forums.rs

Forums

Why Forced Against Zaros?

Quick find code: 341-342-535-66217256

The Epitome
May Member 2021

The Epitome

Posts: 40 Bronze Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
It makes absolutely no sense. I'm aligned with Zaros in-game and have made no "choices" throughout any of the quests to warrant distrust from Zarosians, but now not only am I unable to help them in this war....
I have to ACTIVELY COMMAND TROOPS OF SEREN AND SARADOMIN AGAINST HIM???
Y I K E S. Why even give us RPG-style choices if they will have no consequence beyond a couple lines of dialogue in that quest alone? Why allow Zaros to be followable if he's going to be painted as the objective baddie that must be stopped? This questline is seriously about to kill my immersion and interest in the lore.

30-May-2021 01:57:07

Darelzel

Darelzel

Posts: 3,587 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
I gave my take in another thread, so I'll copy and paste it here.

At this point, Azzanadra has been with the Council of Seren, an assembly of NPCs the PC has encountered in many different quest lines. Most of them have never been in the same room together before, and all follow different gods, philosophies, and beliefs. Azzanadra has had the opportunity to speak to Sir Amik of the White Knights, Brundt the chieftain of the Fremmenik, Osman from the desert, Ichi the leader of Cyclosus, and more. He's probably heard how you've taken one side or another in various conflicts, such as how you helped Zanik defeat Bandos in 'The Chosen Commander', and how you formed alliances with various factions not related to Zaros.

And of course there's the whole World Guardian thing.

With all that in mind, Azzanadra is smart enough to know that even if you've tried NOT to disappoint him in the past, he can't rely on you if the Zarosian agenda brings the Zarosians into conflict with the other factions. Your loyalties are too divided, and you can't be influenced by Zaros' loyalty aura because of your World Guardian status. You're just too much of a wild card.

There's only so many times you can disappoint Azzanadra before he decides it's not worth the risk. And even if you've picked the Zarosian option in previous quests several times, he still can't completely rely on you because the other factions you've allied with have beliefs and/or agendas which clash with the Zarosians'.

So yes, it was pretty much inevitable that you'd be in a situation where the Zarosians can't trust you.

30-May-2021 20:14:25 - Last edited on 30-May-2021 20:15:20 by Darelzel

The Epitome
May Member 2021

The Epitome

Posts: 40 Bronze Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Darelzel said :
With all that in mind, Azzanadra is smart enough to know that even if you've tried NOT to disappoint him in the past, he can't rely on you if the Zarosian agenda brings the Zarosians into conflict with the other factions. Your loyalties are too divided, and you can't be influenced by Zaros' loyalty aura because of your World Guardian status. You're just too much of a wild card. At the very least I should be given the chance right now to show that I'd choose to fight alongside them over any other faction. Sure, I've helped others in the past when it was convenient and they weren't opposing Zaros but that doesn't mean I'd go to war against Zaros for them. Now not only am I unable to make that choice, I can't even choose to be a bystander and am instead forced to give Zarosians a reason never to trust me again by commanding forces of Gods I don't even like. Thanks Jagex... Again, why even give us these half a** RPG choices if we're all going to be forced onto the exact same path in the end? It'd be infinitely better if there were no joinable factions and quests had no flexible dialogue than to completely destroy any sense of RP/agency like this.

Darelzel said :
There's only so many times you can disappoint Azzanadra before he decides it's not worth the risk. How have we disappointed him so far? I can't think of a single way if you chose all the pro-Zaros quest options. Azzanadra said himself that he considers us a good friend but that Zaros simply said we can't be trusted because... reasons?

31-May-2021 07:41:15

Hazeel

Hazeel

Posts: 6,735 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Same reason Sliskeans were forced against Sliske. Zaros is the antagonist of the story. Always has been. They've been building up to it for roughly a decade and a half now, so you can't be that surprised.

If you helped him up until now, then you've been duped. He played you. You fell victim to his silver tongue like many before you, and now you can pay the consequences. It can't be helped, really. You aren't loyal enough. You never will be. And if you think otherwise, the only option is to acknowledge that you are no longer of any use, forfeit your life, and allow Zaros to move forward without any potential obstacles. Runescape doesn't need a hero...it needs a villain. An all encompassing force of evil that will remain ever-threatening and use chaos to make the peoples of Gielinor tolerate each other, grow strong together, and fight side by side against this evil. I am that villain.

03-Jun-2021 17:09:54 - Last edited on 03-Jun-2021 17:11:53 by Hazeel

xBlue Rosesx
Oct Member 2023

xBlue Rosesx

Posts: 282 Silver Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
On point, OP.

Everything you said was how I felt. I hate being forced to side with or against someone in a game, especially siding against a character I like. FFS Jagex if you want the WG to act a certain way, don't force us, write a fucking book!
The rose of Runescape <3

Twitch: xxxbluerosesxxx

05-Jun-2021 07:36:24 - Last edited on 05-Jun-2021 07:37:01 by xBlue Rosesx

Lord Pyro I
Nov Member 2018

Lord Pyro I

Posts: 4,255 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
xBlue Rosesx said :
On point, OP.

Everything you said was how I felt. I hate being forced to side with or against someone in a game, especially siding against a character I like. FFS Jagex if you want the WG to act a certain way, don't force us, write a fucking book!

Hang on one second.

Are you complaining that Zaros has turned bad or that you aren't allowed to still support him even despite the fact that his goals are now contradictory to the role of World Guardian? "The greatest endeavors are achieved because of their selfless intent"
#WarIsComing

05-Jun-2021 17:01:04

The Epitome
May Member 2021

The Epitome

Posts: 40 Bronze Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Lord Pyro I said :
Hang on one second.

Are you complaining that Zaros has turned bad He's not "bad". Cold? Yes. Ungrateful towards his followers? Sure. Not even close to an existential threat though.

If I had to place Zaros on an alignment chart I'd say he's chaotic neutral whereas Seren is true neutral, Saradomin lawful neutral, Sliske chaotic evil, Zamorak neutral evil, Bandos lawful evil and Guthix was the only 'good' God (neutral good) who put average mortals above himself

Lord Pyro I said :
or that you aren't allowed to still support him even despite the fact that his goals are now contradictory to the role of World Guardian? We don't know his endgame, but as far as I can tell he'd be happy not to harm anyone on Gielinor as long as they don't get in his way. Stopping Gods from leaving is not our role as World Guardian.

06-Jun-2021 19:14:51

Dark Barra
Feb Member 2022

Dark Barra

Posts: 1,347 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Original message details are unavailable.
If I had to place Zaros on an alignment chart I'd say he's chaotic neutral whereas Seren is true neutral, Saradomin lawful neutral, Sliske chaotic evil, Zamorak neutral evil, Bandos lawful evil and Guthix was the only 'good' God (neutral good)

I give you props for recognizing Bandos as Lawful Evil but here's my take on it:

Armadyl - Lawful Good
Seren - Neutral Good
Godless/Marimbo/Brassica Prime - Chaotic Good
Saradomin - Lawful Neutral
Guthix - True Neutral
Zamorak - Chaotic Neutral
Bandos - Lawful Evil
Zaros - Neutral Evil
Sliske/Tuska/Skargaroth - Chaotic Evil

As for the topic at hand - props to Zaros for fooling the playerbase into thinking he was on the good end of the alignment chart. Yeah, that's the Empty Lord, the god of Control and Fate...

07-Jun-2021 11:34:25

Quick find code: 341-342-535-66217256 Back to Top