From: David Cake (davidc@cs.uwa.oz.au)
Date: Fri 01 May 1992 - 09:56:33 EEST
The Rune descriptions in RQ2 have generally stayed pretty much the same except
for a few new ones and a few changes among some of the minor ones. Another
change is that each rune now has both an originator and a current owner,
besides those that are merely bound to it. The originators and owners are
listed in the Introduction to the Glorantha booklet in the Deluxe set, but
some of the other changes have gone largely undocumented, so here are notes
(most official, some with a little guesswork on my art).
The Earth Rune has a variant form, that is a black rectangle rather than an
outline. This may be the Hell rune, and is certainly a reference to the dark
side of Earth worship (notably possessed by Maran Gor and Babeester Gor).
The old Undead Rune, documented in Cults of Terror (a bit like a vertical line
The Rune in Gods of Glorantha above the Godunya cult description (the weird
Similarly, the Rune above the Pamalt cult description is the Pamalt Rune. Apart
with a sideways fertility rune across the center) is now the Hunger rune. It is
still associated with many undead (vampires most especially), but not all (for
example Hunger is not particularly central to Zorak Zoran, although they use
undead). This also answers the question of why Krarsht has this rune although
they do not use Undead. Krarsht is, after all, the hungry mother. Krarsht fans
may have noted, incidentally, that Krarsht is some what ripped off in RQ3 Rune
wise, as well as magic wise, having lost the distinction of having two opposing
power runes (the only cult besides the Red Moon to do so), as formerly they had
Movement and Stasis. The Undead Rune is almost certainly possessed by other
cults of hunger, such as Vivamort (now a cult teaching sorcery instead of Rune
Magic, without DI probably, and probably not using the Sorcery spell Create
Vampire to create vampires (they drain victims to create new vampires)) and the
Chaos monster Gloomshark (a lot like an aquatic, uncontrolled Crimson Bat, with
a small but fanatic cult). Hunger is a form Rune.
one) is the Godunya rune, according to Sandy Peterson. I presume that it is
symbolic of the office of Emperor or the Kralorelan Empire in general use,
but I am not sure as to its more spiritual function. Godunya is presumably
prime source of this Rune. Presumably a form Rune, unless it is grouped with
Mastery and Magic.
from likely general use as a symbol of the cult and perhaps his worshippers in
general, I would guess that it is symbolic of leadership in general (as
distinguished from Mastery, Pamalt is mythologically not the toughest guy, just
the best at organization), but that is a guess. Again, Pamalt is presumably
Prime Source. Again, presumably a form Rune unless it goes with Mastery and
Magic and Infinity.
The Rune above the Gorgorma cult (in form it is a round black circle (a
Darkness Rune) with a horizontal line through it) is the Shadow rune, yet
another odd hybrid of Darkness (to go with Cold and Ice). It is probably
symbolic of lack of communication as well as lack of sound, and almost
certainly the symbol of the now virtually extinct Pamaltalen cult of
Silence, who may well be owners of the Rune. An incomplete Elemental Rune
like Light or Cold.
The Rune formerly known as the Issaries Rune appears to be much more
generalized now, and is presumably the Rune of Trade. Several other cults
seem to possess this Rune, some without known mythological connections to
Issaries, though all trade gods. It is a reasonably safe assumption that
Issaries is Prime Source of this Rune. A form Rune.
Thats all about Runes. The hard facts courtesy of Sandy Peterson, the guesses
and extrapolation thanks to me.
David Cake davidc@cs.uwa.oz.au Cognitive Science University of West Australia
======================================================================
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.7 : Sat 05 Jul 2003 - 20:28:26 EEST