Paths & Talents
Your Path defines your character’s relationship with runic inscriptions and their core capabilities.
Wardkeeper
Warriors who inscribe protective wards directly onto their skin and armor, serving as frontline defenders.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Primary Stat | Might |
| Hit Die | d10 |
| Signature Mastery | Melee Weapons |
| Starting Domains | Terra, Lumen |
Base Abilities
Glyph of Shielding As a reaction when you or an adjacent ally takes damage, reduce it by 1d6 + your level.
Ward Transfer As a bonus action, transfer your active protective glyph to an ally within 10 feet. They gain +1 Defense until your next turn.
Inscription Scars Your body is a living ward. You can never be completely disarmed of your protective inscriptions.
Wardkeeper Talents
| Talent | Prerequisite | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Glyph Shield | Starting | Deflect spell damage by your level using your shield |
| Inscribed Resilience | Starting | Resistance to one damage type; when you take that damage, gain temp HP equal to your level |
| Warded Soul | Starting | Advantage on saves vs charm and fear |
| Inscription Binding | Starting | Grappled creatures are restrained by your wards |
| Mending Ward | Starting | When you use Glyph of Shielding, heal the target for 1d8 |
| Overchannel Ward | Starting | Double the damage reduction of Glyph of Shielding; take half the reduced damage yourself |
| Unbreaking Ward | Level 5 | Your defensive inscriptions can’t be dispelled; you have advantage on saves to maintain concentration |
| Aegis Expansion | Level 4 | Glyph of Shielding and Ward Transfer reach 30 feet |
Bladescribe
Fighters who inscribe combat runes onto weapons for devastating effects.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Primary Stat | Might or Finesse |
| Hit Die | d10 |
| Signature Mastery | Melee Weapons |
| Starting Domains | Ignis, Fulmen |
Base Abilities
Weapon Inscriptions You can temporarily etch runes onto your weapons for bonus effects lasting 1 minute.
Runic Strike Once per turn when you hit with a weapon attack, deal +1d6 damage of a type matching your weapon’s inscription.
Combat Scribe You can inscribe runes in the heat of battle without provoking opportunity attacks.
Bladescribe Talents
| Talent | Prerequisite | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Devastation Rune | Starting | +1d8 damage on critical hits |
| Precision Glyph | Starting | +2 to hit with inscribed weapons |
| Targeting Inscription | Starting | Mark enemies for advantage on attacks |
| Perfect Inscription | Starting | Weapon inscriptions don’t fade in combat |
| Giant’s Bane | Starting | Extra damage against Large+ creatures |
| Cascade Inscription | Starting | Attacks can chain to nearby enemies |
| Runic Fury | Level 5 | Extra attack when you reduce an enemy to 0 HP |
| Master Inscriptor | Level 7 | Apply two inscriptions to one weapon |
Glyphweaver
Scholars who combine runes into complex patterns to reshape reality.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Primary Stat | Cunning |
| Hit Die | d6 |
| Signature Mastery | Arcane Inscriptions |
| Starting Domains | All seven domains |
Base Abilities
Runic Array You can combine two basic glyphs into a compound inscription, gaining effects from both domains at increased cost.
Symbol Mastery Choose one runic domain. Inscriptions from that domain cost 1 less Runic Energy (minimum 1) and have +1 to their save DC.
Inscription Memory You can hold one fully-prepared inscription in your mind, releasing it instantly as a reaction.
Glyphweaver Talents
| Talent | Prerequisite | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Expanded Attunement | Starting | Gain one additional attunement slot |
| Metamagic Inscription | Starting | Once per short rest, apply one metamagic effect: Extend (double duration), Widen (increase area by 5ft), or Quicken (cast as bonus action) |
| Runic Siphon | Starting | When you successfully dispel or counter magic, recover Runic Energy equal to the inscription’s cost |
| Inscription Erasure | Starting | As a reaction, counter an inscription within 60ft; contested Cunning check vs caster |
| Ritual Inscriptor | Starting | You can cast any inscription you know as a ritual (10 minutes, no energy cost) |
| Empowered Symbols | Starting | Add Cunning modifier to inscription damage once per turn |
| Dual Mastery | Level 5 | Your Symbol Mastery applies to two domains instead of one |
| Reality Inscriptor | Level 7 | Spend 10 minutes to create a permanent glyph; max Cunning modifier active at once |
Soulscribe
Healers who channel the Anima and Lumen domains to mend and protect.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Primary Stat | Insight |
| Hit Die | d8 |
| Signature Mastery | Divine Inscriptions |
| Starting Domains | Lumen, Anima |
Base Abilities
Life Inscription Once per short rest, heal a creature within touch for 2d8 + Insight modifier HP.
Soul Sense You can sense the life force of creatures within 30 feet, detecting undead, constructs, and dying creatures.
Anima Script Your healing inscriptions leave protective marks that grant +1 AC for 1 minute.
Soulscribe Talents
| Talent | Prerequisite | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Banishment Glyph | Starting | Inscribe wards that repel undead and fiends; they cannot willingly enter within 10ft |
| Sympathetic Resonance | Starting | When you heal another creature, heal yourself for half that amount (max Insight mod per turn) |
| Spirit Lance | Starting | As an action, make an Insight-based ranged attack (60ft) dealing 2d8 radiant damage |
| Resonant Healing | Starting | When you cast a healing inscription, one additional creature within 10ft heals for 1d6 |
| Purifying Light | Level 3 | When you heal a creature, you can also end one condition: blinded, deafened, poisoned, or frightened |
| Anima Blade | Starting | Summon a weapon of soul-light (1d8 radiant, uses Insight for attacks); lasts 1 hour or until dismissed |
| Glyph of Petition | Level 5 | Once per long rest, call upon divine aid: ask one yes/no question or request minor intervention |
| Life Link | Starting | Bond two willing creatures for 1 hour; damage to one is split evenly between both |
Shadowmark
Operatives who use Umbra domain runes for concealment and assassination.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Primary Stat | Finesse |
| Hit Die | d8 |
| Signature Mastery | Subterfuge |
| Starting Domains | Umbra |
Base Abilities
Veil Glyph As a bonus action, activate Umbra runes to become lightly obscured. Advantage on Stealth while active.
Marked Target As a bonus action, place an invisible Umbra rune on a creature within 60 feet. +1d6 damage against marked targets.
Fade Step Once per short rest, teleport up to 30 feet to dim light or darkness as a bonus action.
Shadowmark Talents
| Talent | Prerequisite | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Umbra Strike | Starting | Sneak attack deals Umbra damage |
| Shadow Slip | Starting | Disengage or Hide as bonus action |
| Refined Technique | Starting | Expertise on two skills |
| Reflex Ward | Starting | Halve damage from attacks as reaction |
| Death Mark | Starting | Advantage and auto-crit vs surprised creatures |
| Phase Glyph | Starting | Teleport through dim light/darkness |
| Phantom Inscription | Level 5 | Create illusory duplicates |
| Tremor Glyph | Level 7 | Sense vibrations through surfaces |
Pathreader
Travelers who read the natural runes in the world, mastering tracking and nature magic.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Primary Stat | Insight |
| Hit Die | d8 |
| Signature Mastery | Ranged Weapons OR Survival (choose at level 5) |
| Starting Domains | Terra, Anima |
Base Abilities
Natural Script You can read the runic patterns in nature, gaining advantage on Survival and tracking checks in natural terrain.
Terrain Attunement Once per short rest, attune to the terrain. Gain advantage on all checks related to that terrain for 1 hour.
Beast Tongue You can communicate simple concepts with animals through shared runic understanding.
Pathreader Talents
| Talent | Prerequisite | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Terrain Inscription | Starting | Mark terrain for advantage on attacks |
| Bonded Landscape | Starting | Second terrain attunement; ignore difficult terrain |
| Runic Familiar | Starting | Gain a CR 1/4 animal companion |
| Windmark | Starting | +10 speed; Dash as bonus action |
| Scatter Inscription | Level 5 | Attack all creatures in an area |
| Hunter’s Mark Glyph | Starting | Enhanced damage against marked prey |
| Verdant Writing | Level 7 | Manipulate plants and terrain |
| Way Reading | Level 9 | Sense creatures up to 1 mile away |
Universal Talents
Available to all Paths:
| Talent | Prerequisite | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Vital Inscription | — | +1 max HP per level; when reduced to 0 HP, drop to 1 HP instead (once per long rest) |
| Vigilance Glyph | — | +5 initiative; you can’t be surprised while conscious |
| Swiftmark | — | +10 movement speed; when you Dash, ignore difficult terrain |
| Fortune’s Glyph | — | Gain 3 luck points per long rest; spend one to reroll any d20 (must use new result) |
| Sight Rune | — | +1 Insight; you can read lips; +5 to passive Perception |
| Body Inscription | — | +1 to Might or Finesse (choose when taken); advantage on Athletics and Acrobatics |
| Knowledge Glyphs | — | Gain proficiency in 3 skills or tools of your choice |
| Guardian Inscription | — | Creatures provoke opportunity attacks from you when they Disengage; hits reduce their speed to 0 |
| Toughened Physique | — | +1 Might; when you receive healing, heal an additional amount equal to your Might modifier |
| Field Medic | — | Using a healing kit heals 1d6 + 4 + your proficiency bonus HP |
Mastery Talents
These grant mastery in a skill domain—on a natural 1, you may reroll once (must use new result):
| Talent | Prerequisite | Mastery |
|---|---|---|
| Blade Mastery | Level 3 | Melee weapon attacks and damage |
| Marksman Mastery | Level 3 | Ranged weapon attacks and damage |
| Silver Tongue | Level 3 | Persuasion, Deception, and Intimidation checks |
| Wilderness Inscriptor | Level 3 | Survival, Nature, and Animal Handling checks |
| Lorekeeper | Level 3 | History, Arcana, and Religion checks |
| Runic Initiate | Level 3, Non-caster | Gain access to one runic domain; learn 2 inscriptions from it; 4 inscription uses per long rest |