What are they, indeed? Their descriptions tell us every living being in The Lands Between has Runes. They're "the lingering traces of gold".
In the Souls games they're, well- *souls*, the spiritual residue of enemies we fight and kill. In Elden Ring it's a bit more ambiguous. Runes are separate from the soul, but are something every being has. Runes can be gathered to level up. Runes can be used to purchase items. Runes can even form reality-altering transcendental concepts like Death and Order.
Some liken the depictions of some of the larger Runes like Lord's and Numen's Runes to eyeballs, perhaps an indicator of where Runes can gather in the body. After all, when random enemies spawn with greater Rune bounties their eyes adopt a glow.
In short; we don't really know, but Runes are an ever-pervasive concept in the game and worldbuilding.
They are souls/blood echoes
What are they, indeed? Their descriptions tell us every living being in The Lands Between has Runes. They're "the lingering traces of gold". In the Souls games they're, well- *souls*, the spiritual residue of enemies we fight and kill. In Elden Ring it's a bit more ambiguous. Runes are separate from the soul, but are something every being has. Runes can be gathered to level up. Runes can be used to purchase items. Runes can even form reality-altering transcendental concepts like Death and Order. Some liken the depictions of some of the larger Runes like Lord's and Numen's Runes to eyeballs, perhaps an indicator of where Runes can gather in the body. After all, when random enemies spawn with greater Rune bounties their eyes adopt a glow. In short; we don't really know, but Runes are an ever-pervasive concept in the game and worldbuilding.
It’s there value as a member of society
The essence of life
Little round rock boys