> So the God Learner core runes are all that we are talking about
> when we say "owns a rune" here? (Roughly.)
Very roughly, yes. Here's a RQ-era map of who owns key runes (originally published in the RQ3 "Introduction to Glorantha" booklet):
http://issaries.com/library/religions/intro-religion.html#runes
> ... otherwise you end up with the idea that their are 30 "real"
> gods who own the main runes, and everyone else is just some kind
> of lesser knock off, which seems completely wrong to the Glorantha
> I had grown to know.
That *was* a Gloranthan theory at one point (Major Gods are the ones who own the key Runes, and they are of fundamental importance to the world). Here's a quote from an old Jonstown Compendium entry (RuneQuest Companion, p.9, copyright (C) 1983 by Chaosium, Inc.):
"[1474] There are several classes of gods. Some gods have an importance so great that to eliminate them from the universe would strain it, possibly even destroying all of Glorantha. Other gods are of lesser import. The Great Gods of the universe are: Kyger Litor, Magasta, Ernalda, Orlanth, Yelm, Aldrya, Hykim, Daka Fal, the Horned God, the Cosmic Dragon, Malkion, Humakt, Uleria, Mostal, Chalana Arroy, Eurmal, Dayzatar, and Arachne Solare [sic]. Wakboth the Evil is also included in this group, not because his elimination could destroy the world, but because if he were allowed freedom, his presence would destroy it."
I leave the pairing of deities to Runes as an exercise for the reader, and the modern interpretation of this as an exercise for the writer.
Cheers, Nick
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