Runes make up the basis of the world's magic. The greatest of these symbols and signs of power were the Runes (or Seal) of Creation. The Seals of Creation were intertwined with the One True World, an ancient world which all others are but pale shadows of. There, everything was grander, suited perfectly to its purpose. The One True Master of Evil, the mightiest of all loci, tried to claim the Seals of Creation, and in so doing, broke the world apart.

Most works of magic require the use of runes. These symbols each carry power, some greater than others. Some runes can be used by normal people with minor effect, such as runes of healing drawn over water to wash wounds, or runes of breaking and strength used to cut stone. However, if a wizard employs such a rune, they can magnify its effect hundreds of times; runes against fire might make wood unburnable, while runes of breaking could cause earthquakes.

Runes are also the basis of endowments, as forcibles of blood metal must carry specific runes to grant specific endowments - a forcible which brands the rune of metabolism can only be used for metabolism, though the forcible itself could be recast to bear a different rune.