Runechild
Runechild is the first superhero story that Wildbow wrote, written in 2002. It takes place in Ottawa, and contains elements of what would eventually develop into the Parahumans universe.<ref name="S:BW"> Runechild (2002) – The first superhero story I really wrote, back in 2002. After the bit I posted, it went onto a tangent with Faultline and never got back on track with a main story.
I personally find it interesting to note the elements that are present. Narwhal, contrary to what I remembered, was the first canon character who was introduced and who stayed with the setting. Runechild, the protagonist, was supposed to be a novice Doctor Strange, but wound up being a telekinetic with a few gimmicks. There was more at play with the ‘is it magic or something else?’ question. In the end, she was the only real character I wrote who didn’t really make it into Worm in one form or another. I would return to it once or twice (the second story featuring her helping Dragon vs. the Dragonslayers, to help circumvent the AI limitations) before deciding that magic didn’t work, and that Ottawa was a crappy place to set a superhero story. - Snippets: Before Worm</ref>
Wildbow also wrote a subsequent draft titled Runechild v2. While still in Ottawa, the plot was entirely different, featuring Dragon, who requests Runechild's help with circumventing her AI limitations in order to fight the Dragonslayers.<ref name="WoG1">Author's note: My first attempts at writing in the superhero setting centered around Runechild (who doesn't make an appearance in this universe). In Runechild's second story, she receives a request from Dragon to help with a situation involving the Dragonslayers. This is the point where I hashed out Dragon's character, background and 'power'. This makes Dragon the oldest character in Worm, from a design standpoint. - Edit by Wildbow (Not in the list of retracted edits)</ref>
The first iteration of Runechild can be read here. The second is unavailable to the public.
Synopsis
It is May, 2002, in the city of Ottawa. Runechild, a fledgling superhero, is caught by a detective and brought into the police station. The detective, Detective Wickman, gives Runechild two choices: going to jail or helping him find a local serial killer. Runechild chooses the latter, and the two team up in order to apprehend the "King Street Killer."
The two meet on a street and begin their search. Wickman asks about Runechild's powers; Runechild explains and — to Wickman's disdain — admits that she is inexperienced both with her powers and with being a superhero. Wickman asks Runechild to use her finding spell to find the serial killer's Swiss Army knife, giving her a description of the knife itself. She finds the object, pointing to its general direction, and the two set off.
Meanwhile, a mysterious "visitor" has arrived on Earth, unseen to the populace, analyzing humanity and determining how they operate. It discovers the existence of parahumans, gathering information on the local parahumans and narrowing its focus down to Runechild, the easiest to find. It analyzes Runechild, determining that she is powerful but also finding her lacking in mental strength. It analyzes Detective Wickman next, observing his predatorial mindset and his unwavering determination to catch the serial killer. It determines Wickman to be a better fit for its purposes, but decides to wait and watch to see if Wickman truly deserves its assistance.
Back to the duo, Runechild and Wickman are walking through Byward Market, which has been abandoned due to fear of the serial killer. Runechild indicates that they're close to the serial killer, to which Wickman tells her to use her finding spell again. Runechild reluctantly agrees, performing the spell before bending over and vomiting. Runechild explains again that using the spell repeatedly makes her sick. Wickman shrugs this off and leaves Runechild, going into the building to find the killer.
While Runechild is recuperating, she hears gunshots from the building. She summons a circle of sheet metal with a movement rune, using it to fly toward the floor that the serial killer is on. She makes her way to the serial killer's room, only to see the killer himself stepping out, covered in blood. Here it is revealed that the entity from before has chosen the killer instead of Wickman, granting the killer superpowers.
The killer shoots at Runechild, which she blocks with her movement circle. The force of the bullet knocks her down, leaving her helpless. The killer lets her run, influenced by his new passenger. Runechild flies away on her circle, the killer in pursuit, following her on rooftops and toying with her like a predator with prey. Runechild jumps off of her circle and wills it to strike the killer, using it as a distraction while she runs in the opposite direction. It buys time, and Runechild begins drawing movement runes on multiple cars.
After a while, the killer catches up to Runechild. Runechild is terrified, but taunts the killer regardless, provoking him to lunge at her. She sends a car flying toward him, but misses. Blocking a bullet with her movement circle, she uses two cars to create a wall between the two of them. As he leaps off of one of the cars, she sends three more cars where he's about to land, injuring him. She follows up with more thrown cars, some of which are batted aside by the killer. Finally, as the killer leaps toward Runechild, she positions a car below him and sends it flying upward as far as she can. Gravity does its work, and the killer is defeated after he and the car fall to the ground, the car exploding on impact. Runechild sits down on the street, waiting for the police to arrive.
Later, the police arrives along with Narwhal, a superhero from the Guild. It turns out the killer is still alive, but apparently no longer has powers. Narwhal approaches Runechild, trying to strike up a conversation. Runechild is in shock, and offers only limited reciprocation. Narwhal tries to comfort Runechild, then tells her that they need any help that they can get against threats such as the Endbringers. She offers Runechild a number, telling her to call if she needs support. She leaves, leaving Runechild at the scene.
Introduced Concepts
- Parahumans
- The concept of passengers that grant powers to humans.
- Narwhal and the Guild
- The Endbringers
Characters
Runechild
- Wears a matching cape and pointed hood. Also wears a mask and face protector.
- Inexperienced with being a superhero. Has previously only fought small-time crime such as graffitists and drug dealers.
- Hasn't fully figured out her powers. Draws runes to cast "spells," which include opening and closing locks, finding things, moving things, and teleporting things. Her spells only work on inanimate objects.
- Her spells require her to draw a rune before invoking them. Runechild does this with chalk.
- If she casts her finding spell too much, Runechild gets ill.
- Has a circle of sheet metal with a movement spell and strap that she uses to fly. It also has a teleportation rune that Runechild uses to summon the circle at any time.
Detective Wickman
- Balding on the front of his head. Wears narrow rectangular glasses and a tieless dress shirt.
- Rough demeanor. Is rude to Runechild, considering her an annoyance and threatening her with jailtime if she doesn't cooperate.
- Is after the King Street Killer. Is obsessed with this goal, thinking about it nonstop for weeks on end.
- Killed by the King Street Killer when confronting him in his apartment room.
The Entity
- Calls itself "Hunter." Originates from somewhere in space.
- Analyzes humans in order to find a suitable host to grant powers to.
- Seems to have a mindset of "predator and prey," fixating on humans that have a predatorial mindset.
- When it finds a host to empower, it sinks in and merges with them. Exhibits this ability when merging with the King Street Killer.
- Might have abandoned the killer after his defeat, as he no longer has powers afterwards.
The King Street Killer
- Has killed nine people so far. Sadistic; enjoys toying with his "prey."
- Wields a modified Swiss Army knife and a gun. The knife has a long blade as well as a hook and scissors.
- Is granted superpowers by the entity.
- Most likely superstrength.
- Causes his voice to become an eerie echo.
- Turns his eyes completely amber. Pupils are no longer visible.
- Loses his powers when he is defeated by Runechild.
Narwhal
- Is the de-facto leader of the Guild, the Canadian League of Superheroes.
- Seven feet tall, nude, and covered head to toe in silvery flesh. Has a five foot horn protruding between the eyebrows.
- Considered by Runechild to be the second most powerful woman in Canada.
Mentioned Characters
- Cantabile
- Heartbreaker
- Aurora
- Ursa Major
- Ursa Minor
- Soldat
- Ménage à trois
- Saint
- Sinner
Trivia
- One of Runechild's powers was eventually incorporated into Rune's powerset in Worm.
- Runechild was inspired by the character Doctor Strange.
References
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