The Runemaster A half-orc raises a carved stone and crushes it with his fist, and a flash of blinding light fills the dark room. When the light subsides, he and his companions are gone.

An elf sprints around an ogre, drawing a circle of glowing blue chalk below him. As the circle is completed, magical chains rise from the ground, restraining the monster.

A dwarf carves the final rune into his masterpiece, wiping the beaded sweat off his forehead. He then shouts a command in Dwarvish, and his creation, the statue of a legendary dwarven hero, jumps to life.

All of the individuals described above are runemasters, artisans of the craft of runecrafting, imbuing once-ordinary items with magical power.

Master Craftsmen A runemaster is no ordinary scribe, stonecarver, or engraver. These specialists have a kind of precision and knowledge that no ordinary person could reasonably obtain. To be a runemaster is a lifetime endeavor, and it often takes the help of a master, an expert in the art of runecrafting, to get even rudimentary runecrafting abilities.

A Re-Emerging Art Although runecrafting seemed almost lost to time for many years, a select few individuals have been versed in runecrafting, and have passed it on to apprentices, who will pass it on to their apprentices. Although few know of them, the majority of sages and scholars believe that runecrafting will soon return to the world once again.

A Helpful Bunch One of the teachings that many runemasters pass on to their students is to use their skills to help others wherever they can. This altruism might lead some runemasters to take up lives as adventurers, often acting as valued, supportive members of adventuring parties, rarely traveling alone, as most runecrafters lack useful combat skills, and others still are directly opposed to violence.

Creating a Runemaster While creating your runemaster, consider how they learned their runecrafting skills. Most learned from apprenticeships under masters, but some might have figured it out themselves or been blessed with the ability to runecraft by a god of craftsmanship. However, more importantly, you must consider their goals. While helping others is a part of many runemasters' teachings, equally as many runemasters forsake those teachings or just don't receive them, instead seeking to use runemaking to further their own ends. Perhaps they are seeking fame or fortune? To gain more powerful runecrafting techniques? Whatever the reason, your character took this craft and spent years perfecting it. Quick Build You can make a runemaster quickly by following these suggestions. First, Intelligence should be your highest ability score, followed by Dexterity. Second, choose the Guild Artisan background. Third, choose the Fire Blast engraving.