Siege of Varrock

The Siege of Varrock is an unofficial name given to a military invasion led by the Mahjarrat Lucien in the recent Fifth Age. The battle saw the relateively brief siege of Varrock, the Misthalanian capital. The Varrockian military managed to repel the invasion at little cost, primarily through the use of magic made possible by the nation's then-dwindling rune supply.

Lucien's motivation in waging the attack remains unclear. It may have been made possible by the theft and breaking of the Shield of Arrav some 11 years before by the Phoenix and Black Arm Gangs, as the shield's loss would remove the threat of its magical abilities (which in roughly 730 of the Fourth Age had fended of Zemouregal in the Invasion of Avarrocka). However, what benefit Lucien would gain by destroying Varrock remains unclear. He has since proven himself extremely adept at military planning, leaving his quick deafeat also something of a mystery.

The siege was waged in much the same way the Invasion of Varrock had been led more than 1,000 years before. Lucien led several thousand undead harvested throughout the Wilderness into the region, although unlike Zemouregal he also was aided by a handful of human necromancers for support. Amongst these was Solus Dellagar, who, despite playing only a small role in the siege, would go on to become one of the world's most powerful battle mages. However, unlike during the early days of Avarrocka, Fifth Age Varrock was extremely well prepared for invasion. The city's defensive fortifications, far improved from their near non-existance in the Fourth, kept the majority of the undead from entering the city. The city's mages were also a deciding factor; using magic, they were able to wipe out huge numbers of undead with relative ease.

The siege was fended off quickly, and Varrock suffered little permanent damage and few casualties. Lucien managed to escape, and no efforts to capture him met any success. Lucien apparently avoided actually entering the battle, meaning that his name and appearance were never even made common knowledge. Despite the siege's strategic failure, a similar attack would be launched by Zemouregal in 169 with similar results.

Today, the siege is considered one of Varrock's less prominent battles. A small display dedicated to the battle exists in the Varrock Museum's second floor, although it does not make reference to Lucien by name. The Temple Knights evidently have investigated it to some extent, although any information they might have found is largely classified. In 169, Lucien returned to the city, although this this time in secret. He occupied a small home in the woods northwest of the city for some time before being forced out by an adventurer during the Temple of Ikov quest.