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The Zamorakian Magic Silk Road

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KingStannis5

KingStannis5

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This thread is an attempt to pull together several in-game details, both lore based and graphical, to answer a question: why is the Dark Wizards Tower (DWT) allowed continued existence in the Saradominist heart of Asgarnia. This started as a narrow interest, sparked by DeltaSlug's great thread on the DWT. But as I thought more about the topic, I realised the question is best answered by a broad theory of Asgarnian religion and geopolitics in relation to Misthalin and Kandarin. In a nutshell, the theory is that Asgarnia, for reasons I'll explore, faced diminishing status compared to Misthalin because of Misthalin's dominance in the economic and magical research spheres. The only source of magical development that was independent of the Wizard Tower's monopoly came from non-Saradominist sources. Thus the the Asgarnian government tolerated the DWT's Zamorakian denomination as a means to reap the benefit of of the illicit (non Saradominist, non Wizard Tower controlled) magical research.

I lay out the theory in sections that might not immediately seem relevant, but their interconnections should be obvious by the end. This thread focuses mostly on the late 5th age; I'm not up to date on all the 6th age stuff as I've been inactive. Furthermore, it's not a theory of what's in Jagex's mind. It's a theory that claims to be the best explanation for whats in game. Whether that counts as head canon, canon, or some kind of hybrid, is pretty deep debate of art interpretation that I won't get into here.

1. Asgarnia: a diminishing political force.

Consider Asgarnia's position in the late 5th age. It has always been the junior Kingdom in the Asgarnian-Misthalin "special relationship" (the irl reference is q fitting here). Misthalin is agriculturally dominant, presumably supplying Asgarnia with its food. The one area of Misthalin that isn't agricultural is Varrock, where artisans of all stripes shape resources into relatively high value products.

continued.

20-Feb-2020 17:17:11 - Last edited on 20-Feb-2020 20:23:27 by KingStannis5

KingStannis5

KingStannis5

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From the Runescape Game Guide: "The population outside Varrock is predominantly agricultural, and provides a great deal of food for the capital and for sale to other, poorer nations. The people of the capital, though, are largely tradesmen and artisans". This demographic split is crucial, and will be returned to. Furthermore, it is also the world's largest trade centre through the Grand Exchange. At first glance, it might seem that Falador can rival Misthalin's artisan economy via the smithing guild. But this is controlled by the Dwarves, who no doubt work in their own economic interests, not for the Asgarnians.Asgarnia thus cannot compete with Misthalin economically in terms of argiculture, artisanship or trade.

Misthalin also has a near monopoly on magical research through the Wizard's Tower. They control all above-board access to runecrafting; even the Magic Guild in distant Kandarin must use the teleport rediscovered in the Wizards Tower. With such control over magical resources, the Tower is sure to enforce its interests on those with whom it shares. The economic impact of magical research is largely unexplored in game, but there's one salient in-game example of this dominance; the lodestones network. Misthalin controls the most efficient means of travel between and within Kingdoms.

This isn't explored much in game, but it HAS to have an economic impact if anything could. One can only imagine the tax Misthalin imposes on its use; and a nation must use it to be competitive with lodestone using nations. It also undermines a key strategic benefit of Asgarnia over Misthalin; its access to ports. Since ports exist, there's no doubt that ships have advantages over lodestones (the size of what can be transported i'd guess), but it's impossible to imagine that instant travel through lodestones undercuts the value of weeks/months long ship journeys at least somewhat.

20-Feb-2020 17:17:19 - Last edited on 20-Feb-2020 18:06:13 by KingStannis5

KingStannis5

KingStannis5

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The reason I point this out isn't to suggest significant tensions between Misthalin and Asgarnia. They'll likely always be allies, especially now their God Saradomin walks the earth. And the impact of what I'm saying may have dissipated in the 6th age, with Saradomin choosing Asgarnia as his seat of military power. So I'm bracketing off anything after the BoL from discussion; this is a history. But in any alliance, if you're the junior partner, if you have less to contribute, then you get junior benefits. Any rational nation would be keenly aware of a loss of value/status in an alliance and react accordingly.

So how can Asgarnia make up for its economic weakness? Military power. Asgarnia is exceptional in the human Kingdoms in that it has a large standing army of elite warriors; the White Knights. A standing army is a HUGE economic expense. That's one reason why the medieval norm was for armies to be raised by Lords on the spot when needed, and disbanded afterwards. Kandarin/Misthalin follows suit; they've an unspecified number of knights (economically self sufficient), and a small force of guards for the city. Unlike an army, guards have permanent law enforcing value when not in combat. Obviously, the White Knight's existence aren't a reaction to Asgarnia's junior status. But they're probably the primary asset Asgarnia supplies to its alliance with misthalin. That they're one of the few means of leverage Asgarnia has can be seen from the BoL. The White Knights fought in a battle within Misthalin's borders. Crucially, they fought alone (with the exception of adventurers, ie private volunteers). Roald didn't raise an army to fight a war on his own lands. The fact that Roald didn't is telling; it signals an expectation that Asgarnia should function as a proxy military force for Misthalin. This only makes sense in an unequal partnership where Asgarnia only contributes with occasional military aid...

cont...

20-Feb-2020 17:17:27 - Last edited on 20-Feb-2020 18:46:57 by KingStannis5

KingStannis5

KingStannis5

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The implication is, rather than the exceptional show of friendship fighting alongside Misthalin would conventionally be taken is, this is the way Asgarnia adds value to the partnership. It has one card to play; they're simply expected to play it.

Reliance on the White Knights for geopolitical status has domestic drawbacks. It gives the White Knights overwhelming power within Asgarnia. This has had destabilizing effects. The political marginalisation of the Kinshra from year 70 lead to the Kinshra behaving antagonistically towards its own Kingdom, raiding villages even when technically a legal force prior to their ousting in 163. Furthermore, Asgarnia likely took a diplomatic hit after said ousting. Varrock's museum notes that the White Knights "took advantage" of their King's illness, suggesting this negative view of the situation is fairly widespread in Misthalin. This makes sense. Roald is a monarch. His closest ally has apparently usurped its monarchy. That's not a precedent any monarch wants its neighbors to set.

The Kinshra's removal also led to a weakening of Asgarnia's military. They lost their second most important army, and had to fight a costly war, reducing their numbers drastically. The white knights can't easily replace these numbers ; they can't have children, and it's hinted that they mostly recruit from higher classes. They can be presumed to be a small force even before these devestating events subsequent to year 163. The Kinshra, being Zamorakian, would be a bad force to use for force projection abroad. But they could've eased the domestic strain on the white knights.

They won't even help Burthorpe's Imperial guard defeat the trolls. This seems to be a strategic choice; bleed their potential military opposition (they're loyal to the prince) dry before replacing them. Regardless, reluctance to act within their borders would hamper the perception of their military strength, undermining their primary political export: power projection abroad.

20-Feb-2020 17:17:33 - Last edited on 20-Feb-2020 19:34:55 by KingStannis5

KingStannis5

KingStannis5

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I think I've made a reasonable case that Asgarnia is the Junoir member of its partnership with Misthalin, and that this imposes a significant cost on them: namely the economic and military cost of the White Knights being exported as a proxy force the Misthalin, and the negative internal effects of the consequent political hegemony the White Knights are afforded domestically. This makes plausible one motive I'm suggesting for the Asgarnian tolerance of the DWT: they have access to magical research and developments that are otherwise controlled by Misthalin through the Wizard's Tower. This is one of the few resources they can exploit that isn't dependent of Misthalin. My point isn't that Asgarnia has a specific interest in undermining the Wizards Tower. Rather, I suggest that any resource which doesn't make them ever more dependent on their senior ally has inherent value. There's another motive, however, this next section explores.

2. The demographics of Zamorakianism

From "The History of the Kinshra", we learn that Zamorakians often come from the lower classes. Some might dispute this as a biased source, but despite its obvious biased source, it's remarkably candid regarding things which could undermine the Kinshra, e.g its admittance that Varzin wanted to disband it on his deathbed. Further, it's backed by other evidence on this issue. The game guide's asserts "Misthalin is a nation split quite evenly in two. The population outside Varrock is predominantly agricultural...The people of the capital, though, are largely tradesmen and artisans...This split in society may seem to work effectively, but the problem can be seen most clearly in the southern parts of Varrock. This is where the rural citizens who have come to the capital frequently end up, unskilled and naive, living off scraps..". Southern Varrock, and its poor, rural populace, is the centre of the underground Zamorakian following in Misthalin. The Zamorakian temple and ZMI reside here.

cont..

20-Feb-2020 17:18:42 - Last edited on 20-Feb-2020 20:21:24 by KingStannis5

KingStannis5

KingStannis5

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Is this popularity of Zamorakianism in rural/poor communities a pattern found across Gielinor? The evidence suggests so. The one in-game Zamorakian Temple in Asgarnia is found to the north, away from the trade routes between Falador and port sarim, Varrock, and the semi independent (it seems) provinces of Burthorpe and Taverly. Zamorakianism can be found on the outskirts of Ardougne through the Hazeel Cult and more distantly, the Ouribus ZMI location. The poor looking coast town of Witchhaven is presumably Zamorakian; it's obvious connection to witches would indicate so. Witches aren't explicitly stated in lore to be Zamorakian (in fact, what even constitutes a witch seems mysterious), but I'll later argue they almost certainly are. For now assume so. This also means assuming the witches in Draynor and southern Asgarnia are Zamorakian. The significance of this is explored in the next section. For now, I just want to highlight that signs of Zamorakianism are apparent in poor rural areas and poorer urban areas.

This makes sense. Zamorakianism preaches a message of changing your fortunes, of not accepting your assigned place in society if it doesn't suit you. Poor communities in areas that see a lot of wealth moving past them to richer areas would certainly fit in this demographic. It is largely farmlands, with a small mine and a large port. But given the troubles of Asgarnia outlined in section 1, it's likely that most of the wealth gathered from these sources flow up to Falador to supply the expensive standing army of White Knights, the conflict with the Kinshra, the supply of Burthorpe, and more. It's reasonable to assume that these are the kinds of places which foster underground Zamorakianism. One might object that these places don't exactly look destitute. But humans are comparative creatures; rather than absolute poverty, it might be poverty relative to the wealth of Falador (just LOOK at that city) and the transferance of wealth northwards that's at play.

20-Feb-2020 18:06:23 - Last edited on 20-Feb-2020 21:14:35 by KingStannis5

KingStannis5

KingStannis5

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If this is right, then the DWT would be able to foster popular support in these areas, trading on its suspected Zamorakianism. Additionally, whatever goods it supplies to the economy such that they're an asset to Asgarnia could easily be supplied to these areas. Indeed, perhaps at a lower cost. Evidence for the DWT's influence is once more found in the Witch presence in Port Sarim and Rimmington. Again, I'm asking you to assume something about witches I'll later argue; that they're connected to the DWT.

This provides another, more simple, motive for the continued presence of the DWT in Asgarnia (and so close, relatively, to Falador itself). Namely, that it has popular support in the areas to the south of Falador. The last thing the strained White Knights need is civil unrest in yet another area, when they fight a threat to the north in the Kinshra, and lack popular support in Burthorpe. Taverly is another area where their control might be slipping; it's close to Burthorpe's centre of influence, it's non saradominist, presumably the Kinshra located there attempt to exert some form of soft power on the populous. What's more, Taverly is in poverty due to troll war and the subsequent exploitation by merchants. With the White Knights nowhere to be seen.

Much of what I've said here relies on arguments I haven't yet made. So as a standalone argument, I think it's the weakest this thread presents. I'll make these arguments in the following section, which outlines my theory that the DWT are the nucleus of a semi underground magic trade/research routes, and parallel Zamorakian underground influence, which stretches from Kandarin to Misthalin. The former of these is the Misthalin independent value the DWT provides to Asgarnia; the latter is its hidden cost.

20-Feb-2020 20:28:01 - Last edited on 20-Feb-2020 21:34:21 by KingStannis5

KingStannis5

KingStannis5

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Alright, forgot to finish this but let me briefly state what I recall I was going to say:

That witches are Zamorakian is evidenced by the fact that they tend to reside in the poor areas which see wealth move past them; Rimmington, Draynor, etc. They have something characteristic to them; their houses/shops always have charms outside. Now, these charms are only seen in game in two other places; outside the chaos dwarves tunnell in the wilderness, and the Wizards Guild in Yanille. Yanille is near to Witchaven, a place we can assume had a lot of witches in it a some point, and the areas around Kandarin are awash with Zamorakianism. Witches tend to work for Zamorakian, or at least "dark" forces in game a lot. It seems a Zamorakian phenomena.

The Guild has a clear reason to try to undermine the Wizards Tower; they're rivals, they are reliant on it for access to runes (at some cost, presumably), and they are utterly in its shadow. They're also in a more martial, Zamorakian infused culture than the WT, evidenced by the on ething they seem to have over the WT;the right to give out skillcapes to battle mages. That's a speculative point, but it suggests a willingess to mix with Zamorakian mages. I'm on firmer ground however, in pointing our the charms is either something the Guild picked up from the witches, or vice versa. This suggests a cross firtility in magical expertise between the Guild and the Zamorakian underground. The sings of this spread from west to east, one witch at a time, all the way into Rimmington and Draynor, but NOT into Misthalin. Why not? Why are the White Knights less interesting in removing this pest that the Misthalins?

The most plausible answer lies in that this magical expertise bleeding from Kandarin into Arsgarnia throw a silk road of quietly Zamorakian mages is beneficial to Asgarnia, as an outlet for the oppressive monopoly of Misthalin's WT, both economically and as source of magical research for the Temple Knights. So they permit it.

20-Feb-2020 21:15:03 - Last edited on 15-Oct-2020 21:52:20 by KingStannis5

O Teragard
Jun Member 2023

O Teragard

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I think your ideas are really cool. I love the academic approach taken here and all the specific lore text you managed to bring together on this topic.

Slightly unrelated but after reading your take on the witches, I wondered, what if Jagex started a campaign to give npc's across the map dialogue about which faction they follow, what they think of the gods, or what their faction is doing to gain the upper hand? I mean these kinds f conversations "sort of" exist for some but I'd love to have these conversations with a lot more people. It's one way to take a more mortal perspective to the sixth age, something that feels a lot more classic rs and gets us really into the worldbuilding more than the popularity contests. Click here for ideas on exploring other worlds, specifically the human homeworld Teragard. This one's me baby

15-Oct-2020 22:12:15

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