Symbolic Magic
Though they teach the craft to no man, all men know to fear their curses and to respect their prophecies. For the runes they engrave have power, and truly they are mightier than a thousand swords.
-Anton Yeleyev, Rus trader
Much that is written was not meant for man to know. Much that I write was not meant for Gods to know.
-Elisa Gretia, Georgian scribe and Symbolic mage
This magic is the magic of symbols and runes, whose form and the power thus derived is jealously guarded by its practitioners, who are often gifted craftsmen. Available to the Rus and the Georgians.
Tier the First
Divination
| ørlög sín | no-one should know beforehand |
| viti engi fyrir | his fate; |
| þeim er sorgalausastr sefi | for that one is the mind most free from care. |
Use of runes and symbols in divination can allow one to get brief glimpses of the near future, or general impressions of the course of events. Divination with regards to other actions grants a Symbolic mage some insight into their outcome and preparations can be made accordingly. Divination can also be used to provide general insight, though the practical application of this is unknown to those outside the craft.
Mark of Power
| mjök stinna stafi | very strong staves, |
| er fáði fimbulþulr | which a mighty sage coloured |
| ok gørðu ginnregin | and mighty powers made, |
| ok reist Hroptr rögna | and Hroptr of the gods carved. |
Symbols can be attached to objects which have had some significance - eg. victory runes can be inlaid into a sword which has seen a great victory, and the essence of relics can be amplified. Mundane objects tend not to be the subject of these rituals, for some reason.
Tier the Second
Fragments of verse found in the charred remains of an unknown Symbolic mage's notes:
| Rammt er þat tré | Powerful is that beam |
| er ríða skal | that must move from side to side |
| öllum at upploki | to open for all; |
| baug þú gef | give a ring, |
| eða þat biðja mun | or it will call down |
| þér læs hvers á liðu | every evil on your limbs. |
| fögru skaltu heita | you must make a fair promise |
| ok láta fast vera | and stick fast to it |
Tier the Third
Further fragments, barely discernible:
| Þat kann ek it sétta | I know the sixth: |
| ef mik særir þegn | if a warrior wounds me |
| á rótum rams viðar | with the root of a strong tree |
| ok þann hal | also if a man |
| er mik heipta kveðr | calls forth hatreds from me, |
| þann eta mein heldr en mik | then the harms eat the man and not me. |
| Þat kann ek it tíunda | I know the tenth: |
| ef ek sé túnriðir | if I see witches |
| leika lopti á | playing in the air, |
| ek svá vinnk | I can so arrange it |
| at þeir villir fara | that they go astray |
| sinna heimhama | from their proper shapes |
| sinna heimhuga | and proper thoughts. |