> I have a fairly good feeling about my grasp on this now, but I'm somewhat surprised to see many people comment that the three-runes thing is just for theists. That sounds quite wrong to me, or then I'm missing somehing badly. Surely you have the runes even before any theist initiation happens. Theism brings about their expression (what magic you can do with them), but it feels like they are already there, and would still be there if you were raised as an animist or monotheist instead.
Yes, that is absolutely correct. And if you wish for game purposes, you can still have non-theist characters pick their three runes to help define their personality. And in most human cultures, there is still enough recognition of the divine powers to let you use your runes as an augment (but not as a direct ability).
Jeff