Rune Information
────────✧────────
Runes are one of the many forms of magic to exist in the world of Shinseina. Focused on using symbols to enact power, they rely less on a person's capabilities but rather knowledge.
────────✧────────
The Art of Magical Inscription
Runes are one of the more common forms of magic, using symbols to create power.
Runes are a form of universal magic, magical instruction infused with microscopic magic symbols written using mana to fulfill a desired outcome that relies on the mana to function properly. Runes can be modified and designed in a number of ways to cause any amount of outcomes, which purely rely on trial and error throughout countless years.
They are accessible to anyone, regardless of innate magical ability, making them one of the most versatile and studied forms of magic. Despite their potential, mastering rune creation and use is a delicate art, requiring years of practice and precision.
While common runes are publicly available to learn about in books, it is not an easy task to properly write a rune, with it taking years of practice to master. Untrained rune writing can result in major injuries. In some cases, the rune can backflow and explode due to unstable mana flow. That is why an item by the name of ‘Rune Pen’ exists; it helps the user better focus their mana in such a way as to draw the rune without major backflow.
There are a few key stages to the usage of Runes.
Drawing.
Absorbing.
Outputting.
Drawing is the first step in using a rune and perhaps the most complicated part of the process. This step requires the user to draw the symbol of the rune using their mana, or a mana pen, in a stable form in order to execute the rune by powering it in the second phase. While this may sound easy, it is not; drawing a rune is a delicate procedure that can often backfire if the mana used to draw is unstable or if the process is interrupted.
Absorbing is the step that comes after drawing and it's a step that doesn’t really require the user to do anything. As runes are powered by ambient mana, this step is the process by which the rune absorbs the mana around it once activated in order to create the desired outcome. This can sometimes backfire or explode even if the mana is interrupted.
Outputting is the final step in this process and this is the part that ends with the rune's effect coming into fruition and being projected onto the desired output, thus the reason for the name. Once this step has been reached, stopping the process is very difficult, so it doesn’t often cause issues, but it still can if the rune is damaged.
With these ideas in mind, it is easy to understand why runes are one of the major factors of magic in the world, and why creating runes is very difficult.
However, it isn't impossible.
Origin of Runes
The Origin of Runes, hidden in mystery and uncertainty.
The origin of runes has always made many researchers curious and, even to this day, continues to be an unsure topic. Many researchers believe that runes are a type of ancient arcana magic that first became prominent shortly after the people born began to lose access to magic. This is believed to be the case due to the highly complicated and detailed magical symbols that have been found engraved into ancient rune remains.
Due to the varied capabilities of runes without the necessary need to be born with magic, many who cannot use magic use runes instead. All runes must have a source of mana, otherwise, they simply would not function. However, this source of mana does not need to come from the person writing the rune to begin with.
Runes can utilize mana from a variety of sources depending on the type of rune and the person engraving it. Examples would be mana from the area, another being, or otherwise stored in a container of sorts. This fact alone makes runes a subject of study for desperate people that aren’t good with magic, but that doesn’t make it easy to master.
Rune Pens work in a way such that the rune would be drawn and powered by ambient mana around them in order to function, making it so even races or people without a lot of mana can use runes.
Deeper Understanding
A deeper look into runes, for those that do not wish to simply use, but master the arts.
Type of Rune
-
Body: Inscribed directly onto the body for personal effects.
-
Item: Engraved on tools, weapons, or objects to enchant them.
-
Aerial: Scribed on surfaces to affect an area.
-
Hybrid: A combination of multiple types, blending their applications.
Esse
Esse defines the magical essence of a rune, representing its core theme or purpose.
Examples of Esse:
-
Elemental: Flame, Water, Wind, Earth, Lightning.
-
Conceptual: Fear, Truth, Growth, Passion, Eternity.
-
Emotional: Love, Rage, Joy, Sorrow, Serenity.
-
Primal: Light, Shadow, Void, Chaos, Harmony.
-
Unique: Death, Rebirth, Dreams, Silence, Corruption.
Esse Interaction:
-
Aligned Esses: Boost effects when paired with compatible Esses.
-
Opposing Esses: Can weaken or destabilize the rune, but may lead to creative outcomes.
-
Environmental Resonance: Esses adapt dynamically to their surroundings (e.g., Flame grows stronger in heat but weaker in water).
Esse Scaling:
Higher-ranked runes unlock secondary Esse traits, expanding their range and potency.
Ranking
Runes are ranked from D-Rank (simpler effects) to S-Rank (extraordinary power), with higher ranks requiring more skill and resources.
Effect
The rune’s primary and secondary magical effects when activated.
Activation Method
How the rune is activated:
-
Verbal Command: Spoken words trigger the effect.
-
Physical Touch: Contact with the rune initiates activation.
-
Ambient Mana: The rune passively activates in response to environmental triggers.
Mana Source
Runes draw power from one or more sources:
-
Ambient: Mana naturally present in the environment.
-
User: The inscriber or activator’s personal mana reserves.
-
External: An external container like a mana crystal or enchanted artifact.
Duration
The number of turns, minutes, or hours the rune remains active.
Limitations & Side Effects
Every rune has drawbacks to balance its power:
-
Range or duration limits.
-
Physical strain on the user.
-
Unpredictable side effects if unstable.
Requirements
The necessary skill level, tools, or rare materials required to inscribe or activate the rune.
Allowing runes to work together enhances their utility and encourages experimentation. There are two ways this can be approached:
Rune Chains:
Sequential runes that activate in a specific order for compound effects.
Example:
Flame Rune (Esse: Flame): Creates fire.
Wind Rune (Esse: Wind): Enhances movement.
Combination (Flame + Wind): Summons a swirling vortex of fire that chases enemies.
Rune Matrices:
Multiple runes working in unison within a single scribed layout.
Example Matrix:
Core Rune: Shielding (Esse: Protection)
Support Runes: Reflective Barrier (Esse: Reflection), Energy Absorption (Esse: Absorption)
Effect: Creates a protective shield that absorbs damage and reflects part of it back at the attacker.