One of the fictional characters created by Michael Moorcock. Dorian Hawkmoon, Duke of Köln, is captured by the evil forces of Granbretan (an evil version of Great Britain where the noble classes hide behind metal masks of various totem animals) who implant a sinister jewel in his skull; he is liberated by the friendly rulers of Kamarg, and finds himself to be an incarnation of the Eternal Champion, charged with finding and implementing the will of the Runestaff, a magical item which preserves the Equilibrium. Suring his adventures, he has to collect two more magical items, the Red Amulet held by a mad god and the Sword of the Dawn, winning many battles in which he is hopelessly outnumbered, but helped by loyal companions, by mysterious allies who arrive in the nick of time, and by dissension in the ranks of his foes.

The Runestaff is one of the major artifacts in Moorcock's multiverse. The swords Stormbringer and Mournblade, the Black Jewel, which manifested itself in the world of Hawkmoon as the Jewel implanted in Hawkmoon's skull. Another artifact is the Cosmic Balance, the most powerful of the artifacts. The Runestaff, a very powerful artifact, is powered by the Cosmic Balance to produce Order. The Horn of Fate is still another artifact or power. Often artifacts are carried by the Champion Eternal.

Often the artifacts have beings which serve them. The enigmatic Warrior in Jet and Gold works for the Runestaff.