Runaan is a Moonshadow Elf assassin of the Silvergrove. He is Ethari's husband who serves as a mentor and father-figure to Rayla when her parents and his good friends, Tiadrin and Lain, joined the Dragonguard.[5] He and his fellow assassins sought to kill the King of Katolis, Harrow, and his son, Ezran, as revenge against humankind for the inhumane deaths of the Dragon King Avizandum and the Dragon Prince Azymondias.[6] He was trapped inside a magical coin owned by Viren,[7] which later came into the possession of Rayla.[8] Rayla and Callum eventually freed him.[1]
Appearance[]
Runaan is a tall, lean, and muscular elf, who appears around an age described as "uncle-ish".[3] His hair, white and braided, reaches down to the upper middle of his thighs. He has turquoise-colored eyes. As a Moonshadow Elf, he has horns, pointy ears, and light purple-tinted skin. The blue markings on his face and arms are also typical of his race. Following his successful assassination of King Harrow, the upper half of his left horn appears to have broken off.[7][1]
Like his fellow assassins, his clothes are mainly dark green and navy in color. He wears a dark green undershirt, a navy vest, and a sleeveless navy coat. Runaan also wears a dark brown belt embellished with a silver brooch, dark green pants, and knee-high navy boots with dark brown accents. He wears a shoulder guard on his left shoulder, as well as black and brown gloves. As a highly skilled archer, Runaan has a quiver of arrows strapped to his back.[6]
Personality[]
Runaan is a stern and deadly leader who will not hesitate to die for Xadia. He is ruthless and pragmatic, and nothing will stop him from having justice for the deaths of the Dragon King and the Dragon Prince. Even when he has lost, he is still incredibly loyal to his people, as he chooses to suffer in isolation rather than cave into a threat from Viren.[7] However, Runaan does have a caring side, as he views Rayla as a daughter and deeply loves his husband Ethari.[5]
He has a powerful will, as he committed to choosing death by either the binding or by starvation over betraying his people. He was even willing to endure torture through various means if it meant maintaining his vows. The only known item that can frighten him, the mirror of Aaravos, was still unable to break his resolve.
Runaan can also be stubborn to what needs to be done following orders, for although Azymondias is alive and Ezran had nothing to do with Harrow killing Avizandum, as in his sense of justice, Ezran deserves to die so he will not order humans to attack Xadia out of vengeance.[4] He also chastised Rayla for failing to kill Marcos when she had to, as Runaan and the other elves consider no human is worth sparing.[9]
Upon being freed from his coin and reuniting with Rayla, Runaan regrets for trying to kill her and is grateful to be truly alive.[1]
| “ |
Runaan is the leader of a deadly group of elite Moonshadow Elf assassins. He has seen his share of hardship and war and isn't sentimental about spilling blood when necessary. But while Runaan has learned to put his mission above all else, he cares deeply for his people - especially the youngest of his assassins, Rayla, who in his heart is like a daughter to him. |
” |
| —Official Description [10] | ||
Skills and Abilities[]
Moon Primal Connection[]
As a Moonshadow Elf, Runaan draws power from the Moon and is at his strongest at night, especially on the night of a full moon. In the event of a full moon, he can enter his "Moonshadow Form" and becomes nearly invisible, allowing him to take his enemies by surprise. His invisibility also extends to his clothes and weapons. His agility, endurance, speed, and strength are also enhanced, making him nearly unstoppable.[4]
Moon Magic[]
Although he is not a mage, Runaan knows how to use magical artifacts to cast a variety of spells:
- "Mystica-Arbora": Runaan used this spell by crushing his cherished pendant[11] to release powerful cloaking magic. It allowed him to camouflage himself and others, nearby objects and allies, and their surrounding environment from unwanted onlookers.[6]
- "Regina Draconis": Runaan used this spell to send a Shadowhawk with a blood ribbon message back to Zubeia after his mission of assassinating Harrow was completed.[4]
Speed and Agility[]
As an assassin, Runaan possesses agility, endurance, speed, and strength that are far superior to ordinary humans. These attributes benefit him greatly in combat, as he can evade and overpower enemies quickly.[4]
Combatant[]
As the leader of the Moonshadow Assassins, and with about twenty more years of combat training than Rayla, Runaan is easily one of the deadliest assassins among his elven race. He can wield his dual swords with deadly accuracy, dexterity, and precision, as he can switch between utilizing them as blades or as a bow with arrows spontaneously.[4]
Equipment[]
- Bowblade: Like Rayla's butterfly blades, Runaan's weapons are uniquely crafted to suit his fighting style. In one form, it is a deadly bow to utilize with his arrows, and in another, it is a set of dual swords used for close-quarters combat. It is one of his most treasured possessions, as it was a gift from his husband Ethari.[11] Rayla eventually inherited the bowblade after she discovered it in Viren's chambers.[12]
- Moon Opal Pendant (formerly): Runaan's pendant was crafted by his husband, Ethari.[5] However, Runaan destroyed this pendant to cast an illusion spell to hide the Moonshadow Elf camp after almost being discovered by the Crownguard of Katolis.[6]
Trivia[]
- The name "Runaan" means "Pure Soul" in Arabic.[13]
- Runaan was named after head writer Devon Giehl's night elf hunter from World of Warcraft.[14][15]
- Runaan has had around 20 more years of combat training than Rayla.[4]
- During the prologue of "Echoes of Thunder", a Moonshadow Elf warrior can be seen overlooking the Border with a group of elven authorities. This elf was labeled "younger Runaan" during concepts, though as it was slightly altered, it remains unclear if he is still Runaan.[16]
- Runaan is the first LGBT character to have appeared in the series.
- During development, Runaan was not immediately decided to have an English accent, but also had the option to have a Scottish accent like Rayla.[17]
- Runaan likes Ethari, Rayla, Moonberry Surprise, and order. He dislikes talking about his feelings, smiling, and making small talk at gatherings.[18]
- Runaan is fond of Moonstriders.[19]
His Birthday[]
- Runaan would start off his birthday with a quiet day, followed by a picnic on the Moonshadow meadow, which would be filled with Adoraburrs, some of which Rayla would secretly sneak home.[19]
- Once Rayla had gone to sleep, his birthday tradition would continue with his husband Ethari and two glasses of Moonberry Moscato. Another tradition included Ethari crafting tiny metal trinkets for Runaan every year, first a tiny jeweled mouse (since he believed Runaan to be quiet like a mouse), a Moonstrider cub, later a songbird for affection, and after they'd married, a tiny silver heartbloom flower.[19]
- Ethari's final gift to Runaan was a Three-Eyed Nightfox; A hunter, a beast of deadly fang, its crystal eyes glinting pale green and tail a swirl of coiled black wire. As it was no longer fitting, Ethari made another and sets it beside the dark metal fox: the tear-shaped leaf of a weeping tree, wilting at its end.[19]
Appearances[]
Book One - Moon
- 101. "Echoes of Thunder"
- 102. "What is Done"
- 103. "Moonrise"
- 105. "An Empty Throne" (no lines)
- 108. "Cursed Caldera"
Book Two - Sky
- 201. "A Secret and a Spark" (flashback, no lines)
- 206. "Heart of a Titan" (flashback, no lines)
Book Three - Sun
- 303. "Ghost" (flashback)
Book Four - Earth
- 409. "Escape from Umber Tor" (no lines)
Book Five - Ocean
- 501. "Domina Profundis" (no lines)
- 504. "The Great Bookery" (no lines)
Book Six - Stars
- 605. "Moonless Night" (no lines)
- 608. "We All Fall Down" (no lines)
- 609. "Stardust"
Book Seven - Dark
- 701. "Death Alive"
- 702. "True Heart"
- 704. "Unfinished Business"
- 705. "Sticky Fingers"
- 707. "The Titan and the King"
- 708. "Dying Light"
- 709. "Nova"
Side Stories
Books
- "Book One: Moon (Novel)"
- "Through the Moon" (dream)
- "Bloodmoon Huntress"
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Book Six, Chapter 9: "Stardust"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Book Seven, Chapter 4: "Unfinished Business"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 The Dragon Prince Official Twitter (Heights and ages)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Book One, Chapter 3: "Moonrise"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Book Three, Chapter 3: "Ghost"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Book One, Chapter 1: "Echoes of Thunder"
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Book One, Chapter 8: "Cursed Caldera"
- ↑ Book Four, Chapter 9: "Escape from Umber Tor"
- ↑ Book One, Chapter 2: "What is Done"
- ↑ The Dragon Prince Official Website - Characters
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 The Dragon Prince Official Website - Item Reveal: Rayla and Runaan's Weapons
- ↑ Book Five, Chapter 1: "Domina Profundis"
- ↑ Names.org
- ↑ Devon Giehl on naming Runaan
- ↑ Devon Giehl's World of Warcraft Hunter, Runaan
- ↑ Concept Art
- ↑ Hot Brown Morning Potion (Episode 07)
- ↑ Callum's Spellbook
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 The Dragon Prince Official Website - Runaan's Birthday