Runes

The Language of Yanu

Runes are an ancient magical language used to inscribe power onto physical objects or places. They function by combining a sequence of ideographic symbols—each representing a core concept, force, or intention—into structured patterns. When these patterns are charged with mana, the meaning behind the runes manifests as a magical effect.

Unlike spoken languages, the Language of Yanu has no phonetic or verbal component. It is purely visual and conceptual—meaning it cannot be translated literally into common speech. A single rune might embody strength, binding, repulsion, or the memory of fire. Their combinations form something more akin to poetry or programming than speech: layered, symbolic, and deeply contextual.

The Structure of Runic Magic

Runes ≠ Spells: A single rune holds a concept. A runic sequence expresses a function.
Material: The surface the runes are written on greatly affects their potency and stability. Some materials absorb mana poorly or distort runic meaning. Others—like obsidian, gold, etched steel, or treated bone—are considered ideal.
Activation: Runes must be infused with mana to activate. This can be done during the inscription process or retroactively.
Security by Obscurity: Disabling a runic effect requires not only knowledge of the language but also insight into the exact rune variants used, the structure of the sentence, and the medium it’s written on. This makes runes especially valuable for wards and defenses.

Because runes are so versatile, many different “sentences” can express the same effect. This redundancy protects against tampering and gives expert rune-mages stylistic freedom, though novice mages often imitate more famous sequences for safety.

Enchantment

Infusing objects are structures with runic enhancements is called enchantment, and there are several common types of enchantments.

Wards: Protective runes carved into city walls, gates, or buildings to deflect magical attacks or conceal presence.
Toolcraft: Axes that retain sharpness, hammers that never rust, doors that resist entry or cold.
Personal Effects: Wealthy or careful individuals may carry runic jewelry or weapons for ongoing protection or minor enhancements.

Some complex enchantments have their effects lying dormant until a specified trigger, like proximity, sound, or physical contact, activates them.

Runes and Infusion

While Infusion channels mana directly into materials to enhance them, Runic Magic imposes structure on that mana through language. Infusion is raw enhancement, while runes are precise instructions.

The two disciplines are often studied together, but mastery in one does not guarantee skill in the other. Some magical workshops specialize in combining both: an infused weapon with embedded runes is a prized artifact, able to sustain its own enchantments for far longer and with greater precision.

History

The Language of Yanu is only a fragment of what it once was. Despite the best efforts of modern mages, entire branches of the runic tradition have been lost to time, particularly after the Siege of Ashernai, a pivotal battle during the War for the World.

When the great libraries of Ashernai were burned, much of the ancient runic corpus vanished with them. The survivors—wounded, scattered, and desperate—rebuilt what knowledge they could from memory. Their reconstructions preserved core principles, but not the richness and depth of the original tradition.

Today, rune-mages rely on patched-together dictionaries, salvaged rubbings, and rare relics to piece together lost meanings. Among their kind, fluency in the runic language is a sign of deep dedication—and a hint at ancient power.