Runic Magic

In the world of magic, where spells are often penned in dusty tomes or whispered incantations, there exists a path less traveled—the way of the Rune Mage. These practitioners of Runic Magic have unearthed an ancient and esoteric tradition that allows them to wield magic in a manner like no other. Instead of traditional spellbooks or the fleeting memory of incantations, Rune Mages harness the power of inscribed runes, etched upon enduring stone.

These enigmatic symbols are far from mere decoration; they are conduits of profound arcane might. Arcane sigils of power, written in the primordial tongues of creation. Destructive or mending, an end or a beginning, all by command of the mage. 

Runic Casting

You do not cast magic like other wizards. Your magic functions via specialized runestones, inscribed with arcane sigils. Because of this, you need no components for your casting. Additionally, you have a collection of smaller, less permanent stones upon which you can freely work your runes. At level 2, you possess 5 of these runestones, increasing by five at levels 6, 10 and 14, to maximum of 15 stones. With the ease of your casting, you may freely switch your prepared spells when taking a short rest, up to a combined level of your proficiency modifier multiplied by your Intelligence modifier.

Inscribe

Beginning when you select this school at 2nd level, you gain the ability to inscribe runes on your runestones. At level 2, you may inscribe one word per runestone. The DM ultimately decides the effect, but it should align with the inscription and be consistent. Inscribing a rune requires 3 minutes. You may also inscribe any spell you know as long as it is in your spellbook, or a spell you have witnessed in the last hour which is of a level you can cast. After the rune is triggered or it's effect ends, it can be reclaimed. A creature may make a dc 15 arcana check to understand what a rune says.

Complex Runes

At 6th level, you have become more proficient in the use of your runes. You may now inscribe runic phrases of up to 5 words on one runestone. Additionally, your speed is increased. You may now inscribe at a rate of one word per two minutes.

Enduring Runes

At 10th level, you are far more proficient than when your journey began. You may now instill in your runes multiple charges. When inscribing a runestone, you can choose to increase its number of uses up to your intelligence modifier. For each use you add, each word in the phrase costs one more than it would normally. At 3 uses, each word would count as three. Additionally, runic phrases may now contain up to 10 words.

Freed Inscriptions

Starting at 14th level, you are no longer bound by constraints of stone to imbue with your will. Once per long rest, you may inscribe runes in the very air. When doing so, one runestone is consumed for every 5 words written, and will require replacement. These inscriptions must be activated immediately, and can have no more than one activation. These inscriptions are performed in the space of a single moment. Additionally, you may now inscirbe runes on other surfaces, besides your stones. When doing so, your stones are consumed at the same rate of 1 per five words. Runes inscribed this way take 5 minutes per word, due to the care with which you must do so.