The Black Sword Rune (黒き刃の紋章, Kuroki Yaiba no Monshō, Black Blade Rune) is one of the 27 True Runes. It is the rune of Jowy Atreides.
Information
The Black Sword Rune was a rune inherited by Jowy Atreides as the Dunan Unification War began to intensify. It originally comprised half of the Rune of Beginning, along with the Bright Shield Rune, which was inherited by the leader of the New State Army.
Although considered a True Rune, it does not confer eternal youth while split in two. The rune is destined to come into conflict with the person who bears the Bright Shield Rune. The rune possesses powerful attack magic, able to decimate large groups or focus on single foes.
Han Cunningham held the rune in the past but sealed it in Toto Village, along with Genkaku's Bright Shield Rune. Once Toto was destroyed during the Dunan Unification War, the runes were inherited by Jowy and Genkaku's adopted son.
Trivia
- As part of the Rune of Beginning, the Black Sword Rune and the Bright Shield Rune represent the struggle between Shield and Sword in the creaton myth of the Suikoden world.
- The name of the rune might be referencing the Elric saga by Michael Moorcock. In these novels, the main character Elric wields a black sword called Stormbringer which is embedded with red runes. There's also a song by Blue Öyster Cult called Black Blade whose lyrics were written by Moorcock.
References
- Genso Suikoden Encyclopaedia (ISBN 4-575-16297-3), page 93