The Runes are more than just written symbology. When a Rune is written or inscribed, the real power of the magical image is present within it. Repetition of a rune does not weaken it, but strengthens its presence and firm reality in creation.
Not much is known about the Runes themselves, although they have been known to change over time. They are the building blocks of the physical plane. They are the Lowest Common Denominators of all the gods. All beings or things which have reached a certain plateau of psychic development are known to be runic creatures in and of themselves. For example, all men are living representatives of the Man Rune.
Whether the Runes reveal a deep harmony in the universe, to which even the gods must conform, or whether the gods produced the Runes and they are manifestations of the gods, is a question of much dispute, even among the gods, from whom it is difficult to get a straight answer anyways. To the practical minded person, interested only in the uses of power, it doesn't matter. The Runes are there, and they work.
Knowledge of Runes is Great Magic in Glorantha. Most humans must be content with knowing their own self-Rune of humanity in their lifetime. It is much easier to so learn a single Rune and all of its permeations of power than it is to master different runes. An individual during the Hero Wars with the knowledge we have gathered here would be one able to bring peace between the many combatants of the era.
The Runes of this period evince modifications from the Pharaonic, Nomadic, and Lunar systems. The dragonewts also exerted a peculiar influence. Many of the Runes were in common use everywhere in creation, the Element and Condition Runes being the most prevalent in other parts of Glorantha.
The Runes can be divided into several types. The Jonstown Librarian stated at one time that there were four types of Runes in his Hero Wars period, and we have accepted that as definitive in this article.
According to this division, the Runes fall into the following four classes: Powers, Elements, Forms, and Conditions. Each god has one or more specialties within the forces described by the Runes. These are the areas in which the particular god, and therefore his or her priests, are most effective and versatile. To say that a god is a Fire Rune god, an Illusion god, or whatever, is to say that priests of that god will specialize in that area. The specific Runes are described below, by class.
There are several other theories about the Power Runes besides this dualistic one, but we know that this theory was popular during the Hero Wars period. Some said that all of the "positive" attributes came first, while the later "negatives" were generated quickly during the War of the Gods. Some other philosophers claimed that there was a gradual step-building pattern among the deities, which follows the established Creative Devolution theories. Regardless of the truth, it is important to remember that most people, including the magicians of the time, knew very little about these Powers except the rudest beginnings of their spiritual potential. Expressions and Experiences dealing with their inner natures are tasks for the greater deities, and not the races of men. Still, no one would deny that every person knows something of each of these Powers, and may tap them in varying degrees.
The Chaos Runes across the world are all different and of varying powers, but in general they are some manifestation of Entropy or Non-being in a localized and static form. The combinations between Chaos and the rest of the world occurred mostly during the Great Darkness or immediately before.
Almost redundant in this magic-rich world, this Rune describes how a deity or individual deals with the power of another Rune. Since it is impossible to deal with the Runes without magic, it means much. The symbol also has a much deeper meaning, denoting an individual's "personal power".
Infinity is an uncommon Condition in the world, but is found with understandable regularity wherever dragons are present. It is said that the Ancestral Dragons snatched this from Chaos and based the world upon it.
Introduction
The Runes are symbols which have power inherent in them. They serve as aids in manipulating the universe. However, merely looking at a Rune is not sufficient to use its power. A person must know how to use it as a symbol to gain any benefit from it. In practice, this means being a priest or shaman.Rune Classifications
Different places in the world have different Rune systems, depending on the power matrix which was established during the Godtime, later modified according to their history. Dragon Pass, being the crossroads of the continent of Genertela, had a very fluid and variable system. This makes it necessary to quantify runic studies according to the prevalent "Age" assigned by scholars to that portion of history. This article is based on the Rune system in Dragon Pass during the years known as the Hero Wars period.Element Runes
The Elements are what Glorantha is made of, the raw and lifeless essence, unintelligent and inert except for their primal urges. They are what form the ground you walk on, the air you breathe, and the warmth that you feel. During the Hero Wars period in Dragon Pass, and for some centuries before and after, six elements were recognized (one grudgingly).
Darkness
The most ancient Rune, the First Born, the Waker from the Void, from whom all other Elements were born or descended. Darkness was the first Element to arise out of the primal chaos.
Water
Water was born of Darkness, set to floating over the sprawling sea like a pool surrounded by darkness. As an Element, it is called Son of Darkness, Pathway to the Underworld, and Supporter of the Earth.
Earth
Earth is the third Element, Daughter of the Seas (though the dwarfs think of the Earth as male), Mother of the Sky, Wife to Many, Supporter of All. She fills the central portion of the world, both physically and spiritually, and because of this her surface is the primary manifestation of the physical plane. At least half the deities in Glorantha include the Earth in some manifestation, as Life-Giver, Stone-Father, Shaker, or Primal Ancestress.
Air
Air is next, though actually Fifth Born, the Son of Earth and Sky (Sky was also the son of Earth), whom he tore apart to make room for himself in the world. He is the Breaker of Laws, Destroyer of Heaven, Father of Fury, Fighter Against Darkness, and Liberator of the Sun. He is usually manifested as a storm god, such as Orlanth in Sartar or the Storm Bull of Prax.
Fire/Sky
Fire is the fifth Element, and usually the last one accepted in the common world. He is the Crown of the World, the Purity of Station, the Distant One, and the Storm-crushed Grandfather. The Sky is different from Air, for Air separates Earth and Sky. After his defeat by his son, the Sky has been aloof from mankind, although his children remain close.
Moon
Moon is the sixth Element, and little accepted amongst her peers. Outside the Lunar Empire, she has hardly any presence at all, though the Moon is sometimes considered a Condition Rune. Its obvious presence and the power of the Rune in its locale proves its importance.Power Runes
Said to symbolize the members of the Celestial Court, the Power Runes are unique in that they are formed in mutually antagonistic pairs. Opposing deities often have opposing Power Runes as part of their identities. A deity of great power may be able to worship gods of two non-paired Powers, but it will very rarely have more. Deities rarely if ever have access to two paired Powers.
Harmony
This Rune is said to represent the Divine Harp with which Order was separated from Chaos. It is quite ancient and revered throughout Glorantha.
Disorder
This Rune was derived directly from Chaos. Anarchistic cults claim that this was the first step of creation from Chaos. Therefore, they say, Disorder is the First Born of the Powers, and so is the foundation of the universe. The symbol itself is of unknown origin.
Fertility
Plenty, Giving, Love
This Rune symbolizes the Ancient Cup from which the whole world was poured at the dawn of creation. It is the symbol of growth and life.
Death
Separation
Known to be the First Sword, the immortal and cursed weapon which Humakt used to bring death to the world. Others claim this to be the first of the Runes, citing the separation of the world from Chaos as the first act in the creation process.
Stasis
Immobility, Solidity, Stone
The various names for this Rune illustrate the ideas behind it. It is clearly connected with the art of alchemy and the dwarfs. They claim that this is the First Rune, for it provided the foundation from which everything else was created, or else provided the foundation of hard laws which were used to overcome the forces of Chaos.
Movement
Mobility, Change
This Rune denotes the ancient wheel. As usual, there are claims for it to be the First Rune, for without it there would have been no growth from Chaos. Folktales also tell of the World Bird, who escaped from the Maws of Chaos upon this wheel. Later developments tell how this was a prized and coveted possession of the gods and, later, the heroes of the Silver Age.
Truth
This is a Rune of the ancient, all-seeing sky gods, and is said to represent the torch which the grey ones used to escape from Chaos. Thus, its constancy and order set creation apart from random, unsettled Chaos, and so it is yet another candidate for the First Rune.
Illusion
The Puppeteer Troupe, the major cult of the Father of Illusion, always claimed that this was the First Rune, for with it there would be none of us to think we ever were. They refuse to explain further.Form Runes
The Runes can be understood as the basic molds which were used by the greatest gods to populate the many niches of the physical plane. A god is often described as being of a particular Power or Element, and the Form determines how this force is expressed. There are sub-forms within each of these, but they are too numerous to list here. The following Runes depict the most basic of their respective forms.
Plant
This Rune is often named Flamal, who is known as the father of vegetation. During his lifetime, there was an intense period of vegetable growth and dominance upon the Surface World, called the Green Age. Thus, this Rune is the symbol of the first life upon Glorantha. Many deities have a connection with the Plant Rune, one being Aldrya, whose religion is a combination of Earth, Plant, and Fertility.
Beast
This Rune is also called the Dragon's Eye, and is supposed to represent the armor plate over a dragon's eye. Dragons are thought to be the progenitors of all beasts (at least those with four or more legs), though no one has had the nerve to ask a dragon about it. It is thought to have originally been a dragonewt Rune, and its complexity supports this belief, as does the fact that it is known almost nowhere else in the world except the Hykimi regions at the edge of the world.
Man
This Rune represents the humanoid shape, and is common among all intelligent humanoid races. Some other races interpret it as "slave" or "food". It is said to represent Grandfather Mortal, about whom numerous folktales are told; he is also sometimes called simply the Old Man, Progenitor of Races. He father many races, built some more, and provided the form for others which were created during the Gods Age.
Dragonewt
As exotic as the race it represents, this Rune is found only in the Dragon Pass area; it is a modified form of the distinctive (native) dragonewt symbol. Unlike most other Form Runes, it cannot be used with an Element Rune, though there are several dragonewt Power Rune cults, all modified by the Dragonewt Rune. The similarity of this Rune to the Beast Rune has led some to speculate that it represents an early attempt to make animals, having been drawn upon a nest of dragon eggs to alter their development. However, no normal dragonewt would claim kinship with most beasts alive today.
Spirit
This Rune describes the spirit aspect of the universe. Shamans are always tied to the Spirit Rune, since it is by dealing with the entities of this Form that they gain their power.
Chaos
This Rune is an evident importation from Prax, where there was a particularly powerful manifestation of the Chaos Gods in the form of the Devil. It is descriptive of those who are descended from the forces of entropy. Such creatures are usually bound to some Form, since even Chaos must obey the Laws of Time, but it might be combined with any other Rune, even opposed Powers. Nothing is totally safe from the taint of Chaos.Condition Runes
There are three main Condition Runes. They often modify by showing which aspect of an Element, Power, or Form is served by a deity. The use of such Condition Runes usually masks the true identifying Runes of the deity or individual described, although it may also signify the independence of a hero or magician from religious ties.
Mastery
The all-purpose Rune, Mastery can be used as a symbol of Mastery of Men, Magic, or the Elements. As Master of Men, it describes a hero. As Master of Magic, it symbolizes any deity of cult of reasonable power. As Master of the Elements it denotes a sort of innate intelligence among the physical stuff of the world, or what we commonly know as the Elemental Demons. The exact origins of the Rune are lost, but it is connected with the Dead Gods whose gigantic crowns are still sometimes found among the abandoned peaks of the world.
Magic
This Rune indicates a connection between men and gods, and was imported from the plains of Prax; more often than not, other parts of the world have different symbols to denote this ability. This symbol's vertical upright line represents the shaman's pole, which he uses to climb into the world of the gods while in a trance. The jagged slash represents the power sent from on high or the gods' world, symbolized as lightning.
Infinity
The Infinity Rune is the mark of the gods, and he who possesses it is almost a god himself. This is not used lightly, as it implies total control of the power flow around the user, making him or her invulnerable to almost all magic, among other abilities. It is characteristic of gods, superheroes, and dragons only.Other Runes
Several other runes were known in Dragon Pass in the Hero Wars period, and other runes are known throughout Glorantha. These runes include specializations of the Element Runes, sometimes called sub-elements, such as Shadow, Cold, Heat, and Light. Runes linked to specific races, cultures, or lands are known, such as the runes associated with the Kralorelan Dragon Emperor, Godunya, or the Pamaltelan Chieftain God, Pamalt. Others are similar to the Condition Runes, and may simply represent less universal concepts or symbols. This latter category includes such runes as Luck, Fate, or Law. Finally, entire Runic systems are known which are beyond the scope of this article to deal with, such as the Celestial symbols used in Dara Happa or the ideograms which spell out the names of the deities of Pelanda. Proper consideration of these runes is not possible at this time.
For a summary of information on the primary Runes, see:
Introduction to Glorantha: Magic and Religion