Archivist Intro

The Archivist is the full caster of Path of Iron’s new Rune Magic system. They are scholars of this ancient form of magic, much of which has been lost over time. Rune Magic is divided into six schools and the Archivist is required to specialize in one of them. The unique aspect of Rune Magic is how some of the power of a cast script remains in the runes. These Runic Charges can be used to power up other scripts cast, and the Archivist learns new methods to use this power though his specialized study.

The art of writing is ancient and diverse, and can mean very different things to different peoples and societies, though it is commonly ascribed mystical power by the illiterate masses. When creating an Archivist think about how the society they come from sees writing and how that influences the way they approach their magic. In some places the ability to write is restricted to the elite or to certain groups within society. Whether the Archivist confirms to those rules or not will tell much about them. In the warrior’s nation of Alethkar writing is seen as a feminine art and the male warriors look down on the ability to read and write. In the ancient empire of Babiros the skill of vital for the administration of the city states, and for maintaining the wards that steer the rivers though the great waterworks. As such only the rulers are allowed to learn how to write. The methods, tools and materials used in writing are often a reflection of the society that produces it, from the graceful lines of Elven poetry written in flowing inks to the sharp lines of Dwarven history carved in mile high walls. To many writing is the difference between civilization and barbarism, between learning and ignorance. And in the same way to a tribal storyteller the custom of writing their stories down shows the weak memories of city folk. To Archivists coming from such wild peoples runes might not be a method of writing, but sacred pictographs that call divine power. To them leaving the runes for longer than is needed to call upon their power would be a grave insult.

NPC Archivists can be useful sources of ancient knowledge, or for unlocking that ancient tome the party wizard cannot seem to crack. In combat they make for unusual and surprising allies and enemies. Especially for enemies it might be useful to start them with some runic charges, to make certain they get the change to unleash their scripts to full effect in the few rounds most enemies get in combat.

For the goblins of the moors Write You Down is a figure of terror. And in that terror the ascribe far greater powers to the goblin than she is likely to have.

The ancient Elven sage Folmer has not spoken or heeded a spoken word for centuries. For most people conversation with the obstinate scholar is a chore, but for the avid letter writer (DC 15 linguistics or forgery) he is a treasure trove of knowledge on ancient texts, languages and eldritch tomes.

Ordinary scripts are not sufficient for the needs of the Heavenly Bureaucracy, and indeed the planar scribes of that divine institution have mastered scripts that bend the nature of the world it is meant to describe.

The archivists of the Historians Archive seek to find and preserve all texts that enter the port city. All the writings in their archives are eventually translated and rerecorded in a specialized script whose runes carry the preserving magics meant to guard the tomes through the ages.

Dwammod is looking for allies who are willing to join an expedition into the Underdark to seek ancient texts his ancestors left in the deep cities during the Quest for the Sky.