Rune^WP (ルーン, Rūn^?) Magecraft is one of the Magecraft Systems that originated in Scandinavia. It was created by the Chief God Odin during the Age of Gods. They are considered the Magic Crests of Scandinavia/Northern Europe.^[1]

According to Norse Myths, Odin discovered the Runes after offering up his own life. Their shapes contain the depths of the world itself and as such they can be called the guides to truth that the Allfather saw.^[2]

Mechanics

Runes are symbols that, once inscribed, automatically realize Mysteries accordingly with the meaning that they represent. Composed of only straight lines and possessing mechanics similar to the Magic Crests,^[3] Once engraved they make the meaning of the letters a reality by carving a powerful seal into the target like a Curse. If for example the Rune representing Fire, Sowilo, was inscribed on their body, the target would be bathed in flames.^[4] However if they are not inscribed directly, their effects are less potent and it is difficult to inscribed them from a distance on magi due to their magical energy rejecting the foreign magical energy trying to engrave itself on their body.^[5] The precise meaning of each Rune varies depending on the magus, which means that each spell associated with a Rune can be different.^[6] Additionally if used in combinations, it is possible to create different spells.^[7]

The characteristic feature of Rune Magecraft was these symbols. While it takes time to engrave them in the first place, once they were done, they could be released as a Single-Action spell by simply passing magical energy through them. The time lag between activating the spell and its completion was vanishingly small.^[7]

There are three types of Runes: Primordial Runes created by Odin himself and used by Scathach, Brynhildr, Cú Chulainn and Sigurd, Old Runes referenced by Scathach, and Modern Runes that are mere imitations of the above.^[8] Touko Aozaki possesses three replicas of Primordial Runes.^[4]

Touko Aozaki is responsible for reviving Rune Magecraft, as it was nearing extinction despite its fame and the many magi that were researching and using it. It was in a state of decline as many of the Runes have been lost to time, despite that, Touko was able to recover and reconstruct a large portion of those lost Runes. She recovered the 24 Runes of the Futhark alphabet that undergirds the magecraft as a whole, and also managed to parse out a number of Primordial Runes that were lost back in the Age of Gods. The rights to the former were sold throughout the Clock Tower, while the latter were sealed away for safe keeping in case of her Sealing Designation being fulfilled.^[9] By using thin crystalline lenses, Touko is able to amplify the power of her carved runes tens of millions of times.^[4]

Known Rune Spells

Algz^WP

Algiz was employed by Touko Aozaki to attack Flat Escardos and dispel the Magecraft of Svin Glascheit and Atrum Galliasta.^[7]

Ansuz^WP (アンサズ, Ansazu^?)

Ansuz is generally used for "Combustion",^[6] but normally the rune that represents flame is kaunaz. Ansuz is only chosen out of respect to a Mystery, as this rune sometimes symbolizes "words", and sometimes symbolizes a god itself, meaning it can take any form depending on the caster's interpretation of the god. If they imagine a god of thunder, it becomes thunder. If they imagine a god of fire, it becomes fire.^[10] The maximum effect of Ansuz is actually "to make known".^[6]

It is used by Touko Aozaki, who inscribes this Rune with the flame of her cigarette to make said flames spread over the target. She once used it at distance against a Wraith-possessed corpse, but it was ineffective.^[6] By using her automatic Rune drawing spell, Touko is able to create a cloud of Ansuz runes to invoke the God of Fire to burn her opponent.^[11] In the Unlimited Blade Works route, the one that Cú Chulainn used was able to completely burn down the Einzbern Castle.^[12] By employing the "ansuz" Rune, Caster Cú is able to perform powerful heat・flame attacks, his specialty.^[13]

Ath nGabla (アトゴウラ, Ato Gōra^?)

A spell for death-matches; a curse of one-on-one combat amongst the Knights of the Red Branch. Once it is cast by inscribing Algiz, Nauthiz, Ansuz and Inguz in successive order, the caster becomes forbidden from retreating and the target cannot refuse combat.^[14]

The name means "Ford of the Forked Branch" in Old Irish and is called "Shoal of Four Branches" in Fate/unlimited codes.

Berkanan^WP (ベルカナ, Berukana^?)

Used by Cú Chulainn for tracking purposes. It uses stones as material components.^[12]

Ehwaz^WP (エワズ, Ewazu^?)

A Rune of hardening that Bazett Fraga McRemitz inscribed on her gloves, giving them a hardness well in excess of tungsten steel. Combined with her fighting style, the final effect is powerful enough to crush a human head with a punch. Ehwaz is also a very popular choices as a fire-type rune.^[6] This Rune can also erase invisibility spells.^[4]

Fehu^WP

Touko Aozaki used Fehu on herself during the Twin Towers of Iselma incident.^[7]

Gandr (ガンド, Gando^?)

Main article: Gandr

Kano (カノ, Kano^?)

Used by Cú Chulainn to set fire to the Einzbern' castle in the TV anime version of the Unlimited Blade Works route. Its shape is same as Kenaz's, although their names are different.^[15]

Kenaz^WP (ケーナズ, Kēnazu^?)

Used by Bazett to enhance her sight.^[16]

Sowilo^WP (ソウェル, Soweru^?)

The Rune of fire. Touko could use can use its meaning of "Sun" to unleash unique effects, with its power being capable of rapidly scattering the lingering shadows and darkness of one's magecraft, like the morning sun melting the night's frost,^[7] or stealing the attribute of Night itself from a particular place to make Alice Kuonji incapable of using her Ploy Kickshaw.^[17] It can also function as a curse, the moment it is carved on her opponent they are bathed in flames, ignoring any internal resistance spells.^[4]

Tiwaz^WP (ティワズ, Tiwazu^?)

A Rune of divine protection, which Touko can use to make a Bounded Field as a protective barrier.^[4]

Rune Explosion Spell

By engraving Naudiz^WP, Jera^WP and Uruz^WP into the ground, Touko was able to use the meaning of "creation" behind this string of Runes to engrave countless Runes at a radius of about ten meters around Svin Glascheit, then cause the dozens of Runes to explode around him, with the dozens of impacts blowing away both the Phantasmal Wolf and Svin's consciousness.^[7]

Mannaz^WP

A rune that controls and manipulate people like puppets. Touko was able to control and manipulate even collapsed magi, as if they were her puppets.^[7]

Unknown Runes

Besides the ones mentioned above, the following unnamed Runes are also known to exist:

• A Rune that can erase memories, limitations of its use are the same as Memory Manipulation Magecraft limitations.^[18] Bazett inscribes it using a special talon and can do it so efficiently that use in the middle of combat is possible. A similar rune exists in one of Alice Kuonji's books in her library.^[19]
• A "look-away" Rune making even someone as striking as Touko Aozaki go unnoticed.^[20]
• Runes that Bazett inscribes with the heel of her shoes on the floor to stop a potential attack from Avenger.^[21]
• Speed enhancing Rune that Bazett inscribes into both of her legs.^[22]
• In Fate/unlimited codes, Bazett has a super move known as "Red Branch/High Lance" which consists of a diving kick attack. She says "Ansuz-Eihwaz" prior to performing the attack, activating the runes on her foot. Ansuz is likely used to either unlock or increase the magical energy while Eihwaz is used similarly to the above use on her gloves to harden them.
• A Primordial Death Rune was created by Odin and is used by Surtr^[23] and Skadi. It makes one's death an absolute certainty so long as it is applied to a being of flesh and blood; beings of Ether such as Heroic Spirits are not affected to the same degree.^[2]
• A Healing Rune used by Bazett in the Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA☆ILLYA manga.^[24]
• A Rune of Resurrection used by Bazett in the Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA☆ILLYA manga. It resurrects Bazett after suffering mortal wounds as soon set conditions are met, in her case as soon as her heart stops, while simultaneously healing her of those injuries. It is described by Rin as being Noble Phantasm-class magecraft.^[25]
• A "pale rune of punishment" placed on Brynhildr by Odin as punishment, which puts her into suspended animation and instantly killed anyone who tried to free her. Sigurd managed to cut through the curse with Gram.^[26]
• A Rune that creates Thorns of Ice entrapt someone.^[7]
• A Rune that creates a storm of ligthning blades.^[4]
• A Rune that creates invisible walls that exert pressure when you walk into them.^[4]
• A Rune that draws other Runes.^[7]
• Memory Runes that look like simple scartches when they are inactive, but the moment they are are exposed to strong magical energy they revert to their original form to activate the original rune spell in response.^[17]

Practitioners

• Odin (Lostbelt) (Founder)
• Primordial Runes
  • Lostbelt Surtr
  • Manannán mac Lir
  • Scáthach
  • Scáthach-Skadi
  • Cú Chulainn
  • Valkyries
    • Brynhildr
      • Sigurd (Student)
    • Aslaug
    • Thrúd
    • Hildr
    • Ortlinde
      • Lostbelt Thrúd, Hildr, and Ortlinde
        • Mass Produced Valkyries based on them called Envoy
    • Rindr
    • Ölrún
    • Geirskögul
• Primordial Rune Replica
  • Touko Aozaki
• Other Rune Users
  • Fraga family
    • Bazett Fraga McRemitz
  • Reiroukan family
    • Aritoshi Reiroukan
    • Misaya Reiroukan
  • Artoria Caster (Avalon)
  • Olga Marie Animusphere
• Knights of the Red Branch/ Only Ath nGabla
  • Fergus mac Róich

References