Runes of Return

As Chronicler, I, Borin Loreweaver, find myself compelled to record the curious phenomenon known as the "Runes of Return." These are not runes of power, not like those etched onto Aetherium Conduits, nor are they runes of binding, such as those used to contain the Stone Golems of Karak-Ungol. Instead, they are runes of… reassurance. Etched hastily, often by desperate hands, these symbols whisper a promise: this way leads back. They are most commonly found in the deepest, darkest reaches of the Iron-Grip Mountains, scrawled onto the walls of twisting tunnels and forgotten chambers. Miners lost in the Glimmering Caverns, explorers delving too deep near the Null Fields, even Crimson Cartographers mapping treacherous routes through the Obsidian Labyrinth – all have been known to mark their paths with these runes, in hopes of retracing their steps.

But the Runes of Return are more than just waymarkers. Some whisper that they possess a subtle magical property, a connection to the earth's Auric Resonance that gently nudges the traveler back towards their starting point. Of course, the Silent Monks of Durin's Peak know more than they let on. The effectiveness of this magic is hotly debated within the Dwarven Abbey. Archivist Theron, a keen observer of runes, believes that their power lies not in some inherent enchantment, but in the psychology of the traveler. The act of carving the runes, he argues, reinforces the memory of the path taken, making it easier to recall later. Even those traveling on the Skystrider Paths utilize a variation, using them to mark the direction of Cloud Cities of Aerilon. There are rumors that the Forgotten Smith invented these runes, but left no record to prove his involvement. However, tales of the Lost Pilgrim mark these runes on his travels. The Chapter of Lost Paths may contain more information regarding these runes. Perhaps those being hunted by the Chitinous Swarm use these more often than one would think. The power of these runes may even be linked to the Veins of Whispers.