You create a tiny magic rune floating in the air or on a surface you can see within range. When you create this rune, you can choose whether the rune is visible or near-invisible. If you create a near-invisible rune it requires a successful Wisdom (perception) check against your spell save DC to be found. A creature under the effect of the spell detect magic automatically sees the rune regardless. If you create the rune on a surface, the rune dissipates harmlessly if the object is destroyed.

You decide what triggers the rune when you cast the spell (such as a number of creatures standing near the rune, a creature touching the rune, or speaking a command word). The trigger must happen within 10 feet of the rune. You can further refine the trigger so the spell activates only under certain circumstances or according to physical characteristics (such as height or weight), or creature type or ancestry (for example, the rune could be set to affect only aberrations or drow).

You can also set conditions for creatures that don’t trigger the rune, such as those who say a certain password.

When you create the rune, your chose one of the following effects:

• Arcane Mark. You create an arcane rune. When this rune triggers, you can have it change state, such as turning visible, near-invisible, or changing its form or colour. You can decide for the rune return to its previous visibility after a time after triggering if you wish (allowing the rune to be triggered again before the spell runs out).

• Runic Message. When the rune triggers, it relays a simple one-word message to the triggering creature. Once the rune is triggered, the spell ends.

• Simple Symbol. When the rune triggers, all creatures within 5 feet of the rune’s space must make a Dexterity Saving throw or take 1d6 force damage. Once the rune is triggered, the spell ends.

If you cast this spell multiple times, you can have up to three runes active at a time, and you can dispel any active rune you have created within range as an action.

Cantrip Scaling. This spell's damage increases by 1d6 when you reach 5th level (2d6), 11th level (3d6), and 17th level (4d6).