Rune (Magic & Writing-Script)

See Also: Rune (Wikipedia)

Runes were employed as writing scripts, and used as magical symbols. Before the introduction of Latin letters in the ancient Germanic world, runes were used as letters to write. The Scandinavian variants are known as the Fuᚦark (futhark) and Fuᚦork (Futhork) in Saxon. This name is derived from the first letters of the alphabet - ᚠᚢᚦᚨᚱᚲ (Fehu, Uruz, Thurs, Ansur, Raidho, Kenaz). It is split into two eras - the Elder Futhark (pre-and-early-Viking-era) and Younger Futhark (Viking-era). The Elder Futhark is six-hundred years older than the Younger Futhark.

Runology is the name given to the study of runes, runic script and runestones and their relationship to language.

In-verse, the Runes are used as writing scripts in some regions and dialects, but are also revered as powerful magical symbols each associated with a Prime, and capable of being combined into powerful sigils known as bindrunes.

Runic Alphabet
The runic alphabet most commonly employed in-verse is the Elder Futhark. Below is a brief table detailing the runes, their names, and what they mean as well as the Prime they're associated with. Each rune is associated with a phonetic letter. Some are singular letters, such as Odal representing the O-sound or oe-sound, and some are two-letter phonetic sounds, such as Thurs representing a "th" sound. Detailed on each rune's individual page is further information on them - historical information, and further information on their individual roles in-verse.

Additional Runes
These symbols are borrowed from the Saxon Futhorc. Only one of these symbols is associated with a Prime, which is often regarded as emphasis on the concept of him being a king or leader of all the gods. These symbols appear in aesthetics, spells, and are rarely associated with a minor god. Sometimes, they are associated with one of the other 25 runes above. Sometimes, these symbols are also associated with magical artefacts. Most of these are verse-specific.

In-Verse
In-verse, the runic alphabet has been seen as writing convention in numerous Cybertronian dialects. Present-day Uraryan dialect still utilises bindrunes and runes to convey language. Other areas use them as accenting and aesthetics, and some use them as magical symbols under belief that these symbols were invented by the original Thirteen, and therefore charged with the power of ancient magic. Wherever one's from, the runes hold special cultural significance.

In Practice
Often, meditation on the runes is practised in the twenty-five days leading up to a major festival, such as the Festival of Three Moons. Each day, one will meditate on the deeper meaning of each rune during sunrise and during sunset. Usually, this means reaching into one's soul, one's very spark, and asking questions each involving the surface meanings and deeper meanings of the runes. It is often a quiet time full of thoughts about one's inner life and outer life, and often reflecting on themselves. One reaches into their soul for primal connection to the world before - meditating on how from the natural world they came and to the natural world they will return.

One would often paint their bodies with runic patterns with special glowing body-paint, and often would wear various banners and cloaks depicting the rune represented that day. After the sunrise's meditation, they often engage in group practices - sometimes with their families, or if they live alone, they would attend mass public services. During these times, minor celebrations and feasts take place. Preparations for the coming festival are started or continued, depending on the day. Poetry is often performed by bards and skalds, and stories are often told about the associated symbol of that day. Runic poetry is the most popular type of performance.

The day ends with sunset meditations, and finally, sleep. Usually dinners are postponed or served before the sunset. The morning's meditation is dedicated to the upright position of the rune (The rune is right-side-up), while the evening's meditation is dedicated to the downright (the rune is upside-down). Some hold these meditations as serious quiet-times, while others hold them as the elongated build-up to the celebration of life and death that is to be held during the festivals.

During the New Age, these runic holidays are similar to as they were before, with one notable difference - each day is now dedicated to one of the twenty-five Primes and the rune associated with them. These days are often occupied by sport, feasting and grand celebrations, which is quite the opposite of the typically reverent silence of the original runic meditation practices.