Beggining True Rune

Previous Bearers: Unknown

Current Bearer: Riou (If second ending in Suikoden II is chosen); none (if best ending achieved) Child Runes: None

The Rune of Beginning represents the chaos of birth in times of creation and is unique in that, ordinarily, it is divided into two other Runes: the Bright Shield and the Black Sword. The bearers of these runes are said to have the power to 'judge war'. As such, the Rune's amazing amount of willpower drives the bearers of its two halves into the destiny of battling one another to the extent of waging war until the Rune is reunited. The Black Sword and Bright Shield Runes individually are not True Runes and as such does not grant agelessness unless they are united and become The Rune of Beginning. However, the adopted son of the hero Genkaku, Riou, and Jowy Atreides overcame the rune's will when Riou refused to take the life of his friend at the end of the war.

+++ Black Sword Rune

Previous Bearers: Han Cunningham

Current Bearer: Jowy Atreides-Blight

Child Runes: Sword Rune

An incarnation of the destructive forces necessary to facilitate "the beginning", the Black Sword Rune manifests itself similar to the "Sword" from the creation story - all of its spells are attack related and manifest themselves as deadly blades. To avoid defeating one another, Han Cunningham had an agreement with Genkaku to seal their Runes away. When Jowy Atreides later acquired the Rune, it would drive him away from his lifetime friend, Riou, and cause them to become the leaders of opposing sides of a war that would force one of them to destroy the other, their two destinies forever intertwined. However, Jowy began to use the Rune to keep the Beast Rune sealed, showing that the Black Sword Rune is, at the very least, as powerful as other full True Runes, but yet showcasing its inferiority when the action eventually cost Jowy's life. Eventually, the two would overcome the curse to fight one another thanks to Riou refusing to end Jowy's life. His action allowed the manifestation of the power of the Rune of Beginning along with the power of the 108 Stars of Destiny to bring Jowy from the brink of death which resulted from his excessive usage of the Black Sword Rune.

+++ Bright Shield Rune

Previous Bearers: Genkaku

Current Bearer: Riou

Child Runes: Shield Rune

An incarnation of the protective forces necessary to facilitate "the beginning", the Bright Shield Rune manifests itself as the "Shield" from the creation story. The rune grants its bearer great defensive powers. All of the spells of the Rune are generally healing or protective in nature, or otherwise enhance the status of those accompanying the bearer. Although they were friends, Genkaku and Han Cunningham had been driven to fight one another because of the Runes. To save themselves the defeat, they sealed away the Runes. When Genkaku's adopted son, Riou, claimed the Rune, he and his lifetime friend Jowy Atreides would eventually be forced apart by the Runes and become leaders of opposing forces. While bearing the rune, the Bright Shield rune showed its powers when protecting Riou from the powers of the Blue Moon Rune used by the Vampire Neclord, although it did cost him great exhaustion. Riou would eventually allow the two to overcome the curse when he refuses to end the life of Jowy, resulting in the manifestation of the powers of the Rune of Beginning in the action of breathing life back into Jowy with the help of the 108 Stars of Destiny.