"Correspondence has remained a purpose," Di agreed. "Rarely the reason behind rune-based jewellery now, however."

Di's corners tugged up into a smile. She placed a hand on her neck, and held up the chain fastened round it. There could be no doubt that the small, black-and-silver pendant was a rune.

"Protection and luck are two of the major reasons," she agreed. "Superstitions aside, runes do serve those purposes in actual. There are a number of factors to consider before that happens, however, and belief and magical element are two of them."

Creative! "I'm certain there are peoples that employ that excellent arrangement," Di grinned. "Good answer."

Di nodded. "Correspondence," she agreed. "More a purpose of runes on their own than in runic jewellery, however."

Di's lips turned up into a smile. "Not a common use, but I'm sure there are a few people out there who use runic jewellery to ensure that their rune-sets do not get misplaced."

Status? Di shook her head.

Di nodded. "There are muggles that often sport runes that look... good on them," she said, sliiiightly disapprovingly. "The significance of runes goes far beyond luck, however. Good answers, Miss Malfoy."

Di's eyes lit up. "That's a wonderful answer right there, Mr. Dakest," she said, pleased. "Quite possible, quite possible."

Di nodded. "Indeed. There are muggles - and even witches and wizards - that use runes for the sole purpose of ornamentation." Those people had no idea what they were dealing with.

"Runes are an alphabet," Di nodded. "I do believe that is irrelevant to jewellery, however."

Di smiled. "I had a runic necklace like that once." Runes interlinked to form her name. "Good answer."

Di blinked.

"Logos?" she asked, confused.

Di laughed. "I believe that the human mind can never run out of ideas, ma'am," she said. "But good answer. Runes do make for unique jewellery, and are an important part of recorded history."

Di nodded.

"Both possible. Nice answers."
Di smiled. "The... in thing?" She suggested. In thing. Such a terribly informal word. It made her want to shiver. "The basic purpose of runes happened to be correspondence but yes, at some point some cultures did adopt runes solely as accessories."

Di smiled again, a small but warm smile. "It's not a trick question," she said, shaking her head. "But yes, luck is an important factor."

Di had to grin at Mr. Trigwell's answer. "Runes have no smell in particular," she said. "Remember that rune-sets can be made out of a number of different materials, such as wood, glass and stone, and may or may not retain a 'scent.'"

Fashion statement? Yes. Indeed. Di thought back to her days at the University of Wizarchaelogy in Cairo. Students had worn runes as a fashion statement, then.

"I like your answer, Mr. -?"

Perfect! Di's eyes lit up, again. "This is the most common reason behind the existence of runic jewellery. I have gotten the feeling that some of you are skeptic about the use of runes for the generation of forces. For protection, destruction and so on. Simply put, runes contain magical element - they can bring changes."

She paused. "Some famous duelling artistes are known to paint runes on their wands. This effects the duel, according to the rune they have made use of. However I cannot stress enough that just any rune is not going to work. The best results are obtained with runes that the rune-maker has infused personal intent, energy, and labour into. That said, runes are not something you should depend solely upon - runes may possess the power to dilute an injury, but it would be foolish to jump off a cliff thinking the rune round your neck is going to make sure you land, scratch-free."

"One of you has mentioned 'tiling a wall' with runes. Runes can make a house safer, more peaceful and so on. So this is a river -" She glanced at the lake - "You've set up camp here. Imagine for a second that you don't know the other people here, and don't have wands. But you need to make sure you and your tent are protected. What runes can you use for this? Grab some chocolate, and go use these runes." She flicked her wand, and a [small] basket full of chocolates and Elder Futhark runes appeared in front of each student. "You can paint these runes on your tent, tie them to a peg, or just place them on the 'valuables' in your tent. I'm going to ask why you used the rune the way you used it, but that's for later."

"I think a list of the Elder Futhark runes will be helpful." Di made copies of the list she had brought along and handed it to the student next to her. "Pass it on please, so that each student gets one."




OOC: There are no right or wrong runes to use. The Elder Futhark runes all have more than one meaning so if you think a rune could help protect a tent, go right ahead and use it! Your character can paint it on your tent, at the bottom of a sofa, place it right outside the tent - the more creative, the better.

If you did not role play your character pitching a tent, just pretend that [s]he did pitch one. This activity is worth five, individual house points. four to five posts should get you all of those. They don't have to be huge posts.

Sophia pulls out her wand and says "Pingo Red!" making red paint come out of her wand in front of her. She bicks up her brush and paints the rune 'Man' on her tent. It was not a hard decision to choose that one. It fit what she needed perfectly.

Adeline thought Elder Futhark ruins from her book. Hmm, she remembered a few, she picked ones that would pretty much mean good luck. On her tent she drew the ruins Sun Ingwaz Wungo Uruz clearly. She looked at her tent from the front and smilled, but it was missing something.... she found sticks and and stuck them in the ground around her tent and drew the ruins on them. She still tout she need more, so she drew the ruins around her tent in the dift. Ahhh... that look really safe!

Walking over to his tent he looks down at the list in his hand, "I think we need Man, because it epresents protection, courage and strength. It'll keep those gigantic bumblebees from stinging us when we're sleeping." he says nodding at Jacob.

Taking his wand again, he wonders if he can make those bubbles from the charm form the Man Rune design on the tent. Hmmmmm "Professor, does it have to be on the tent? This one I think would look better in the dirt in front of it, for protection to keep anything from enterring..." he asks calling to the professor.

Oh, so they were painting on rocks. Rolling onto his back, he cast a grin up at Arya. "And here I thought our stone animals were going to work." Chuckling, he found his way to his feet as he recieved a copy of the Rune list. "You can hold onto the sweater in case you get cold." Night was coming and they were moving away from the fire so it only made sense. Giving both her and ivory a small wave, he headed back to his tent.

First thing was first. A tent always had to be protected from fire. A whole campsite did. Squatting beside the stone hollow he had crafted into the earth, he let his fingers trail along the smooth surfaces until digging them under the centermost stone and pulling it free. Resting the stone on his knee and pulling a small bucket of white paint to his side, he carefully copied the symbol for the Kaunan Rune on both sides. When it was visible enough, he replaced it in the middle and gathered every second stone from the circle on the edge of the firepit. Onto each side of these, he drew the Isa Rune. Fire and Ice. Protection and a lack of change. That should solve it for the fire.

"Pingo Black" Katie said as she waved her wand on her tent, she did the Pertho symbol, she wanted her tent to look nice, and she needed help with make up, someone had asked her to help with make up, Kati picked up a few rocks "Pingo Green" Katie said and all the rocks had been painted with the symbol Man, she placed them around the tent entrance, she needed protection, and courage. defiantly!

Simon listened intently to the professor as she discussed the next task, watching as they were given runes and chocolate to add to their tents. (Well the runes anyway) Getting up as the rest of the class dispursed to do as she asked, the gryffindor boy bit his lip debating his next move since he had already done some of what Professor Markovic had suggested.

"Um Professor, " Simon called as he walked up to her, the basket in his hands. "Well I guess I can add more but technically I already painted the appropriate runes on my paint," he said explaining his dilemma.

Brittany looked at the list that the professor had passed out to them. All of them where good that it was hard to pick from. She finally decided on sun but she didnt know if Em would want to use the same. She walked over towards the professor. "If its two or more people to a tent do we still only choose one or can each of us choose?"

Man... sounded alright. "It would be awesome if there was a rune that represented destruction, lack of tent pitching skills, and limbo masters" he said with a smile... that would totally fit their tent. Their tent in a nutshell. "Mans good too... we might have to suggest Miles wears it during the tournament though." nod... yup Miles needed it.

Yeah...ground... it would make their tent look even manly-er. Though... it didn't look too manly to start with. Mostly for the fact that it wasn't sturdy, and everyone would hit their heads on his limbo stick when entering... which he had to admit was kinda manly. Yhe tent hit people... he was a bully ... a manly bully.

Arabella-Marie looked at the list she was passed and took some chocolates and made her way over to her tent and tried to decide which runes she would put around her tent entrance for decoration, Arabella-Marie decided to put Sun, Wunjo and Man around the entrance standing back she admired her handiwork and stood back and watched as other students decided on what runes to use for themselves

Next thing to take care of was the tent. Slipping to the front enterance, he searched about until he found some left over pine-cones from when Arya and him had painted the seed compartments like animals. A bit of tine tied around the top of three and they hung off his fingers as they would off a branch. Now came the fun part.

Slipping down onto the ground so he was seated just inside the doorway to his tent, he carefully and delicately painted the Raido Rune on one pine-cone, the Eihwaz Rune on another, and finally the Dagaz Rune on the third. Both the Raido and Eihwaz rune were done in purple paint outlined by white, and the Dagaz Rune was crafted in an orange-yellow outlined in white.

Standing once again, he moved to the east corner of his tent, holding the pine-cones in his teeth by the twine as he cut a square window about arm's length out of the tent wall. It was from the fabric sill of this window that he hung the orniment with the Dagaz rune, so that when the sun rose in the morning, the light would first strike off the rune and then into the tent. It seemed suiting for the Rune representing day, new dawn, light, protection and guidance; all things that were of and required of a brand new morning and a fresh start.

Feeling accomplished in that, he moved to the entrance of the tent and hung up first the Raido rune and then the Eihwaz rune, so that any traveler entering the tent would read the runes right to left; from that of travel and journey to patience, protection and defense. It was a combination both for the inhabitant of the tent, and for those entering to find rest from their travels and a clam temper to deal with the fatigue of it.

Di shook her head. "No, sir," she said. "It can be on you. Or outside the tent." He could paint his hands and, if he had a good reason to back that up, Di was all for it!

Di looked up. Yes, yes, she had noticed that Mr. Bennett and Miss Materia had made use of runes already. Bright students. "You could add more," Di suggested. "To the outside of the tent, if not the tent itself."

"You can choose one, two, three or ten," Di said pleasantly. "Discuss things and do it together, or do it alone. It's all up to you - whatever you and your friend or friends are most comfortable with."

Snorting he giggles, "Poor Miles, he's not really doing te well yet, is he?" Shaking his head grinning he readies his wand to do the rune. "Don' know what's bothering him so about dragons, that'd be so cool!"

Looking up he listens as the professor okay'd it. "Yes!" he replies with a grin. Walking to the entrance, he bends down to draw the rune in the dirt. Looking at his design he smiles and looks back at the list. "What else should we do..." he wonders glancing up at Jacob.

"I totally think we need face paint though." he says seriously.

Simon nodded at her suggestions, taking her words as fact that she had noticed the earlier use and hoping he was correct in his assumption. "Of course, Professor," he replied taking his leave and heading back to his tent.

Moving his bag of belongings into the actual tent as he had forgotten to do so in the process of helping Lina. Glancing around he wondered where the Slytherin had disappeared to but then shrugged and entered the tent himself sitting just inside the threshold with his basket.

Hmm now which others should I use, he mused to himself, rummaging through the available selection. Ihraz?....used that...Algiz?....That is another protection rune.

Taking the stone on one hand, Simon got his wand out and cast a duplication spell so he had a few more available for use. Once that was the case, he set them up as in a semi-circle just outside the front of the tent creating a sort of boundary doorstep.

Brittany smiled at the professor and went back to work. That solved that dilema. She would choose one and she would let Em Choose the other. So she rent over and picked the sun symbol and drew it over the tents entrance where everyone could see. She loved doing things like thi because it let her use her artistic side

Cassandra looked around and saw a bunch of small rocks near the edge of the river, walked over to it and gathered them in her arms. then she started to build a fence around her tent with the rocks. When she had finally surrounded her tent with little rocks she consulted her list of runes and started to carve it no the rocks in a pattern

Thurisaz
Uruz
Kaunan

When she was finished, Cass looked it over and thought about why she chose the three runes.

Thurisaz: Dark Forces. What better way to keep her safe than to scare away her attackers?
Uruz: Strength and Power. she was going to need it to stay protected without her wand.
Kaunan: A new day, fire, light, Protection. It was fairly obvious wasn't it? Protection.

The last two runes he wished to place out required quite a few stones spaced around where he had done the most work in the camp and under the tent, for which he would have to somehow slide them under. It took about twelve stones in total, upon which he painted both the Algiz Rune and the Berkanan Rune on one side of the stone; reading left to right, Algiz and then Berkanan. In the end, each stone read about growth and rebirth alongside fertility, beauty and abundance in green painted symbols outlined in white.

Once each of the stones were dried, he moved about his camp, placing them symbol-side down on the ground to ensure their energy would soak into the earth, around each of the spots he had chosen. His hopes were simply that the use of the Runes and the placement of the stones would allow the plant-life a speedy and healthy recovery once he took down his camp and they left.

Em looked over the list the professor had given them. She considered them carefully. Yeah, she could see some they could use. She turned to Brit and asked, "Are there any you think we should use? I think Man would be a good one to use."

Looking up from his position just inside the tent, Simon realised he had left the interior unfinished. He leaned back, causing himself to lay back on the soft floor of his shelter as he debated what to do. With a flick of his wrist and wand the boy finally painted the ceiling black. "Pingo silver," he cast after causing it to be marred with star-like imprints on the faux night sky.

As a breeze brushed through the tent, Simon realised it might be a little chilly as the evening got colder and sat up to retrieve a blanket from the supplies he had taken when he first took the tent. With it on his lap, he digged back in the basket and finally came back out with the laguz rune.

"Hmm imagination and dreams, that works," he said quietly but aloud, marking it on the blanket several times. If it worked he would at least have peaceful dreams tonight.

"I really liked the sun one." she said "so i kinda painted it already brittany" said pointing up. "But the professor did say we could pick how many we wanted."

Hmm..

Why did they need runes to protect their..tent..if the thing they were sitting in could be called a tent? Sure they were supposed to pretend they didn't have their wands, which Destiny was fine with, but the Professor did not say to pretend she didn't have FISTS! If someone DARED to mess up their happy little tent thingamabob they had going on, she would use her fists to protect herself.

But that wasn't part of the assignment. Meh.

Destiny glanced at the basket of choooocolate then to Evelyn. Then back to the chocolate. "So." she started, pulling the chocolate closer to herself, "While I eat this, you decide which runes to use. You know, I don't want to be rude and talk with my mouth full."

Hehe.

"Oh, cool." Em said. looking at the Rune Brit had painted. "I think I'm going to paint the Man rune on the inside of the door, you know to give us courage and strength to face whats outside. And maybe Ingwaz on the back wall. It will give us really good vibes, and help keep us from fighting. A unified front is useful when facing opponents." As Em said this, she looked back down at her list trying to see if any others were useful in this circumstance."And how about Eihwaz outside on the ground, for defense?"

Great. She was NOT going to be rooming with a chocolate high Destiny. If Destiny ate that chocolate, than Evelyn...well she didn't know what to do! Run and hide or something.

Raising a brow at the basket, her eyes even widened more at what her friend just said. Did she really realize who she was talking to? "I got a better idea. How about we be charitable and give someone else the chocolate, and we both pick runes hmm?" Snatching the chocolate away, Evelyn stood up and looked around, holding up the pieces. "FREE CHOCOLATE ANYONE!?"

Now, which rune did she want to use? She had a particular interest in the Thurisaz rune, but the Eihwaz seemed like a better choice to use around or on the tent. Or both!?

Hmmmm.....

Wow Em had really put somethought into. She had only pick the one because she really liked that it had hope in it because in the darkest hour you would always need hope. "All that sounds gret em. Maybe i should pick another too." she said with a smile She didnt want to put the whole list on there so she would only pick one more. She picked Ansuz. They would needthe communication. She painted nextto the other symbol she had painted

Heather looked at the list and then back at her tent. she had been too shy to ask around, but then she thought, why would she ask if she had nothing to ask at all? She stuck her eyes back at the list again and thought hard. which runes to use? which runes to use?

Ah, dagaz sounds nice, but so does man...also Eihwaz...but which of the three? there was only one thing in common about them: Protection. She sighed and resolved to do well on this task.

she then ran to get some rocks from which she painted 'Eihwaz' and placed them around her tent. She already felt happy about such simple work, but was contemplating if it would be okay to use more than one rune since she wanted to put more.