Runechild
[[Category:{{#switch:|File=Files|Template=Templates|articles}} in need of completion]]
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.
Synopsis
A new superhero attempts to team up with a local detective in the city of Ottowa in order to apprehend the "King Street Killer." Meanwhile, a mysterious entity is observing the inhabitants of the city, determining who a great deal of power should be given to. At the last second, the mysterious entity chooses the killer, who then murders the detective, and tries to kill our protagonist. Fortunately, the ability to "move things" also includes cars. The killer is defeated by the power of being crushed by several tons of metal and gravity. Our protagonist meets up with Narwhal, the first character to carry over into the real story.
Introduced Concepts
- All powers are linked together.
- They come from space.
Characters
- Runechild
- Narwhal
- Ursa Major and Minor (mentioned)
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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