Runesmithing is the ancient and mysterious art of inscribing runes containing words of power into physical objects, resulting in magical properties. The practice had once been lost to time, remembered only in sagas and fragments of legend, though in recent years the craft has resurfaced in
The Wildlands, practiced only by a handful of skilled artisans spread throughout the vast tundra.
Origins
The true origins of Runesmithing are shrouded in mystery. Some scholars argue that the technique may have begun with the mythical giants or reclusive
Dwarves, both said to be known for their mastery of steel and stone in
Iskjin mythology. Others, including most practitioners, believe the art to be purely of
Human invention, born of the
Iskjin people's harsh struggle for survival in the frozen
Wildlands. Regardless, it is within
Iskjin settlements that the practice has been most remembered and most visibly reemerged.
Principles of Runesmithing
The core of Runsemithing lies in binding a word of power into an item through carved runes. Runesmithing is a very rare skill and few possess the knowledge or ability to carry it out. The process is slow, intense, and comes with a significant risk of failure. As such, a Runesmithed item is incredibly valuable and Runesmiths are heavily sought out by those who know of the practice.
Runes
Each rune contains a word of power in a long-dead language. Scholars and practitioners argue whether the language is an ancient tongue of giants or
Dwarves or a dead predecessor to the
Iskjin dialect. A rune contains only one word. Examples of these runes include but are not limited to the glossary listed here.
Rune Examples
| Rune | Translation(s) | Notes on Meaning |
|---|
| Skael | Swift, Fleet, Nimble | Increased movement, quickness, agility, or lightness of step |
| Drav | Strong, Mighty, Stalwart | Increased physical strength, endurance, or resilience |
| Hroth | Fury, Wrath, Ferocity | Battle rage, relentless assault, destructive power |
| Lysa | Light, Shine, Reveal | Illumination, clarity, revelation, truth exposed |
| Iska | Ice, Cold, Preserve | Freezing, slowing, preserving, cold damage |
| Odrin | Mind, Will, Resolve | Thought, determination, strength of will/spirit, mental fortitude |
Tandem Effect
A rune's meaning is only one half of the equation with Runesmithing. The end result of the craft is heavily shaped by the normal function of the item the rune is being inscribed onto. The same rune is likely to produce different results depending on what item it is inscribed onto. The Skael rune, for instance, may increase a person's physical movement speed when inscribed onto their boots, but the same rune may instead grant quicker or deadlier strikes when inscribed onto his dagger.
Medium
Runes may be inscribed onto a number of materials, including wood, stone, metal, cloth, and leather. Each material requires its own set of tools.
Infusion
Inscribing a rune with precise, perfect detail is absolutely required for runic infusion into the item, but more than sheer dexterity is required for the task. The word of power from the rune is slowly infused into the item through the slow process of ritually inscribing the rune while dedicating intense mental energy focused into the task as well. While it may take only seconds to scribble the same runic design, actually infusing requires hours, days, even weeks, carefully crafting and ritualistically infusing the word of power into the item.
Failure
Even the most skilled Runesmiths fail in the process of infusing the word of power into the rune from time to time. Most failures result in a perfectly usable item, much as it was before the process, but with a decorative runic flair and nothing more. In more extreme failures, however, the item may end up proving dangerous to its wielder, or could even explode in the process of infusion should the crafter be careless in his ritual.
Notable Practitioners
Leivar Thornvein
A Runesmith from
Helgafel who has become a bit of a local celebrity in the area.
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