Practice Runes are a method of raising your Research skill from 0 to 182. Try this link.
http://www.eqtraders.com/recipes/recipe_page.php?article=306&rsa=No%20Skill,Spell%20Research&sub=practice&sb=item&menustr=080105010000
There are much cheaper and efficient ways to raise skill now though.
As you play this 10 year old game, you will find a lot of artifacts of old and revamped game systems.
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After 16 years, I'm not listing every friggin character.