Runes

Runes (ルーン文字) are the letters in a set of related alphabets known as, which were used to write various Germanic languages before the adoption of the Latin alphabet. In the world of Toaru Majutsu no Index, the alphabet is used in various magic spells and rituals, known as Rune magic (ルーン魔術), the most notable being that of Stiyl Magnus and his Rune cards.

Principles
According to the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, the common twenty-four runic characters are used to indicate mysteries and secrets (Rune means "secret") and have been used as a magic language by Germanic tribes since the 2nd century and are found in the roots of Old English.

There is not just one type of runes. Just like most languages, they have changed day by day depending on the era or the location. The standard number of runes is 24 but some sets use 16 and some places use 33. For example, the United Kingdom has a 33 character style. There are also a number of secondary runes derived from the 24 characters making up the basic Futhark, though these are said to be just literary additions developed later to make texts easier to read and are subsequently treated as having no occult value.

The trick to runes is that a single rune can have many different meanings. These different meanings can be drawn out in various situations, with an individual rune or a combination of runes, in order to form different bases and cast different spells.

Various mediums can be used to create and use runes; as well as being carved or written in ink or chalk on surfaces or paper, they can also be formed using ice crystals, water and blood. Vitamin B2 sprays and industrial laser carvings have also been used, although these methods have been deemed to violate the treaty between Magic and Science.

Rune card
A Rune card or Runic card (ルーンカード) is a magical tool that has the runic language printed on them. Primarily used by Stiyl Magnus, it is shown to perform various types of spells depending on the runes used and the numbers of cards used. When used however, the magician is required to continuously provide mana for the cards to operate, for example: Stiyl leaves runes in the hall near Touma's room which would summon Innocentius when an intruder comes near. However, because of this, magicians can easily track the mana left by magicians.

There are currently 24 runes, and according to Stiyl he has analyzed all of them and has created new power using six character runes. It is unknown what these new six runes are at the moment.

Appearance
The content of the card consists of a Magic Circle, formed by four circles encasing a pentagram with a rune mark in the middle of it. The outermost circle is colored yellow, the second outermost is darker yellow-colored perhaps orange (the first novel features this) where there are five crosses that jut out of the five points of the pentagram, the third is a thick black line, and the final circle is colored red. Here, the pentagram is lined black, with the insides colored white. The black rune(s) is inserted in the middle of the pentagram.

The four edges of the card have diagonal crosses that touch the edge of the outermost circle. Finally, just below the outermost circle is some small text.

The cards are also laminated, so water cannot damage the printed material on the card.

Rune Epitaphs
Rune data is often preserved on stone epitaphs, which are usually erected out in the middle of plains or on hills in Scandinavian countries, such as Denmark, Finland and Sweden. These carelessly erected monuments include what could be called the world's most generally neglected grimoires. Due to being exposed in the middle of plains and hills, they are worn away daily by acid rain and natural processes. This isn't a problem with original grimoires, which cannot be completely destroyed and will naturally restore themselves over time, however other monuments without magical protection will be worn away and their runes lost. As the original grimoires are the ones seen as having true magical value, the other epitaphs are generally left unprotected.

Most rune slates are from the plains of Scandinavia, though there are exceptions, such as the epitaph found in Alaska and the stones on Uphill Island.

Toaru Majutsu no Index
The rune card is used by Stiyl Magnus as a replacement for the print paper marked with runes he originally used, after failing spectacularly against Kamijou Touma, who washed the ink of the runes off the print paper with the emergency sprinkler system of his dormitory. Stiyl has been using the cards ever since.

The only other person shown so far in the series using Rune Cards is Acqua of the Back, who use the 'laguz' card that controls water to attack the Amakusa Church. This is just one of the many attacks that Acqua has shown.

Known Runic Spells
This is a list of known runic spells and the runes used for them. For the spells used by Stiyl Magnus with his rune cards, the type of spell created is dependent on the runes printed on the cards and the power depends on the number of cards used.

Others

 * A rune that prevents magicians from refining magic power.
 * A rune card that essentially acts like a security camera.
 * Runes which inhibit natural and induced healing, used by Brunhild Eiktobel.
 * Runes from the 33 character UK style, used by Richard Brave's associates, which can create an ice blade crawling across the ground, a flash of lightning in a broad arc like a long baseball throw, a mass of flames in a straight line, beams forming a rain of light, rising flames, raining ice spears and lightning strikes.

List of known users

 * Stiyl Magnus
 * Kanzaki Kaori
 * Acqua of the Back
 * Theodosia Electra
 * Richard Brave
 * Leasic
 * Alfar
 * Slappar
 * Brunhild Eiktobel
 * Bayloupe
 * Marie Spearhead
 * Mallybath Blackball
 * Jane Elves

Trivia

 * In manga volume 3, a joke is played out where Stiyl adds a bladed border to the Rune cards, and uses them to bypass the Imagine Breaker by using them as darts.