Fjolla's runestaff was inspiring! Especially for one in the middling of her third century. Not that you would tell that to her face, hrrmph. She's five centuries too young for that type of treatment from you. Maybe once she's got some more years under her belt and a bit more whitening of her plaits. But what was so inspiring about the runestaff? The runes, of course, but also the novelty of having a runestaff in the first place! You haven't seriously considered using one, and you're not about to start now, but having some practice on crafting some of the tools occurring more commonly where the Dwarven roots lay could do you some good. There are always further horizons to traverse and higher peaks to climb after all!
Runestaff of Consuming Lightning: Master Rune of Thunderbolts, Rune of Spelleating, Rune of Spellbreaking. You know that traditionally runestaffs have used talisman or banner runes for your casting, but when have you ever done something traditionally! This staff relies on your deepening, albeit skin deep, understanding of the winds of magic to fuel a truly awe-inspiring effect. By casting the Master Rune of Thunderbolts, you hope to create a channel of lightning by which the winds of magic can be stolen into your staff, broken down into power, and used to fuel more castings of the Master Rune of Thunderbolts. Essentially generating a steady casting of lightning as long as the winds of magic are around. Particularly effective against casters as it steals the very power they rely on. Crafted from dronwut, this staff is carved in such a way as to depict a scene of lightning striking a forge reminiscent of Grugni's. (POWER, UNLIMITED POWER can be heard from a withered voice far far away).
Runestaff of Fearful Lightning: Master Rune of Thunderbolts, Rune of Lightfright, Rune of Dismay. Bah! Why would I bother diving headfirst into a field I know nothing about! Am I a beardling or a runelord! No, best stick to what I know. Hummph. This combination would twist the rune of Lightfright to make it so that it is the light generated by the lightning created from the Master Rune of Thunderbolts causing the visions of terrible things. Combine that with the rune of dismay and casting this against a target will cause pain, deafness, blindness, visions of terrible things, and fear. A nasty combination of effects sure to give even the mightiest of foes a second thought about tussling with a dwarf! Crafted from dronwut with dronril securely fastened to the top. Depicted on the shaft is a carving of lightning banishing the dark and making shadowy figures tremble in fear.
Runestaff of Storms: Master Rune of Currents, Rune of Cold, Rune of Lightning. This would be a tricky one and require some finesse with the Master Rune to get right, but the idea seems sound. Cast a giant storm of wind, cold, and lightning in the midst of an enemy force and see how they like fighting in it. Might need to even work on the Master Rune and translate it to a talisman or banner rune, will not be as easy to tweak as the Master Rune of Thunderbolts. This staff is carved in such a way as to see the eternal storm of Kraka Drakk depicted on it with Brana flying about.
Runestaff of Dragon's Challenge: Master Rune of Challenge, Rune of Flames, Rune of Lightfright. Maybe the south has the right of it in this instance, A runestaff should have specific types of runes to work the best! Again, I will tweak the Rune of Lightfright to give the effect of visions to the light generated by the flames. This will make it so that groups challenged by an individual holding the staff will have to charge through flames giving them terrible visions or flee from the combat. A nasty set of runes that will be sure to make any fight against an army easier. The staff is made of bronze and etched to appear as if a dragon is breathing fire down the shaft, ending at the base of the staff.
Runestaff of Dragon's Fear: Master Rune of Dismay, Rune of Flames, Rune of Lightfright. You know what is even more insidious than visions of terrors? Visions of terror when your will to confront them is being sapped away! This insidious combination of runes again tweaks the Lightfright and the Master Rune of Dismay to connect with the flames being spewed forth from the staff. These flames not only grant visions of terrible things but also sap the opponent's will to fight! Fighting against his combination will be very difficult, even if the opponent actually realizes what is going on. The staff is made of bronze and etched to appear as if shapeless foes are fleeing a hearth.
Old Man's Walking Stick: Rune of Strollaz, Rune of Grungni, Rune of Valaya. A simple idea, to represent an ever distant goal. While you will deny it in public vehemently, the undeniable fact is that you are getting older. Not truly ancient, not yet, but older than when Kraka Drakk was founded. But the dream you have is still strong. To craft a world where a Dwarf can walk the mountains and vales, forests and plains, shores and deserts, without fear of monsters or disaster. So that the battle and terror you have lived through will not affect the beardlings of tomorrow, and they can live peaceful and prosperous lives. And in the course of walking towards that dream, it might be nice to have a simple walking stick. To bop the heads of beardlings getting uppity of course! Crafted from the simple and the humble woods of the world, with no ornamentation or carvings, simply fitted to your height and to your hands. Not suited for war or conflict, but well suited for walking a vast world of wonder.
Here are a couple of my ideas of Runestaffs, in a different style then I normally present my ideas. Do I think we should use one? Probably not, it doesn't strike me as a tool we would use frequently (except for the Old Man's Walking Stick. I want that one). The idea of runestaffs is really cool to me, and I couldn't get these ideas out of my head. So now they are here!
