The Malificarum Eye

[Karack Blackstone]

Hello all.

 

This is not to be a debate for how or why the Space Wolves access the Wyrd, or Warp-wind.

 

This is not to be a discussion about whether or not the Vlka Fenryka are immune to the Warp or not.

 

Please
stay on topic: the Runic system of the Space Wolves, the language by which the filter and shape of the Wyrd make of the Rune Priests is accomplisted.

 

(copy paste):

I personally have a rather ... long-winded opinion on how the Space Wolves take to the wyrd-make in the WH40K setting.  Boiled down, it is thus: our Psykers dance in the fire and control it to the best of their ability, knowing the fire can burn them; the point is to try and get somewhere with that dance.

Basically, in the Rogue Trader books for the RPG sets, there are Runecasters from the Eldar available as ship components.  The Space Wolves Rune casting item from Deathwatch appears to be open to the winds of Fenris, even off-world.  If, in a setting with spells, winds, energy, spirits and the whole lot of animus style faith plus technology that can harness and to an extent safely control said tech device's own animus spirit, then we end up in an area few would consider normal in any time.

WH40K is to me a chance to learn what not to do for the future. Despite it all, peace was never given a fair shake.  That we all must fight for our own ignores so much of what humanity has lost, and has a chance, no matter how slim, to recover, or reinvent.  Recycle; grounded and shielded from external EMP tech; the list goes on and on...

What I personally find most interesting is that of all the Space Marine Chapters, the Rout is easily the most self-deceived of them all, if for no other reason than we think we are nearly untouchable in our use of the warp-wind through a filter of technique and tradition.  If anything, the Warp will one day smack us hardest of all, and yet, it may be only a, "No, try it this way."  What I mean is, we have the Malificarum Warding Eye Rune, and yet, out of everything, we have the chance at the most control of the use of the Warp of all the Loyalists.

We also have the furthest to fall to learn our lesson about how the Warp works itself.

<|>  Is as close as a keyboard can get.  I assume that symbol translates well enough.

The Eye that Wards is, in my mind, functionally similar to a grounding signal for the Warp.  The prevalence of them around the Fang and likely hidden inside many Space Wolves' armors and items means the Warp at least has a place to stand, and may be in its own way, grateful.  Or, perhaps, truly upset with us for the creation of such a symbol.  However, to go out of setting, the fact that the Eye that Wards is older, even likely to Viking times, means that it is known and hopefully the first option is the one that would apply; the Rout is at least not angering the Wind that Wyrds.

The single biggest issue to me is, of course, back at the point of how the Warp-wind takes the Space Wolves' use of it, and the interaction of our Malifecarum Eye symbol.

That's what I want to know more about, so as to protect and defend better.

 

(end copy paste)

 

While a rather odd, yet potentially poignant observation, the Warp is not exactly known to have any real place by which it is capable of standing upon solid ground.  Think about it for a bit: even the wind must find rest somewhere, somewhen, somehow.  Without the Malificarum Eye, or at least a modification symbol to mean something equivalent to ground, perhaps the Warp does not know how to rest yet, or would simply rather not.

 

The Runes of the Elder Futhark are most often considered to be the ones in use by the Space Wolves.  That the Rout is the chronological descendants of the many bands and tribes of humanity that used the various Futharks is interesting.

 

With all this in mind, especially the warnings, how does each one reading this thread feel like this discussion might proceed?

 

I'm looking for ideas as to what would result in more of a Runic understanding; to describe what might occur with the Space Wolves meditating upon how the Wyrd make might be improved while continuing to defend Humanity, and keeping their Oaths to Russ and the Emperor.

[Grey Mage]

Runes are concepts, with broad implications and specific properties. To hold a rune in your hand, in your mind, is to hold that concept in its totality. By focusing your mind you narrow the broad implications down to the meaning you require, and with a push you send it forth to do its work.

 

Combining multiple runes into a single structure, a bindrune, can allow you to create more complex concepts, and once you have the process down you can use it to focus more specific possibilities rapidly and safely. 

Of course, there are other runic structures where each rune is individually positioned and their connection shows the connection in the various concepts being used, helps them reinforce each other like the buttresses upon the highest towers of the fangs docking ports or the many ribs of a great elk support its chest cavity. Each runes concept must be focused, and held, as you focus and hold the others. Then it can be placed just so into the fabric of the world, and with the force of your mind behind it the wyrd shall make it so.

 

You must concentrate, you must focus, and you must not let your mind wander to distractions. A mind without focus is an opening for chaos. The runic structure will help protect you from these things, they channel your mind even as you channel their concepts, and so you reinforce each other as the crossed planks of a shield, capable of taking any blow the wyrdwind might send for you.

 

Of course young shaman you know these things, but we must go over them again every day. There is power in structure, in the rhythms of the world and the beat of the skalds words. We use this power, this stability, to do our work and so we must honor and respect it at every turn. Those who do not respect the structure of the world, the order beneath the chaos, are doomed and quickly doom their brothers.

 

Now in todays lesson we shall begin with ᛉ the warding rune.......

[Karack Blackstone]

Interesting lessons, to say the least Grey Mage.

 

I have much to look up; how does one get the Runes into text form on a computer?  Is that copy paste, or an alt code?

 

Thank you Grey Mage as well, for the knowledge of the Warding Rune.

 

(Outside of 40K, I am very much interested in the workings of the Elder Futhark and the derivitives from them.)

[Grey Mage]

You can use Unicode on almost any computer. Just type in the hexadecimal code number, then hold "Alt-X" . When you release the Alt-X keys, the numerical code should be replaced by the rune.

 

http://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U16A0.pdf

 

Or so the Iron Priests explained it to me.

Of course theres no real way to get a standardized code for bindrunes etc- as frankly, theyre all custom jobs. I dont think theres even a way of getting the aegishjalmur even, and thats a very common scandinavian symbol with a long history.