Charter Magic is one of the two types of magic, the other being Free Magic. It uses the multitude of runes in the Charter -- drawn on paper or in the air, spoken, engraved or embedded in an object, or whistled -- to achieve an intended effect. Some Charter marks may be used on their own, or used with other symbols before being joined to a common purpose by a Master Mark. The millions of individual marks make up the Charter, which describes the world and was created by seven of the Nine Bright Shiners.
Charter magic is reliant upon the user having a baptismal Charter mark on their forehead. Citizens of Ancelstierre are rarely Charter mages, exceptions including the students at Wyverley College and the guards at the Perimeter.