Just wanted to add to this thread to point out that I, too, thought I'd gotten stuck in the Homestead until I found this thread and realized that the "rune" I was given was actually just the new button on the right side of the screen.
It works fine once you know it's there, but it's not too obvious, especially when the teleporter pyramid you're given appears in your inventory... you think, "didn't he mention something about a rune, too? I can't see it in my inventory!"