Runes

**Runes,** or Marks, are symbols that grant various supernatural abilities. For Shadowhunters, runes are a complex runic language gifted to them by the Angel Raziel, enabling them with powers beyond those of Mundanes. Runes are burned into Shadowhunters' skin usingsteles, and are their most common tool in their fight against demons.

## History

Runes were given to the first generation of Shadowhunters by the Angel Raziel, to assist them in fighting the demons they were tasked to eradicate. Every rune that is accessible to Shadowhunters is recorded in the Book of the Covenant, and have also been copied into the Gray Book -- a specially crafted book created for the recording of runes and their uses. Copies of the book are rare due to their complicated making, due to the fact that steles, made of the holy substance adamas, set fire to normal paper.

## Information

While runes do cause some uneasiness and a slight stinging pain, most runes do not actually cause harm to a Shadowhunter.

While the Clairvoyance rune is normally the first rune given to young Shadowhunters, it may be vary in special cases.

When a young Shadowhunter is set to begin his or her formal training, usually around the age of ten or twelve, they receive the Angelic Power Rune.

While most runes are meant to be used on Shadowhunters' skin, many runes can also be applied to physical objects, altering them in a variety of different ways.

Runes are the most defining difference between Nephilim and average humans, as humans cannot bear them properly. When drawn on mundanes, they burn the skin; powerful marks potentially driving them insane and mutating them into Forsaken. The demon disease that causes lycanthropy in werewolves prevents Marks from taking effect, while other Downworlders who are Marked cannot bear the runes and, like mundanes, may either go mad or die upon contact. Angel runes can only be applied on the Nephilim because that's what the runes given to them are for, being part-angel themselves.

Runes are an integral part of a individuals' identity as Nephilim. When one violates the Law severely enough to warrant expulsion from Shadowhunter society, or when one chooses to leave of their own accord, the Shadowhunter is stripped of their Marks, an excruciatingly painful process. While this will only typically turn a Shadowhunter into a mundane,the Clave has occasionally made it so that the former Shadowhunter will become Forsaken as a form of torture and punishment, though the latter has since been forbidden by Law.

Though most runes have immense power, there are runes used by the Nephilim that are purely symbolic, such as ones for mourning and marriage.

## Efficiency

The strength and efficiency of runes is based on and related to the inscribing Shadowhunter's talent for runic magic, specifically the strength and accuracy of the drawn Rune.

The placement of runes adds to their effectiveness. The closer a rune is placed to the heart, the more effective it is. Some runes are placed on the limbs because they target that particular area.

In addition, Runes made by ones' parabatai are stronger than when drawn by the individual, and there are Runes only available to parabatai because they call on the partners' doubled strength.

## Longevity

When drawn on the skin, fresh runes appear black. Some runes on objects are drawn in different colors, such as red, silver, and gold, among others. Some runes are temporary and fade with time. These runes would need to be drawn again for their effects to utilized.

In the case of wedding runes =, though they are permanent, they can be broken in half in a very painful process. As with parabatai  runes, which fade when the bond is broken or cut (something much harder to do than the ending of a marriage), such as when one is made a Silent Brother or Iron Sister, these wedding runes may also dissolve and fade with the annulment of the union.

## Knowledge

While there are other existing runes, the only runes Shadowhunters are permitted to use are the ones found in the Gray Book.

There are some very powerful runes only accessible to those who become Silent Brothers and Iron Sisters.

Additionally, there are also ancient angelic runes that were not given to the Nephilim for their use. These are known to be lost.

Some runes were outlawed by the Clave, removed from books, and compiled in the "Book Under the Law", also called the Forbidden Book or the Law Book.

## Types of Runes

* Environmental Runes: Runes that have an effect on objects and surroundings.
* Mental Runes: Runes that have an effect on the mind/mental ablities.
* Physical Runes: Runes that have an effect on physical ability.
* Symbolic Runes: Runes that have no apparent effect, but are representative of something.

## Known Runes

Abundance RuneAcceleration RuneAccuracy RuneAction RuneAgility RuneAgony RuneAllied To RuneAngelic Power RuneAwareness RuneBridge RuneCalm Anger RuneClairvoyance RuneClarity RuneCommunication RuneCourage in Combat RuneCraft RuneCreation RuneDeflect RuneEidetic Memory RuneEndurance RuneEnlighten RuneEquilibrium RuneExpectation RuneFearless RuneFlexibility RuneFireproof RuneFortitude RuneFortune RuneGift RuneGood Luck RuneGuidance RuneHeat RuneHeat Vision RuneHearing RuneHeightened Speed RuneInsight RuneIratze RuneLoyal To RuneMental Excellence RuneMnemosyne RuneNourishment RunePersevere RunePersuade RunePower RunePrecision RunePromise RuneProsperity RuneProtected RuneQuietude RuneRecall RuneRemembrance RuneShape-Shifting RuneSharing RuneSomno/Somnus RuneSoundless RuneSpeaking In Tongues RuneSpiritum RuneStamina RuneStealth RuneStrength RuneSure-footed RuneSure-Striking RuneSwift RuneTalent RuneTechnique RuneTransmission RuneUnseen RuneVisible RuneVision RuneWaterproof RuneWedded Union RuneWinged RuneNyx Rune

 Thermis | Keeps the Shadowhunter warm.