Letters Inscrutable Runes

[Belrune Brighthand]

Greetings!​

I do hope that this letter is not received with any offense. When first I learned that my dear brother had been exchanging correspondence with you, I immediately took it upon myself to inquire after your contact information so that I might do the same. You must not be cross with him; he has never been capable of resisting my requests when made in earnest.

If I may be so bold, I would like to first express my regard for your works. I have read On the Origins of Written Magic as well as An Introduction to Calligraphic Arts of Magery from cover to cover on multiple occasions, and can never tire of the attention to historical detail or the cleverness of the writing. Your inclusion of written sources has been instrumental in further research into the subjects, and have provided me with an endlessly growing reading list.

However, if it is not impertinent to ask: wherever did you find a copy of Duchess Igraine's Tome of Inscrutable Runes? Though I have been traveling extensively for my continued education into the arts of magical transcription, I have been unable to find a reasonably-obtained copy of the aforementioned text that has not been archived due to its age or the copy's poor condition.

I understand that this tome contains a copy of an archaic fae alphabet, dated from the age of Uroghosh. Though not nearly so brave as to personally solicit our diminutive neighbors for firsthand knowledge, I have recently come into the possession of a gold bracelet with the distinguished task of deciphering and translating an inscription on its interior. The object is almost certainly magical, in spite of its simple construction, and the diction and syntax are rather unique from other examples of the language at a similar time.

If you could kindly share with me where you were able to access Duchess Igraine's Tome, I would be most indebted to you. This research is, hopefully, of some interest of you, and I will be certain to keep you updated on the progress of this adventure if you are, indeed, interested.

Thank you for your patience and assistance, and I look forward to your future correspondence.

Belrune Brighthand​

// Severin Bellerose //

 

[Severin Bellerose]

I've been expecting that you'd write me soon ever since your brother mentioned such. I am elevated to hear that the young take interest in this magical art on their own accord? I assume your whole family is dealing with such an art.
Ah yes, On the Origins of Written Magic most schools of wizardry own a copy. Possibly my most sucessful book to date.
To help further, the copy of Duchess Igraine's Tome of Inscrutable Runes, I was able to study is from the Clandestine University located in Dra-Espyria, but It might be hard to attain. However the Library of the Collage of Elbion has one well restored copy, but I doubt any mortal was allowed to be even within four feet of the book. Supposedly the Arcane Academy which lies two counties south of Belgrath has a transcribed version, which might be currently the easiest to study.

Greetings and study well,
Severin Bellerose

 

[Belrune Brighthand]

The rarity of this tome will certainly make the task of deciphering these runes a challenge worthy of my tenacity! As I am presently abroad it may, therefore, be some time before I am able to inspect the source myself. I must thank you for your help in this matter. If I thought it safe to transcribe the runes themselves to send out to my fellow intellects and experts on the matter, this curiosity might have been much easier to solve.

However, I daren't transcribe the runes themselves, being so uncertain of their nature -- a dire mistake for whoever might be on the receiving end of that letter, if I were not first afflicted. What I have been able to decipher thus far by comparing it to its child languages has been concerning, an invocation of the Horned God of the fae and a single word that may be the etymological ancestor to żo-fëki, a faerie term for 'oblivion'. Hardly a warm welcome to the task. From my experience with fae charms, I surmise this could be either benevolent or malevolent in nature.

I have heard from my dear brother that you were recently appointed to the position of docent at Elbion College. My congratulations are in order. Your pupils must feel very fortunate to have such a learned teacher in the arcane arts!

Thank you again for your assistance, and I will continue to update you on this venture in the future!

Belrune Brighthand​

P.S. - It nearly slipped my mind to inquire if you'd studied the fae letters in Duchess Igraine's Tome while doing your research, and if so if you might recall any part of them?

 

[Severin Bellerose]

Yes. I have read the book, but I have no particular comment on it further than the references in my literature, notably
On the Origins of Written Magic, which you've read and know.
I personally do not dabble in runes or runic magic. But perhaps the now late collegue of mine; Cornelian Cain Saveli's The hidden arts, may have some paralels to Igraine's work.

Research well,
Severin Bellerose

 

[Belrune Brighthand]

It is with a great deal of excitement that I pen this letter. Upon your recommendations, I sent out an inquiry to the Arcane Academy and had an opportunity to read Saveli's The Hidden Arts and to finally see Duchess Igraine's Tome for a day, and am pleased to inform you that I have solved the first part my mystery!

And I must say, the answer is not one I had expected. The bracelet may have used some faerie words and their archaic alphabet, but when I began to translate it, I realized that it wasn't a faerie token at all, but rather the language of a sect of Sëio-ni druidic peoples predating their cultural merge with the Mize ri Hila native to the Allir Reach. An exciting relic, to be certain! Seeing the use of the faerie alphabet before integrating that of the Mize ri Hila is a curiosity, but give substance to the theories suggesting faerie influence over the language.

The spell is a mix of runic magic to attune the item to the wearer and an invocation to trigger its effects. Though the two faerie words I had been able to translate were foreboding, I have deduced that the item is to be used to conjure a small magical shield. A third, smaller portion of the inscription is a charging spell, though it is a very rudimentary and that limits this item's use.

While I have uncovered the nature and purpose of the item, I must once again consult your greater knowledge on the subject of incantation. I've included a copy of the verbal spell, which is rather clever considering its brevity and the rudimentary nature of the runic spells accompanying it on this item. The phrases in question have been underlined. Do you think the inflection belongs in the first or second syllable of unu, making it 'shrine' or 'light' respectively? Invoking the Horned God to erect a "kindly shrine" or "kindly light" have distinct, though similar, connotations within the phrasing. And I am convinced that iutksu must be spelled wrong, but I may be mistaken -- iunksu makes far more sense in this use.

I realize that this letter is due to arrive during the time typically allotted to exams, so please do not rush to respond. I will patiently await your wisdom on this matter, and I thank you for your invaluable assistance thus far!

Belrune Brighthand​

 

[Severin Bellerose]

Dear Belrune Brightheart, I might have more luck seeing the original magical text and how the infliction works when read, that is, if it is a true incantation. And as it goes, an incantation is a magical text which is activated through the voice of the caster. It would also be unclear if it's only one charge or multiple, so you might want to see first if it's not just an instruction for a spell. For now I will forward the inscription to a collegue spellcaster docent to see if it's only a spell instruction with your notes provided. Though she might be too preocupied with her students before she is able to return to me in time.

Take care,
Severin Bellerose