Overview
Runic magic is a practical magic school in Valrindor, especially in Skarnheim, Vintergard, Bjarnholt, Rimvold, and Stormhaven. Runic mages carve, engrave, or inscribe runes onto objects. Weapons, armor, harnesses, boats, buildings, shields, tools, prosthetics, and travel gear become magical equipment when they carry runes.
Runic magic gives objects propulsion, defensive barriers, weight reduction, bursts of essence, and channels for a weapon's existing essence. It is a cousin of divine enchantments. Its later Skarnheim form blends aether with runic magic through Zero and Sylvia, especially in flight, propulsion, and weight-reduction runes.
Applications
Runic weapons and tools are common in northern Valrindor's armies and travel gear. Thorik rides his lightning-wreathed axe like a flying platform, Halgarr carries a rune-marked axe, and runic mages use flying weapons or shields for patrols and anti-skyship combat. Vintergard travelers use rune-inscribed planks and rune-inscribed harnesses for fast movement and transport.
Runes also strengthen walls, streets, and buildings. Rimvold's walls carry protective runes, and Skarnheim's runic carvings can protect streets and buildings against illusions or magical tampering. During attacks from the darkness, guards and mages use rune-forged weapons that release bursts of essence against umbral creatures.
Thorik can add runes to artifacts. After the Sword of Arcanis is recovered, he carves runes into it to draw on the weapon's essence and make it easier to carry. The sword remains extremely heavy.
Runic shield
Runic shields are defensive barriers used within runic defensive networks. Rimvold uses runic shields during the Shaper Attack on Rimvold.
When Jin approaches Rimvold during the Shaper Attack on Rimvold, starfield barriers and runic shields slide into place over the walls. Sigurd directs the defensive network. Mages maintain the barrier, and Jin enters before the largest shield seals into a dome above the city.
Users
Thorik is a lightning and runic mage from Bjarnholt with a battleaxe, storm runes, and a rune-carved prosthetic arm. Svanhild is a temporal, ice, and runic mage from Vintergard. Halgarr is a Vintergard commander in the Skarnheim alliance, using rune-marked weapons and runic-mage patrols where the alliance needs him.