History Main / RunicMagic

** In 3rd edition, runes are often associated with [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame dwarves]] and [[OurGiantsAreDifferent giants]], with ''Races of Stone'' having the Runesmith PrestigeClass for dwarven arcane casters and the ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'' setting having the Runecaster for dwarven and giant divine casters, both based on inscribing runes to create potent magical effects.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'': In 2nd edition, runes can be etched into weapons and armor to give them {{magic|alWeapon}} properties, or even transferred from one item to another.

** In the ''Sigrdrífumál'', the {{Valkyrie}} Sigrdrifa presents Sigurd with a memory-draught of ale charmed with "gladness runes" and then goes on to list victory-runes to be carved on a sword-hilt, runes to protect against bewitching ale, runes to facilitate childbirth, runes to protect ships...

* ''Film/{{Halloween}}'': Starting in the fifth film, Michael Myers is shown to have a tattoo of the thorn rune[[note]]a letter from older germanic languages standing for the "th" sound[[/note]] on his right wrist upon waking up from his year-long coma. The next film reveals that Michael was put under a curse by a cult of druids that compels him to wipe out his bloodline.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': Luz, [[TokenHuman being a human]], does not have the organ that [[MageSpecies witches]] on the Boiling Isles use to access and store magic and has to rely on the older technique of drawing a circle with a rune (or glyph as Luz calls it) inside to invoke a particular spell. These glyphs occur in nature if you know where to look, and while there are only four known (Light, Ice, Plant, and Fire), they can be modified and chained together in larger spell circles to theoretically cast any spell. Lilith even theorizes that the glyphs are like words in a language (albeit a very context heavy one given that a glyph's location on a larger combo can completely alter the properties it imbues into a spell) that commands the magic around them. Once a glyph has been inscribed in something, the effect remains dormant until "activated". This makes it function like a scroll and allows Luz to build a stockpile and use them as spell "grenades". [[spoiler:Also, the fact that they rely on the BackgroundMagicField of the Titan to power them means that they're [[YourMagicsNoGoodHere rendered inert]] on Earth or the [[VoidBetweenTheWorlds In Between Realm]] (unless you happen to have some [[ThePowerOfBlood Titan's Blood]] nearby, as it's magically potent enough to power glyphs a short distance away even in an environment that is otherwise devoid of magic).]]

* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'': In 2nd edition, runes can be etched into weapons and armor to give them {{magic|alWeapon}} properties.

* In the ''Hávamál'' [[Myth/NorseMythology Odin]] mentions runes used for divination, healing, and InterrogatingTheDead.

* The ''Literature/PoeticEdda'' includes many references to rune magic. For instance, in the ''Sigrdrífumál'', the {{Valkyrie}} Sigrdrifa presents Sigurd with a memory-draught of ale charmed with "gladness runes" and then goes on to list victory-runes to be carved on a sword-hilt, runes to protect against bewitching ale, runes to facilitate childbirth, runes to protect ships...

* ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'': Stiyl Magnus uses runes for his magic to define zones that perform certain functions, like allowing his summon, Innocentius, to manifest, and People-Clearing Fields to ward off {{Muggles}}.

* ''LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero'': Void {{familiar}}s, as part of the MagicKiss of familiarization, get runes with the name of their power on some part of their body. Left Hand for Gandalfr. Right Hand for Vindalfr, Forehead for Mjöðvitnir, and Chest for Lífþrasir.

* In 2nd edition TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}} runes can be etched into weapons and armor to give them [[MagicalWeapon magic]] properties.

* Magic spells written in runes on wood, bones, and, in rare cases, stones have been discovered in Scandinavia. They are mostly from the Bergen region in UsefulNotes/{{Norway}} and the Uppland region in UsefulNotes/{{Sweden}}. Most of them are healing spells against sickness, though a love spell (the page quote) and protective spells have also been found.

** In 5th edition, magical runes are predominately related to giants, with one Fighter archetype, the Rune Knight, drawing magical power via carving or marking appropriate runes on their weapons and armor.

A subtrope of FunctionalMagic. Compare GeometricMagic. If magic spells and effects manifest as runes when they're cast -- in other words, if magic causes the runes instead of runes causing the magic -- then that's InstantRunes. And because runes are ultimately letters used to spell words, they can serve as the written form of tropes dealing with magic words and speech. Compare LanguageOfMagic, MagicalIncantation and IKnowYourTrueName.

* Magic spells written in runes on wood, bones, and, in rare cases, stones have been discovered in Scandinavia. They are mostly from the Bergen region in Norway and the Uppland region in Sweden. Most of them are healing spells against sickness, though a love spell (the page quote) and protective spells have also been found.

* ''Literature/{{Elantris}}'': [=AonDor=] is a form of magic used by Elantrians, which allows them to draw glowing runes in the air to coax certain effects out of the BackgroundMagicField. It's been described as being similar to a programming language, as using multiple "Aons" in conjunction with each other to modify their effects in certain ways can allow an Elantrian with enough knowledge of the language to do pretty much anything. It's easily the most flexible magic system in the larger [[Literature/TheCosmere Cosmere]]. It also works if inscribed somewhere, and the city of Elantris is filled with Aons that do various things, such as teleport people who touch them to other parts of the city. [[spoiler:The entire city itself is an enormous Aon Rao, the Aon that boosts the power of other Aons, which explains why AonDor seems to get weaker as one gets further away from the city.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': Luz, being a human, does not have the organ that witches on the Boiling Isles use to access and store magic and has to rely on the older technique of drawing a circle with a rune (or glyph as Luz calls it) inside to invoke a particular spell. These glyphs occur in nature if you know where to look, and while there are only four known (Light, Ice, Plant, and Fire), they can be modified and chained together in larger spell circles to theoretically cast any spell. Lilith even theorizes that the glyphs are like words in a language (albeit a very context heavy one given that a glyph's location on a larger combo can completely alter the properties it imbues into a spell) that commands the magic around them. Once a glyph has been inscribed in something, the effect remains dormant until "activated". This makes it function like a scroll and allows Luz to build a stockpile and use them as spell "grenades". [[spoiler:Also, the fact that they rely on the BackgroundMagicField of the Titan to power them means that they're rendered inert on Earth or the [[VoidBetweenTheWorlds In Between Realm]] (unless you happen to have some Titan's Blood nearby, as it's magically potent enough to power glyphs a short distance away even in an environment that is otherwise devoid of magic).]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': Luz, being a human, does not have the organ that witches on the Boiling Isles use to access and store magic and has to rely on the older technique of drawing a circle with a rune (or glyph as Luz calls it) inside to invoke a particular spell. These glyphs occur in nature if you know where to look, and while there are only four known (Light, Ice, Plant, and Fire), they can be modified and chained together in larger spell circles to theoretically cast any spell. Lilith even theorizes that the glyphs are like words in a language (albeit a very context heavy one given that a glyph's location on a larger combo can completely alter the properties it imbues into a spell) that commands the magic around them. Once a glyph has been inscribed in something, the effect remains dormant until "activated". This makes it function like a scroll and allows Luz to build a stockpile and use them as spell "grenades". [[spoiler:Also, the fact that they rely on the BackgroundMagicField of the Titan to power them means that they're rendered inert on Earth or the [[VoidBetweenTheWorlds In Between Realm]].]]

In Real Life, runes are the letters of the ancient Germanic alphabets -- most famously the ones used by the ancient Norse, but continental and later English tribes used related systems. Their origins are not entirely clear, but they generally seem to be a descendant of ancient Italic alphabets, probably either the Latin or Etruscan ones, and ancient symbols already in use, that was modified to be easily carved in wood and stone, giving runes their distinctive angular shapes. As wood decays much faster than stone erodes, old runes carved into stone are more likely to survive to the present day. They were eventually replaced with the modern Latin alphabet and ultimately were simply another writing system.

* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': The dwarves use faux-runic engravings on stone walls or floors to create permanent {{Protective Charm}}s on the Temple of Firmament and the Clan Elders' council chamber. Early in the strip, one of V's favorite spells is Explosive Runes, which inscribes magical runes on something (usually a document, but walls or doors work as well) [[BoobyTrap that explode when read]].

* ''Film/DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness'': Tying in to the ''Series/WandaVision'' example below, the fact that the monster Gargantos is covered in runes tips off Wong and Strange that they are dealing with Witchcraft, which is a distinct practice of magic than the Sorcery used by the students of Kamar-Taj.

* ''Literature/{{Stardust}}'', like its [[{{Film/Stardust}} film adaptation]] above, includes the casting of runes to find one's way. Unlike the film, however, Primus is the only character to use them, both to guide him to the stone (as Septimus did in the film) and to determine Tristran is safe to take as a passenger.

* ''Videogame/HeroesOfMightAndMagicAshan'': The [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Dwarven Fortress]] faction have access to the 'Rune Magic' ability, allowing them to spend resources to give their units temporary buffs during combat.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Suikoden}}'' has Runes as the primary magic system, allowing those who use them to cast spells or imbue their weapons. There's also the True Runes, unique and powerful runes that are often a focus of the plot such as the Soul Eater Rune from the first entry in the series.

* 3DS dungeon-crawler The Keep uses rune magic in a very interesting way, combined with InventoryManagementPuzzle. Each rune is an item that gets placed on a grid inventory, and using the touchscreen to swipe runes in certain combinations allows more complex spells to be cast, so positioning the different runes in a way that makes it easy to cast all the spells you need is a big part of the game's challenge. Visually, these runes are just the generic "magic symbol" variety, they don't resemble letters at all, and each of them represent an entire concept.

* Under the sense that AlchemyIsMagic, ''Manga/FullMetalAlchemist'' plays with this in combination with GeometricMagic. The exact science isn't crystal clear, but generally, to cast alchemy, one requires "circles" to be drawn (including a literal circle and usually other accompanying shapes) and an accompanying set of runes, which presumably complete the desired effect. The nature of the runes is briefly discussed in a conversation regarding the "hand-clap" form of alchemy, where a handful of characters (specifically those who have seen the GateOfTruth) bypass this requirement and are able to transmute things with a single clap of their hands. The characters interpret the hands pressed together is what forms the circle, but while questioning where the runes are formed from, Izumi claims that perhaps she herself constitutes the runes (likely due to her being loaded with vast alchemical knowledge from seeing what lies beyond the Gate).