Quiescent Rune
Metamagic, Rune feat
Quiescent Rune is a D&D 3.5 feat (Metamagic, Rune) from MMM, p. 27. A rune-caster may subtly empower runes, keeping the magic within them slumbering until the time comes to awaken them.
Prerequisite
Ability to cast 2nd-level runes.
Benefit
When a quiescent rune is empowered, the rune's magic does not take effect right away. Instead, the magic is simply stored in the rune, awaiting activation FEATS by one who is given the correct word (a command word set during the empowering of the rune). At any time within the period of quiescence, a character (who need not be the rune-caster) may touch the rune and speak the command word (a move action); at this time, the rune takes effect. Its duration begins on the moment it is activated. The quiescent rune remains slumbering for 1 minute per caster level; if it is not activated within this time period, it activates on its own, with normal effects. Only a scribed or permanent rune may be empowered as a quiescent rune, and empowering a rune as a quiescent rune takes up a rune slot one level higher than normal.
Normal
Runes take effect as soon as they are empowered.
Description
A rune-caster may subtly empower runes, keeping the magic within them slumbering until the time comes to awaken them.