RuneQuest - 4E - Roleplaying in Glorantha

Glorantha
lorantha is a world of magic and mythology.
Everyone in Glorantha knows that mythology is real.
All known facts and opinions agree on some points: the
world is full of magical beings, both small and mighty,
who can interact in certain ways with living mortals. Not all
mythologies agree with each other but what is present here
is broadly accepted by nearly everyone.
The Runes
Runes are intrinsic to Glorantha. They are the cosmic
powers that define Glorantha and are manifested by the gods.
Known from the earliest prehistory, Runes suffuse everything
in and about the world. Some have even changed over time!
The earliest gods are associated with Runes. Some
philosophers hold that the gods themselves are merely personifications
of Runic forces. The real relationship between
gods and Runes is likewise unclear: the very question uttered
aloud in the wrong context has caused blood to be shed.
Even the gods of knowledge are cryptic on this subject; the
relationship may simply be beyond human comprehension.
To the pragmatic, it doesn’t matter. Runes are symbols
with latent power. People mark their possessions and even
their bodies with Runes. Runes not only characterize reality,
but can be used to manipulate the world. Looking at
or writing a Rune isn’t enough: these powers can only be
unlocked by those with extensive training and preparation,
such as shamans, priests, or sorcerers.
To say that a god is a Fire/Sky Rune god, an Illusion god, or
whatever, is to say that the followers of that god specialize
in those areas.
The specific Runes, categorized by class, are as follows:
Elements
The Elements are what Glorantha is made of. Five
elements are widely recognized, though a sixth—Moon—
only grudgingly.
Powers
Said to symbolize the members of the Celestial Court, the
Power Runes are unique in that they are formed in mutually
antagonistic pairs, each balanced against
another at an existential and philosophical
level, such as Harmony and Disorder.
Opposing cults often have opposing
Power Runes as part of their
identities. A cult of great power
may be able to worship two
non-paired Powers, but it very
rarely has more than those two.
Cults rarely have
access to two
paired Powers.
Types of Runes
There are four types of Runes: Elements, Forms, Conditions,
and Powers. Each god has one or more specialties within the
forces described by the Runes. These are the areas in which
the god and its followers are the most effective and versatile.
13