Rune-casting

Runecasting is one of the four forms of magic in Azura, the world of the Legends of the Aether, alongside Alchemy and Mancy. Runecasting is a coding language. With it, an almost infinite amount of things are possible, however, there are restrictions. To cast runes, a source of Vitor is required. Vitor is the ‘mana’ of this world; all living beings are capable of using it, however, just like muscles, it must be used to gain more. If you cast many runes at once, your body will become physically exhausted. Although the effects of runesets are natural, runesets cannot send their signal through metals. Runecasters cannot become Mancers, and the same is true the opposite way. For information regarding how runecasting is conjured, see **The Conjuring and Channeling of Magic**.

**Runes can have their own custom set ‘activation’ parameters**, where the user can release the vitor in the rune when a certain condition is met, such as the clap of their hands of the shout of a word, for example:

*The caster would shout “Blind!” as he threw the blinding rune, and the vitor inside the rune releases, causing a large flash in the area.*

**Or**

*The caster throws the rune out into the open, clapping his hands as the vitor inside the rune releases, causing a large flash in the area.*

**Both are equally viable**, as a custom parameter has been set to activate a rune that has been set by the caster.

Seemingly simple things like lighting a sword on fire are extremely complex runesets. If you improperly wrote your runeset and the execution of the runeset creates an error, this could backfire on the caster or potentially kill them. **What fuel is being created to burn? What ignites it? How do you limit the flame to the blade and only enemies and not spread to the holder?** All of these are questions a runecaster must ask themselves, lest they fail and accidentally ignite their skin, for example.

**A runecaster has many avenues to learn runecasting, however, The Academy is the most trusted source of education. Aridam, in particular, is very approving of runecasting, to the point where most runecasting students across Amnisica are Aridian Drows.**

Any level above the lowest level of ‘Novice’ requires approval. Novice runesets may be cast by anyone with Vitor. Expert runesets are only obtainable by experts, and require admin approval. Novice and Expert Runecasters can only cast the pre-approved runesets listed below. To be an Expert or Master, one must also apply for it and be approved by staff.

> **Runecasters of Master level have the capability of pouring additional vitor into custom-approved runesets and causing them to have the possibility to reactivate**. This repeated activation is called a “**charge**”, the amount of charges a custom rune has is dependent on approval.
> *Any other runes only have one use.*
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## **Rune-casting on Armor**

Runes can be applied on armour to protect the wearer by using its effects on your benefit. Even though, **this can't be done with full plate due to the runes being surrounded by the presence of metal, eventually making the runes go null and the vitor within these disappearing**. Due to this, runed-plate is only able to be done within the boundries that we categorize as **common half-plate (4 pieces of plate)**, since the presence of metal isn’t as great as with full-plate, now these runes will be able to function correctly.

## **Rune Creation Process**

* **Writing**

The difference between writing and engraving runes comes into play when you want to use a rune once or recharge it multiple times until it wears out. In this part, an example of a ‘writing’ process could be using chalk on a piece of paper to write a rune. Once you’ve done that, you will pour the vitor and activate the rune. After the vitor is exerted, the chalk will disappear, and the user will need to rewrite the rune again to cast the rune. The downsides here is that you have to go through the process of rewriting the rune before pouring the vitor again and activate it. Ink will also disappear once used.

* **Engraving**

Engraving is different from writing, since this technique allows the runecaster to carve a rune on a material surface and be able to refill it without it disappearing, unlike the ‘writing’ process. E.g: You carve a rune on a metal surface and fill it with vitor, then activate it. Once the vitor is exerted, the runecaster can refill the rune. The downsides of this technique is that you can’t engrave runes on all materials, since some are more frail than others.

## **Runes and Refills**

### **Runes on Items**

Runes on items are heavily dependent on what rune is being written on which object, for example, ***a Storm rune would always only have one charge because the runeset destroys itself after activation***, it is here where an average runecaster needs to be smart with what they use and also where a Master will need to pay attention on what custom powers they may wish to embed into an object. Once the charge is gone, the rune will fade and become a carving on an item, requiring another charge of vitor to become active again.

### **Rune Tattoos**

Runic tattoos are gravings of ink on the skin, permanent and not going to go away. **Rune tattoos will always have one use**, no matter the level, and once used will lose their colour and remain dormant until given another charge. A rune tattoo once cast and filled on a person will never expire by itself, instead remaining dormant until it is used. After which, the tattoo must be refilled to be used again.

### **Refilling runes**

Refilling a rune cannot be done in combat, due to the immense focus that's required to do so, and must be done out of combat, as there is a high risk that they can overload it and disrupt the rune, causing a backfire.

#### ***Mancers & Summoners can not refill runes***

After review, we felt as if the ability of mancers to refill rune-casting was a bizarre ability that didn't make sense. They're two separate art forms, and the precise nature of runecasting demands is not something mancers would be able to replicate unless they were a runecaster.

## **Novice Runesets**

**A Novice can cast only the runesets listed below. Novices are only capable of split-second runesets, capable of only a quick flash of effect.**

**Mend**

Mend is a simple runeset that can be applied to any medical item or piece of cloth that the caster can find, it stops the bleeding from a wound and cauterizes it. This runeset has a one-time use and can be produced up to five times a day. Mend has a shelf-life of two days before the rune decays and requires a recast. Mend runesets can only heal minor wounds such as slashes and stabs. Novices can’t heal deep cuts or slashes. Additionally, mend runes can’t heal internal injuries.

**Flash frost**

Flash frost is a simple runeset that when activated, lets out a small pool of ice on the ground in a five-meter radius that lasts for up to five minutes while it thaws out. This ice can also stick to surfaces but only melts if nearby temperatures are above the melting point. Once Flash Frost begins to melt it will briefly create vitoric water which will (within **3 turns**) evaporate, this effect can be changed by instead using Flash Frost on pre-existing bodies of water which will cause the ice that is formed to simply melt back into normal water.

**Absorb heat**

The runecasted item absorbs thermal energy from its surroundings. Hence, such a reaction can be asserted and redirected after completion if combined with another rune.

**Exert heat**

Opposition to the aforementioned Absorb, Exert can be applied upon an object to release thermal energy to its surroundings - thus in combination can absorb and release sub-zero or scalding temperatures.

**Spark**

Spark is a simple runeset which creates a spark at a particular location. This could be used for various things like stunning an enemy or igniting a campfire. It can also travel up to 15 feet. The electrical stun of the Spark rune will never be enough to fully lock up an individual's body however and would more so act as a way to quickly zap them to send them into a brief halt or cause them to drop a certain object.

**Decay**

To the applied object, the brief runeset will as stated - decay the object slightly - however, cannot be decayed fully as it can only be executed once. The object is then left slightly more brittle than before, making it easier to destroy, the process is repairable through normal ways.

**Blinding**

Blinding is a single-use runeset that when activated, expels a bright flash of light that can stun people in a 10-foot radius for up to **3 combat turns**.

**Propulsion**

When applied to an item, instant momentum will be applied to rapidly throw an object in a certain direction depending on the execution of the runeset. Novice Propulsion can accelerate light, handheld objects. Experts can accelerate anything smaller than a horse, however the heavier an object is the less momentum it receives.

**Seal**

Surprisingly simple, but surprisingly effective. Seal can weld objects together when applied over two items that the caster desires to connect. The rune has its special circumstance, requiring two of them to be linked together across the two items to trigger, causing the rune to ignite and seal together. **This seal can not be reactivated and undone** however as the runeset will disappear and destroy itself after the process, should somebody wish to undo the bond between the two objects, they would have to do it manually.

**Dust**

A devious and deceptive runeset, the dust runeset will rapidly decay and explode into a cloud of dust, acting in a similar manner to pocket sand.

**Silver Mirror**

A handy tool on any beautician's list, Silver Mirror will turn a 6-inch surface into a silver-looking mirrored surface, allowing for one's reflection to be seen. The size of the effect is dependent on how many runesets are applied on that certain area, with one runeset being equal to one foot’s worth of mirroring.

* *Silver mirror doesn’t turn an object into silver, but gives it a silver surface.*

## **Expert Runesets**

**An Expert can cast only the runesets listed below as well as those under Novice Runesets. Experts are capable of castle daisy-chaining runesets with other simple runes for more complex motions and longer effects. Runesets with effects lasting up to 10 or 15 seconds are obtainable.**

**Restore**

Imbued with a healing aura, the restore rune will numb the area of the wound it is applied to, and mend whatever damage it comes into contact with. The process is uncomfortable but reasonably painless, with the rune being able to seal deep wounds heal burns and assist in the repairing of bones, **however, it can not heal internal organs**. Those who find themselves in a medical profession will typically keep these on hand.

* *Healing a broken bone will not be immediate, a Restore rune will only speed up the mending process. Bones recently healed with Restore runesets will be fixed up to the early stages of bone development where any great pressure exerted upon them such as an attack will break it once more.*

**Jet stream**

 By pointing a weapon or object in the direction of their desire, a high-powered shot of water bursts out of the top, this can be either hot or cold depending on what was etched into the object in question. The speed and size of the water jet are decided by the runecaster.

**Storm**

Storm is considered to be one of the more chaotic runesets that can be made by an expert. When activated usually through an object of any sort, the object abruptly emits high-energy bolts of lightning rapidly in all directions with a range of around 10 feet. The object explodes or burns after about **1 combat turn** as it is unable to contain the energy within.

**Blizzard**

Similar in aspect, although providing a much greater area of effect, when activated either through a weapon or object. The user finds themselves and their attackers surrounded by a powerful burst of snow and wind for **1 combat turn**. Causing people to collapse and falter while feeling the effects of the cold as any blizzard would do.

**Growth**

Growth is an expert-level runeset that, when activated, causes nearby plants in a five-meter radius to grow uncontrollably, latching onto any person or solid object they can find. This effect fades after a minute, as the vitor causing the plants to grow uncontrollably dissipates and the plants die.

**Hurricane**

Hurricane is an expert-level runeset that, when activated, causes a targeted object or area to emit a gust of air at a preset speed. This gust can be strong and fast, weak and slow, or anything between. This can be used to send objects flying, however the landing part requires creativity.

**Blink**

A fairly complex runeset that when written on an object, can teleport the affected object up to 1,000 feet away. For Masters, this jumps up to 3 miles.

* Blink can **not** teleport **living organisms** (including dryads, arcunites, etc). Inanimate objects and deceased organisms can be blinked, however.

**Lightning**

Lightning is a simple runeset that, when activated, sends out a powerful bolt of lightning that can incapacitate the intended target for up to **3 combat turns**. This lightning strike fires in whatever direction the runeset dictates. It has a range of around 50 feet.

**Quake**

Quake is a slightly more complex runeset, able to send out a small tremor that can knock people from their feet in a small radius, finding its maximum effective range stopping in a ten-foot radius.

**Steam**

When applied to an item and activated, a cloud of steam about eight feet high and eight feet in diameter will rapidly appear. The steam cloud disperses naturally within **3 combat turns**, depending on natural wind speed.

**Illuminate**

When applied to a small object or torch, this runeset will continuously glow a dim light, able to illuminate a small room or large clearing for up to ten hours. This rune is mostly harmless and serves as a supplementary light source instead of torches.

**Hearth**

When applied to an item of clothing or small object, Hearth will begin to emit a gentle heat or cold, depending on the runeset, to do things like maintain body temperature, keep food or items warm or cold, or dry damp objects. This rune is harmless, and is a simple technique for comfort or assistance against the elements. A runecaster must pour a lot of Vitor into multiple Hearth runesets over multiple days or weeks to have enough Hearth runesets to last a handful of days in extreme conditions.

**Looking glass**

When applied to a surface, looking glass will turn the surface into the illusion of glass, **rendering the object see-through, giving** the user a 1 x 1 x 1-meter viewing space through the surface they desire to see through. The effect goes away after roughly 3 minutes, however, it will instantly end if the runeset comes in contact with any foreign object.

**Leer**

Leer is a unique runeset, designed to ‘remove’ the sight of those that gaze upon it as long as it's in their line of sight, reducing their vision to a pitch-darkness and leaving them with a meter-long cone of clear vision. The runeset will last for up to **2 turns** before its effects wear off.

**Tremor**

Designed to reshape the world around it, Tremor cracks the dirt and stone down a meter. Used as primarily a mining tool, tremors can be used in devious ways such as lock-breaking and armor penetration. This **CANNOT** be put on weapons to damage plates or other materials, as if you trigger it on the weapon the weapon itself would be heavily damaged.

## **Rune Tattoos**

Only **Expert** runecasters and above can tattoo runes onto themselves, which remain dormant until activated via vitor. These runes will drain the user and will also effect the flesh it is engraved into. For instance: If you are to engrave a lightning or fire rune into your flesh and use it on an opponent, it will also channel the energy through yourself - thus shocking or burning the person who is utilizing it. Hence rune tattoos are often only used as healing efforts or last-ditch methods in a fight, as they can be extremely damaging to the host's body.

An exaggerated situation would be utilizing an explosive rune on the flesh, which would cause incredible damage for the host .

## **Master Runesets**

**If you’ve been approved by the staff team to be a Master Runecaster, congratulations! Any runeset you can think of, you can cast with approval through the submission of a custom runeset into the voting system. Just keep things realistic. You will still be subject to rules and moderation should you cast a runeset capable of impossible feats or breaking rules. You will also still be subject to the basic laws of Runecasting. We are trusting you with this rank to be fair and balanced in your approach. Use it wisely.**

## **An in-depth analysis of Runecasting**

If you’ve read down this far, welcome to the analysis. This is for those of you who seek knowledge. In runecasting, you can think of a runecaster as the programmer, runecasting as programming, runesets as programs, and runes as words. Each word describes a part of a process. There’s the Cause and the Effect sections. For example, if you have a Spark runeset, when or how does it activate (Cause)? What does it do (Effect)? A Runeset requires both to function. A Spark runeset for example could be up to 50 runes. Additionally, sticking to the Spark runeset as an example, if you write the Cause improperly, it may never fire or fire at the wrong time. If you write the Effect wrong, at best it could do nothing and at worst you could burn your eyes out.

Runesets fade over time. Individual runes slowly leak the Vitor that makes them up, so if you pour a lot of Vitor into a particular runeset, not only will it last longer before fading away, but it will be more powerful if/when it fires. Novices only have enough Vitor for runesets with a short lifespan which execute fully in an instant if they fire. Experts however have more Vitor and are capable of daisy-chaining simple runesets together to create a super runeset. Observe the image below:

With enough Vitor, an Expert or Master could run a Cause runeset, which fires a Vitor signal through multiple ‘delay Vitor signal’ runesets, before chaining into an Effect runeset. This is how Experts and above can fire longer-lasting runesets of up to 15 seconds.

The above diagram displays how continuous Runesets would fire. Whatever the Cause is, the Effect is to simply re-write itself, fire some secondary effect, and fire the new runeset. This of course burns through Vitor quickly and requires an outside source of Vitor. Perhaps a runecaster poured Vitor into a ‘storage’ runeset, to be pulled from during the loop. Perhaps the runecaster has another source of Vitor, such as contained souls. Regardless, this is Master-level runecasting, and requires monumental amounts of Vitor.