Runes

The Runes are not items of great power. However, the one, crucial, important task they have is, that they act as a pass to enter the corrosponding shrines in times of need or searches of enlightletment. In front of every rune is the symbol of their virtue, on the back is a runic letter. In the correct sequence, they form the word "Infinity". It is important to know, that the Runes are not needed, if someone wants to meditate at a shrine in normal times.

The Runes were first encountered in Ultima IV. To pray at the shrines, the Stranger had to find all eight Runes. All but two were in the corrosponding cities. Having obtained all the Runes, the Stranger was able to continue the quest to avatarhood, able to visit all the shrines.
 * The Rune of Spirituality was strored in Lord British's treasure chamber.
 * The Rune of Humility was found in Paws.

The Runes weren't seen in Ultima V, but reappeared in Ultima VI. Each rune was in the corrosponding city, but to get them all, the Avatar had to solve a number of quests. The Runes together with the Mantras were needed to dissipate the force fields errected by the Gargoyles around the Moonstones, so that the Shrines could be free again.

By the time of Ultima VII, the Runes were brought into the Museum. Hearing the story from Finnigan in Trinsic, the Rune of Honor was actually stolen and sold to the Museum.

The Runes were stolen from the Museum 20 years before Ultima IX, and twisted into Glyphs, forcing the Avatar to retivre and clean them, before they could be used to defeat the Guardian. (These last events are by many not seen as canon)

Trivia

 * The size of the Runes is inconsistent, and they seem to grow with each installment (being huge in Ultima IX).


 * There is also confusion in Ultima IV. The Runes seem unique, yet it is implied that there exist more of them.