Rune casting (Sandbox)

Rune casting is a method by which a circle of runes can be made to initiate a powerful spell. If made into a permanent circle, rather than cast through magically levitated ink, the circle can hold up to one charge, and is automatically discharged by any appropriate creature who touches the circle. Recharging a permanent circle simply consists of expending the appropriate tier of charge while touching the circle. When a character charges a circle, they cannot regain that charge until the spell has been activated and finished execution.

Carving a rune stone takes 1 minute per centimeter in length, and carving smaller rune stones is more difficult: anyone can carve a 6 centimeter or longer rune stone; 5 centimeter rune stones require a DC 3 Items check; 4 cm: DC 6; 3 cm: DC 9; 2 cm: DC 12; 1 cm: DC 15. Rune stones weigh 0.1 kilograms times their length squared.

Placing a rune stone must be done carefully, so this takes a Standard Action.

Circle Ranks

Lower tier circles are more limited than higher tier circles. A circle cannot have runes of a higher tier than its own.

Common Circles

A Common circle may have up to 18 runes total. It may have up to 1 Common Effect rune.

The following are valid Common rune circles:

AS[^]S[^]S(\) This creates an inksprite which flies to the nearest airborne object or creature and releases an electrical pulse. This one requires that you learn 3 Runes.

AI[]I(\) This shocks an area when touched. This one only requires you to learn 1 Rune.

AI[^x]S[☼]S[☺]O(\) This is only activated when touched by an airborne corpse. It creates an inksprite, which travels in search of an undead creature. When it finds one, it electrocutes them and anyone nearby. This one requires you to learn 5 Runes.

Elite Circles

An Elite circle may have up to 24 runes total. It may have up to 1 Elite Effect rune or 2 Common Effect runes.

The following are valid Elite rune circles:

AI[☺]S[^]S[^!☺]S(8) When activated by an undead creature, this creates an inksprite which flies to the nearest airborne non-undead creature and swaps it and the touching creature. This one requires that you learn 4 Runes.

AS[^]S[^]S(\)S[!^]S(\) This creates an inksprite, which flies to an airborne creature or object and shocks it, then flies to a grounded creature or object and shocks it. This one only requires you to learn 2 Runes.

Paragon Circles

A Paragon circle may have up to 32 runes total. It may have up to 1 Paragon Effect rune, 2 Elite Effect runes, or 3 Common Effect runes.

The following are valid Paragon rune circles:

AI[☻]S[^]S[☻]S(%)S[☻] When activated by the specified creature, this creates an inksprite which flies to another specified creature and opens a portal between it and the rune circle. It then flies to a third specified creature (possibly the same as the first one) and closes the circle. This one requires that you learn 3 Runes.

Legend Circles

A Legend circle may have up to 42 runes total. It may have up to 1 Legend Effect rune, 2 Paragon Effect runes, 3 Elite Effect runes, or 4 Common Effect runes.

Example legend circle

Grammar Runes

Unlike other runes, all characters can write Grammar Runes without learning them.

Initial Character A: This character indicates the first (and last) rune in the circle. Additional runes are read in clockwise order until the Initial Character is reached again.

Effect Block Start Character (: This indicates that the rune immediately before it should apply an effect, which follows.

Effect Block Stop Character ): This indicates that the most recently started effect block is over.

Attribute Block Start Character [: This indicates that the rune immediately before it has attribute data, which follows.

Attribute Block Stop Character ]: This indicates that the most recently started block is over.

Not Character !: In an attribute block, this indicates that the thing being described must not have any of those attributes.

Targeting

Unlike other runes, all characters can write Targeting runes without learning them.

Each rune circle has four type of targets, and there is a rune to indicate each one:

The Circle O: The circle may do something around itself.

Effect Block: A Circle character must be immediately followed by an effect block. That effect takes place centered on or targeting the circle.

Initiator I: The one who causes the circle to activate. If cast using ink, this is the caster.

Attribute Block: The first time an Initiator character appears, it may be followed by an attribute block instead of an effect block. Only creatures whose attributes match those listed in the effect block may trigger the spell.

Effect Block: An Initiator character must be immediately followed by an effect block if it is not followed by an attribute block. The effect takes place centered on or targeting the Initiator.

Sprite S: Create, retarget, or make an effect centered on an Inksprite. If a created Inksprite is slain, its spell suffers an Exception. When an inksprite is created, it acts on the initiative step immediately before that of the Initiator.

Attribute Block: The first time a Sprite rune appears, it must be followed by an attribute block. This attribute block specifies attributes of the created inksprite. Any later time a Sprite rune appears with an attribute block following it, the inksprite is ordered to seek out a creature or object which has the listed attributes. Execution of the Rune spell only continues once it has succeeded.

Effect Block: A Sprite character must be immediately followed by an effect block if it is not followed by an attribute block. The effect takes place centered on the Inksprite, or targeting the nearest creature or object within 2 meters that has every attribute that the Inksprite was ordered to seek out. If the effect is targeted, but there is no valid target, the spell suffers an Exception.

Attributes

Common

Flying ^: The target must not be touching the ground. If creating an inksprite, that inksprite gains a fly speed equal to its land speed.

Undead ☺: The target must be Undead. If creating an inksprite, that inksprite counts as Undead.

Corpse x: The target must be dead. If creating an inksprite, that inksprite may immediately take another move action whenever a creature weighing 1 kilogram or more within 10 meters is killed.

Burning ☼: The target must be on fire. If creating an inksprite, that inksprite makes an attack versus Armor against each thing it touches, lighting the things it hits on fire.

Paragon

Identity ☻: This rune only functions if there is a lock of hair or skin fragment on it. The target must be the creature that hair or skin belongs to. If creating an inksprite, that inksprite can speak with the target's voice.

Effects

Common

Electrocution \: The spell makes an attack versus Armor against each creature and unattended object in a spherical area with the same diameter as the inner diameter of the rune circle. The attack deals 1d6 damage.

Immolation f: The spell makes an attack versus Armor against each creature and unattended object in a spherical area with the same diameter as the inner diameter of the rune circle. The attack lights targets on fire.

Elite

Transposition (non-Initiator target only) 8: The Initiator and the target swap places. This is an instantaneous effect.

Paragon

Portal (Non-circle target only) %: A flat disc becomes a portal to the rune circle, and vice versa. The disc has a diameter equal to the inner diameter of the rune circle. This is an ongoing effect.

Legend

Growth Portal (Non-circle target only) >: A flat disc becomes a portal to the rune circle, and vice versa. The portal at the rune circle occupies its full diameter, and the other portal has a diameter of twice that. Creatures and objects who pass through the portal to the circle shrink one size category, and those who pass through the other way grow one size category. Both the portal and the size change are ongoing effects.

Exceptions

When a spell suffers an exception, it ends immediately. All ongoing effects it created terminate, and its inksprite, if it has one, dissolves into ink.