Rune guardian

This article is about the pet. For the quest NPC, see Rune guardian (Rune Mysteries).

Rune guardian
Release date	1 February 2010 (Update)
Members	Yes
Race	Rune guardian
Source	Apprentice Clerval
Interface	No
Skill req.	No
Quest req.	Rune Mechanics
Food	Energy from Runecrafting Altars
Colours	14
Examine	Pet: A rune guardian from the Mage Training Arena. Mage Training Arena: Created to protect the Mage Training Arena.
Advanced data
Missing IDs edit
Infobox • Talk page

A rune guardian is a pet that can be received after completing the quest Rune Mechanics. The original purpose of the Rune guardian was to protect the Mage Training Arena. Players may refuse the opportunity to own a rune guardian.

A new rune guardian can be obtained from Apprentice Clerval in the Mage Training Arena, but if you drop the rune guardian in a non-members' world, you'll have to retrieve it by asking the owner in Taverley's pet shop about stray pets.

Currently the only way to deliberately get rid of your rune guardian is to use the right-click "dismiss" option on your summoning icon.

One very efficient way to revitalise a rune guardian is to use the Ring of duelling and pick the duel arena option to travel to the Fire altar, which is only one to two clicks away. A cost-free method (using more time) is to use Wicked hood that consumed Water talisman to use Teleport option to reach Wizards' Tower, exit the tower and go to Water altar northeast of it.

Colours

As of 23 March, 2010, you can change the rune guardian's colour by visiting any altar with exception of the Ourania Altar, and using the rune guardian on the altar. It will change colour to a colour related to that altar. You can not change it back to a 'normal coloured' guardian, but you can put it in your Menagerie or dismiss it and then talk to Apprentice Clerval to get a new grey one. Players can use this to display their achievement of getting all the requirements to visit an altar - for example, black rune guardians require completion of Mourning's End Part II. It is possible to change the colour multiple times. Rune guardians are also capable of changing the colour of your infinity robes. Use your robes on an elemental altar with the rune guardian out to change them. To change them back to original colours, use them on the rune guardian. This only works on the four elemental altars (earth, air, fire, water).

Altar	Colour	Image	Chat head	Examine Text
None	Normal - grey			A rune guardian from the Mage Training Arena.
Air altar	White			An Air Altar rune guardian from the Mage Training Arena.
Mind altar	Orange			A Mind Altar rune guardian from the Mage Training Arena.
Water altar	Indigo			A Water Altar rune guardian from the Mage Training Arena.
Earth altar	Brown			An Earth Altar rune guardian from the Mage Training Arena.
Fire altar	Red			A Fire Altar rune guardian from the Mage Training Arena.
Body altar	Light Blue			A Body Altar rune guardian from the Mage Training Arena.
Cosmic altar	Yellow			A Cosmic Altar rune guardian from the Mage Training Arena.
Chaos altar	Gold			A Chaos Altar rune guardian from the Mage Training Arena.
Astral altar	Violet			An Astral Altar rune guardian from the Mage Training Arena.
Nature altar	Green			A Nature Altar rune guardian from the Mage Training Arena.
Law altar	Navy blue			A Law Altar rune guardian from the Mage Training Arena.
Death altar	Black			A Death Altar rune guardian from the Mage Training Arena.
Blood altar	Crimson			A Blood Altar rune guardian from the Mage Training Arena.
Soul altar	Lavender			A Soul Altar rune guardian from the Mage Training Arena.

Note: Dialogue does not change with the colours

Dialogue

This article on a pet has an associated dialogue page. Click here for a transcript of possible conversations and other messaging related to this pet.

Update history

This information has been compiled as part of the update history project. Some updates may not be included—see here for how to help out!

• ninja 4 December 2017 (Update):
  • Removed the level 4 Summoning requirement for the Rune Guardian pet.

• patch 29 March 2010 (Update):
  • Added sound effects when changing your rune guardian's colour.

• patch 8 February 2010 (Update):
  • The new pet from Rune Mechanics will now correctly feed at the Ourania Altar.

• update 1 February 2010 (Update):
  • Added to game.

Trivia

• When asked for help with combat, the rune guardian says, "You must lash out with every limb, like the octopus who plays the bongos." This is a reference to a line said by The Sphinx in the movie "Mystery Men".
• The player will then reply with "I thought it was penguins that played bongos." This is a reference to Ping & Pong. This only works if the quests involving these penguins have been completed.
• Another of the rune guardian's responses, "He who questions training only trains himself in asking questions", is a direct quote from The Sphinx in "Mystery Men".
• When using the "Talk-to" option, the rune guardian sometimes says "Have you ever thought that, whenever you examine an item, that item is also examining you?" This is a possible reference to a quote by Friedrich Nietzsche -- "when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you."
• It is possible to store one of every kind of rune guardian inside a POH menagerie by colouring one, storing it, and then returning to Clerval for a new one.
• If you talk to the Entrance Guardian with the rune guardian out, it will comment on your success in making one and speak to it.
• When used on a runecrafting altar, it will float above it and the player will get the message "You hold the rune guardian to the altar and feel the magic changing its essence."
• Although the rune guardian is revitalized by being near a rune altar, it will still get hungry if you stand near one.
• Even though the rune guardian changes colour at every single other runecrafting altar there is, if you use on the Ourania Runecrafting Altar, nothing happens.
• If you drop a rune guardian on a non-members world, it will be dropped on the floor like an item. While it is on the ground, it looks like a disembodied rune guardian head.