Runic Relics

From: Forgehaven Foundry

Lore: The origins of Runic Relics can be traced back to the ancient civilizations that once thrived in the world of Saṃsāra. The Enchanters at Forgehaven Foundry, driven by their insatiable curiosity and reverence for the past, delved deep into dusty tomes and uncovered forgotten scripts of powerful runes.

These enchanters, well-versed in both the arcane arts and blacksmithing, set out to craft items of great significance. Each Runic Relic is carefully infused with ancient runes, invoking the power of the past to grant unique abilities and properties to their bearers.

The enchanters’ knowledge of metallurgy and technomagic ensures that the runes are etched flawlessly into the metal, gemstones, and other materials that compose the relics. The result is an array of powerful artifacts, including rings that enhance agility, amulets that protect from curses, and belts that amplify strength and endurance.

Runic Relics Stats and Skills (Tier One):

• Ring of Nimbleness:
  • Description: A silver ring etched with ancient agility runes.
  • Skill: Grants +1 to Dexterity saving throws and +2 to Dexterity-based skill checks.
  • Cost: 150 gold pieces
• Amulet of Warding:
  • Description: A golden amulet adorned with protective runes.
  • Skill: Grants advantage on saving throws against curses and other magical afflictions.
  • Cost: 200 gold pieces
• Belt of Might:
  • Description: A sturdy leather belt imbued with strength-enhancing runes.
  • Skill: Grants +2 to Strength checks and +1 to melee weapon damage rolls.
  • Cost: 180 gold pieces

Size, Requirements, and Tags:

• Size: Each Runic Relic is crafted to be wearable or usable by humanoid creatures.
• Requirements: There are no specific requirements to wield Runic Relics, but only those who possess the necessary gold can acquire them.

Tags:

• Ancient Enchantment: The relics are infused with powerful ancient runes, making them unique and potent.
• Adventurer’s Edge: Runic Relics are sought after by adventurers and warriors seeking an advantage in challenging situations.
• Prestigious Gift: Occasionally bestowed upon esteemed guests of the Forgehaven family as a gesture of honor and goodwill.
• Additional: Arcane-Inscribed Artifacts, Echoes of Forgotten Power, Glyph-Forged Enhancements, Ancestral Rune Binding, Woven Magic Script, Relics of the First Enchanters, Sigil-Etched Wonders, Legacy of the Lost Scribes, Resonant Mystical Engravings, Elemental Glyphwork

Sales and Distribution: Runic Relics are highly prized and coveted items, commanding a premium price due to their rarity and unique enchantments. Forgehaven Foundry produces them in limited quantities to maintain their exclusivity and to ensure the highest quality of craftsmanship.

These powerful artifacts are distributed through specialized magical item shops, renowned enchanting guilds, and reputable artifact merchants. Adventurers, warriors, and individuals seeking an edge in challenging endeavors actively seek out these relics.

Occasionally, the Forgehaven family bestows Runic Relics upon esteemed guests, powerful allies, or individuals who have performed great deeds in the name of Saṃsāra. This practice further enhances the family’s reputation and fosters goodwill among the influential figures in the realm.

Usage and Impact: Runic Relics have a profound impact on the lives of those who possess them. Adventurers and warriors equipped with these artifacts gain a significant advantage in their quests, battles, and endeavors. The Ring of Nimbleness allows for agile maneuvers, granting an edge in dodging traps and landing critical strikes. The Amulet of Warding protects its wearer from curses and malevolent magic, ensuring their safety in dangerous encounters.

Meanwhile, the Belt of Might empowers warriors with enhanced strength, making them more formidable in combat and capable of overcoming physical challenges. The Runic Relics’ presence on the battlefield can turn the tide of a battle, making them highly sought after by those seeking to establish their reputation as formidable and accomplished individuals.

In the hands of skilled adventurers and warriors, Runic Relics become symbols of prowess and valor, further solidifying Forgehaven Foundry’s standing as a renowned and respected institution of enchantment and craftsmanship in the world of Saṃsāra.

Perception of Activation:

• User’s Perspective
  • The moment the Runic Relic activates, a pulse of energy flows through the wearer, as if ancient knowledge stirs beneath the skin. The etched runes glow with an otherworldly shimmer, shifting slightly as if alive, adjusting to the wielder’s intent. A faint vibration hums through the relic, resonating with unseen forces. The weight of the artifact momentarily vanishes, replaced by an invigorating rush—like the embrace of forgotten power awakening after centuries of silence.
  • A whisper echoes in the back of the mind, not words, but impressions—fragments of lost civilizations and the enchanters who forged this relic. The air around the relic seems denser, charged with residual arcane currents. The sensation of time slows, not in reality, but in awareness, allowing the user to feel an expanded sense of perception and power.
• Observer’s Perspective
  • To an onlooker, the activation is a spectacle of controlled magic—runes carved into the relic glow, shifting in brightness as if pulsing in sync with the bearer’s heartbeat. A faint ripple of air distorts around the artifact, almost imperceptible but enough to hint at something beyond the material. Shadows briefly flicker, responding to unseen forces.
  • If the relic is a ring, it crackles with arcane energy, its glow tracing across the wearer’s fingertips. If an amulet, a brief halo of light encircles the wearer’s chest before fading. If a belt, the ground beneath the wearer subtly vibrates as unseen power anchors their stance. The light of the runes fades only slightly, always leaving behind the impression that the magic never fully sleeps.
• Sensory Breakdown
  • Sight: Runes shimmer with radiant light, shifting subtly as if adjusting their form. Faint tendrils of energy coil around the artifact before dissipating. Colors may briefly seem more vibrant to the user.
  • Sound: A soft hum, like distant chanting, echoes just at the edge of perception. When activating for a specific purpose, a faint crackling of arcane energy or shifting stone might accompany the magic.
  • Touch: The relic feels both warm and cool at once, as though infused with layered magic. Its surface vibrates subtly, as if responding to unspoken intent. If pressed against the skin, an almost weightless pressure can be felt.
  • Smell: A faint, unplaceable scent lingers—something akin to aged parchment, charred runes, or the crisp air before a storm. Each activation carries a subtle shift, hinting at the nature of the magic within.
  • Taste: A sharp metallic tang lingers in the mouth, like touching a charged coin to the tongue, followed by a fading sweetness, as though the magic briefly altered perception itself.
  • Extra-Sensory Perceptions
    • Temporal Echoes: Those attuned to magic might briefly glimpse fragmented visions of the relic’s past wielders, flickering like half-remembered dreams.
    • Arcane Resonance: The artifact radiates a field of magic, detectable by those sensitive to such energies. Other enchanted items in proximity may momentarily react.
    • Runic Awareness: The wielder instinctively understands the meaning of the relic’s glyphs, even if the language has been lost to time.
    • Elemental Shift: Depending on the relic’s nature, ambient temperatures might fluctuate—subtle warmth from a fire-aligned rune, an eerie chill from one linked to shadows.
    • Subconscious Guidance: The wielder feels subtle impulses guiding their actions, as if the relic itself carries ancient wisdom that nudges them toward optimal choices.
• Positives
  • Enhances physical and mental abilities through direct magical influence.
  • Strengthens resistance to magical and elemental forces.
  • Increases sensory perception and battle awareness.
  • Provides a feeling of attunement with the past, offering insights beyond ordinary knowledge.
  • Can form a unique bond with the user, responding with greater efficiency over time.
• Negatives
  • Prolonged activation may cause fatigue, as if drawing the wielder slightly closer to the echoes of its past.
  • Runes may flare unexpectedly in reaction to strong magic, drawing attention when stealth is required.
  • The relic’s influence could become distracting, filling the mind with residual memories or distant whispers.
  • If overused, the relic may temporarily reject the user, causing a brief loss of its magical benefits.
  • The item’s bond may prevent it from being used by another unless ritually deactivated.

Crafting Recipe: Runic Relic (Forgehaven Replica)

• Materials Needed:
  • Eldritch-Tempered Ingot (1x) – A rare alloy infused with arcane energy, serving as the relic’s primary structure.
  • Runestone Fragments (3x) – Ancient shards inscribed with residual magical glyphs, essential for embedding enchantments.
  • Aether-Infused Gem (1x) – A carefully cut gemstone that acts as a power conduit for the runic magic.
  • Mystic Inscription Ink (1 vial) – A blend of crushed enchanted minerals and powdered silver used to etch runes.
  • Binding Essence (1 oz.) – A distilled alchemical substance that fuses the runes permanently into the relic’s core.
  • Elemental Catalyst (Varies by Enchantment) – A material corresponding to the relic’s function (e.g., Fire Ash for fire resistance, Shadowglass for warding).
• Tools Required:
  • Runesmith’s Chisel – Designed for precise inscription of magical glyphs.
  • Aetheric Forge & Enchantment Crucible – Required to heat and shape the relic while preserving magical conductivity.
  • Arcane Infusion Tongs – Used to manipulate the artifact without disrupting the enchantment process.
  • Eldritch Lens & Alignment Compass – Ensures proper rune placement and magical energy flow.
  • Magical Quenching Basin (Infused with Moonwater or Dragon’s Breath) – Used to finalize the bonding process.
  • Mystic Calibration Runes – Temporary rune sequences that stabilize magic before the relic is sealed.
• Skill Requirements:
  • Runesmithing (Advanced) – Essential for inscribing and activating arcane glyphs.
  • Magical Infusion (Intermediate) – Ensures the relic maintains stable magical energy.
  • Metallurgy (Basic) – Required to forge the physical components without disrupting enchantments.
  • Elemental Attunement (Optional, based on effect) – Enhances relic functionality based on desired properties.
• Crafting Steps:
  • Forge the Relic’s Core
    • Melt the Eldritch-Tempered Ingot in the Aetheric Forge, ensuring the material remains stable.
    • Shape the relic (ring, amulet, belt, etc.), leaving space for rune placement and the Aether-Infused Gem.
    • Quench the forged piece in the Magical Quenching Basin, allowing it to cool while absorbing latent magical energies.
  • Prepare & Inscribe the Runes
    • Arrange the Runestone Fragments in a precise geometric pattern to resonate with the chosen enchantment.
    • Using the Runesmith’s Chisel, carefully carve the runes onto the relic’s surface, following ancient glyph formulas.
    • Apply Mystic Inscription Ink to deepen the runic engravings, enhancing magical conductivity.
  • Infuse with Magical Energy
    • Embed the Aether-Infused Gem into the relic’s core, securing it with Binding Essence to stabilize energy flow.
    • Place the relic in the Enchantment Crucible, channeling controlled arcane energy to charge the runes.
    • Introduce the Elemental Catalyst (if applicable), binding the relic to its intended effect.
  • Final Sealing & Calibration
    • Immerse the relic in the Mystic Calibration Runes, ensuring that all enchantments align properly.
    • Adjust runic flow using the Eldritch Lens & Alignment Compass, correcting any imperfections.
    • Seal the relic with a final heat tempering in the Aetheric Forge, permanently bonding the magic within.
• Completion Notes:
  • The completed Runic Relic will hum with arcane energy, visibly glowing when exposed to strong magical fields.
  • Overuse may cause the runes to temporarily dim, requiring recharging in an Aetheric Nexus or similar magical source.
  • The relic’s effects remain active unless disrupted by anti-magic fields or excessive force, requiring re-inscription if damaged.
  • Advanced enchanters may experiment with additional runic sequences, though improper layering can lead to unpredictable results.

Runes That Would Not Sleep

In the long-before time, when the sky was yet young and rivers whispered in words men have now forgotten, there was a maker of marks. This maker was no king, no warrior, no great speaker of wisdom, but the hands that moved in dust, carving meaning into stone. They were called many things—scratcher of symbols, whisperer to rocks, one-who-sees-shapes-in-nothing—but no name held them long, for names were only breath, and runes were forever.

The maker carved. Upon walls, upon stones, upon iron and bone, upon the very air when the moon hung close. Not for power, nor for wealth, but because the hands could not be still, and the heart knew that marks had meaning. The runes were small at first, unnoticed, lost to wind and rain, but the world does not ignore what is written deep. The mountains listened, the rivers remembered, and the stars leaned close to see.

One night, beneath the cold light of a star that had no name, the maker carved a rune upon an amulet, not knowing the weight of the mark. The stone did not sit silent. It shivered. It spoke. The rune had awoken. The maker did not flee, did not cower, but listened, for words carved by hand could not be unmade.

The rune did not ask. The rune did not command. The rune was. And when the maker lifted the amulet, they knew—this was not just a mark, but a voice, a thought, a fragment of the before-time woven into the now. The rune would not sleep again. It would carry its power in the hands of those who held it, whispering to those who could understand.

The maker, knowing now what had been done, carved others—rings, belts, weapons, tools. Each bore a mark of power, each carried the weight of what had come before. And the world changed. The warriors grew strong, the seekers grew wise, and the kings… the kings grew afraid.

It is said that a jealous lord, fearing what runes might whisper to those not bound by thrones, sought the maker. “Still your hands,” the lord demanded. “Carve no more, for words in stone live longer than men, and I would not be forgotten.”

But the maker did not stop. The runes could not be silenced, not with gold, not with threat, not even with steel. And so the lord, fearing the marks, fearing what was written beyond his time, cast the maker into the deep earth, where no hand could carve and no eye could read.

But the runes had already spread. They lived upon relics, upon armor, upon rings worn by those who knew the truth: that words do not die, that meaning cannot be buried. The lord fell, his name lost, his throne dust, but the runes still remain, waiting for hands that will listen.

Moral of the Story: Power is not in crowns, nor in swords, but in the words that do not fade. What is written cannot be unmade.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition) Adaptation

Item Name: Runic Relic

• Type: Mystical Artifact
• Description: An ancient artifact inscribed with arcane runes, holding residual power from a forgotten civilization.
• Effects:
  • Runic Protection: Grants a +10 bonus to Occult rolls related to runic or ancient magic.
  • Ward Against the Unseen: Provides a one-time use of a protective ward, negating a single supernatural effect (GM discretion).
  • Echoes of the Past: Once per day, allows the user to experience a brief vision of an ancient event tied to the relic’s origins.
• Drawback: Extended use may cause disorientation or cryptic whispers in the mind of the wielder, leading to temporary sanity loss (1D4 SAN).

Blades in the Dark Adaptation

Item Name: Runic Relic

• Type: Fine Arcane Tool
• Load: 1
• Description: A carved artifact brimming with latent magical energy, useful for rituals, divination, or warding.
• Uses:
  • Empowered Rituals: Grants +1d when performing arcane rituals or engaging in occult research.
  • Protective Sigils: Once per heist, can negate one supernatural consequence, preventing harm or misfortune.
  • Runic Command: May influence minor spirits or ghosts, making them hesitant to act against the bearer.
• Drawback: Activating its power draws attention from unseen forces, making the user more susceptible to arcane scrutiny.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition) Adaptation

Runic Relic

• Wondrous Item, rare (requires attunement)
• Description: A relic inscribed with ancient runes, imbued with protective and empowering magic.
• Properties:
  • Runic Fortitude: The wearer gains a +1 bonus to saving throws against magical effects.
  • Arcane Infusion: Once per long rest, the relic can be invoked to cast Detect Magic or Identify without expending a spell slot.
  • Sigil of Warding: The first time the wielder is targeted by a harmful spell each day, they have advantage on the saving throw.
• Drawback: Each activation of the relic leaves a faint magical signature, detectable by those attuned to arcane forces.

Knave Adaptation

Item Name: Runic Relic

• Type: Magical Artifact
• Effect: A fragment of an ancient civilization’s power, etched with sigils of unknown origin.
• Uses:
  • Ancient Insight: Grants a +1 bonus to any roll related to deciphering lost knowledge or magical scripts.
  • Protective Runes: Once per day, allows the user to ignore 1 damage from any magical attack.
  • Resonant Glyphs: Can store and release a minor spell effect (such as illumination or an unseen warning signal).
• Drawback: If overused, the relic may become unstable, causing random magical disturbances.

Fate Adaptation

• Aspect: Etched in Power, Bound by the Past
• Type: Unique Artifact
• Function: A relic inscribed with ancient runes, granting mystical power to those who can wield it.
• Stunts:
  • Sigil of Protection: Once per session, the relic can absorb a harmful magical effect, negating it entirely.
  • Runic Awakening: Gain +2 to any Lore or Occult roll when deciphering arcane symbols or ancient texts.
  • Echo of the Ancients: The bearer may invoke the relic’s aspect to recall lost knowledge or sense nearby magical forces.
• Drawback: The relic occasionally pulses with arcane energy, attracting unwanted attention from supernatural entities or those seeking lost artifacts.

Numenera & Cypher System Adaptation

• Level: 4 (Rare Artifact)
• Form: A stone, amulet, or inscribed object from a forgotten age, pulsing with latent magic.
• Effect:
  • Rune-Linked Resistance: The bearer gains an asset to defense against magical or psychic attacks.
  • Arcane Imprint: Can store and release a single-use spell-like effect (determined upon creation) once per day.
  • Attuned Awareness: The user can sense nearby magical disturbances within a short distance.
• Drawback: The relic occasionally activates on its own, producing minor magical effects or visions that may be disorienting.
• Depletion: 1 in 1d20 – If depleted, the relic loses its power until properly recharged by an arcane source.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition) Adaptation

Runic Relic

• Wondrous Item (Rare, Requires Attunement)
• Category: Magical Artifact
• Effects:
  • Runic Warding: Grants resistance 5 to one type of magical damage (chosen upon attunement).
  • Arcane Sigil: Once per day, the user can reroll a failed saving throw against a magical effect.
  • Runebound Knowledge: Grants a +2 bonus to Arcana or Occultism checks related to ancient civilizations.
• Drawback: If used frequently, the relic imprints a fragment of its past onto the wielder, causing occasional cryptic dreams or visions.

Savage Worlds Adaptation

Runic Relic

• (Magic Item, Rare)
• Type: Ancient Artifact
• Toughness Bonus: +2 (if armor-like)
• Effects:
  • Sigil of Protection: Once per day, the relic allows the user to ignore one harmful magical effect.
  • Runic Power: Grants a +2 bonus to Knowledge (Arcana) or Research when deciphering magical inscriptions.
  • Resonant Glyphs: The relic may store and release a minor spell (such as Detect Arcana or Shield) once per long rest.
• Drawback: The relic has an aura that can be sensed by magic users, making stealth or secrecy more difficult.

Shadowrun (6th Edition) Adaptation

Runic Relic

• Device Rating: 5
• Availability: 10R
• Cost: 25,000¥
• Description: A rare, ancient artifact etched with arcane glyphs that resonate with both magic and technology. Shadowrunners who acquire these relics find their abilities enhanced, though they often attract attention from corps and occult organizations.
• Effects:
  • Runic Barrier: Grants +2 dice on resistance tests against magical effects.
  • Encoded Glyphs: Provides a +1 bonus to Arcana or Engineering when analyzing magical or technomagical phenomena.
  • Sigil of Protection: Once per day, allows the user to negate a single magical attack or spell effect.
• Drawback: The relic passively emits an astral signature, making it easier to track via magical detection.

Starfinder Adaptation

Runic Relic

• Type: Wondrous Item (Magitech)
• Level: 7
• Price: 12,500 credits
• Armor Class Bonus: +1 (if worn)
• Effects:
  • Arcane Buffer: Grants spell resistance 10 against magic attacks.
  • Runic Recall: Once per day, allows the user to reroll a failed Will save against a magical effect.
  • Sigil of Insight: Provides a +2 insight bonus to Mysticism and Culture checks related to ancient civilizations.
• Drawback: If exposed to a strong antimagic field, the relic becomes inert for 1 hour.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition) Adaptation

Runic Relic

• Tech Level: 11
• Cost: 100,000 credits
• Traits: Ancient, Arcane, Unstable
• Effects:
  • Eldritch Resonance: Grants a +1 DM bonus to all rolls involving artifact analysis, psionics, or pre-spacefaring civilizations.
  • Runic Warding: The user gains +2 armor against energy-based attacks while carrying the relic.
  • Temporal Echo: Once per week, the relic allows the user to witness a brief vision from the past or future (GM discretion).
• Drawback: Prolonged contact (more than a day) may cause mental strain, requiring an Endurance (Difficult) check to avoid temporary confusion.

Warhammer (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition) Adaptation

Runic Relic

• Type: Enchanted Artifact (Rare)
• Encumbrance: 1
• Availability: Exotic
• Armor Bonus: +1 (if integrated into armor)
• Effects:
  • Sigil of Defense: Grants a +10 bonus to resist magic-based attacks.
  • Rune of Warding: Once per session, the relic can dispel a single magical effect targeting the bearer.
  • Ancient Knowledge: Provides a +10 bonus to Lore (Magic) or Trade (Runesmithing).
• Drawback: The relic’s runes occasionally shift, causing brief magical disruptions or attracting unwanted arcane attention.