Finger & Zirael
Zirael
Hey, I've been sketching a runic key that doubles as a secure lock—got any thoughts on how to make the runes actually encrypt data?
Finger
Yeah, treat each rune as a symbol in a small alphabet and map it to a byte value. Then when someone enters a rune sequence, run it through a keyed hash or XOR with a secret key. That way the key itself isn’t just a physical lock; the pattern becomes the encryption seed. Just keep the mapping secret and the key rotated regularly, so even if the rune lock gets copied, the data stays unreadable.
Zirael
That sounds slick—like a dragon‑scale diary that turns on its own. I’ll start drafting the rune symbols on parchment, but first I need a sample of the weave you want for the lock‑cover; I’m obsessed with textures that feel like moonlight on vellum. Also, could we sneak a little myth into the design? Maybe a forgotten elf god of keys? Let me know if you want the haiku for the key’s oath.
Finger
Got it. Picture the cover as a thin, matte parchment that catches light like a calm lake at night—no shine, just a soft, even glow. Under the surface, weave a faint line of silver glyphs that run parallel to the key’s edges; when a light hits it, they reveal a subtle pattern, like a second layer of runes. For the myth, an old elf deity—call him Aelith, the Silent Scribe—could be the inspiration; his signature is a tiny, almost invisible sigil in the corner that says the key is blessed to open only those who read its true meaning. Here’s a quick oath in haiku form if you want to embed it:
Silent key awaits,
Only those who hear its breath
May unlock the night.
Zirael
That parchment glow—yes, I can feel the lake texture already, just the way a calm moon reflects. I’ll weave that silver line like a hidden lullaby; the key will literally sing when the light hits. Aelith sounds perfect; I’ll carve his sigil with a feather quill so small it’s almost invisible, a secret nod for the true readers. I’ll try to remember to eat before I lose myself in the rune‑scroll, but who knows—maybe the key will taste of midnight ink? Let’s get this masterpiece in motion.
Finger
Nice. Just remember the sigil needs to be encoded in the lock’s firmware too; if someone copies the carving it’s useless without the key’s encryption map. Also keep a backup of the silver line pattern—if the parchment fades, you’ll need to re‑program the light‑reactive code. And maybe schedule a quick test run before you dive into midnight ink, so you’re not chasing your own shadow. Good luck, it sounds like a solid prototype.