History

The History of the in-game world of RuneScape spans five distinct ages (roughly just over 12,000 years in total), the fifth of which is currently taking place. Transitions between ages are made when major events occur, such as the discovery of Rune essence. Currently, it is year 169 of the fifth age; it appears to have been this year within the game since its release.

First Age
In the First Age, Guthix discovered a "blank plane", which he christened Gielinor. He shaped it as he saw fitting, and created savage life forms. Some of the oldest intelligent races by that time were TzHaar and Elves. Elves supposedly arrived to Gielinor through the World Gate, lead by Seren, while TzHaar race was created when "volcano shook foundation of earth". At the end of the age, Guthix went into a deep "slumber", unaware of what was going on for the next few thousand years. Shortly after, Zaros, "the empty lord", several members of the Desert Pantheon, and possibly several other gods including Armadyl, arrived on this plane.

The First Age lasted roughly 4,000 years, from the finding of the "blank plane" to the slumber of Guthix.

Second Age
In the Second Age, the Mahjarrat abandoned their ruler, Icthlarin in favor of the more powerful god, Zaros. The Mahjarrat are a tribe of very powerful, long-lived but still mortal warriors. Zaros built up an empire, with seven major fortresses scattered across the land. These fortresses were built on the sites players are able to teleport to in the Ancient Magicks spellbook. This empire lasted about 2,000 years.

A group of Mahjarrat led by Zamorak, one of Zaros' generals, began a revolt against him in order to seize power for themselves. Zamorak managed to get hold of the Staff of Armadyl, which accidentally impaled both Zaros and Zamorak, causing Zaros' godhood to run through the staff and be transferred to Zamorak. Before his death, Zaros uttered a curse that fell upon all those involved in the revolt. Following this, the God Wars began.

We are told by Juna that the Second Age was a time of higher culture, before civilisations were wiped out or geared towards war because of the God Wars. Of these races there is no trace and almost no memory. Surviving members include the Light creatures which are said to be the remnants of a long dead race.

Third Age
Not much is known of the Third Age, as it was the era during which the God Wars took place. It lasted 4,000 years, from the betrayal of Zaros by Zamorak, to the end of the God wars and the creation of the Edicts of Guthix. Although only Saradomin, Bandos, Armadyl and Zamorak were recorded, many more of the gods participated. Towards the end of the war, Guthix awoke and was shocked by the destruction caused by the God Wars. He was so angry that he smashed the ground with his fist and left behind some of his magical energy and left Fiara to guard the modern day Fist of Guthix. Guthix stopped the God Wars. He then changed the world so the gods could never again walk the earth, they could only have influence through their followers. The Desert Pantheon, due to being less powerful, were allowed to stay on Gielinor.

Afterwards, Guthix went underground, to what is now known as the Lumbridge Swamp Caves, and wept for the lives that had been lost. His tears, the Tears of Guthix, splashed onto the nearby rocks, allowing the rocks to feel sympathy and sadness, and thus the rocks wept. Guthix placed a guardian by the rocks, the snake Juna, and Guthix once more left the world of Gielinor for a long slumber.

Fourth Age
The Fourth Age of RuneScape is also known as "The Age of Mortals" and lasted exactly 2,000 years, from the end of the God Wars and creation of the Edicts of Guthix, to the discovery of Rune essence.

With the God Wars over, mortals were able to live in relative safety once again. Many races went to great lengths for control over valuable land and resources, however, leading to fighting between them and little progress. There are also tales of undead necromancers raising armies to obliterate everything in their way, making things yet more difficult.

One of the most powerful races of the Fourth Age were the elves. Upon discovering the God Wars was over and there was a great power vacuum to be filled, the elves quickly sent the Cadarn Clan, the clan that was the military force of the elves, to investigate. Upon discovery of the resources avaliable, the elves built Arandar, a pass over the mountains, to give quicker access. Before the seclusion during the God Wars the elves were friends with the gnomes, who gratefully accepted an alliance, as did the humans.

In 1930, the eastern elves lost contact with their brethren in Tirannwn and found that Iowerth had betrayed them all and taken control of the Tower of Voices. After the Baxtorian Campaign to attempt to reclaim their homeland, all was lost as the leaders of the Cadarn Clan were either dead or too young to rule. This ended the reign of the elves in modern day Kandarin.

During the early part of the age, humans were nomadic, traveling from place to place to survive. Eventually, permanent settlements were built, although they were still often attacked by enemies; in the year 1937, a bridge was built over the river Lum, and the town of Lumbridge was founded.

During the latter part of the age, humans began to build towns and cities, eventually establishing rudimentary feudal economies in much of the South-East of the world, although the kingdoms could not be considered nations, and the continuing struggle with Goblins, or in wilder areas, Trolls and Ogres meant that progress was limited.

Even Goblins eventually started to build settlements of their own, but even today they cannot be considered anything near civilised. It is during this age that the Dwarven Kings were replaced by the consortium and the Gnomes (who had suffered due to the hunting by humans) retreated to isolated, yet civilised and culturally advanced settlements.

At the end of the age, Humans stumbled upon Rune essence, which could be used to create Runes. This enabled many to make use of powerful Magic, instead of being limited to studied mages. Runes spread among the human civilizations, powerful enough to hold other races back. This led to human dominance throughout the world.

Fifth Age
RuneScape is currently in its Fifth Age, the age of the dominance of humans. This age started when Rune essence were discovered, allowing ordinary humans to learn Magic. This lead to the rapid expansion of Misthalin, and the founding of Kandarin and Asgarnia, and the eventual dominion of humans in most of the world.

The only major catastrophe for humans was a brutal invasion of Misthalin by the Fremennik tribe, who hated and feared magic and those who used it. They were eventually defeated before they reached Varrock, and settled down into a small village, but the Imcando Dwarves were sadly wiped out. The Wizards' Tower was built as a place to research Magic. In the year 70 of the Fifth Age, the Tower was burnt down by Zamorakians, who had been denied entry.

In year 165, King Roald of Misthalin renovated a once ruined town in north-west Misthalin. The town's former name was Paddewwa, once a fortress of Zaros in the Second Age. It came to ruin and destruction during the God Wars and has since been rebuilt and renamed Edgeville. The year is currently 169. This year, the secret of Runecrafting was re-discovered and once again taken into practice.