Rune Masters

The First Prophecy

"In the void, when time was young,
No light to shine, no song to be sung,
A tear was shed from sorrow’s eye,
And from that tear, the Brothers did rise.

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One, a blade with edge so keen,
The other, a shield, ever serene.
The sword proclaimed, "I’ll cut through all,"
The shield declared, "I’ll stand, not fall."

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"They met in war, no end in sight,
Each struggling for the final right.
But in their clash, both did break,
And from their fall, the stars did wake.

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The pieces of their shattered form,
Scattered then through sky and storm.
And where they landed, none could know,
The seeds of fate that ebb and flow.

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Now dormant lay, in earth and air,
Await the ones who’ll rise and dare.
For those who claim the pieces' fight,
Shall shape the world, in dark or light."

— Irikah, the first Prophet

What is a Rune Master?

Rune Masters are individuals imbued with the power to control ancient runes that hold fragments of divine essence. These runes are remnants of a mystical event that shattered divine powers left into the material world into pieces, separating them into cores and runes. While the cores are the primary vessels that grant extraordinary abilities, the runes themselves act as conduits, amplifying and channeling their inherent power.

Runes exist in many places across Kena'an, often lying dormant for centuries. In this state, they resemble glowing spheres approximately 5cm in diameter, with a rune glowing faintly at their center, scattering light around them. This form allows the runes to be caught and carried but cannot be used. So far, no one has been able to destroy a rune or forcibly awaken it.

While not destined to bear a rune, Rune Masters are chosen by them. Individuals with an abundance of a specific sin or virtue in their actions may provoke a dormant rune to awaken and seek them out. No one can bond with a rune unless they are chosen by it. Once an individual is chosen by a rune, they cannot rid themselves of it by any means. The individual initially remains unaware of the bond. Gradually, they find themselves acting impulsively in situations tied to the sin or virtue of the rune. For example, a bearer of a greed rune might feel compelled to amass wealth or steal- even if they had never stolen before. These compulsions grow more intense over time, and the bearer begins experiencing blackouts.

To withstand the powers of the rune, one must come to understand it and accept the intelligence living within. The process of bonding with a rune is far from simple. The runes impose trials- both mental and physical- to ensure their wielder is worthy. Many who attempt to fully embrace their rune fail, often at the cost of their lives. For those who succeed, the runes bestow great power but at a price: the wielder must constantly wrestle with the fragment’s influence, which seeks to shape them in alignment with its divine origin. Bearers of the runes gain not only growing access to their powers but also longevity and resistance to natural diseases and poisons. They cannot die of old age but remain mortal and can be killed. When a bearer of a rune dies, the rune will seek out another host.

Abilities and Roles

Rune Masters are as diverse as the runes they wield. Some act as guardians of ancient knowledge, striving to protect the balance of the world. Others succumb to the allure of power, becoming tyrants or agents of chaos. The type of rune they bond with often dictates their abilities, such as enhancing physical strength, manipulating elements, or even altering the fabric of reality. However, no Rune Master remains untouched by their artifact; the runes subtly warp their personality and goals, pulling them closer to their divine fragment's nature.