Runelords

Lore & Background

They used the runes to grant themselves immortality and immense magical power, each embodying a specific sin or vice like Envy or Wrath. Their empire fell when their own creations turned against them, aided by divine intervention and mortal heroes. Despite their defeat, their spirits linger in the ruins, and some have managed to reconstitute their physical forms in recent times, seeking to reclaim their lost dominion over Golarion's northern lands.

Reader's Guide

Historical records from the Age of Thassilon describe the Runelords as demigods who shaped reality through seven distinct runes, though only six rulers are named in most texts. Mythological accounts suggest they were mortals who bargained with dark powers to gain immortality and rule over their subjects without fear of death. Modern scholars agree that while most are dead, the magic remains dangerous and unstable even after millennia. Sorshen is known to have returned from undeath recently, signaling a potential resurgence of Thassilonian influence on Golarion. The ruins across Varisia serve as both tombs and prisons for their lingering power, often guarded by constructs and undead servants loyal to their ancient masters. Many adventurers seek these sites for artifacts but risk awakening the slumbering wrath of these fallen kings.

Did You Know?

• Their empire was located in the region now known as Varisia.
• Their defeat marked the end of the Thassilonian Age roughly three thousand years ago.