[quote=@Mag Lev]
Runes are use for protection or setting up a perimeter. The longer a rune is active and the more runes which are active, the more strain it puts on the caster mentally. Most trained mages can manage close to 10 runes at one time though it puts strain on their focus and leaves them more prone to falling in physical combat.[/quote]

So what exactly can runes be used for other than establishing magical barriers? It seems that's their primary purpose, although when compared with the possibilities of elemental magic's utility, it seems rather limited.