Gielinor, the world in which Runescape exists, is old. Approximately 12,169 years old or at least in our reckoning, with year 1 of the First Age being the year of creation. Many things have happened in these twelve thousand years. Understanding the nature of the world we play in is part of knowing where all developments in the story of our characters have been and where they are going. We must look to the past as we head toward the future (cue Digimon 4 music: ♫To reclaim the digital world! With faith in ourselves and trust in each other we live by the lessons we learn!♫ – just kidding). This is a multi-part series, with each article covering a period of time.

The First Age
The First Age started when Guthix, found an empty plane, and began to mould the world to his liking, you could also call it The Age of Creation. He created much of the fauna and flora that we know today (for example the Myriad a.k.a. the light creatures at the Tears of Guthix and their civilization), but also brought in multiple races as species through the World Gate and the Portal of Life including humans, elves (brought by Seren) and others. It is postulated that the World Gate and the Portal of Life are one and the same, as they had similar functions and were closed at around the same time, though no conclusive evidence currently exists. Runes were created by Guthix during those four thousand years using the Stone of Jas, a relic left in the plane by the elder gods (the ones that created the plane), but were in finite supply until rune essence was discovered at the end of the Fourth Age. The Age lasted approximately 4 millennia, ending at the time of Guthix’s first slumber.

The Second Age
The Second Age lasted approximately two thousand years and could be called The Age of the Gods. Since Guthix’s slumber, many gods started to inhabit the land including Saradomin, Armadyl, Zaros, Bandos, Marimbo, Tukmeken, Elidinis and Icthlarin. Hallowvale was also founded when first inhabited by the Icyene (of which Commander Zilyana is the last known member). The desert pantheon of gods was also created and the Mahjarrat were brought to Gielinor by Icthlarin, but the purpose is unknown. The Mahjarrat were also the cause of Amascut’s corruption and subsequent loss of power. Zaros came to the height of his power with the growth of Senntisten, the empire’s capital. The Zarosian empire, at it’s height, covered most of what is now Misthalin, Asgarnia, the Wilderness and northern Morytania. The Slayer Tower and the Duel Arena were both constructed in this period, but the purpose of both are unknown. The Staff of Armadyl was discovered near the end of the age and was instrumental in the downfall of Zaros and the rising of Zamorak with the help of many of the Mahjarrat, including Bilrach, Lucien, Hazeel and others. The end of the Age was marked by the apparent death of Zaros at Zamorak’s hands and sparked the God Wars.

The Third Age (a.k.a. The God Wars)
The God Wars made the 100-years war seem like a trifle, as it lasted approximately 4,000 years. The God Wars involved principally Saradomin, Zamorak, Bandos, Armadyl, and on a very small scale, what was left of the Zarosian Empire. During this period, the goblins are turned into the war-loving species that we know today. Hallowvale was conquered by Lord Drakan (who is still alive), killing almost entirely the Iycene race. Keldagrim was also build during this period as a refuge to become one of the world’s richest cities. Mother Mallum (the slug queen) also made her first appearance, as did the Temple Knights who plotted to take over the world and stopped said plot respectively. The period marks the death of the large part of many different species, including the Iycene, the Myriad, the Avientese and the Wyrms of old. Many cities were also destroyed, including Senntisten, Uzer, Ullek, and an unknown “Underwater city” (it apparently lost contact with the rest of the world, and apparently no-one but Guthix himself remembers it). Among other monumental events are the breaking of the barriers separating Gielinor from other realms such as Zanaris, Puro-puro, the Gorak plane and the Killerwat plane. This was probably due to the inter-world activity happening at the time, with reinforcements for multiple armies arriving from other realms like Yu’biusk, the Infernal Dimension and others. Many individuals were imprisoned during the God Wars, only to be freed recently. Among them are the armies of the God Wars Dungeon, Nexikchened, Azzanadra and others. The God Wars ended with the awakening of Guthix, the banishment of all gods from the plane and the issuing of the Edicts of Guthix. The Edicts summed up basically said that if any god sealed by the Edicts were to directly interfere with the happenings of Gielinor, Guthix would destroy the world as we know it and build it anew, after being awakened from his slumber in a ritual performed by druids. After issuing the edicts, Guthix sealed the Fist of Guthix away, and on his way, saw the destroyed civilization of the Myriad, spilling tears for them and causing the rocks to weep, creating the Tears of Guthix. It is currently unknown weather Zaros is bound by them, though it is improbable.

Runescape has a rich history, with many events revealed through quests, miniquests, in-game books and other artifacts. This is only part 1, and part 2 should be coming soon. The reason that it isn’t all in one article is that the Fourth and Fifth Ages have too many important events to cover well in an article with all of the other ages. Stay tuned for the exploits of Robert the Strong, the Imcando dwarves, Arrav, the burning of the wizard’s tower, the discovery of rune essence and more!