What if we count each rune use as an item? Would that unboringify the category? I feel like it would make for some interesting routing similar to bl.

OH the music was so loud I'm so sorry

if you talk to the old man on the tower before you activate it, he will first teach you about scope and pins and then the second time you talk to him he will softlock you.

This would be like all shrines except with a few extra steps along the way. No upgrades req though.