Runes

Contents

Background

Most of the Nomads follow the Gods of The Nomads, and they believe that runes, the written magic performed by Heks, comes from the scratches the gods left on the world.

Usage

Runes are one of the forms which magic in The Wilds takes. While most Heks' are able to channel magic into some basic Runes, a Heks whose magic comes from the power of their emotions or a Heks who requires a physical component are said to be able to craft the most powerful runes.

Runes themselves are created by forming a symbol or several symbols, often into something that means they are indelible. They can take a lot of energy and time to form, and most Heks can only make one or two in a day.
They are used as charms or to imbue something with magic. For example, the rune loop is a loop of twine or string which carries a single rune pendant and is designed to be worn. They can also be used as markers within the forest, to hold and store spells and magic for later use or to empower an item.

Examples

There are many different runes, but the diagrams below demonstrate some of the most common ones. These have been broken up into three sections.

Basics

It is also worth remembering that runes can be used together, so while these basic runes usually denote a single idea or object, when combined they can become more powerful and specific.

Home

Usually a camp but could be anywhere that a person feels at home.

Tent

Literally a tent or building of any type which provides shelter.

Fire

Any source of fire or light or heat, from a candle to a bonfire.

Tools

Anything which is manufactured which could be useful.

Sunshine

The sun and sunlight but also used to refer to daytime.

Water

Usually a source of water like a river but could also be rain or similar.

Common

Common runes may be slightly more complicated than the basic runes, because of the ideas or concepts they denote. They are more difficult to use because they are open to interpretation, so it is important a Heks knows what they are doing and uses them wisely.

Cooking

Anything to do with preparing food.

Creating

Anything to do with making something physical.

Shield

Preventing someone or something from doing or accessing something.

Protect

Placed on an individual or single item to keep them or it safe.

Sword

To protect or defend, or to sharpen depending on need.

Battle

To help a person perform well in battle.

Poison

To slow, sleep or kill depending on usage.

Forests

To hide or to change or to grow.

Complex

Complex runes are usually used alongside other runes because they represent more than one thing and often require some context or grounding runes to stabilise them.

Together

Linking two or more things, holding something in place, holding something together, connecting people.

Past

Things that have come before, things that have not been noticed, allowing insight, collecting memories.

Life

Birth, living, feeling, growing and caring.

Mountains

Make immovable or impassable, or an obstacle, a great object.

Decisions

To help a person make a difficult decision.

Danger

To warn or make something known

Curses

Runes can also be used to create curses and compile forceful negative energy against a person, object or place.
Curses are generally not things which are taught, instead they are something which comes instinctively from the Heks accessing the darker side of their magic. They can be born out of normal runes, but have complex knots embedded in them making them more difficult to undo.