Guthix

Guthix (pronounced "GUTH-icks") is the God of Balance and the first god to have arrived on Gielinor. "The way of Guthix" entails as much as acquiring balance, resulting in Equilibrium. His only other goal is peace to mortals.

A misconception about Guthix is that he is not the god of peace and tranquility. This is false. Guthix sought to create a world of Balance where mortals could live in peace without the interference of gods. Although balance does not necessarily mean peace (as evidenced by the Void Knights), when talking to the player in The World Wakes, Guthix states that he is a pacifist. Also, Guthix does not necessarily agree with the actions taken by his own followers, as he has stated that he does not want to be worshipped.

Description and powers
Guthix is a shapeshifter, and is able to take the form of anything he desires. He was believed to take the form of a butterfly when he first arrived on Gielinor and when he brought humans to Gielinor, he took the form of one himself so as not to frighten them.

When he first became a God, he required the Elder Sword to do this, but eventually became powerful enough to open portals without it. He was able to easily open many portals through which he banished the warring gods at the end of the Third Age. It is also said that he was the one who originally enchanted the demon-slaying sword, Silverlight.

Guthix seems strictly to the side of balance. A good example of how this motto plays into the game is in Castle Wars and Soul Wars, when a player picks the Guthix Portal. When this happens, the player sides with the side with the least players and effectively equals the teams, hence the saying, "Balance is Power".

It is generally thought that Guthix's symbol was originally attributed to him by his followers. However, Orlando Smith suggests it may have far older origins due to it's presence on murals dated to the First Age. The fact that Armadyl and Saradomin are known to have obtained their symbols from Elder Artefacts may suggest similar origins for Guthix's symbol.

History
Guthix was originally a member of a now-extinct race known as the Naragi. They were a peaceful race with little to no warriors. One day, the Naragi diviners detected a disturbance in the city of Askroth - a portal to another world was opening. When the portal opened, Saradomin came through, to be greeted by a welcoming committee the Naragi had set up. According to the Tribute to Guthix FAQ, the Naragi chose not to follow Saradomin which angered him, so he slaughtered them and razed Askroth to the ground. A fortress was built on the city's ruins and his armies spewed forth from it. A God War had begun on Guthix's homeworld.

The war which destroyed much, including Guthix's neighbours and family. This influenced Guthix to form the belief that worlds must exist in peace, without the constant interference of gods. A balanced world.

It is unknown how long the war lasted, but near the end, when his world was in ruins, Guthix, who was hiding with his daughter Aagi, witnessed a battle between Saradomin and a godlike Boar known to the Naragi as Tuska.

Saradomin eventually abandoned the plane, and another God, Skargaroth, engaged Tuska in battle. Tuska gored him with her horns, causing him to drop a powerful sword that crackled with energy. Skargaroth collapsed onto Guthix's home, killing his daughter who was hidden inside. Guthix, angered, took up the the God's sword, blinded the boar, and stabbed the god Skargaroth in the back. The sword absorbed Skargaroth's power and transferred it to him. It was at this point that Guthix was mortal no more, but became a fully-fledged god Himself.

After many centuries of wandering, Guthix discovered Gielinor, the last, perfect creation of the Elder Gods, along with 3 Elder God artefacts, the Stone of Jas, a horn and the Staff of Armadyl. It was here that he realised what he believed to be his purpose; to create a world free of the influence of Gods. He opened the World Gate and Portal of Life to bring forth peaceful races that did not tend towards good or evil, and who had no concept of Gods - these included Humans, Gnomes, Dwarves, Fairies, and Fairy Dragons among others. This marked the beginning of the First Age.

At some point during this time, the Goddess Seren arrived in Gielinor as well, and the two became very close friends. According to Guthix's memories, Guthix met Seren before other gods arrived on Gielinor. Together, they helped the mortals prosper, but Guthix felt that Gielinor should truly belong to mortals and tries to convince Seren to leave Gielinor while he sleeps. She cries at this, for they had become close friends. Guthix himself said, "We'd grown close, and I had no intention of abandoning her." He also said, "Seren promised that she would follow me," Referring to the fact that while he wanted the world to forget him she didn't want to. He soon went into his first sleep, thus marking the beginning of the Second Age. The worship of Guthix mostly died out as other Gods arrived onto the plane and their influence grew. Guthix did not emerge again until the end of the Third Age, the God Wars, when Zamorak's destruction of Forinthry caused him to awake.

To stop the wars, Guthix laid down his edicts and banished the major gods from the world, creating a magical barrier to keep them out. They would no longer be allowed to influence the world directly, except through their followers; they would have to isolate their wars to the God realms. However, Gielinor was forever changed from Guthix's original vision; Forinthry was forever scarred, becoming what is now called the Wilderness. Many races that were brought in to fight in the War, and who did not care for balance remained in Gielinor, and despite the banishment of the Gods, mortals continued to worship them. After sealing the Stone of Jas away in a hidden temple, Guthix, feeling great sorrow for the world he had shaped and loved so, descended again to slumber. But first, he paused to survey Gielinor's ravaged state, and wept. Upon realising his tears had imbued the stone nearby with magical properties, he assigned Juna to guard them and to judge who would be worthy to pass. He returned to sleep once more, and would not be heard from again until the end of the Fifth Age.

Obliteration
After thousands of years existing as the very thing he fought against, Guthix longed for death, to be reunited with his people which he missed so very much. Eventually, Guthix would get his wish. In the year 169 of the Fifth Age, the archaeologist and explorer Orlando Smith uncovered what transpired to be Guthix's original resting place, which with the help of a renowned adventurer, was accessed after millennia untouched. This sparked off a series of events that culminated in Guthix's demise, at the hands of the Zarosian Mahjarrat Sliske with the legendary Staff of Armadyl. Before he died, Guthix told his tale to the adventurer, his new and last Guardian, gave them a portion of his godly powers, and left the defense of Gielinor against the other gods in their hands, so as to avoid the destruction of the world. With Guthix slain, the Edicts he had established to keep the gods out of Gielinor were nullified, allowing the deities to once again step foot in the world - with Saradomin being the first - and essentially ushering a new, uncertain Age.

Religion
Guthix is the god of balance, meaning that he values a balance between chaos and order, many player followers of Guthix tend to have leanings towards chaos and destruction (Zamorak) or order (Saradomin). Guthix wishes to keep the gods out of Gielinor, preferring for the world to be a place where mortals can live without the interference of gods. He is also been stated by Jagex to be connected by the Anima Mundi, Which is life in all things, something the Druids respect.

Groups and races

 * Druids - Followers of the God of Balance found in Taverley and in the Fist of Guthix minigame.
 * Seers - A group of humans who are often considered prophets.
 * Fremennik - A group of mostly militant humans.
 * Moon Clan - A group of magically and telepathically gifted humans.
 * Void Knights - Protectors of Gielinor, found at the Void Knight Outpost.
 * Gnomes- A small humanoid race that deal closely with nature.
 * Dwarves - Another small humanoid race of miners.
 * Imcando dwarves - Special race of dwarves, the only known survivors being Ramarno and Thurgo.
 * Crux Eqal - Underground group of Druids, fighting the Mahjarrat threat.
 * Fairies (including fairy dragons)- Small flying humanoids.
 * Giant Ents - Familiars used in the Summoning Skill ( and possible all familiars as they are summoned by druids)
 * Moss Giants - A species of Giant which are shown to support Guthix
 * Automatons -  Creations balanced between nature and technology
 * Cabbages - Vegetables led by Brassica Prime
 * Flora & Anima Mundi - plants of Gielinor

Notable individuals

 * Filliman Tarlock - Nature Spirit in Morytania
 * Queen of Snow - an NPC from the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Christmas events who was created by Guthix
 * Juna - a Guardian of Guthix who guards the Tears of Guthix in the Lumbridge Swamp Caves
 * Fiara - a Guardian of Guthix who overlooks the Fist of Guthix minigame.
 * Balance Elemental - a creation of Guthix, appointed by Guthix to guard Stone of Jas
 * Valluta - a Guardian of Guthix, She was appointed by Guthix to guard the veil between worlds and protect Gielinor from otherworldly threats, especially void pests.
 * Thaerisk Cemphier - leader of Crux Eqal
 * Cres - a Guardian of Guthix and the leader of automatons, appointed by Guthix to guard his chamber
 * Spider Queen - Queen of Spiders, from the 2009 Halloween Event, she says that it is against the laws of Guthix for the Grim Reaper to clean up cobwebs at Halloween.
 * Hazelmere - legendary gnome who was a key political and military figure in the early days of the Gnome Stronghold.
 * Sanfew - leader of the druids in Taverley.
 * Jack - founder of the Wizard's Guild. Met during Meeting History.
 * Sarah - founder of the Herblore skill. Met during Meeting History.
 * Phoenix - a firebird.
 * Kaqemeex - chairman of CARE and seller of the Herblore cape.
 * Grim Reaper - a Guardian of Guthix who controls time and death.
 * Brassica Prime - the god of cabbages
 * Chaeldar - a Slayer Master
 * Ashuelot Reis - nature spirit guardian of the Ancient Prison

Animals associated with Guthix
 * Sheep (Supposedly the first race brought to Gielinor)
 * Cats (Supposedly the second race brought to Gielinor)
 * Guthix raptors
 * Wolves (except Dire Wolves which are associated with Seren)
 * Snakes
 * Bears

Affiliated items
Guthix prayer items
 * Book of balance
 * Illuminated Book of Balance
 * Guthix vestments
 * Guthix crozier
 * Guthix mitre
 * Guthix stole
 * Guthix cloak
 * Druid robes
 * Guthix halo
 * Third-age druidic equipment

Guthix magic items
 * Guthix staff
 * Guthix cape
 * Druidic mage robes
 * Void Knight equipment
 * Void knight mace
 * Third-age magic equipment

Guthix melee items
 * Guthix mjolnir
 * Silver sickle (b)
 * Guthix full helm
 * Guthix platebody
 * Guthix plateskirt
 * Guthix platelegs
 * Guthix kiteshield
 * Void knight mace
 * Silverlight/Darklight
 * Korasi's sword
 * Third-age melee equipment
 * Sword of Edicts

Guthix range items
 * Guthix coif
 * Guthix body
 * Guthix chaps
 * Guthix vambraces
 * Guthix arrows
 * Guthix bow
 * Third-age ranged equipment

Guthix miscellaneous items
 * Guthix rest
 * Guthix balance
 * Guthix's gift
 * Sixth-Age circuit
 * Juna's Gift

Guthix's relationships with other gods
After Guthix's death, Saradomin showed much sorrow and fear, as he claims Guthix is very similiar to himself, wishing for Gielinor to remain a world of order and law. However, Saradomin did not agree with Guthix's methods for making this world, and saw Guthix's death as necessary because it allowed him to return to Gielinor.
 * Guthix seems to have a clause in the Edicts to allow for the gods to interact with their followers as it is not considered direct intervention. This is known through the dialogue with Juna after the completion of The Chosen Commander. Guthix would not, however, tolerate the gods on Gielinor itself, and is shown in The World Wakes to prefer that the gods had no interaction with mortals at all.
 * Bandos describes Guthix as "evil", but as with all gods, the nature of the subjectively perceived "good" and "evil" lies in their alignment. Bandos might well consider Guthix evil since he has obstructed Bandos' capability of waging war on/in Gielinor - with the implementation of the Edicts of Guthix, banning many gods.
 * The nature of his relationship with Zaros, can be indirectly 'known' through the dialogue with Juna where she says that the return of Zaros might well aid the Equilibrium - after the completion of The Temple at Senntisten quest.
 * According to Guthix's memories, he had a close relationship with Seren, the second goddess to come to Gielinor after Guthix himself. They both had many things in common such as peace and balance in nature, this was proven when Guthix himself said, "We'd grown close, and I had no intention of abandoning her." He also said, "Seren promised that she would follow me," Referring to the fact that while he wanted the world to forget him she didn't want to.
 * It appears that the Desert pantheon or Menaphite Pantheon is not affected by the Edicts of Guthix, they might not even pose a threat to the Equilibrium, since their individual power has only little effect on Gielinor's arrow of time.

Disputed alignment
In the "Lore Live Stream with Mods Mark and Osborne", see here, a question was asked about the alignment of Zaros. While introducing this question, the questioner said that the alignments for Guthix, Zamorak and Saradomin were: Balance, Chaos and Order - respectively. Before answering the question about Zaros, Mod Mark said that they are not necessarily agreeing with the ascribed alignments of Guthix, Zamorak and Saradomin - saying nothing further about the topic.

Trivia

 * Entering the word "murder" or "redrum" in the notes section results in the message "All rest and no play makes Guthix a dull boy." This is a reference to a famous line used in the movie "The Shining", based on the novel by Stephen King; "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."
 * In the Origins of Gielinor, Guthix can be seen with green eyes, but in his resting place, he has cyan eyes. His younger Naragi form portrays him with turquoise eyes. Thousands of years have passed between each form, so it is possible that his eye colours have changed naturally.