The Rune of Life and Death (生と死の紋章, Nama to Shi no Monshou)[1], more commonly known as the Soul Eater (ソウルイーター Souru Iitaa) is one of the 27 True Runes. It is the rune of Tir McDohl, the protagonist of Suikoden and is also usable in Suikoden II and Suikoden IV.
Suikoden
The Soul Eater, also referred to as the Cursed Rune[2], was inherited by Ted, survivor of an attack on his village, the Village of the Hidden Rune, some 300 years prior. The rune's power would be used by Ted on Mt. Seifu, which alerted Windy to his presence[3]. Attacked and wounded, Ted managed to pass the rune onto Tir McDohl[4].
Windy wanted the rune so she could use it in conjunction with her own Gate Rune to take her revenge on the world[5]. Said to be cursed, the rune is sometimes credited with causing wars and stealing the souls of those close to its bearer in order to increase it's power[6]. In fact, Ted declared its very intentions to be malevolent[7].
The Soul Eater would continue to maintain some sort of connection with surviving past bearers[8]. Ted was able to command the rune to take his soul even when the rune was borne by Tir McDohl[9]. It also appeared to weaken the effects of other runes in some fashion[10][11].
Leknaat cautioned against the use of the Soul Eater even at the last battle when she was unable to remove all of Windy's 80,000 strong monster army by herself[12]. Following the defeat of Barbarosa Rugner Windy made a final attempt to seize the Cursed Rune but was rebuffed by the Soul Eater itself[13]. Tir continued to bear the rune when he left the Toran Republic following the end of the Gate Rune War.
| Rune of Life and Death {{{jpname}}}, {{{roname}}} | |
| File:Soul Eater.gif.png | |
| Type | Misc. Rune |
|---|---|
| Appears in | |
References
- ↑ "Oh Soul Eater, Rune of Life and Death, depart my body and give this boy your power." - Village Chief (Suikoden)
- ↑ "It's the Cursed Rune, the "Soul Eater." Its power..." - Ted (Suikoden)
- ↑ "I never thought she'd find me here. My mistake was using the rune's power at Mt. Seifu." - Ted (Suikoden)
- ↑ "You're the only one I can entrust this to. Please, take it.... Please take this rune." - Ted (Suikoden)
- ↑ "The Gate Rune is terribly powerful, but she wants something greater. That is why she is after you. If my sister obtains two True Runes and uses them for revenge, it will be catastrophic for the world." - Leknaat (Suikoden)
- ↑ "During 300 years of wandering, you caused a great many wars and plundered countless souls. Including Odessa's! And Tir's father's! And Gremio's! You took them all! You steal the souls of those closest to your master, and grow in power!" - Ted (Suikoden)
- ↑ "Soul Eater, I spent 300 years with you. I know all about you. The meaning of your curse, your evil intentions." - Ted (Suikoden)
- ↑ "A strange connection remains between the rune and the one who carried it, that is, me. I'm speaking to you through the rune." - Ted (Suikoden)
- ↑ "Now, Soul Eater! I command you as your former master! Take my soul now!" - Ted (Suikoden)
- ↑ "My body has been taken over by Windy's Conqueror Rune, and is no longer mine. The Conqueror Rune will eventually take over my soul as well.... and that is why I must hurry." - Ted (Suikoden)
- ↑ "Having the Soul Eater near me has given me power. Just enough power to move my own body." - Ted (Suikoden)
- ↑ "You mustn't. You must never use that rune." - Leknaat (Suikoden)
- ↑ "W-why do you reject me, Soul Eater? You control life and death, and eat souls. I am your ideal host. Together, let us take revenge on this cursed world. Even you reject me, Soul Eater! Even the most cursed rune refuses me!" - Windy (Suikoden)