The Untitled Runic Manuscript

(This description, like the product, is a work of fiction.)

Last week, I was consulting the nonfiction section of my local library for research on an entirely unrelated RPG product.  When I pulled a book out from the shelves, a few loose papers fell out with it.

Upon examination, the papers claimed to be a manuscript for runic magic.  There were only a few there, but I searched the rest of the shelves and I was able to collect enough to be worth researching.  The manuscript had no title, so I've just called it The Untitled Runic Manuscript.

This product is the result of my research and translation of those papers.  The papers themselves were not complete; I don't know where the rest of them are, but I'll keep looking.  There were also some parts that I wasn't able to translate or understand yet; I'll keep working on that as well.  But what we have is fascinating.

I was able to identify and define a little over 30 runes, as well as the rules for how to put them together into spells and how to pronounce and read those spells.  I was also able to identify how to measure the power of the created spells.  Using these runes creates what is basically a runic programming language for defining and creating spells, along with judging the magical power required to cast these spells.  After reading this manuscript, you will also be able to read and understand these spells, and to build your own. 

The effect of a spell is based on both the runes used, and their positioning relative to each other.  Each rune is placed in a hexagonal positioning around the others, and their effects and locations determine how the spell resolves.  For example, the Evoke rune requires an Element be placed on the top left face of its hexagonal location.  If you want to conjure fire, you'd place a Fire rune there, while if you want to blast someone with a spike of rock, you'd put an Earth rune there.  You can combine and convert runes and link them in near-infinite ways to create spells of varying complexity and effect.

In addition to the runes and the rules for using them, there are 30 pre-defined spells for you.  However, these spells have not been translated; you'll need to evaluate and interpret them on your own.  Interpretation and intent are a part of spellcasting, after all, and your interpretation and intent matter.

(The Untitled Runic Manuscript allows you to create, diagram, and pronounce spells out of runes provided.  These spells can be used with fantasy RPGs, as writing inspiration, as a puzzle either as part of an RPG or on its own, or however else you would like to use them.  A conversion factor is provided to use the power level calculated with a game that separates spells into 0-9 levels; if you want to use it with a game that has magic but not 0-9 spell levels, you probably know how to convert into that kind of game, so you can use that as a touchstone. The 30 spells provided will not be explained and you can also solve them yourself, like you would a crossword puzzle. )