Worldbuilding Airtha: The Rún

(This post is sort-of from the archives – I’ve refined some of the information.)

While the Shadow have the female servants called Vídolf (Women of the Dark Arts), the Light has those called the Rún (or the Hidden Ones). The Rún, like the Vídolf, consisted of far more women than men. So much so, in fact, that a male Rún was unheard of except in the southwest of the Western Lands and Western Isles. Although gifted with a special talent for healing, they were human and mortal, but with a much longer lifespan – averaging at one hundred and twenty years. This made their life spans shorter than the average Ciph life span by only about thirty years.

The Name: Why the Hidden Ones?

This name was given to these women for two reasons. The first is that they usually hid in plain sight, living as just another member of the community. Only when living as one of the Keepers or as servant of one of the rich families could they wear the garments associated with the Rún with more freedom. This was because they could then be kept safe from the Servants of the Lewjan who wished always to do them harm because they held such power. Many of the Vídolf also tried to learn the secrets of their Talent, not believing that you could only be born with them. Those living in villages or towns serving the Light would often simply be called “healers” or “the needlewomen”, because their talents were with needle and thread. By using certain signs, depictions of living things (like plants) and words, they could make cloths that could heal wounds and illnesses that most healers can’t. 

These signs, words and other depictions made into tapestries, embroideries and even sometimes lace and cords, were only known by the Rún (and is therefore hidden). The knowledge of these signs is taught orally from one Rún to the next. This means that Rún, once they are known as such, takes up apprenticeship with an older and accomplished Rún either from their own or another village or go to one of the Keepers’ Houses to learn. Holt Haliern in the Midlands and the House of Rún in the Western Lands have the Rún with the most talent and are therefore sought after places to go to and learn the language of the Rún.

The best of the Rún can fashion cloaks that make the wearer invisible to the eyes of the Lewjan servants or those who want to harm them. More than one Rún would often work on a cloth meant to heal a specific illness or wound; as it is extremely draining work. 

Unfortunately the cloths’ abilities can also be drained and can not be used indefinitely. The healing houses usually have cloths to help lessen pain, help knit bones or serve as an antidote to some poisons. These can be used for cases where the medicine available is not working or simply to ease extreme pain.  

Although the language of the Rún are taught, the Talent of the Hidden Ones are given to them at birth, unlike the powers of the Vídolf or Werlea. This Talent is simply strengthened and used to its greatest potential by using the language. While they lived mostly in peace with the other peoples of Airtha, there were times during the ages when they were seen as evil and their talents given to them by the Lewjan. During these times they went into hiding; with a few remaining in the villages and towns where they had lived and worked. Others kept travelling from place to place without settling for long; lest they be found and killed or turned over to Lewjan or Werlea.

I came across this painting by Mary Cassat, called The Young Bride in the beautiful book In Praise of the Needlewoman by Gail C. Sirna. 

Image: Shutterstock