RuneScape Forum Archive | Guthix, Sliske, & Shadow Anima

A Mighty

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See my posts on page 6 for updates after Extinction & Twilight

So to me, the most interesting lore to come out of Desperate Measures is the fact that Guthix has infused us, the World Guardian, with Shadow Anima, a substance that repels the effects of the gods, including the elders. I immediately thought of the conversation from Desperate Times between Guthix and Sliske. Chiefly, the following lines:

GUTHIX: "I know why you have come, Sliske. I know what you are here to do. You are here to kill me."
SLISKE: "Yes."
GUTHIX: "Good. Know this: My death will not bring you what you seek, but it must be done. And it must be by your hand. " [Emphasis mine]
SLISKE: "...But why would you want such a thing?"
GUTHIX: "It is necessary, for my death will be born another, one that the world needs more than me. A new Guardian for this world, one with the power to stand against those who will rise."
SLISKE: "A World Guardian. Hmmm... Tell me more."

It was revealed in the most recent Lore Livestream on Twitch (August 4, 2020) that the reason why Guthix knew of shadow anima is given somewhere in Desperate Times, but Mod Jack did not say where. It is possible that Guthix gained this knowledge directly from Sliske, who is a master of shadows and the Shadow Realm (although Guthix telling Sliske that his death will bring about the World Guardian may contradict this. Regardless of where Guthix learned of shadow anima, it is clear that he tells Sliske about the function of the World Guardian. Being a master of shadows, Sliske was no doubt aware of the shadow anima present in our soul. I also believe this is why Guthix said his death must be by Sliske's hand.

So, Sliske kills Guthix. Then, three years later, after pitting the gods against one another in an elaborate game with the Stone of Jas as the prize, he fuses his soul with that of the World Guardian. I have no doubt that he used the shadow anima present in our

To those cursed by war and pest, Come into the light of Armadyl and rest. This is the law of Armadyl.

09-Aug-2020 04:34:23 - Last edited on 09-Jun-2022 05:18:46 by A Mighty

A Mighty

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I don't believe Sliske did what he did on a whim-- I think this was his plan from the moment he killed Guthix. It's even possible that Guthix himself had a hand in orchestrating this plan. After all, why would Guthix tell Sliske about the World Guardian?

It was revealed at the end of Sliske's Endgame that Sliske was an agent of Jas herself. But that certainly does not mean that Jas played a hand in his actions. At the end of the day, Sliske is no one's agent but his own. He's clearly quite a good double agent, and there is no doubt that his goals do not align with those of Jas (after all, how utterly boring would the universe of Jas' design be to Sliske??). I think it's very much possible that Sliske has his own way of dealing with the threat of the elder gods-- and fusing his soul with ours is only the beginning of his plan.

What's interesting is how Guthix let Sliske in on the secret of the World Guardian. Might Sliske have discussed his plans with Guthix before he killed him? Might Guthix have helped Sliske craft his plan? This can only be answered with future content, but it's safe to say, that we have not seen the last of Sliske! (Oh, and one more thing: Guthix speaks of three ultimate threats to the universe: The Great Revision, the Broken Needle, and the Shadow Breach. We know of the Great Revision. The Broken Needle can be taken literally, since the Needle controls time. The Shadow Breach could mean a number of different things, but it is certainly something Sliske could prove useful in countering, since he is a master of the shadows. It could be something to do with the Shadow Realm, which is growing more powerful, or even with shadow anima itself [or both]. What's interesting to note is that the current questline has the potential to involve all three of these events: The Great Revision brought about by the Elders, the Needle feature prominently, and this whole "shadow" business. It seems we are in for quite a ride...)

To those cursed by war and pest, Come into the light of Armadyl and rest. This is the law of Armadyl.

09-Aug-2020 04:34:32 - Last edited on 09-Aug-2020 04:59:39 by A Mighty

A Mighty

Posts: 2,337 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

tl;dr:

-We know from Desperate Measures that the god-countering energy of the World Guardian is due to Shadow Anima
-Sliske, a master of the shadows, combined his soul with ours at the end of Sliske's Endgame.
-It is revealed in Desperate Times that Guthix told Sliske about the World Guardian, and that his death "must" have come by the hands of Sliske.
-I believe Sliske manipulated our shadow anima to enter our soul, and I also believe that has been his plan all along-- perhaps in conjunction with none other than Guthix.
-Sliske may have his own plans for countering the three events Guthix believes to be the ultimate threat to the Universe: The Great Revision (brought upon by the elder gods, which we are presently working to stop), the Broken Needle (the needle has been essential to the elder god storyline so far), and the Shadow Breach (Sliske being a master of the shadows likely would be useful in countering this).
-All these things have the potential of being revealed in the current questline.

You may now post!!!

To those cursed by war and pest, Come into the light of Armadyl and rest. This is the law of Armadyl.

09-Aug-2020 04:34:40 - Last edited on 09-Aug-2020 05:06:15 by A Mighty

Jun

2023

O Teragard

Posts: 4,181 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

I think seeing that Guthix had a hand in actually resolving the threat of the Elders would be an amazing and fitting boon to his character arc, especially finding out about that so long after he is already dead. The conversation he had with Sliske is rather chilling, and I'd love it if there were something to read into there, like you're suggesting.

There's a lot I could say... first of course is the obvious: does shadow anima have anything to do with the shadow realm? I mean it might as well. I guess we gotta wait and see. Did Guthix ask that Sliske kill him in order to infuse his own divine anima-ordained power with essence from the shadow realm just before death? How the hell else does Guthix, a god, control this substance that is apparently toxic to gods? The way we were talking in game as you developed this concept, I remember there was a moment of... "Sliske is the agent of Jas, in name. But really he's been the agent of Guthix against Jas... as well as his own mischievous self, of course

"

I also love that there are three imminent threats to the universe, all of which are coinciding with the present.

Everyone: Yo, if more people post here, I'lllllll be back. So please do.

I'ma go post my bit about how they could have done DM a little better now

Click here for ideas on exploring other worlds, specifically the human homeworld Teragard. This one's me baby

09-Aug-2020 06:57:51

A Mighty

Posts: 2,337 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

O Teragard said :

There's a lot I could say... first of course is the obvious: does shadow anima have anything to do with the shadow realm? I mean it might as well.

This is admittedly the biggest assumption I've made with this theory. I have no proof that the two are connected, other than they both contain "Shadow" in their name. But man, wouldn't it be something??

Original message details are unavailable.
I guess we gotta wait and see. Did Guthix ask that Sliske kill him in order to infuse his own divine anima-ordained power with essence from the shadow realm just before death? How the hell else does Guthix, a god, control this substance that is apparently toxic to gods?

Those are the two questions I'm most excited about for the coming sequels to DM! Honestly this stuff is far more interesting to me than the Dragonkin stuff (even though I am fascinated to see what happens to Kerapac!)

In other words, I love lore. LOL!

Original message details are unavailable.
The way we were talking in game as you developed this concept, I remember there was a moment of... "Sliske is the agent of Jas, in name. But really he's been the agent of Guthix against Jas... as well as his own mischievous self, of course

"

Yeah, that's the whole "double agent" part. But like I said, at the end of the day Sliske serves no one but himself. However, he likely has far more goals in common with Guthix than he does with Jas. Plus being a double agent is always fun. So he has the motive to be on Guthix's side against Jas (but I wouldn't say he's working for Guthix any more than I'd say he's working for Jas

)

Oh, and I was always fascinated by the theories some people had that Sliske is secretly a Guardian of Guthix. I don't believe that he would have been made a Guardian, but I do think they were working together. And this seems to be the most logical way for it to happen...

To those cursed by war and pest, Come into the light of Armadyl and rest. This is the law of Armadyl.

09-Aug-2020 07:30:18 - Last edited on 09-Aug-2020 07:34:25 by A Mighty

Feb

2019

TheSARra

Posts: 18 Bronze Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Regarding the Shadow Realm, I decided to read up on the wiki about it... According to some lore given during a previous Runefest, there's a part of the depths of the shadow realm that even the gods cannot enter, so it's possible that there is that connection between the Shadow Realm and shadow anima. Perhaps there's more shadow anima the further into the Shadow Realm you go...? If so, what does that say about the creatures that live in the Shadow Realm? And, because the World Guardian has some shadow anima on their soul, does that open up the possibility of exploring the Shadow Realm in future quests?

Also, I happened to come across a different lore post talking about Xau Tak and its association with shadows before finding this post. Perhaps, and this may be a stretch, part of its power comes from shadow anima. After all, it did something to Kranon's soul which the Magister described as a hole that couldn't be filled. Could that be another example of shadow anima? Regardless, I'm looking forward to seeing what's done in the future. So many possibilities exist...

09-Aug-2020 20:47:49

A Mighty

Posts: 2,337 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

I definitely believe the Shadow Realm will play a major part in future quests, and of course Xau-Tak will. It will be very interesting to see where they go with shadow anima! Good post!

To those cursed by war and pest, Come into the light of Armadyl and rest. This is the law of Armadyl.

20-Aug-2020 06:42:48

Edcy

Posts: 1,105 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Now if i still had that watch that would reverse the time back to good ol' days, would i... I think i would. With a loooooong upper lip, greening out pompously, yes.

10-Sep-2020 22:28:23 - Last edited on 10-Sep-2020 22:29:00 by Edcy

Jun

2006

Dilbert2001

Posts: 30,168 Sapphire Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

TheSARra said :
Regarding the Shadow Realm, I decided to read up on the wiki about it... According to some lore given during a previous Runefest,

there's a part of the depths of the shadow realm that even the gods cannot enter

, so it's possible that there is that connection between the Shadow Realm and shadow anima. Perhaps there's more shadow anima the further into the Shadow Realm you go...? If so, what does that say about the creatures that live in the Shadow Realm? And, because the World Guardian has some shadow anima on their soul, does that open up the possibility of exploring the Shadow Realm in future quests?

Also, I happened to come across a different lore post talking about Xau Tak and its association with shadows before finding this post. Perhaps, and this may be a stretch, part of its power comes from shadow anima. After all, it did something to Kranon's soul which the Magister described as a hole that couldn't be filled. Could that be another example of shadow anima? Regardless, I'm looking forward to seeing what's done in the future. So many possibilities exist...

"I remember my grandmother. She sat me down and she told me the story. It goes something like this. Sethirak and Vokun had left their village to seek adventure. Along the journey they encountered an old dragonkin who told them that there was a great treasure hidden within the

kingdom of Shadow

, a stone that would grant them wondrous powers. So the two heroes, ready for adventure, headed into the kingdom."

https://runescape.wiki/w/Kranon%27s_Ancient_Journal

The Kingdom of Shadow is probably what it is... and eminently logical it has a lot to do with Xau-Tak. While even gods may not enter it, someone with a specific key... like a Black Stone that once controlled Arrav may. Hmm... Maybe Professor Tony has a clue.

18-Sep-2020 01:22:12 - Last edited on 18-Sep-2020 01:27:44 by Dilbert2001

A Mighty

Posts: 2,337 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

I'm not a proponent of everything in the lore connecting to Xau-Tak, but this definitely has the potential for a meaningful association. Especially if this shadow anima proves essential to the elder god storyline (which I think it will), then it is likely Xau holds a few pieces to this puzzle as well..

To those cursed by war and pest, Come into the light of Armadyl and rest. This is the law of Armadyl.

26-Sep-2020 09:41:34 - Last edited on 26-Sep-2020 09:41:58 by A Mighty

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Guthix, Sliske, & Shadow Anima