According to the legend, true runes are the backbone of the Suikoden universe, allowing it to exist. Each True rune is effectively a sort of god, with its own will or agenda. Because the True Runes hold such immense power, they are often sought by kings, emperors, and other secret organizations, which has ultimately led to many, many wars throughout the ages of Suikoden. 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 themselves into 27 pieces.