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Dec

2023

Poller5

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Howdy,

I'm Poller, and this is my latest story, a prequel to Ardhonmeth, which I sincerely suggest you read before or after this (though the latter would make more sense). I have two other stories on these forums, "The Story of Castle Wars" and "A Warrior's Heart", which was my entry for this years story contest.

I'm Canadian, but as many of you know, live in England. My SF debut was over two years ago, and I was active for a few months shortly thereafter, before quitting and returning around seven months ago.

This should be my best story to date, so sit back, relax, and enjoy.

17-Feb-2008 20:22:59 - Last edited on 17-Dec-2011 00:37:18 by Poller5

Dec

2023

Poller5

Posts: 11,421 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Prologue

This recently uncovered document contains the most accurate history of the sixth age of Gielinor, and the rise to power of Zaros.

The fifth age of Gielinor was one of great prosperity for the followers of Saradomin. Humans had, in the fourth age, taken control of much of the land, and within the fifth age they completed their conquest. Few noted the price of their victory: the elimination of many lesser races, including the gnomes. The major cities of the land thrived, many trebling their size and population. Faith in Saradomin was nigh absolute within the major cities, and many forgot the existence of other gods.

The lands of the north, ravaged by the God Wars, were rebuilt, the charred earth renewed. Few remembered the terrors of that land now, and two cities to rival the size of Falador were built. Zamorack’s power over the area was lost, and his power was only maintained through the corrupt governments of Burthorpe and Yanille.

Guthix was nigh forgotten, and from the majority of teachings he was eliminated. Saradomin was hailed as the creator of Gielinor, and only the wisest of men knew the truth. Enlightenment was impossible, as speaking against the teachings of Saradomin was the highest of treasons, punishable by death. Those who obtained the forbidden knowledge lived a life of secrecy, hermits isolated from civilization.

The desert, alone of the civilized areas, remained free of Saradomin's grasp. Azzandra ruled over the major cities, a god among his people. Saradomin had, as yet, not attacked him, for he viewed a mahjarrat who worshipped a god presumed dead by the world as a minor threat. As such, the denizens of the desert were enlightened beyond all other races in the history of Gielinor, for Azzandra would not allow it to be forgotten. Of the other citizens of the world, none bothered themselves with the affairs of the desert folks: they were regarded as barbarians, savages lacking humanity.

17-Feb-2008 20:23:04 - Last edited on 24-Feb-2008 09:40:33 by Poller5

Dec

2023

Poller5

Posts: 11,421 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

The other gods of old were utterly forgotten, wiped from sentient memory. Zaros, Armadyl, and even Seren were lost from thought, erased from thought by the misguided teachings of Saradomin. The past was rewritten****-forged and corrupted by Saradomin and his priests. The gods of old were forgotten, yet they did not cease to exist. Of old, one had been nigh unmatched in might; one who despised the concept of being forgotten. Soon would be the day of Tulessëvala, the return of Zaros.

Part I – Of the Return of Zaros

Azzandra, alone in his position as a mahjarrat, and most knowledgeable of the mortal beings, had long anticipated the return of his god. His magic had been expended innumerable times in the most internecine of rituals in attempt to bring Zaros back to Gielinor, but from his endeavors he reaped no benefit. He had led many of the most powerful of his magi to their deaths by demanding their assistance, and he himself had been injured terribly on occasion.

Save for the gods, he was now the oldest being upon Gielinor; his tenure upon Gielinor having begun during the first age, and his life stretched long before that in the forgotten land of Frenskrae. Within his pyramid fortress, hidden from the now destructive eye of Saradomin, the past was taught in a form purer than existed anywhere upon Gielinor to his most loyal servants. Not all those who aided him in his attempts to draw Zaros back to the material plane were forced to do so: many possessed knowledge of Zaros and wished him back.

Scarce had a day passed in which Azzandra did not attempt to return to Gielinor his master, and those he did not were spent in rest, relieving the fatigue of previous attempts. His attempts had all failed; never could he delve into the plane in which Zaros was imprisoned. Of late, rumors of an ancient temple had alighted upon him, rumors he could not ignore.

17-Feb-2008 20:23:09 - Last edited on 23-Feb-2008 10:38:03 by Poller5

Dec

2023

Poller5

Posts: 11,421 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Failure in finding this item was unforgivable, and Azzandra would trust none of his servants with this, the most important of tasks. The rumors were clear, and Azzandra knew them to be true. Saradomin's searching for it was inevitable: his expedience would be determined by the speed with which the news reached his ears. Azzandra had to get there first, for if this was truly what he believed it to be, its value would be beyond perspicacity.

With his magic his weapon and haste his only ally, Azzandra flew with unprecedented velocity to his destination: a depraved, poor area of Varrock. He flew silently over the walls of the city, no more visible than the shadows he inhabited. He was not welcome here, the very stones seemed to scream this message at him. Silently he stalked the streets, searching for the dilapidated building that concealed the entrance to the temple.

Then his eyes alighted upon a building within an ancient façade, abandoned and empty in appearance. Azzandra knew this was the building he required, the structure that would effect his god's return. Excitement shook his body as he walked: for years had he anticipated this day. He neared the door, hanging limply off a single rusted hinge. His eyes flashed, gripped with excitement, as he opened the portal, ready for whatever was within.

Within he found naught, save for a small trap door, which hastily he entered and descended the ladder within. He entered into swiftly a room at the bottom, and at the far end existed a door, a door that had existed for thousands of years and was once found on the surface. The power it emanated was great; Azzandra felt it most potently, and also did he recognize it: it was the power of his god, Zaros.

The distance to the door closed before him, and as his hand descended to open the ancient entrance, his attentions diverted to beings behind him. He looked upon them, four and twenty Saradominist wizards, and terrible he appeared to them.

17-Feb-2008 20:23:14 - Last edited on 23-Feb-2008 10:40:22 by Poller5

Dec

2023

Poller5

Posts: 11,421 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Their spells rained upon him, but blinded by the rage of ages, Azzandra turned upon them in his fell terror, and their spells were ineffectual. Azzandra's wrath was unleashed, and the wizards were struck with terror; one by one they dropped, destroyed by the fell powers of Azzandra. Not one did survive the terrible onslaught of might, and once more the attention of Azzandra turned to the ancient door.

Entering the room, a second room was found, and beyond that was a blackened, twisted staircase, and at the foot stood a room, and at the centre there was an altar. No god remaining could claim ownership, nor would any have the incentive to do so, for this altar was stained with the blood of innocence, and was terrible. No beauty existed in it, for it was a construct of evil, built to worship Zaros, the most fell of the gods.

Azzandra approached the altar with reverence, and bowed was his head when he reached it, silent prayers his only thoughts. Without knowing it, he spoke an ancient phrase, the curse laid upon Zamorack even as he drained from Zaros his power: Him who attacks a god as if he were his equal, and him who hath not the power to comprehend his actions shall not be free of the burden; upon him vengeance shall be wrought, and the winged angel of death shall overtake him: thou shalt not forget mine name, for it shall haunt thee, and thou shalt regret soon thine actions.

Then did Azzandra remember a prayer, words that he had learned in ages gone past from his god, words which now would return his god, and he was sure of this. And he spoke them with power and confidence, and as the syllables entered the world the air grew thicker, and soon the power of Zaros did fill the chamber; he spoke the final, twisted word, and then his god stood before him, mighty in his wrath.

17-Feb-2008 20:23:18 - Last edited on 23-Feb-2008 10:42:39 by Poller5

Dec

2023

Poller5

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Part II – Of the Rise of Zaros

Such was the nature of the planar travel executed by Zaros that the other gods instantly knew of his arrival, but they feared him and were silent. Of old, Zaros was of greater might than any of the gods, save Guthix, whom he had never confronted. His gratitude to Azzandra was great, and Azzandra's position as his lieutenant was solidified, and never were his deeds forgotten.

Great was the wrath of Zaros, and equally great was his might: only the most powerful of the gods could stand before him. With great anger he found Zamorack, who was afraid. His power was unleashed, and it was terrible, for an ancient wrath fuelled his attacks, and Zamorack did not survive.

Sure that his power was now to be feared, to the desert Zaros returned, and there he was met by his followers: men raised by Azzandra in the same way he himself had raised men before his banishment. His people were powerful, and great was their empire, for it spanned the entire desert, even unto the great Na*tadôr mountains in the east. Long had they avoided the power of Saradomin, and long had they prospered. These, the men loyal to Zaros, were rewarded, and in a rousing speech were promised great might in what would be Zaros's new empire.

Soon a great army was raised, and Zaros's forces marched forth from the desert, religious zeal driving the troops onwards towards Varrock, and what would be a terrible battle. Soon Gielinor would quake at the triumphant return of Zaros to power.

Part III – Of the Victories of Zaros

Zaros's attack of Varrock was brutal, but preparations had been made, and along with the considerable might of the Varrockian army, Armadyl, chief among Zaros's enemies of old, returned and did battle.

17-Feb-2008 20:23:22 - Last edited on 17-Feb-2008 20:25:46 by Poller5

Dec

2023

Poller5

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Zaros, sensing the presence of another god, reserved his energy for that confrontation, and his army headed by Azzandra fought the forces of Varrock day after day, until they Varrockian forces faltered, and Armadyl came to the fighting, wielding his staff of ancient might.

Zaros then came to the battle, and did battle with Armadyl, whose only weapon was his staff. Soon was it destroyed, for it could not match the power of Zaros, then Armadyl fell and was dead. The troops of Varrock, demoralized by witnessing the death of a god were pushed back, and only when it was too late did they regroup, but they were destroyed. Varrock then became a city of Zaros once more, and the citizens cared not of the arrival of a new god, for of late Saradomin's rule had been corrupt.

Around the ancient temple that had been used for the return of Zaros was built a new fortress, and the old one was destroyed. This was to be Zaros's capital, and he was quick to proclaim himself a friend of the people, and they're ignorance worked in his favour, for they believed him to be a new god of good, and knew not of their folly.

Zaros's troops then swept north and south, conquering the small township of Draynor, and the cities of Lumbridge and Edgeville, which now were mighty. Then his troops were issued into the west, and the fortified town of Gwainbalan, which was once a barbarian settlement, was captured.

Intimidated now by the power of Zaros, Saradomin, whose arrogance would prove fatal, moved the troops of Ardougne and Falador, a force of tens of thousands of men, to Mærdîn, the mountain north of Falador, where he hoped to destroy the threat of Zaros. There they fortified the mountain, and awaited Zaros's next move.

Out of Gwainbalan, it was but a two day march to Mærdîn, and Zaros sent his troops forth with confidence, and their movements were well known to Saradomin, who was ready for them.

17-Feb-2008 20:23:27 - Last edited on 19-Feb-2008 17:53:10 by Poller5

Dec

2023

Poller5

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The two armies were of almost equal sizes, and they fought a pitched battle for a single day before Saradomin revealed himself unto Zaros.

From the rear of the army Zaros emerged to face Saradomin, a deity that had been instrumental in his banishing, and his wrath was released. For long days they fought above the troops, their magic stunning and terrible, for both were fuelled by powerful emotions. After the twelfth day of fighting, Zaros gained the advantage, and eager to destroy his foe, pressed it, and the battle moved to the summit of Mærdîn, where at last Zaros cast down Saradomin, who was destroyed.

For many days afterwards the armies continued to fight, for Zaros was forced to rest after his battle and could not participate. Both armies were decimated, and at the end, only three and fifty of Zaros's troops remained, but of Saradomin's, none remained. The battle had been hard won, but now the forces of the other gods were powerless to stop Zaros, who was now fully rested, and soon Falador fell.

From Falador, Zaros's troops continued west, almost avoiding bloodshed in their conquering of the towns, for they believed the same lies that the people of Varrock had, and were pawns to the might of Zaros. Only after Zaros's troops reached Cenedost, the village of the seers, did they encounter resistance, for one god still remained, and he had been the most powerful of the gods upon Gielinor before the return of Zaros: he was Guthix.

Part IV- Of the Fall of Guthix

Upon the return of Zaros, Guthix had returned to Gielinor, where he met with the only god who had not chosen to ignore him: Seren. Upon his suggestion, she fled deep into Tyrannwn, and was not to be seen again for many years, but before she left she imparted upon Guthix a final parting gift: a gem containing her essence, which would give him knowledge of whether she had fallen or not.

17-Feb-2008 20:23:31 - Last edited on 17-Feb-2008 20:48:38 by Poller5

Dec

2023

Poller5

Posts: 11,421 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Zaros, now confident in his power, had rallied a second army throughout the towns he conquered, and now commanded over five and twenty thousand troops. Guthix's army, rallied in Gûrmindon, which was Ardougne, was smaller, but the elite troops of the last remaining free city upon Gielinor were powerful, and victory for Zaros would be hard won.

Guthix was wise beyond any other being, and also intelligent, and so let Zaros's troops drive his back near to Gûrmindon, to the plains of Thaurtalaf, where the familiar terrain was provided the single advantage to the troops of Guthix.

When at last both armies had reached Thaurtalaf, and might war camps had been built, the armies were pitted against each other by gods that viewed them as nothing more than pawns, insignificant in the coming battle of the gods which would decide the future of the land. Fierce was the fighting, and many men tasted the bitterness of death before the sun dipped beneath the horizon, looking for the last time upon a free world.

As the fighting ended Guthix withdrew from his position at the rear of his army, and in his glory rose over the camps of the armies, and called to Zaros, who responded by appearing in the sky, and he was terrible in his might; the very air seemed to tremble as he appeared to face his foe. Thus began what was to become known as Rub'unqualë, the final battle of the war, and the singular most impressive display of magic to date upon Gielinor.

17-Feb-2008 20:23:42 - Last edited on 17-Feb-2008 20:48:57 by Poller5

Dec

2023

Poller5

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The two gods did battle over the plains of Thaurtalaf for two and ten days, before Guthix gained the advantage, and Zaros fled to the feet of Gador Amon, the ancient mountain that had been the location of the arrival of Guthix upon Gielinor many ages in the past. For another two and twenty days they did battle, steadily ascending the mountain until they stood near the summit on the twenty-second day of battle, at the mouth of a large cave.

Zaros, ever cunning, devised then a plan, and instantly maneuvered himself into such a position that Guthix was before the mouth of the cave, and then with terrible precision and fell might Zaros's spells descended upon him he was driven into the cave, and his magic was focused on defense. As such, he did not notice the other spells that Zaros was casting, insidious spells of a terrible nature.

By the time the nature of the other spells Zaros had cast, spells of locking and warding, was known to Guthix, it was too late for him to act, and Zaros had already set in motion a landslide, which fell and covered the mouth of the cave, trapping Guthix.

Then Zaros called upon his might, and for days he stood there, laying stronger and stronger spells upon the gate, and then he was weary, but as he stood there, before the impenetrable cell his foe was now trapped within, Zaros knew that victory was his, and as he stood there, he proclaimed himself ruler of Gielinor, and all the world was his.

~End~

17-Feb-2008 20:23:51 - Last edited on 17-Feb-2008 20:49:31 by Poller5

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