png|Sigil of Prespos of Iriaebor.
Selvar sigil.png|Sigil of Selvar of Taruin.
Sememmon sigil.png|Sigil of Sememmon of Darkhold.
Shandaril sigil.png|Sigil of Shandaril.
Simbul sigil.png|Sigil of the Simbul.
Ssundoum sigil.png|Sigil of Ssundoum of Yhaunn.
Sylune sigil.png|Sigil of Syluné.
Tandar sigil.png|Sigil of Tandar of Waterdeep.
Tersonm sigil.png|Sigil of Tersonm of Westgate.
Vangerdahast sigil.png|Sigil of Vangerdahast Aeiulvana.
Volo sigil.png|Sigil of Volothamp Geddarm.
===Further Reading===
* 
===References===
Category:Runes and sigils