RuneScape Forum Archive | Rise of Vareeni

Jan

2007

Tharozan

Posts: 180 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Rise Of Vareen

Vareeni, from pole to pole, a lush and tropical jungle world that was the home to many races, above all - the Vasir. Evolved from the great cats of that world, the Vasir stand at nearly seven feet high with claws as sharp as their teeth and golden fur over their bodies. Governed by Gerontocracy - their High Council was the Eldest among the oldest of the race. For countless eons, their race of powerful warriors and shaman fought any race that picked a fight, never did they start one. For as much as they loved the fight, they hated war.

Then came their final enemy. There was no name to call them, no words to describe them. Nobody survived the encounters to pass on details what happened, and when someone caught a glimpse all that could be said was ‘darkness’.

For twenty years under the double suns, the Enemy spread and the jungles died. The vast global chain of rivers and great inland seas dried up. Countless species left to die upon the dry, cracked earth. However, their flesh did not rot. When the Enemy fell upon the dead, the skins were ripped from the carcass with and the meat cast off like refuse. The hearts mounted upon pikes that speared up from the ground. The other organs and skeleton was devoured.

All in the space of a few seconds.

Twenty years and now there was only a few thousand left. What was left of the Vasir had been forced to retreat across continents. They were lost. Their numbers continued to dwindle as even the most devout among them started to lose faith. Then came the dreams. They all shared them, every last man, woman and child. It was the dreams that told them where to go, a whisper that guided their journey to an ancient ruined city of their ancestors.

Lost to the jungle, the stone city had millennia worth of vines growing in and around the old walls but still the walls remain standing proud among the trees.

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20-Oct-2017 10:45:12

Jan

2007

Tharozan

Posts: 180 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

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And they appeared. In a radiant aura of blue light, the twin cat gods of Kios and Kita. Brother and sister, God of the Hunt and Goddess of the Rivers. They were also the last gods on the planet, all others perished as they defended their followers against the Enemy. It was just killing the peoples of Vareeni - it was a Godslayer.

Upon seeing them their gods, the Vasir each dropped to a knee before the blue light faded. They all looked up to see a wisp of the light vanish in through the city’s great doors. On command of Nisa, their eldest, everyone rushed into the city. Even she, although a hundred years old went in pursuit by leaping from the ground and grabbed hold of a great vine. She climbed up and started running along its length and into a window with many others right behind.

Nisa wouldn’t stop, didn’t take note of any of the ancient carvings that adorned the walls. Thanks to her inherent cat vision, it didn’t mattered that daylight didn’t penetrate much past the outer chambers. Her kind could see in the dark just as well as they could in daylight. She and her race spread throughout the city, not just to follow their gods but also to ensure that this place was safe...even if it was only for one single night of rest. With a blinding flash that spread throughout the wall and yet left nobody injured or dazed, they all stopped.

Nisa found herself standing before a wall. Cut into the stone was an image of a large ring with strange glyphs within its centre. She’d heard the legends, or course, who hadn’t. The World Gate and the Elders, the Great Makers that created all things. It was a fairy story, literally - the story was passed to her people by the Fairies of Vareeni. The legends say the Fairies were its guardians until wars wiped the fairies out and the gate was sealed away. Nobody knew where, but looking at it now...Nisa knew.

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20-Oct-2017 10:45:56

Jan

2007

Tharozan

Posts: 180 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

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On her left and right, Kios and Kita stared at the image before they turned to look at her. Each placed a hand on her shoulders and her mind flashed with a series of images, a sequence of the gate glyphs. There was also a voice, Kita’s voice -

“There’s not much time,” Nisa heard.

Without hesitation, Nisa extended her claws and stabbed them deep into the stone image, instantly drawing blood from her fingers. She withdrew her fingers and plunged again, and again and again. The stone chipped and cracked, and before long thirty others of all ages were attacking the wall with claw, blade or any tool they had at hand. Even as their finger bones broke, they didn’t stop.

It took over a day to break through the outer stone.

It was at that point that others dragged Nisa and the rest of the group from the chamber. They didn’t want to leave, they had to continue. Still, the new group pulled them out against the orders from their Elders and kept them away while a fresher group continued to dig.

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20-Oct-2017 10:47:02

Jan

2007

Tharozan

Posts: 180 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

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One month later...

Nisa stood at the window of her private chambers. The twin suns dimmed somewhat in the past weeks and as she looked out to the jungle beyond, while she couldn’t see the dying trees she could smell the rot on the wind.

Food was scarce. Their hunters returned day after day with less from the surrounding jungle, and that was with Kios’ light guiding them to prey.

“Kota!” Nisa called out.

Her aide, Kota, entered her room and bowed his head.

“Is there word?” Nisa asked.

“Our scouts report the Enemy is now surrounding us. There are barely fifty miles in every direction that is so far untouched, Still...it’s effects are potent,” Kota said.

“And our supplies?” Nisa asked.

Kota didn’t answer, she didn’t need him to. She knew their situation.

“We have complied with your orders from last night. Two hundred of our best warriors, whether by sword, spell or bow are waiting in the lowest halls. As is all our younglings, seven hundred in total,” Kota siad.

“Any problems?” Nisa asked.

“No. Their parents didn’t even have to be asked. They know what is intended, they know the cost but they know what is to be gained,” Kota said.

Nisa nodded.

Just then, without invite, another burst into the room. His hands covered in blood and soil but his eyes filled with wonder.

Nisa didn’t need to ask. The three ran back though the city, through the halls of children who were sharpening their claws and weapons with lumps of granite. From the remnants of the wall she had first broken through, there was a tunnel that ran deep beneath the city. A month of constant digging had opened up to an underground cave, in the heart of which rested the World Gate.

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20-Oct-2017 10:47:43

Jan

2007

Tharozan

Posts: 180 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

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She stepped up to the threshold and rested her palms on the control plinths on each side of the paved pathway. Without any thought to manipulated the controls to enter the sequence the gods had shown her. It came to life with a radiant green mist within the ring.

Immediately, almost as if it knew, an unholy roar rippled across the planet. No-one in the city couldn’t hear it and although they were afraid, they smiled in defiance of their Enemy.

“I want the children and their guardians through this gate now!” Nisa bellowed for all to hear, then with a whisper said, “May they find peace on the other side.”

A scout from their territories perimeter sent word to the city, There was darkness rushing through the jungle and killing absolutely everything.

Kios and Kita appeared once more, they watched as their people vanished into the mists. The ground started to shake and a thunderous rumble rolled throughout the city. To the walls, to the doors and windows, each man and woman left took up guard. They may not last long but they swore to last as long as needed to see their children through the gate.

Nisa bowed to her gods, before she looked toward her council of Shaman. They nodded and went to their Seconds, their aides, friends and above all...their students who’d take up their mantle. As a mark of their status, each Shaman wore a grey cloak but the elders each had an emblem of their particular discipline fastened to where their cloaks connected at their throat. Each knew what they must do, the magic they had to summon and what they had to pass on. Each started through the gate with the warriors and children.

Lastly, there was Nal. Eldest of the Shaman and Master of the Balance. There wasn’t a circumstance where a student would leave their master’s side. Where a master went, so did the student. That was their code, that was their duty. Nal looked to his student and pulled off his emblem.

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20-Oct-2017 10:48:26

Jan

2007

Tharozan

Posts: 180 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

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“No,” Lata said as Nal put the emblem in her hand.

“You’re ready enough,” Nal said.

“I haven’t faced the Trials. I haven’t...”

“None of the apprentices have and that is no longer an option. You all have a purpose, the masters have theirs and I have mine...right here,” Nal said.

“I cannot leave your side,” Lata said.

“Yes you can. You must. Otherwise the teachings of Balance will die here with us. You must go to take a student, pass on what I have taught you. And if you don’t I will knock you out and throw you through that ring,” Nal said.

“Not such a bad idea,” Kios said.

“What?” Kita asked.

Kios threw up his hand and with a flash of light, his sister was knocked cold. Kios leaned down and picked up his sister, he knew she’d never leave without him.

“Care for them Kita, just as you always have. Live well little sister. Remember. Matani’s prophecy, there is...a Chosen One, this World Guardian...they’ll find you. It was always you that was spoken of in the texts, not the rest of us and we haven’t met anyone close to the Great One’s words,” Kios said.

Kios marched to the gate and pushed Kita inside. He looked at Nal and nodded. Lata looked at the emblem in her hand, just as the screaming started to echo down from the floors above.

“Go!” Nal yelled.

Lata ran to the gate and jumped into the mist. Nal turned to the tunnel, pull a small bag from his belt and closed his eyes.

“Spirits of Balance, join me in battle,” he said.

His bag glowed, a glow that spread up his arm to his eyes.

Kios charged through the tunnel only for a great ripple of darkness flood down the passage. Kios was hurtled back and slammed into the rock wall behind them. Black covered his fur of his left arm, infecting each molecule and spreading across his body. He screamed. Nal watched a god scream in abject agony.

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20-Oct-2017 10:49:14

Jan

2007

Tharozan

Posts: 180 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

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“The Stone, it was born of the our world’s Stone!” Kios yelled.

With his good hand raised to the gate he sent a pulse of light through before turning to Nal. Light flooded out of Kios and went into Nal, the glow of Nal’s eyes intensified as Kios turned to stone before collapsing into dust.

Nal looked at the Enemy.

“I am Nal,” he said defiantly.

The darkness surrounded the shaman but the last of Kios’ power created a shield around him, turning Nal into a barrier between the Enemy and the Gate...albeit, a weak one.

“I am the nine thousandth two hundred and first Shaman of Balance,” Nal yelled.

The Enemy roared and increased its attack, the shield glowed.

“I am the Heir of Korath, Teacher of Lata and Eldest of the Council, second only to Nisa. I was old when the Council of Shaman were still kittens suckling at their mothers. And I say You-shall-not-pass!” Nal screamed in rage.

The enemy poured itself into the chamber, the energy of the shield blazed like white fire but Nal could feel it cracking.

“You will never pass!” Nal screamed

The Enemy pushed and Nal went flying through the air, with a skid he scraped along the ground and landed at the gate’s control plinths. Nal opened his eyes, his claws scrapped troughs into the ground as he pushed himself back to his feet.

“Okay...that hurt,” Nal said with a shake of his head.

There were only minutes left to Kios’ power, he didn’t know how long travel in the gate took and hoped the people were now on the other side. He couldn’t last much longer. In fact, he knew he wouldn’t survive another hit and then the Enemy would be free to follow them to the other side.

“Fire to water, earth to air, day to night, light to dark. Creation began and the Balance was born. Spirits of Balance, give me strength to bring light against this dark!” Nal yelled.

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20-Oct-2017 10:50:17

Jan

2007

Tharozan

Posts: 180 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

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He sliced his claw into the bag and it’s contents of engraved stones spilled to the floor around him. The symbols glowed, the stones crumbled and the glow flowed into Nal, almost instantly the price of calling this kind of power began to weaken his muscles and drain what was left of his life. This was the cost of all Shaman who spilled their stones and summoned the full scope of their knowledge, godly enhanced to not. However, Nal did have a little godly power left and channelled that into the energy from his stones, and then into his hands.

A fanged smile and Nal roared. He extended his claws, each one glowed bright blue and he leapt backward. His claws pierced the Gate, dug deep and then cut through the strange material and then did the other side. The mist blasted out, casting the darkness back a few feet. The top third of the gate collapsed down, broke into fragments as its power faded.

The Enemy charged. Nal, laying on the ground, looked at it and smiled is it washed over him. The blast from the gate weakened the walls of the chamber, they cracked and the weight of the city above caused to entire room to fall in upon itself. There was nothing but a great crater on a lifeless world. The darkness roared at the knowledge that the Vasir escaped it.

For Now...

Gielinor...

West of Ardougne, there lay the World Gate. It burst into life and out poured the last of the Vasir. The first warriors through drew their weapons and readied their defence in this strange world. Already they could see a difference, the trees were bountiful but not nearly as much as back home. Still, there was life everywhere and the air was sweet.

None of them saw their goddess nearby. She awoke instantly on this new world and made herself invisible to them, her brother’s last words and message echoing in her mind. She had to help them.

“What do we do now?” one of the children asked.

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20-Oct-2017 10:51:04

Jan

2007

Tharozan

Posts: 180 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

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“I don’t kn...” Lata said but stopped mid-sentence as Kita placed her hand on her shoulder, she was now in charge until someone who wasn’t a Shaman became the oldest. “We follow these mountains, we cross at the great birds and head to the sea.”

The gate closed and nobody else had followed. Each knelt, a moments rest but few more to mourn. They couldn’t linger, they knew they couldn’t. They needed food, water and a safe place and this was certainly not it. They gathered what little they had and proceeded north to Eagle Peak.

However, before they had arrived, they didn’t know Kita’s arrival had an effect on Gielinor. After coming through the gate, a shockwave rippled over the lands and seas shaking everything.

Lumbrige...

In his small castle, Horacio paced in his room as though he had nothing else to do when the tremors hit his mind flashed back to the god battle that happened in forest behind his castle. He sighed.

“I swear to Saradomin, if that’s the World Guardian messing with the gods again, I am going to kick...”

“Don’t finish that sentence, Dukey,” the World Guardian said upon entering.

“Don’t call me that, please,” Horacio said.

“Okay Dukey,” the World Guardian said. “Anyway, wasn’t me...this time. Even Zamorak has been quiet lately.”

“Okay, so why are you here?” Horacio asked.

“Oh, I was just passing through. Needed to use the bank in your basement,” the World Guardian said.

“I have a bank in my basement? I thought that was upstairs?” Horacio asked.

“It is...it’s one of those quest things. Speaking of...I smell another one in the air. I better go find out what just happened. Saradomin is still in Falador, I’ll check with him. Might be able to point me in the right direction,” The World Guardian said.

“Well, good luck to you,” Horacio said.

“Thank you Dukey,” The guardian said with a smirk.

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20-Oct-2017 10:51:48

Jan

2007

Tharozan

Posts: 180 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

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A teleport later, The World Guardian arrived at Falador’s northern gate and ran south into the castle. A few floors up and there was a god rubbing his temples like he had a headache.

“Are you okay?” The World Guardian asked.

“No. None of us are. Haven’t felt like this since Guthix died,” Saradomin said.

“Are you saying a god has died?” the World Guardian asked.

“No. But there’s a new one on Geilinor...powerful...but in pain. She has suffered loss. She has come with others, mortals. Just as Guthix, Seren, I and the others brought races to Geilinor, she has come with a new race. There is danger World Guardian, the mortals of this world will be scared of the newcomers and I cannot see them clearly enough to know if they are threat or not. Find them, assess them. Give them aide if you deem them worthy of it but if they threaten my mortals you will deal with them,” Saradomin said.

“I’ll do what I think I need to do. I don’t answer to any of the gods, not you, not Zamorak,” the World Guardian said. “If this new god has brought mortals here, that means the World Gate. I’ll check it out.”

With that, the Guardian departed.

West of Eagle Peak...

The Vasir had reached a small beach. To the south, they could see the gleaming crystal of Priffdinas and Kita could feel the presence of another goddess in its walls. She felt it wise to keep her people away for now. There was time to make contact once they were safe. Nisa had already conveyed instructions to the Shaman masters before they left Vareeni, they knew they had to...a sacrifice they’d make a thousand times over to see their people safe.

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20-Oct-2017 10:53:04

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Rise of Vareeni