RuneScape Forum Archive | Why Saradomin split his armies

Byzantinist

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Hguoh said :
For one, the Zamorakians were busy fighting on other fronts trying to snatch back territory they'd lost in Zamorak's absence.

Yes, and as Zamorak had a lot of enemies, so he found the help of his good lad, Saradomin. Eventually, he realized that if he helped him and bought him time to increase his ally’s military might, Saradomin’s army itself would have a lot of pressure to begin with. Only a miracle could get them out of this situation.

Hguoh said :
For two, I'm doubting a significant Saradominist military force actually did battle directly with Nex. See prior posts for issues with Ashuelot's tale of events.

Even if they did; it would have cost them dearly, taking time and resources to reorganize for future invasions. From a logistical point of view, you would not only have to feed all of them, nor only had to provide more weapons, but would also have to take those people out of the economy, and as time would pass, soon they wouldn't produce nor provide any more for his heavy warmachine for further territorial annexations. As Saradomin introduced universal conscription, he knew that, many would have to die quickly for new territory with great resolve. He had to use all that energy, as if not, afterwards, he would've had empty reserves.

Hguoh said :
For three, I'm very doubtful that the Saradominists acted alone on this one. The target is far more important to Zamorakians, after all, and the statement that the Saradominists acted alone comes from an individual in a time period when Saradomin and Zamorak were enemies and most traces of their former alliance annihilated.

Very good observation, and for Saradomin's soldiers it would've taken enormous amount of time n resources to accomplish (think of how many humans and even Icyene're needed to make Nex's army go into full retreat), already having shortage due to the other gods. Sometimes one must operate within the

shadows

to serve the

light

. For a man makes no noise over a good deed, but passes on to another as a vine to bear fruits again in season, in order that the world may ever be new.

07-Mar-2018 19:54:44 - Last edited on 08-Mar-2018 08:31:06 by Byzantinist

Ascertes

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Byzantinist said :
Not saying there’s anything rationally wrong with that particular plan, though it’s quite odd from a moral standpoint. Never mind his and Zamorak’s philosophies being polar opposites, but also supporting eachother entire armies, dependable on the very same evil creatures on which the vile Zaros relied (Mahjarrat, vampyre, demons, etc.), his ally using questionable methods. For example, Drakan’s vampyre taking Hallowvale were conscripted in the very same armies which were used to help Saradomin take the empire down, not forgetting that Saradominists sacrificed themselves at the ritual plateau for Zamorak’s Mahjarrat.

It was a tough fight for the Vampyres, agreed. The question remains, though, how and why did they attack there and then so early on in the god wars, right after lonely Saradomin had cleared Nex from Forinthry, leaving the way for the North open to be infested by the Zamorakians, then, while Saradomists went south to gain possession over the Zarosian arsenal.

Pretty sure it was a promised territory to Drakan and the Vampyres in exchange for their help with destroying Zaros. I think it was very clear to both sides that hostilities were going to resume no matter what. This would have also been negotiated before Zaros was actually overthrown.

As for why Saradomin agreed to the alliance, I think it's because it was a practical decision. I don't think Saradomin ever liked the idea of allying with Zamorak, but one he realized was necessary. The Zarosian Empire was split between Zamorakians and Zarosians; attacking both at the same time could have possibly pushed them together to unify rather than pull them apart. -Ascertes, King of all the Hallowlands and the Everchosen of Saradomin.

13-Mar-2018 18:21:58

Byzantinist

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Ascertes said :
Pretty sure it was a promised territory to Drakan and the Vampyres in exchange for their help with destroying Zaros. I think it was very clear to both sides that hostilities were going to resume no matter what. This would have also been negotiated before Zaros was actually overthrown.

Of course, Drakan required an agreed upon base from which to operate. It's understandable as his race got squeezed between Forinthry's territory. The only thing that seems off, was the very early timing of the attack, when Zamorak and Saradomin’s forces were still busy rounding up the Zarosian empire, while other Zamorakian generals were helping eachother. *cough* backstabber *cough*.

Drakan had many possibilities on how to handle the situation. It's as if he insisted that the remaining Zarosians would fall like flies after the betrayal at Senntisten. He had to make clear to Zamorak: “While you're busy finishing Zarosians, I will continue support, though if I take Saradominist territory before you link up with the latter’s armies and before crushing all Zarosian resistance, then you'll be alone and I won’t support you any more."

Ironically enough, upon rejoicing Zamorak’s return, Drakan does the exact opposite, grabbing an ally’s ally’s territory before said common enemy is defeated. Zamorak could have specified: “if you attack Hallowvale too soon, Saradomin could desperately ask for help from any other god, possibly putting them against us, fatally exhausting my contested resources and owned territories."

Imagine, Drakan thinking: " let those gods wear themselves out, while I play my card. " He thus attacks, though Zamorak’s forces are clearly busy elsewhere, organizing their strength. It’s what happened. If Drakan was decent he would have to tell Zamorak: “I’m not ready, let’s fight together, and support eachother"; yet his vampyre clearly had other interests (not so friendly gesture towards his master). Sometimes one must operate within the

shadows

to serve the

light

. For a man makes no noise over a good deed, but passes on to another as a vine to bear fruits again in season, in order that the world may ever be new.

15-Mar-2018 19:22:52 - Last edited on 15-Mar-2018 19:51:31 by Byzantinist

Byzantinist

Posts: 337 Silver Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Ascertes said :
As for why Saradomin agreed to the alliance, I think it's because it was a practical decision. I don't think Saradomin ever liked the idea of allying with Zamorak, but one he realized was necessary. The Zarosian Empire was split between Zamorakians and Zarosians; attacking both at the same time could have possibly pushed them together to unify rather than pull them apart.

After the betrayal, the first god to arrive at Zaros’s palace was Saradomin, taking the Catalyst with him, possibly also the Siphon, and was like: “Zamorak’s a cool guy, very helpful at that, so let’s destroy this empire together.” Soon, the whole world learned of what transpired after the betrayal. Zamorak’s following became very popular, but not popular enough before Zamorak’s demon armies’ arrival, and especially before Nex’s defeat by Saradominists.

The Zarosians were indeed still powerful, with some of the former learning of the betrayal rallying for Zamorak’s cause without him even yet in full swing on Gielinor. In contrast, Saradominists, Bandosians, and even Armadyleans together, though, were still stronger than Zamorak, so, strategically, both Zarosians and Zamorakians fighting over the empire would be in very, very deep trouble either way, sooner or later.

The distraction of Forinthry, by facing Nex alone, then taking on the rest with Zamorak’s forces’ help, was quite clever of Saradomin. Yet, Zamorak’s ally, not much later,already attacked Saradominist territory. It was an interesting situation, as Saradomin's armies, tied up somewhere else in offensive positions, watched Zamorakians attack and defeat their capital, yet still assisted them a great deal in finishing the Zarosian settlements at multiple occasions.

With these things in mind, Saradomin could sit back tight, watch the crisis unfold, attack last, and say: "wonderful, while remaining here, my defence is stronger than ever, with Catalyst already in my posession." Sometimes one must operate within the

shadows

to serve the

light

. For a man makes no noise over a good deed, but passes on to another as a vine to bear fruits again in season, in order that the world may ever be new.

15-Mar-2018 19:38:05

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Why Saradomin split his armies

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