Rune Reading

Rune Reading is a passive technique, which allows character to use Rune items. Available to Archie initially, but can be also learned by Werner.

## How It Works

Runes are items. Each rune occupies a slot in inventory and can be used from hand. Runes are used as a stance action and trigger in Enemy Attack Phase. Memorise Patterns upgrade allows to destroy any rune and store its power for upgraded character (it will be available in a drop down list). There are several doors in Mycelium, that can be opened with Rune Reading. They sometimes provide a shortcut and sometimes open rooms with treasure chests. One of the rooms in chapter 7, locked behind Rune Reading, has a story bit for Deaf Merchant. Another usage for Rune Reading is reading a wall inscriptions, which affects storyline.

Using runes requires you to complete a Rune Reading mini-game. It consists of rune symbols, broken into 5 slots and 2-4 layers. There is a symbol shown, that must be found among those slots. You may enable/disable layers, that turn on and off rune symbols in all the slots at the same time. Sometimes you need to overlap several layers to see a symbol in a slot. Depending on a rune, mini-game will vary in difficulty, requiring to find 1-4 symbols in a row and having 2-4 layers of runes to search.

Werner's Blitz to learn Rune Reading is completing Rune Reading mini-game at the end of battles 6 times. Each subsequent time this mini-game will become harder.

#### Rift

Runes don't cost anything to use, but using it too much opens a rift, which results in spawning additional Rift Enemy in battle. 12 uses of any runes globally is enough to open a rift. There is a way to track it with Rift Detector or with Keep The Rift upgrade. Keep The Rift also increases amount of uses before rift to 18. Opening a rift also gives one charge to Soul Shifter, if anyone has it in inventory.

#### Shocking and Water

Almost all runes inflict Shock on targets. If a target is already shocked, the rune will not work and will do nothing. Basically that means, that without purifying or some other ways of removing Shock, any character or enemy may be targeted with any runes once per battle. Some runes do something without character or enemy target, but inflicts Shock to the character casting the rune, making them usable only once per battle.

Runes that shock make a chain reaction and spread through water. When striking target on a cell with any puddle or with a Wet target, the effect starts spreading to adjacent wet cells (with same conditions), then to their adjacent wet cells and so on. So, if positioning is taken into account (and maybe combined with equipment, that makes puddles or inflicts Wet) multiple enemies/characters may be targeted with a rune.

## Upgrades

#### Memorise Patterns (12🟊)

Allows you to destroy any one rune and memorise it in this technique permanently. This can be upgraded 4 times at most for storage of 4 runes. Upgrading all 4 patterns unlocks Video Memory Achievement.

#### Feel The Vibe (12🟊)

Marks all rooms with runes in them on the map.

#### Elemental Wisdom (10🟊)

If you are Wet at the end of battle, gain 1🟊.

#### Keep The Rift (8🟊)

Allows to know how long it takes to open the Rift, as well as makes it 18 rune uses instead of 12.

#### Hold The Spark (20🟊)

Allows to use all runes in alt fire mode, which prevents Shock (which allows to target enemies with Shock), but also does not chain through wet cells.

## Rune List

All runes, beside their main effect, work the same (described here). The range of all runes is unlimited. When rune shocks caster, it means it will work only if caster is not Shocked in the moment of using the rune.

Runes also may be thrown away for cave † by Werner and used to craft an Electrical String with Archie's special event. Finding all runes in the game at least once (can be done among several playthroughs) unlocks Academic Achievement.