How The Tablets Have Turned [OWL Runes]

[Halvar Kirmani]

"So," Halvar said, "we know well now that a rune is not just a letter of an alphabet or a tool to simply record magic - it is a symbol that holds magic, part of a spell or incantation in itself. The act of writing is what we would now call casting a spell, only we would use a wand."

He waved a hand towards the blackboard, upon which was a short runic inscription like those the OWL classes were either already very familiar with, or had been at least introduced to since September. He flipped the blackboard over to reveal a world map, and continued: "The runes we know most about have Anglo-Saxon or Norse roots, are the kind we find in Europe, but - in very recent years we have begun to look further afield, and are discovering many other complex types of ancient runic systems. You're not expected to be able to decipher any of it -" he barked a laugh there, for even experts in the field had found it a struggle, "- but I would like you to pass this object around the room, take a careful look at it, and take a guess at where it might be from."


(Will accept answers from a couple students!)

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Invitational tag: @'Blythe Fairchild' @'Joanna Triggs' @'Seneca Lestrange' @'Tripper Jameson' @'Evie Reese' @'Archelaus Abney' @'Sage Macnair' @'Frida Lestrange' @'Germander Macnair' & anyone not on here!

  

[Seneca Lestrange]

Seneca was good at ancient runes and it was the only elective class that she would probably keep past her OWLs. She could see the use of knowing how to decipher runes, as well as use them in ways Professor Kirmani described. She was eager to learn how to 'hide' magic in them, other than simply interpret them.

The professor had brought a new item for them that day. Seneca examined it shortly when it reached her desk. She couldn't say with certainty where it was from. That being said, she knew a fair few things about ancient civilizations, so she could namedrop those and hope for the best.

"Does it come from the near east, perhaps?" Seneca suggested. "It could be persian, or babylonian, or sumerian."

  

[Blythe Fairchild]

Blythe frowned. She did not know nearly enough about history to posit so educated a guess as Miss Lestrange’s. Though the Slytherin handled the artefact with care, she could not bring herself to voice any guess that might have occurred to her, and so she remained resolutely silent as she passed it along to her neighbour.

  

[Halvar Kirmani]

Halvar nodded approvingly. "Excellent, Miss Lestrange. You're certainly in the right area. Most of the near-eastern, Mesopotamian civilisations used this script: cuneiform, it's called. The language here is Akkadian. This example in particular comes from Aššur, and dates to the 7th century BC, which was during the time of the Neo-Assyrian empire." He tapped the blackboard map again to pinpoint the place with glowing blue shading.

Back to the tablet, though. It was a fairly small piece - about the size of one's palm - and quite a succinct text. It might look rather unassuming, but it had contained quite a lot of power.

"I would like you as a class to see if you can determine what this tablet precisely is - why it was created and what was it used for, magically-speaking. It may take some deliberation, and you will probably require more context. Therefore, when I call on you, I would like you to offer me either a potential theory or to pose me one useful question about this tablet that, should I answer it, may give the class a better clue."

(Sometimes he was patient and allowed the students to raise their hands first; today he wanted them all to pull their weight, so he began by pointing at a student at random.)

Kinda think ~Twenty Questions, archaeology-style. Will take a few questions at once. and #disclaimer: everything I say about the IRL tablet pictured IS A LIE.

  

[Blythe Fairchild]

"Is it specifically a magical artifact, Professor?" Blythe asked shyly, "or is it a case of muggles appropriating the runes for their own uses?"

@'Halvar Kirmani'

  

[Citrine Weasley]

"Is it some sort of protection talisman?" Citrine asked, not sure she had gotten the instructions right but trying anyway.