| abstract
| - The 27 True Runes in the videogame RPG Suikoden made by Konami. Being the backbone of the Suikoden World that allows the existence of the universe, True Runes are the gods of the Suikoden world. Wholly sentient with its own will, each True Rune holds immeasurable power and has been the cause of many wars in the past. True Runes are often sought by those in power due to its power of granting agelessness to its bearer. All bearers of True Runes stop aging and become immune to disease and all other natural causes of death, although they could still die from physical causes, such as accidents or murder. All True Runes are equal in overall power, but some have abilities that are more suited to combat than others. 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 to form heaven and earth, with the 27 jewels adorning them became the True Runes. All True Runes represent a certain power, and bring both benefits and curses to its bearer, such as immortality, 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. Hikusaak, the High Priest of the Kingdom of Harmonia and bearer of the Circle Rune, is rumored to have the goal of acquiring and controlling all 27 True Runes for the purpose of creating a world of true order. To circumvent the limitation of one True Rune per bearer, Hikusaak issued the creation of clones of himself, each one to bear one True Rune and be loyal to Hikusaak unto death. The Harmonian Bishops Luc and Sasarai are two such clones. Whether any other such clones are currently active is unknown. List of True Runes (In the order of names of True Runes):
* Beast Rune: The Blight Family
* Rune of the Beginning
* Bright Shield Rune: Genkaku → Hero of Suikoden 2 (Riou according to the novelization)
* Black Sword Rune: Han Cunningham → Jowy Atreides/Blight
* Rune of Change: Leader of the Sindar
* Circle Rune: Hikusaak
* Rune of Dawn: Unknown
* Rune of Dusk: Unknown
* Dragon Rune: Joshua Levenheit → Milia
* Eightfold Rune (Hachifusa): Yuber
* Gate Rune
* Front Gate Rune: Windy
* Back Gate Rune: Leknaat
* Rune of Life and Death (aka Souleater): Ted's Grandpa → Ted → Mist Ship Captain → Ted → Hero of Suikoden 1(Tir McDohl according to the novelization)
* Moon Rune (aka Blue Moon Rune): Sierra Mikain → Blue Moon Village → Neclord → Sierra Mikain
* Night Rune: Star Dragon Sword (Viktor → Edge)
* Rune of Punishment: Queen of Obel → Unknown → Graham Cray → Cray's Son → Unknown → Rakghi's Father → Unknown → Steele → Brandeau → Glen Cott → Hero of Suikoden 4 (Lazlo according to the novelization)
* Sovereign Rune: Dragon King Sword (Barbarosa Rugner)
* Sun Rune: Arshetat Falenas
* True Fire Rune: Flame Champion → Hugo (according to the manga)
* True Water Rune: Wyatt Lightfellow → Chris Lightfellow (according to the manga)
* True Lightning Rune: Geddoe (according to the manga)
* True Earth Rune: Sasarai
* True Wind Rune: Luc → Unknown
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