Icelandic Magical Staves

Here are a few Icelandic magical staves used for folk magic.

The sigils can be used by anyone, but they are not common knowledge and will more often than not be kept secret by those who wish to retain the advantage such magic offers. Some are carved on actual staves, but others are inscribed on any item you would like to to enchant, or on small wooden talismans or coins for ease of use. One item can only bear a single magical sigil, and the effects of multiple talismans do not stack.

Also don't forget that while the sigils are generally not illegal, the local government might not take it kindly when you're abusing magic.

by Anne Mathiasz

 
d20 Magical Sigils

1. Að unni: Must be carved on a talisman along with your name and the name of a person you wish to charm. Then slip the talisman in your target's pocket and you'll get +4 bonus to all Charisma checks against them.
2. Angurgapi: This sigil wards off liquids. It is often carved on the ends of barrels to prevent leaking. A room covered in Angurgapi could make water float like in zero g.
3. Brýnslustafir: When carved on a whetstone, any blade sharpened with it gains +1 damage for a day.
4. Draugstafur: Any item bearing this sigil acts as a lure for undead. They will sense it from several hundred feet away and get pulled in, though intelligent undead may recognize what's going on.
5. Draumstafir: If you draw this sigil on your forehead before going to sleep, you will enter the Dreamlands.
6. Dreprún: All bovine, cervid and similar animals must Save vs fear or be unable to approach the sigil. Carved into boundary stones, it is often used in place of a pen fence.
7. Feingur: A sigil ensuring fertility, easy birth and healthy offspring. Can be used both on animals and humans, but has to be either branded or tattooed.
8. Gapaldur & Ginfaxi: Two sigils carved into the soles of shoes taken by force or deception from a great warrior. Gapaldur is placed under the heel of the right foot and protects from being pushed or knocked back. Ginfaxi is placed under the toes of the left foot and grants advantage on attempts to bullrush or knock down your foes.
9. Hólastafur: This sigil must be inscribed on a coin taken from a buried treasure. When placed on its edge, it will start rolling towards the nearest path leading deeper, such as shafts or stairs down in a dungeon.
10. Kaupaloki: Grants +4 bonus when haggling. Even a rumour of using this sigil is enough for the merchants to stop doing any business with you and maybe send a thug or few to have a little talk.
11. Lásabrjótur: Touching this talisman to a lock will shatter both the lock and the talisman with a loud crack, though magic locks get a Save.
12. Lukkustafir: A weapon inscribed with this sigil can store critical hits for later. Only one critical hit can be stored at a time, and only actual attacks can be stored, no swinging at air.
13. Máladeilan: Grants +4 bonus in legal and bureaucratic interactions if carved on a gold coin and carried in your left pocket.
14. Skelkunarstafur: Anyone who carries a talisman with this sigil on their person will automatically fail all Saves vs fear.
15. Stafur gegn galdri: This sigil cannot be crossed by magic (supernatural creatures, enchanted items, spellcasters) unless they succeed on a Save. Must be anointed with innocent blood before taking effect.
16. Tóustefna: All canines must Save vs fear or be unable to approach the sigil. Often carved into travelling staves as a protection from wolves and wild dogs.
17. Vatnahlífir: Grants +4 bonus to Save vs drowning if a talisman with the sigil is held under your tongue.
18. Vegvísir: When carved on a lit lantern, it will guide you through rough weather or darkness of the night. You cannot get lost unless your lantern goes out.
19. Veiðistafur: When carved on a fishing rod, it allows you to always catch at least 1d4 rations worth of fish in any river or pond.
20. Þjófastafur: Carved on a dowsing rod, it will detect stolen items, but only if used by an (ex-)thief.

 
And finally a bonus magic item:

Nábrók
The "corpse breeches" are trousers made from the flayed skin of a dead man inscribed with Nábrókarstafur. They can only be created from the skin of a man who agreed to this before his death. The wearer of nábrók can reach into the scrotum of the trousers at any time and pull out a handful of coins. The coins seem normal, but wizards will sense faint magic in them and if ever touched by sunlight, they will crumble to dust.

Once put on, the nábrók cannot be taken off unless someone else agrees to wear them. If the wearer dies while still wearing the trousers, their soul will be unable to leave their body and they will slowly transform into a draugr. Their mind will be overcome with greed, and they will spend the nights looking for treasures and hoarding them in their burial mound.