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Post by Jarad on Jul 5, 2007 0:37:33 GMT -5
27 True Runes
In the beginning, there was "darkness."
Then, the "darkness" shed a "tear."
From that "tear," the brothers Sword and Shield were born.
Shield claimed it could defend against any attack.
Sword claimed it could slice through anything.
The brothers began a legendary battle.
At the end, both Sword and Shield shattered.
Sword became the sky, Shield became the earth, and the sparks from the battle became the stars.
As for the jewels, they fell to the ground and became the True Runes--The runes that all other runes were born from.
No one knows for certain where True Runes came from, but legend tells that the 27 True Runes were created when the brothers, "Sword" and "Shield" fought against each other, shattering itself into 27 pieces.
All True Runes represent a certain power, and bring both benefits and curses to its bearer, such as agelessness, which could be a great benefit and a great curse. Furthermore, a True Rune's sentience, or ego, could often overwhelm novice bearers who do not know how to dominate True Runes. This often results in the reversal of the "master-servant" relationship, reducing a True Rune's bearer into a mere vessel that the True Rune controls to achieve its own purposes.
All True Runes hold a purpose, and this purpose tends to be pursued with no moral consideration due to the fact that True Runes are forces of nature. True Runes may cause its bearer to save lives, but also may force its bearer to kill thousands of people against the bearer's will if it serves the rune's purpose.
True Runes could be quite fickle, and could abandon its bearer in favor of another, and when its bearer dies, it tends to vanish and remain hidden (within the earth or at the bottom of the ocean) until it feels like reappearing. One person can not bear more than one True Rune, but it is said that a secret exists that allows one person to bear more than one True Rune.
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Post by Jarad on Jul 5, 2007 1:05:51 GMT -5
Beast Rune
A True Rune representing animalistic rage and passion; the rune is officially said to have been given to the Blight family by the High Priest Sasarai. However, the fact is that the Beast Rune refused to be contained within Harmonia and took residence in L'Renouille according to its own will. Harmonia hid this fact by claiming that it was a gift, and used it as a political tool. Since then, the Beast Rune laid dormant within L'Renouille until Luca Blight took interest in its power. After the Beast Rune was realized as a weapon of war, huge quantities of blood was sacrificed to it, awakening various "relatives of the Beast Rune" in the form of golden wolves. These wolves caused confusion to the Allied Forces when they took Muse--the city was filled with golden wolves. During the siege on L'Renouille, the Beast Rune took the form of the Silver Wolf and challenged the Allied Forces to a final bout. After it was defeated, it is unknown what happened to the Beast Rune.
Rune of the Beginning
A True Rune representing the "initial chaos of birth" inherent in times of creation. This True Rune is always found separated into it's components-- the Bright Shield and Black Sword runes, and bearers of these two runes are bound by the rune's power to fight against each other until only one survives to win the other component. Scholars are uncertain whether the Black Sword and Bright Shield are the same "sword" and "shield" from the legends of creation, and no one knows what exact power the Rune of the Beginning bears. It is said that the rune grants its owner the power to "judge war."
Black Sword Rune
The Black Sword Rune is one of the components of the Rune of the Beginning. Representing the offensive power necessary for "the beginning," this rune holds devastating powers. Much of the power is manifested in the form of swords, and all of its spells unleash painful attacks with magical swords.
Bright Shield
THe Bright Shield Rune is the other component of the Rune of the Beginning. Representing the power to protect "the beginning," this rune holds tremendous defensive powers. Many of its spells heal its bearer and those who are with the bearer in spirit. It is also said that those who are close to this rune won't die even when they suffer wounds that would have otherwise killed them.
Blue Moon Rune
A Rune representing compassion and destruction, this rune also turns its bearer into a vampire. This rune carries with it a huge curse, as it actually dominates its bearer's mind until s/he gains mastery over its powers. When Sierra Mikain came into possession of this rune, she ended up going on a killing rampage, forcing her to retreat into the forest to keep herself from harming others. As she gained mastery over this rune, she was able to tap into the powers of compassion, which diminished her vampiric impulses to drink the blood of the living. This led to the creation of the Blue Moon Village, where Sierra lived with others who had cast their pasts away, such as Rean Penenberg and Neclord. Since then, Sierra removed the Blue Moon Rune from herself and placed it on an altar at the center of the village. However, Neclord, overtaken by the lust for power, stole the Blue Moon Rune and fled, robbing immortality from the villagers other than Sierra. Some of the villagers fled to sustain their immortality through sucking the blood of others.
Although Sierra lost physical possession of the Blue Moon Rune, the rune still recognized her as its master. Thus, when Sierra caught up with Neclord, she was able to command the rune to obey her and deactivate itself.
Neclord used the Blue Moon Rune during the Dunan Unification War to take over Tinto. He unleashed the power of the rune by sacrificing 100 lives to the rune, but the nature of its power is unknown.
Rune of Change
A True Rune representing change that affects all in the universe. The powers of this rune and its whereabouts remain a mystery. However, it is said that the Leader of the Sindars hold this rune, forcing the Sindars to move from place to place as a curse. However, it is said that the Sindars finally found their "eternal city" after their eternal wander.
Circle Rune
A True Rune representing order and stagnation, not much is known about this rune as well as its bearer. The Holy Kingdom of Harmonia is named after this rune's power of bringing peace and harmony. However, scholars argue that the power of stagnation has become more prevalent in recent times, stalling the progress of the Holy Kingdom. The High Priest Hikusaak, its bearer, has also been rumored missing since Solis 230, causing a civil war.
Dragon Rune
The Dragon Rune allows dragons to exist in this world. Owned by Joshua Levenheit for the past two centuries, the bearer of this rune holds a huge responsibility, for the death of the bearer means all dragons in the world would also die. For this reason, the captain of the dragon knights rarely changes.
The Rune also allows its bearer to control dragons, even if they have been turned into undead dragons. The power of the rune depends on the willpower of its bearer, which means dragons may not obey this runes bearer if s/he is mentally weak.
It is not known why dragons can not survive in this world without the help of the Dragon Rune. However, it is known that dragons in great pain are able to create portals to return to their home world, the "World of Wings and Scales."
It has been confirmed that this rune has been passed onto Milia when she was promoted to Captain.
Eightfold (Yafusa/Hachifusa) Rune
Owned by Yuber, no-one knows what powers this rune may hold. Scholars argue that Yuber's affinity with monsters (summoning, for example) and the power of teleportation is dervied from this rune, but no-one is certain.
Gate Rune
A True Rune with the power to connect worlds, this rune holds great powers. The Blue Gate Rune was born from this rune. Belonging to the Gate Rune Clan, this rune has been protected for centuries. However, the clan was destroyed by invading Harmonians in Solis 78. The two sisters, Windy and Leknaat (In the Gate Rune Clan, all members were considered siblings), separated the Gate Rune into two halves and teleported away. The Gate Rune was unheard of for centuries but surfaced during the "Gate Rune Wars" when the Liberation Army fought against the Scarlet Moon Empire--controlled by Windy.
The "Front half" of the Gate Rune remains missing after Windy's disappearance following the collapse of the Hanging Gardens of Barbarossa.
Back Gate Rune
The Back Gate Rune is one of the halves of the Gate Rune, separated by Windy and Leknaat. After Leknaat teleported away from the destruction of her clan, she eventually escaped to the Magician's Isle, creating powerful wards to protect herself from anyone who wished to take her rune. Her greatest threat, ironically, ended up being Windy. During the final battle of the Gate Rune Wars, Leknaat used her Back Gate Rune to send Windy's monster troops back to the "World of Emptiness." However, her power alone was too weak to send all of them back, requiring the help of Joshua Levenheit's Dragon Rune for complete success.
Front Gate Rune
The Front Gate Rune is one of the halves of the Gate Rune, separated by Windy and Leknaat. After Windy teleported away from the destruction of her clan, she sought greater power to seek revenge against the Holy Kingdom of Harmonia. Knowing that one person could only wield one True Rune, she researched ways to attack two True Runes on herself. Thus, she started searching for True Runes with other True Rune Bearers, Yuber and Neclord. She scoured the lands in search of True Runes, ironically doing the same thing Harmonia did to her clan to gain True Runes. In the end, she found the bearer of the Rune of Life and Death, Ted, and tried to take it from him, but ultimately fails. Her unyielding wish to gain the Rune of Life and Death indirectly caused the Gate Rune Wars. In the final battle, Windy used her Front Gate Rune to summon 80,000 monster troops from the "World of Emptiness." However, her monster troops were sent back by Leknaat and Joshua Levenheit. In the end, she died when Barbarossa fell from the balcony of his "Floating Garden," taking her along. Since then, the rune has been missing, suggesting that Windy may still be alive.
Rune of Life and Death
Better known as the "Souleater," this rune represents two inevitabilities, life and death. This rune was kept by the Village of the Hidden Rune until Solis 150 when Windy, along with Yuber and Neclord, destroyed the Village. The rune was passed on from Ted's Grandpa onto Ted, and Ted since wandered the world. Eventually, worn down by the Rune's curse and the social exclusion that it brought, Ted accepted the offer of the mysterious Fog Ship Guide to hand over the rune and disappear from the world. His exile lasted years, but when he saw the actions of the bearer of the Rune of Punishment (another heavily cursed rune) Ted decided to leave the Fog Ship and return to the outside world. The Fog Ship Guide was unwilling to part with the Souleater and battled for possession of it and the Rune of Punishment. Following the Guide's defeat Ted reclaimed the Rune and aided the Bearer of the Rune of Punishment in the war between the Island Nations and Kooluk. However, once the conflict was over Ted returned to a solo nomadic life.
After his wandering, he befriended the son of General Teo McDohl, Tir. After Windy realized that Ted bore the Souleater, he was attacked by Windy. Barely escaping with his life, Ted begged Tir to become the next bearer of the Souleater, which Tir accepted. Since then, the rune bent the fate of those around Tir and dragged them into the clutches of death, starting with Odessa Silverberg, then with Gremio, Teo McDohl, and even its own ex-bearer, Ted. However, it is uncertain whether having one's soul being sucked by the souleater means death, as the spirits of those who have died live on within the bearer of the Souleater.
Night Rune
A True Rune representing the "power of the night", this rune allows "creatures of the night," such as zombies, skeletons, and vampires to exist, as well as easily brings them back out of existence, when normal methods cannot. It was borne originally intertwined with the Sun Rune, which governed over light. The Sun Rune's great light annoyed the Night Rune, which severed the bond between the two runes. After initially becoming a sword, this rune's natures and whereabouts are shrouded in mystery. There are a few pockets of time in which it has appeared in important events in history. The original vampire, Sierra Mikain, is known to have had some sort of involvement with the rune, in another form. Zerase, bearer of the Star Rune (a derivative of the Night Rune whose exact nature is unknown), is very understandably familiar with the rune in its sword form. As the Zodiac Sword, it rested in the cave behind the Qlon Temple in Toran for a time, where it was found and wielded by the roaming mercenary Viktor, for use in fighting the vampire Neclord. The Night Rune defeated what was later found to be a clone of the vampire, but again was able to take part in a battle to destroy the vampire for good, in Tinto. After wandering with Viktor, the sword was passed onto Edge to aid in defeating another vampire, who has wielded the sword ever since.
Rune of Punishment
A True Rune that represents atonement and forgiveness and is always borne on the left hand of its host; this rune is a parasite that feeds off its host with fatal consequences: the rune has tremendous offensive capabilities; however, using them drains the bearer's life force, eventually to the extent that he or she turns to ash and their memories are locked away in the Rune; the Rune then transfers to the nearest available host. Whilst it is still believed that the Rune of Punishment will grant standard True Rune abilities such as agelessness; there is no record of any of its previous bearers surviving long enough for this to be an issue.
The Rune became sealed in Obel after its then bearer died with no potential host in range; it remained in the Ruins there for many years until discovered by the then Queen of Obel. She resisted the Rune's call to be used until a time when pirates threatened her children and her kingdom. Since that time it has moved around the region causing death to its bearers and destruction to those around them; no matter how much they may resist, fate transpires to place the bearers in situations where they end up using the Rune to save themselves or others. One such incident occured in a border village between Kooluk and the Scarlet Moon Empire: some Scarlet Moon nobles dressed up as Kooluk raiders and attacked the town to drum up support for a war; the then bearer of the Rune (who was a small child) unleashed its power and the nobles, as well as the village, were decimated. The succeeding bearer [Graham Cray] was the father of the previous bearer, and in order to escape the Rune's curse he severed his left arm from his body; the act saved him from the Rune, but he then developed a fixation on the power he had discarded.
The Rune continued it's cycle of death and destruction, returning to the Island Nations where it claimed the life of an innocent fisherman who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, before eventually passing to the pirate called Brandeau. Knowing the fate of those nearby, Brandeau isolated himself from his friends and crewed his ships with strangers; eventually on a raiding mission that went bad he used the Rune to try and escape, and seeing one young man remain who bested him in combat he felt as though he knew who the next bearer would be. He was mistaken however, as Glen Cott stepped in the way just as Brandeau died. Glen returned to his home of Razril but did not bear the Rune long before he was forced to use it against an invading fleet; although he tried to keep everyone away from him when he did so, circumstances saw the same young man being close to Glen when he died and it transferred to him this time around.
Exiled from Razril for being belived to be responsible for Glen's death this young man became embroiled in a war that started due to Koolouk's expansion progess, but continued due to Graham Cray's desire to obtain the Rune again. During this time the young man managed to survive using the Rune's power a total of four time;, before the power of the 108 Stars of Destiny moved the Rune into its little seen forgiveness phase, where it no longer drains the life of its bearer. Since then the bearer vanished from the pages of history, knowing full well that his death would see the cycle of death and destruction start over again.
Sovereign Rune
A True Rune representing aboslute rule, the Sovereign Rune has been the Rugner family's family heirloom since Kranach Rugner created the Scarlet Moon Empire. Before that, the Sovereign Rune belonged to the Holy Kingdom of Harmonia, and was protected within the Holy City of Rupanda (Later renamed Gregminster). The rune's powers are still a mystery, but it grants it's bearers complete immunity to all runes, and also allows its bearer to change into a three-headed dragon. Barbarossa, as its bearer, chose to embed this rune on his Dragon King Sword. Since Barbarossa fell from his castle's balcony, this rune's whereabouts are unknown.
Sun Rune
A True Rune governing over light, warmth, and nuturing, the Sun Rune is one of the three treasures of Falena. Originally connected with the Night Rune, the runes were split after the Night Rune incarnated itself into a sword and severed the link between them. When they split, two pieces were detached: The Dawn and Twilight Runes.
The Sun Rune is borne on the forehead, and slowly makes any bearer go mentally insane, without the Dawn and Twilight Runes to control it's impulses. The King of the Ancient Armes Kingdom bore the Sun Rune, but, due to its curse, was driven insane and destroyed his entire kingdom, reducing it to a sorched, barren, wasteland. The power of the Sun Rune, after the Kingdom was destroyed, nutured the land after the destruction, and made the ground fertile again.
Arshtat Falenas bore the Sun Rune when a rebellion by the town of Lordlake caused the Dawn Rune to go missing. She was advised to bear the rune by the tactician Lucretia Merces, to protect it from the scheming Godwin faction. However, without the Dawn Rune, the Queen was suffering the same mental insanity the Ancient King of Armes was suffering from, but her husband Ferid was able to pull her from her manic fits.
When Arshtat was slain, the Sun Rune returned to the room where it was originally sealed. The capricious nature of the Sun Rune allows only those it selects to bear it, as both Lymsleia Falenas and Gizel Godwin were rejected as hosts.
The Sun Rune's power can be controlled by the Dawn and Twilight Runes, whether or not the person bearing the Sun Rune is also bearing those two artifacts.
Dawn Rune
A piece left over after the Night Rune turned into a sword and split from the Sun Rune, the Dawn Rune is a one-of-a-kind rune and one of the three treasures of Falena.
Borne on the right hand, the Dawn Rune grants it's bearer a few powers, most importantly, the power to heal others who have wounds that would ordinarly kill them. It's true power comes, however, when used in conjunction with the Sun Rune. The power of the Dawn Rune, when combined with it's counterpart, the Twilight Rune, allows the power of the Sun Rune to stabilize and prevents the insanity bearing the Sun Rune normally causes.
The Sindar people, when they lived in Falena, used the power of the Dawn Rune extensively. The water level in the Ceras Lake could be controlled through a Sindar dam that used the power of the Dawn Rune. The Sindar constructed similar buildings in the western forests and the northern mountains. Even though these palaces were not designed specifically for the Dawn Rune, the Dawn Rune could still activate them.
After the disappearance of the Sindar, the Dawn Rune was kept in the East Palace of Falena on a magical bust, but an attack on the palace in 445 In Solis caused it to go missing. Officially, it seemed the people of Lordlake, who were revolting at the time, took it. However, in actuality, it was the Barows family. They incited the people of Lordlake to attack the East Palace while they were protesting the construction of a dam that contaiminated their water. The Barows family snuck some of their troops into the Lordlake riot, and convinced them to attack the palace. The Dawn Rune fell into possession of Salum Barows, who kept it locked in a wardrobe in his basement. Other then his son Euram, no one knew the rune was locked there. To dissaude anyone from searching, Salum told the vault guardian, Chuck, that he had put a present intended for his daughter Luserina's wedding down there, so she was not allowed entry.
It is unknown what Lord Barows planned to use the Dawn Rune for. It was specualted that he either planned to use it as a goodwill offering to the nation of Armes, to trade it to the Godwins, or until he could figure out how to use it himself.
After the Prince discovers Salum's deals with the nation of Armes, Euram blurts out that the Barows have the Dawn Rune. Piecing the puzzle together quickly, Luserina takes the Prince to the basement, where the rune selects him as it's host.
The Prince keeps the rune during the Falenian civil war, using it's varied powers on the ruins of the Sindar, to heal his bodyguard Lyon from a wound that would have killed her otherwise, and to control a use of the Sun Rune.
After the end of the war, the Dawn Rune returns to a bust, where it is kept next to the Sun and Twilight Runes.
Twilight Rune
A piece left over after the Night Rune turned into a sword and split from the Sun Rune, the Twilight Rune is a unique rune and one of the three treasures of Falena.
Borne on the left hand, the Twilight Rune grants it's bearer tremendous offensive power. When used in conjunction with the Sun and Dawn Runes, the insanity that occurs with bearing the Sun Rune can be halted, and the power of the rune can be forcibly quelled.
The Sindar people used the power of the Twilight Rune, their western buildings were built with the Twilight Rune serving as a key. Although the eastern buildings and northern ones were not constructed specifically for the Twilight Rune, the Twilight Rune still can function as a key for them.
During the reign of the Queendom of Falena, the Twilight Rune was kept in the West Palace. It wasn't until the civil war would become more extreme between the Prince's faction and the Godwin faction that the Godwins would call upon it's power.
The first bearer of the rune was Alenia, a Queen's Knight loyal to the Godwin cause. The rune mistress Jeane is able to attach the rune to Alenia, but the woman cannot draw out the power of the rune. The Twilight Rune only allows people it chooses to wield it's full power. Realizing this, Gizel has the rune removed from Alenia.
The next person who would bear the rune is the sister of Queen Arshtat, Sialeeds. Unlike Alenia, the rune allows itself to be used by the princess. Sialeeds uses the destructive powers of the rune to great extent, destroying an ambush the Godwin forces prepared for the Prince.
Sialeeds was planning to destroy the main dam at Sol-Falena, which would, presumably, sweep away the Prince's army in a tidal wave. But the Prince sneaks onto the dam, only to be halted by a sight from Sol-Falena. Someone was using the Sun Rune. The power of the Dawn and Twilight Runes manages to curb that destructive power, but the strain is too much for the badly beaten Sialeeds, and the Twilight Rune passes to the Prince's bodyguard, Lyon.
Lyon uses the Twilight Rune in the northern ruins, and against the Sun Rune again.
After the end of the war, the Twilight Rune is removed and placed back on a magical bust. It is now kept by the Sun and Dawn Runes, rather then in separate palaces.
True Earth Rune
A True Rune representing the power of the earth. The Earth Rune and Mother Earth Rune are born from this rune. It is currently owned by the Priest General, Sasarai. It's powers are vast, granting great protection spells to its bearer.
True Fire Rune
A True Rune representing the power of fire. The Fire Rune and Rage Rune are born from this True Rune. It is currently owned by the new flame champion, but it used to be owned by Harmonia. Hidden in the depths of the One Temple, this rune was stolen by the "Fire Bringer." Since then, the "Flame Champion" fought against Harmonian troops and even defeated them in numerous battles. However, the Flame Champion disappeared after wishing to be free from the True Rune's destiny, removing it from his body using an ancient Sindar secret. The rune grants powerful flame-based spells that hurt friend and foe alike if within the area of effect.
True Lightning Rune
A True Rune representing the power of lightning. The Lightning and Thunder Runes are born from this rune. The rune was a treasure of a nation destroyed by Harmonia, but Geddoe escaped this nation with the True Rune. Later he lent his powers to the Flame Champion during the huge conflict in the Grasslands. He has sealed the powers of the True Lightning Rune ever since, but unsealed it during the 2nd Flame Champion War. The rune grants incredibly powerful offensive spells to its bearer.
True Water Rune
A True Rune representing the power of water. The Water and Flowing Runes are born from this rune. Owned by Wyatt Lightfellow, the rune played a part during the first Flame Champion War, assisting the Flame Champion along with the True Lightning Rune. Since that conflict, the rune has been sealed in multiple locations, but was unsealed once again during the second Flame Champion War, where the rune is passed on from the hands of Wyatt to either Chris or Hugo. The rune grants powerful healing spells along with attack spells to its bearer.
True Wind Rune
A True Rune representing the power of the wind. The Wind Rune and Cyclone Rune are born from this True Rune. It its current owner is unknown, but it was owned by Luc until recently. Luc has been seen using this rune to summon a Golem, and he also used it to defeat Harmonian forces during the Dunan Unification War. He also attempted to destroy the True Wind Rune during the second Flame Champion War, but failed due to the resistance given by the new flame champion.
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