Runic Magic

This lost art was the method used by the dwarves when they still possessed the Living Forges that were created by Earthmother. Following the events of the Brothers War, Earthmother stripped the dwarves of the knowledge of the runes and destroyed the Living Forges where they forged their most powerful works.

It is possible that a dwarf could find knowledge of the runes that still survive in the ruins of their ancestors. Such an undertaking would quickly have the dwarf cast out from family, clan, and hold. It is unknown if Earthmother would allow such a discovery after many millennium, but it would be a foolish dwarf that would even consider such a task. What they wrought upon this world is a sin that all dwarves still carry to the present day.

Unlike the elves that draw power from the Shadow Realms or a cleric that draws power from the avatar of the gods or devils - Runic Magic draws upon the innate physical properties of the Mortal Plane. It makes these changes permanent by inscribing runes of locking, naming, and manifesting upon the physical objects.

The Rune Mages were those dwarves that sought out the knowledge of unlocking the power of this world. While this may seem similar to Thaumaturgy, in practice it is a much more powerful and complicated art.

A Rune Mage was recognized as a Master of the Forge when they learned enough runes to create and maintain their own forge. This forge allowed a mage to advance in their craft as no master would allow an apprentice to work powerful runes on their forge. Creating and supporting a forge was both complicated and dangerous. While a perfect rune would last for the ages, such perfection was rarely reached. Instead, minute flaws in the rune or its placement often required the forge master to recreate it or risk a backlash.