A SUPPLEMENT

Runes and Ruins by ZAK BAROUH

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The animon world can be a strange place, where wild alien wilderness is runes—each one has an entirely unique combination. Unlike some
interspersed with the incongruous architectural echoes of the human world. animon, Prismini and Prismaxim seem only to speak this same forgotten
There are other structures though, seemingly at odds with both words, or dialect, so communicating with them can be difficult.prosperity of their
at least their modern iterations. Ruins out of time, built with purpose long kingdom.
since forgotten. Yet despite their age and obscurity, some of these ruins still
have guardians. Prismaxim is clearly an evolved form of the diminutive Prismini, and
there are recorded accounts of this evolution taking place. Oddly, the
Runes and Ruins is a supplement for Animon Story focusing on the FLEDGLING Stage Prismini evolves directly into the GIGA Stage
enigmatic celestial animon Prismini and Prismaxim, dwellers in and Prismaxim, skipping the intermediate BASIC, SUPER, and ULTRA
guardians of ancient ruins in the animon world. New details about the Stages. Another evolutionary oddity lies in the Prisminis’ ability to fuse
behaviour and abilities of these unusual animon are revealed, along with through the process—it seems that multiple Prismini, even dozens of
information about the ancient places they inhabit, and the meanings them, can unite to trigger an evolution into Prismaxim. When evolution
behind the glowing runes they bear. Finally, a few short encounters and is achieved through this fusion, it is usually temporary, with the resulting
plot hooks provide quick ways to include Prismini and Prismaxim in Prismaxim soon separating out into multiple Prismini once again. If a
your Animon Story campaign. single Prismini evolves, however, the process is generally permanent.

Stats for Prismini and Prismaxim can be found on pages 150-151 of the
Animon Story rulebook.

Glimmering Guardians
Though vastly different in size, personality, and power, Prismini and
Prismaxim share a few features in common. Both are made up of a
shimmering core of pure Celestial energy, surrounding which is an array
of floating stone, usually gold in colour, though this can vary to match the
stone of the particular ruins an individual resides in. Upon the stone are
invariably glowing runes, inscribed in an ancient language that very few
can read. No two Prismini or Prismaxim have the same combination of
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Prismini
Small, colourful balls of energy, Prismini resemble rainbow-flavoured
ice cream cones, aside from a pair of small angelic wings hovering above
their spherical forms. An expressive face beams out from this sphere,
usually an innocent visage of joy and curiosity.

Unlike the evolved Prismaxim, groups of Prismini can sometimes be

found outside of their typical ruined dwellings. They seem drawn to
other animon communities, relishing the opportunity to discover new Prismaxim
knowledge and experience new things. They are usually welcomed While Prismini have an odd, childlike curiosity about them, Prismaxim
wherever they go, not only due to their friendly disposition, but also are truly unknowable, sometimes terrifyingly so. Two great stone bands
because of their ability to produce (and willingness to provide) glimmer loop and rotate around the central mass of energy, carved into complex
essence, a highly useful source of healing and energy. shapes—hands, spikes, and interlocking parts of mysterious, apparently
benign mechanisms.
The runes that adorn the circular band of stone around each Prismini
shift and change, unlike those of their evolved form. It’s thought that It is exceptionally rare for Prismaxim to gather in groups, or even pairs.
Prismini have not yet become bound to a particular meaning or message, They have an incredibly strong bond to the places where they reside, and
and that rather than relating to their surroundings, Prismini runes are seem to have no reason or desire to travel beyond their boundaries. Elder
reflective of each individual’s inner voice—changing with their mood animon, in their wisdom, tell rumours about these beings. They say that
and interest, steadily growing in complexity the more the Prismini learns when a gathering of Prismaxim meet, on ground older than the world, it
about the world. is a sign of great calamity—one that will shake the foundation of the earth
and shatter the walls of the sky.

The runes that mark the imposing forms of Prismaxim draw meaning
from their surroundings, the way a tree draws water through its roots.
They tell of forgotten histories, enduring secrets, echoes from the past.
Deciphering the secrets borne by Prismaxim is no simple task, and not
only because the language is so cryptic. Whether they were given the task
of guarding the ruins they live in, or simply adopted the task, Prismaxim
do not suffer trespassers lightly.
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energy—a clear spring, geothermal heat, or strong winds. Even the energy
discharged when an animon uses their signature move can be converted.
Corruption, natural or magical, has an overwhelming effect on Prismini,
disabling their ability to produce glimmer essence, and more often than
not driving them away from the source.

A drop of glimmer essence restores 1HP to an animon, or 1 Stamina

to a human when used. A single drop can also power simple devices such
as flashlights for a few hours, or more complex ones like smartphones
or motorcycles, for a few minutes. With a suitable energy source, a small
group of Prismini can produce 1D6 drops per day. Particularly pure or
powerful sources can be harnessed into 2D6 drops per day.

Unknown Energies
Ancient Ruins
Prismini are capable of producing a wondrous substance called glimmer
essence. This celestial nectar has the appearance of shining prismatic The history of the animon world doesn’t always adhere to the expectations
water, perfectly clear and glittering. Light that shines through the liquid is of convention. A rusted factory might be considered a natural formation, as
split into a dazzling rainbow of colours. Glimmer essence is composed of much as a forest or cliff. Particularly in areas where there are few to record
pure elemental energy, much like the celestial cores of Prismini and or remember the uneven passing of years, the purpose and origins of
Prismaxim. As such, it can be used to restore the energy of injured or tired structures are lost, and they become just another part of the landscape.
animon, and is also a highly efficient power source. Some ruins, however, take care to remind those who enter them of their
storied provenance. An aura, the tangible weight of purpose-laden ancestry.
Only Prismini can create glimmer essence. Whether the larger Prismaxim These are the places the prism animon make their homes.
lose this ability, or whether they simply no longer care to use it, is unclear.
It cannot be made from nothing, though. Prismini use a form of energy While their curiosity causes them to wander, eventually Prismini seem
resonance, a way of communicating with the natural energies of the drawn to these ancient ruins, and almost all Prismaxim are found within
animon world. In doing so they can convert some of this source energy them. They are always made of stone, for which these animon have an
into glimmer essence. The source can be anything, from magical artefacts obvious affinity. The remnants of walls, floors, and roads still stand to
imbued with arcane power, to a naturally occurring font of elemental mark such sites, and often they hide dark subterranean chambers beneath
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them. The similarities in such places suggest that perhaps they were built
by the same minds, or divergent groups with a common origin, belonging Result Rune Meaning
to some long-forgotten order or dynasty. Some believe the Prismini and Key.
Prismaxim themselves may have been created for a purpose, linked to The runes indicate a password or phrase, or otherwise the manner
these skeletons of stone architecture. 1 in which a door may be unlocked, opening up a hidden vault or
sealed chamber within the ruin.
Runic Purpose Chronicle.
Whatever purpose the places once held, the Prismaxim make it their The runes tell the tale of ancient history, the clashing of mortal
2
own. As they grow, and become bound to a particular location, the stone enemies and the results of their battles, the final resting place of a
parts of their bodies shift, the runes incorporating the stories, secrets, and powerful artefact, or prophecies written long ago.
histories of their chosen site. When the runes are fixed, the bond is forged Secret.
and set—the animon has become a part of the place, and vice versa. The runes contain a hidden truth: the true name of an Infernal
3 animon lord, the long lost origins of a certain animon, or
revelations about the link between human and animon worlds.
The exact meaning of the runes Prismaxim bear differ between individ-
uals, fully dependent on their surroundings. Of course, to learn their Enchiridion.
The runes are a guide, passing on knowledge from the distant past.
meanings they must first be deciphered, likely without the animon’s 4 The recipe for an alchemical potion, a description charting safe
cooperation. paths through a dungeon below the ruin, or perhaps the weakness
of a powerful guardian.
The following table contains various possible meanings that a Prismaxim’s Riddle.
runes might convey. When you need to, roll 1D6 to pick one randomly, or The runes present a puzzle of some kind, perhaps a riddle of
choose one that best suits the scenario. 5 words, a simple challenge, or the rules of a game that must be
played with pieces found throughout the ruins. The winner might
gain the aid of the Prismaxim.
Fragment.
The runes are incomplete, pointing to a larger mystery, no doubt
6 with larger implications for the animon world. By locating other
Prismaxim in other ruins, the pieces can be aligned, and the true
meaning discovered.
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Encounters
Here are a few short hooks and ideas that provide ways for PCs to
encounter Prismini and Prismaxim on their adventures:

• The PCs discover that something they need, whether it’s

knowledge, or some ancient artefact, can be found in an old ruin
nearby. Retrieving their goal is not so easy, however, as a
Prismaxim guards the ruin, and the treasure within.

• The PCs come across a small village, primarily populated with

FLEDGLING and BASIC animon. The village is home to a group
of Prismini, who provide glimmer essence to help sustain the
residents. The valuable essence has attracted the attention of a
villain, one far more powerful than any of the village animon, who
wishes to steal the essence for themself, or worse, coerce the
Prismini into providing it to them continually.

• The PCs learn of an ancient ruin, said to be the tomb of a Celestial

animon deity, who sacrificed themself to save the world by locking
away a primal evil in the distant past. When signs begin to show
that this evil is rising once again, the PCs must gather key runes
from Prismaxim spread throughout the land to unlock the tomb,
and learn how to defeat their enemy once and for all.