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Symbol of Elminster

The famous sigil of the great wizard Elminster Aumar.

Mage sigils,[1][2][3] also called signature runes,[3][4][5] personal runes,[1][2] mage-runes,[2][4] mages' sigils,[4][5] or arcane marks[6] were sigils designed by wizards to mark their possessions, sign their names on messages, or otherwise associate something with themselves.[1][2][3][4][5][6] They were often—though not always—triggers for magical spells.[1][2][3][4][5] Over time, common folk, being illiterate, would come to recognize the symbol of the most famous mages.[4]

A wizard's rune played a role in many magical spells. For example, the sigil was used in the casting of any symbol spells[2][4] and in many other spells that required a writing component,[4] such as explosive runes,[2] sepia snake sigil,[2] fire trap,[2] or glyphs of warding.[3] A wizard could create a magical version of the personal sigil with the arcane mark spell.[6]

Once created, wizards were not supposed to alter their personal rune,[2][4] though some long-living mages might go through several.[1]

Whenever magic one doth weave
'Tis never, ever, wise to deceive.
— Translation of an old rhyme taught to wizard apprentices,[3][2] as reported by Elminster[2]

No two mage sigils were identical,[1][2] and using another mage's sigil was generally frowned upon and likely to result in punishment from a more powerful wizard.[3][4] More importantly, the goddess Mystra herself was said to place a curse[1][2][7]—administered by Azuth[1]—on any person intentionally misusing a wizard's sigil for personal gain. This three-fold curse could result in weakening,[1][7] loss of intelligence,[1][7] or the appearance of a glowing apparition of Azuth boldly exclaiming that the writing of the symbol was "falsely done!" This apparation could sometimes remain for days, pointing out the offender.[1] Alternatively, some reported the loss of the abilitiy to cast the usual number of spells in a given day, a punishment that last for one month.[7] Modern scholars rejected the idea of the Curse of Mystra as a silly folktale, insisting that such bogus claims were only made by wizards to scare others.[3]

Appendix[]

See Also[]

Gallery of Mages' Sigils[]

Further Reading[]

References[]

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