RuneScape Forum Archive | Player's ascension, questline

Aeternm

Posts: 73 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

This contains spoilers for the Elder God Wars and Legacy of Zamorak quest series.

This is an idea I have for a new quest series.

Back in 2013 we got a Q&A for The Death of Chilvary. It was a few months, perhaps half a year, after the release of The World Wakes and the whole thing with the World Guardian and Guthix's gift wasn't very clear yet. One of the people who commented asked Jagex if the player character could ever become a god, to which Mod Osborne replied this was impossible due to Guthix's gift making us immune to god magic.

Comment From simon shanks
Will the players ever acsend to godhood?
7:34

Mod Osborne: The player is the World Guardian, given powers by Guthix to nullify the magic of gods. That means the player is the only one on the world who could NOT be a god.

This was true for 9 years, until July 2022. With the release of Aftermath and the Edicts of Guthix being re-established by the World Guardian, the player character is once again just an ordinary human adventurer after giving away Guthix's gift in order to banish the gods from Gielinor... that is, as much of an ordinary human someone who's fought Mahjarrat, gods, Elder Gods, walked throught Erebus and wielded several Elder artefacts can be! That means Mod Osborne's response no longer applies, since we no longer have Guthix's gift and therefore are no longer immune to the magic of gods, meaning we now could ascend to godhood. Of course we know this is never going to actually happen, but thinking about that, the idea for a new quest series occured to me: the World Guardian's ascension .

When Azzanadra ascends during the Battle of the Monolith, he says he already suspected that was about to happen. He even says he'd been trying to fight it. Like him, after Twilight of the Gods Nex also claims she'll be banished by the Edicts, since she became too powerful. Two mortals who somehow sensed they would ascend.

[1]

26-Jun-2023 05:30:38

Aeternm

Posts: 73 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

[2]

Azzanadra and Nex being able to tell they were about to ascend is important here because it proves it is possible for someone to know when they are about to ascend, which is why this quest series would be possible; it wouldn't actually feature our character as a god, of course. It would be about the player character's ascension beginning and they racing against time to find a way to stopd/ reverse it before it's too late.

"Too late for what?", you may question. Why wouldn't we want to ascend? Thing is, we have re-established the Edicts. That means if we do ascend, we'll be instantly banished from Gielinor just like Zamorak, Saradomin and the other gods were, so we need to find a way to stop it from happening.

While I don't have many specific ideas for the quests, I do think it would be nice if it was centered around Invention since we still don't have quests that involve it. We've already got quests centered on other new abilities up to Archaeology, so I think it's about time Invention was featured in them too. Basically, we would need to invent our own "Ungodnator" in order to reverse the ascension.

Of course, such a questline could take us to many different places across the World Gate in search for something to help us, which would be a great opportunity to include the gods in quests even with the Edicts; maybe we even do ascend (briefly) at some point during the quest series and need to finish our device in a different world.

Finally, I know some people will wonder if the player character has achieved enough power to actually ascend to godhood. The World Guardian certainly is a powerful adventurer. We did fight Zamorak, Seren (more like surviving against her, but still), killed Sliske, survived Erebus and so on. Yes, all that happened because of Guthix's gift, but bear with me just a little more.

[2]

26-Jun-2023 05:30:44

Aeternm

Posts: 73 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

[3]

You see, while it is true that a lot of what we did as World Guardian was only possible due to the powers granted to us by Guthix back in 2013, it is also true we as an adventurer did a lot of stuff way above our pay grade. Just think about it, we've touched the Stone of Jas twice before that (While Guthix Sleeps and Ritual of the Mahjarrat). We fought Mahjarrat like Lucien and Zemouregal, though back then we were nowhere near their power level. Then during The World Wakes we canonically defeat Kree'Arra, K'ril Tsutsaroth and General Graardor, three of the GWD generals. In later quests we do see just how powerful those monsters are in canon. That aside, more importantly we also defeat Enakhra and Zemouregal. As far as I remember, they are the first Mahjarrat we fight directly, and we manage to defeat both of them. The World Wakes (Year 1 Sixth Age) happens just after Ritual of the Mahjarrat (Year 169 Fifth Age), meaning they've both just rejuvenated too. I could go on talking about dragonkin such as the Abomination, the Ambassador, and so on, but you get the idea.

Of course, just being powerful isn't enough to become a god, but we have also done far too much. The player character has interacted with more than one Elder artefact. The Stone of Jas for once, but also The Measure, The Needle and The Kiln. We've been to other worlds and actively restored two tier 2 gods (Zaros and Seren). Not to mention siphoning Sliske's essence, which is still quite unclear. Finally, there's also Erebus.

You see, though it is stated by Seren in Extinction that we've lost all the power we absorbed in Erebus after surviving the Great Revision, this is not to say it did not have any consequence on our character. The reason I'm saying this is something Guthix says in the memory we get from the restricted engram during Azzanadra's Quest.

[3]

26-Jun-2023 05:30:58

Aeternm

Posts: 73 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

[4]

From that engram we learn Guthix's true plan to us, what he did to us, what actually is his gift, our connection to the Codex, and so on. This is also where we learn about shadow anima and how it affects the gods and why it makes us immune to them. However, Guthix also says something very interesting about the mortal soul in comparison to the divine soul:

Guthix:
The divine soul is capable of great feats, but it is rigid and unyielding.
Guthix:
If we are to grow stronger we must take that power from elsewhere. Like my Edicts.

(...)

The mortal soul is a malleable and powerful thing. It can survive tremendous injury and return even stronger. If used correctly it can hold back the darkest forces.
Guthix:
If I could take the heart of the enchantment and place it within a mortal soul.
Guthix:
I could weave them both together with some of my own anima and the edict's shadow anima.
Guthix:
Their soul would adapt to it.
Guthix:
It would not be without benefit to them. They would become resistant to the powers of the other gods.
Guthix:
Immune to the loyalty auras of Seren and Zaros and they would also find themselves protected from the shadow anima and it's[sic] abhorrent nature.
Guthix:
Once part of them, their soul would adapt and change, absorbing anima and shadow anima alike. Growing, slowly, in power and preparing itself for the task ahead.
Guthix:
Indeed they would find themselves connected to power they would never expect.
Guthix:
They would be in constant connection with the Codex, absorbing the shadow anima in a steady flow even as they absorb the flow of anima around them.
Guthix:
Its powers could enhance them, strengthen them and prepare them for the trials ahead.

Guthix says his gift would protect us from the gods, yes, but he also implies our soul would adapt and grow stronger on its own as well.

[4]

26-Jun-2023 05:31:15

Aeternm

Posts: 73 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

[5]

Think of Guthix's gift in Erebus as a shield or a filter. It doesn't actually make us immune to it -- else we wouldn't die from staying there too long, which does happen --, just resistant enough that it won't kill us immediately. However, throughout Extinction we actively see our character adapting to Erebus. Growing used to it, we learn how to use our power in there, how to run, how to resist more of its influence. By making sure Erebus won't just kill us as soon as we step in there, the gift gives us the opportunity of adapting to it. Therefore, even if we did lose the shadow anima we gathered in there, that doesn't mean we didn't actually get stronger -- that our soul didn't adapt -- after that. If we are to assume the World Guardian's soul could have grown extremely powerful over the years, would it be far-fetched to think they could become powerful enough to ascend? That their sould has grown too powerful for their mortal body to restrain much longer? This is why I think this is a believable concept to explore in a quest series, which is why I decided to write this thread.

I think this would be a cool way to address an idea some players have been asking about for over a decade now while not actually making us into gods.

This is it. What you think?

[End]

26-Jun-2023 05:31:24

Kings Abbot

Posts: 10,747 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Interesting idea.

I'm not sure we would be banished if we were to ascend, since we put the Edicts in ourselves. Gurhix wasn't banished by his own edicts after all.

The timeline has changed a bit, where Year 169 isn't the last year of the Fifth age anymore. Year 169 was basically the first year of RS, and ran approximately at the same speed with the real world. There's some document from Reldo from a recent quest that revealed it, and this page on the Wiki gives the new years: https://runescape.wiki/w/History Kings Eastwood in
THE GLOOP , THE BWIAN , and THE WIKI
music by Trewavio Morricone

YOU-KNOW-WHO

,

GO

YOU-KNOW-WHAT

YOURSELF!

26-Jun-2023 18:28:00 - Last edited on 26-Jun-2023 18:28:11 by Kings Abbot

Aeternm

Posts: 73 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

I didn't know about the change in timeline. Would that mean we are currently in the Year 10 of the Sixth Age? That's very interesting, thank you for the correction.

As for the Edicts, I think this time it's different from when Guthix cast them. In the restricted engram he says he needs to concentrate to keep them - he is funnelling shadow and light anima and keeping the balance between them. This is why the gods returned after Guthix's death. But during Twilight of the Gods we tell Saradomin this time will be different because, since we are not as powerful as Guthix, we won't be able to control the Edicts; we'll just be able to cast the ritual. So I think they would affect us as well.

Thanks for the feedback.

26-Jun-2023 19:52:28

Kings Abbot

Posts: 10,747 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Eleventh year currently apparently: https://runescape.wiki/w/Sixth_Age

I haven't done any of the members quests yet, just keeping general track of the lore to understand stuff that gets released in f2p occasionally. I wasn't aware of the Edicts now being different, so it is indeed possible then for the player to be banished themselves. Kings Eastwood in
THE GLOOP , THE BWIAN , and THE WIKI
music by Trewavio Morricone

YOU-KNOW-WHO

,

GO

YOU-KNOW-WHAT

YOURSELF!

27-Jun-2023 16:47:22

Balkj06

Posts: 240 Silver Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

I really like this idea. I am in support.

I don't we would be banished. However it won't not be hard to add something to the edicts lore to better explain why we would be banished.

Such as Guthix didn't create the edicts, and they were something he discovered that was designed to be used with mortal beings. Guthix just knew how to not banish himself.

Yes, the players edicts are not guthix edicts. However, everyone tried very hard to make it as close as possible to guthix edicts. Perhaps the quest will explore more on the origins of the edicts are there any worlds with similar edicts in place?

As for the timeline, During Twilight of the Gods, Duke Horacio states the Battle of Lumbridge was over 10 years ago. We don't know how long the 5th Age was nor what events happen during each year of both 5th and 6th.

There are also lots of Ambiguous quest which we have no idea which age they go in (which is why they are ambiguous). Jagex can also go back to the 5th age and add events to the timeline.

I don't think the timeline matter to much.

28-Jun-2023 10:19:38

Deltaslug

Posts: 32,671 Sapphire Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Unlikely for the player to ascernd at this stage.

Stone of Jas, The Measure, The Elder Sword, and The Needle are all destroyed. The fragments contain "some" power, but not enough for ascension.

The Siphon/Staff and Elder Crown/Locator are lost in Erebus

The Horn has been MIA for years

The Mirror is ... somewhere ....

We don't know much about The Template or The Hammer

The Codex, aka the Monolith, is in use by us for Archaeology. Most of the times it caused ascension, it was basically turning mindless creatures into roughly Tier 7 Gods. Azzandra (a Mahjarrat), like all of his race, are already quasi-demigod tier. He also went thru a ritual absorbing power from Mah. He then got empowered by the Codex. Then Banished with the Edicts.

The Kiln is basically protected by the very upset TzHaar race and TzKal-Zuk.

So one path the ascension is ruled out by taking power from Elder Artifacts.

Next, you have to try to absorb power from gods ... which some have done.
But Bandos, Tuska, V, the previous iteration of Elder Gods are all dead.
Zaros and Jas are trapped in Erebus
Seren and the chibi Elder Gods are on the dead world of Iaia in self imposed exile. And she WILL destroy you if you return.
Zamorak is on Infernus with his legions of demons
Sara, Armadyl, and Zaros are off world and are 'friendly' to you.
The desert pantheon and Zuk are probably too weak for ascension via power absorption unless you took all of them at once
So some of them are well out of reach or you have to go thru literal armies to reach them.

Oh .. and might I remind you ... the whole "World Guardian Power" or protection ... is gone. Meaning when they hit you with their empowered magics ... you have no defense now.

Jagex has moved away from the god story line because it took away from the mortals and heroes. And that's a good thing.

01-Jul-2023 00:59:52

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