Mahjarrat

The Mahjarrat are a warlike race originally come from the realm of Freneskae. Originally brought to Gielinor by the Menaphite god Icthlarin, they soon became the most powerful soldiers of the god Zaros. They appear in several quests.

Most Mahjarrat allied themselves with Zamorak when he betrayed Zaros, and today only a handful still survive.

Arrival in Gielinor
The Mahjarrat were brought to Gielinor from the world of Freneskae, a plane of endless war and conflict. Although the number of Mahjarrat that first arrived is unknown, it is generally believed to be much higher than those that exist today.

Icthlarin, the Menaphite god of the dead, took the Mahjarrat with him when he arrived in Gielinor. Although Icthlarin felt he had enslaved the Mahjarrat, the Mahjarrat never fully succumbed to his rule and Icthalrin never had the influence he thought.

For years the Mahjarrat served Icthlarin. Eventually, though, they came into the service of Zaros, a god that saw their value as soldiers. Two different stories tell the tale of their shift in leadership. One suggests that Icthlarin abandoned them for their violent behaviour and turned his full attention to aiding his father Tumeken. Another says that Zaros offered the Mahjarrat power in his growing empire, and that the Mahjarrat, tired of being denied war, gladly accepted.

Regardless, the Mahjarrat soon became Zaros's greatest soldiers.

Under Zaros's Rule
Zaros, with many humans, Mahjarrat, vampyres, dragon riders, demons, and other races at his disposal, soon established an unrivaled empire in eastern Gielinor. Nearly all of modern-day Misthalin, Asgarnia, northern Morytania, and the Wilderness soon came under his rule. The Mahjarrat, his greatest soldiers, revelled in the bloodshed.

The Zarosian Kingdom was one of great prosperity, but the Mahjarrat were not content. Soon they became divided and began to work towards their own ends. The most significant of these was Zamorak.

Zamorak was amongst the strongest beings to ever walk the earth. He earned himself the nickname "The Scourge of the Battlefield", ruthlessly proving his power in combat countless times. This earned him favour with Zaros, who quickly gave him the rank of general. Yet, despite this, Zamorak was not willing to serve Zaros, and even as his kingdom expanded from Senntisten, Zamorak plotted against him.

The Staff of Armadyl eventually fell into Zamorak's hands. With the assistance of individuals such as Zemouregal, Lucien, Lord Drakan, Hazeel, Viggora, and Enakhra, Zamorak developed a way to defeat the Empty Lord.

A great battle raged in Zaros's greatest stronghold. Zamorak, backed by nearly all of the Mahjarrat, attacked Zaros in the throne room. While Zamorak fought, his allies ensured that none of Zaros's bodyguards would interfere. By pure luck, Zamorak impaled Zaros with the Staff. However, Zaros was still a god, and while choking Zamorak, miraculously tripped. The staff impaled both Zaros and Zamorak, and, acting like a lightning rod, transferred Zaros's power into Zamorak. Zaros faded from existence, while Zamorak seemed to become even more real. Now a god, Zamorak went on to conquer that which Zaros had.

Under Zamorak's Rule
Despite the intense hatred between many of the gods, they all agreed that Zamorak must be punished. Even as Zamorak stood triumphant, the gods banished him from Gielinor.

Not long after his banishment, Zamorak returned, his godly powers now fully developed. Calling upon his former warriors, Zamorak declared war upon all that opposed him. Thus began the God Wars. Throughout the Wars, the Mahjarrat would prove a terrible force on the battlefield.

The Zamorakian Mahjarrat waged war upon what few Zarosians remained. Most were forced into the Kharidian Desert, where they live as bandits today. The Zarosian Mahjarrat were all imprisoned, killed, or forced into hiding.

Four thousand years into the Wars, Guthix awoke from his slumber. Seeing the horrors that had been unleased upon his world, he demanded an end to the Wars. Zamorak was forced to leave the plane, though the Mahjarrat continue to serve him loyally even today.

Post-God Wars
By the end of the wars, only a handfull of Mahjarrat still survived. Though they continued to serve Zamorak and Zaros, they became very divided in their actions.

Today, the Mahjarrat are still working towards an unknown goal, and a few can still be found in the far reaches of Gielinor. Most are now travelling "north" for an unknown purpose, but many believe this may be coming to the return of Zaros and another catastrophic God Wars.

Abilities
Legends tell of the Mahjarrat's many great powers, although whether they are shared by all Mahjarrat or only apply to certain individuals is unknown.

The Mahjarrat live incredibly long lives, to the point where they are nearly immortal. Even some of those that arrived in the Second Age still live, and the rest are suspected to have died in combat. The Mahjarrat Azzanadra refers to himself as old, his arrival in Gielinor occuring between 6,000 and 8,000 years ago. However, how old he was when he arrived is unknown.

Magically, the Mahjarrat are second to none, and can use magic without the assistance of runestones. Not all use magic primarily, but with training they are nearly unstoppable. For instance, some can cast spells that prevent the victim from aging, but at the cost of making them nearly entirely immobile. They use this to their advantage, torturing and starving ther victims for hundreds to thousands of years. They are also capable of preventing wounds from healing, inflicting pain with their minds, raising the dead, and placing themselves in a sleep that, in time, can heal even the most severe of wounds. Records also tell of single Mahjarrat darkening the skies with living blood and clouds that take on dangerous forms and block the sky. Those particularly skilled are known even to possess the ability to hide Godly energy from detection and traverse the Realm of Dreams. They are also some of the original users of Ancient Magicks.

Physically, most Mahjarrat are very strong. Many can easily shatter bones with their bare hands and defeat many armed humans. Their essence seems to be bound into the four elements Smoke, Blood, Ice and Shadow, as both Azzanadra and Akthanakos have been captured by binding their essence in four diamonds representing those elements.

There are rumours that they are the original users and makers of the powerful Dragon equipment that is now in use today, though Fairy Aeryka in Zanaris claims that it was made by the Necrosyrtes. There is speculation that the Necrosyrtes could be the Dragonkin, or that it could simply be another name for the Mahjarrat.

They seem to have two forms, an animal or human based form, and a lich (undead) form. This allows for multiple fighting styles and more easy concealement.

Lucien


Lucien is a mysterious man who appears in the city of Ardougne, by the Flying Horse Pub. He is apparently evil, as the Wise Old Man of Draynor Village is mortified once you tell him of your adventure with him. The Staff of Armadyl retrieved for him in the Temple of Ikov quest is the same one used to banish Zaros shortly before the God Wars began. Lucien is not liked by the Mahjarrat who still follow Zaros (Azzanadra calls him a 'dog'), so it is likely he sided with Zamorak and has his own agenda with the Staff of Armadyl.

He is a mage who dresses in long black robes and a hood, and he has a limp.

In the Temple of Ikov Quest, he gives players his pendant, granting him access to the Chamber of Fear. During the quest players may switch to follow Armadyl and murder Lucien, or steal the Staff of Armadyl and hand it over to Lucien. Even if players kill Lucien, he reappears in Ardougne after the quest, as a simple death is not nearly enough to destroy him.

Lucien has a follower named Movario who is searching for a powerful source of energy in Dorgesh-Kaan South Dungeon.

Akthanakos


Akthanakos is involved in the Enakhra's Lament Quest. He at first appears to be a God having the head of a camel, but in the end of the quest his head turns into a skull showing he is dead. It is unknown if he simply has a camel's head or if it is simply a helmet but most lean towards thinking it is a camel's head since Mahjarrat are shapeshifters thus making no need for a helmet.

Akthanakos fought his rival, Enakhra, in a temple that she built dedicated to Zamorak in the Kharidian Desert. He was transformed into a Boneguard when he was defeated. At the end of the quest, Akthanakos's true allegiance is revealed during a cutscene and he actually follows Zaros instead of being a God himself. He is a Mahjarrat and was against Zamorak's rebellion against Zaros. Akthanakos teleported after the cutscene to a place known as "the north", which has been mentioned several other times. He is the only known Mahjarrat aside from Azzanadra who did not betray Zaros.

The aggressive ugthanki camels are named after Akthanakos.

Azzanadra


Azzanadra is an ancient Mahjarrat from the second Age with incredible magical powers who followed Zaros, and always was loyal to him. Most information we have on him is from the Desert Treasure quest. He is the original user of the Ancient Magicks in RuneScape and the only known Mahjarrat not to have betrayed Zaros, other than Akthanakos. When Zaros was defeated, Azzanadra continued to fight against the forces of Zamorak and Saradomin to try and help save Zaros's House and he was found to be immortal, so they locked him in a pyramid and bound his essence into four Diamonds, which players must retrieve in the Desert treasure quest to release Azzanadra from his prison. There is controversy about whether Azzanadra has died or not. When found he is seen floating with no legs and somewhat transparent leading many to believe he is dead and a ghost but not only can the player speak with him without a ghost speak amulet, but he speaks as if he is still quite alive. He has a purple jackal headdress (confirmed by Jagex) and he wears purple chest armour, Azzanadra was imprisoned for 3 millenia however he lost feeling of time during his imprisonment

Enakhra


Enakhra is the only known female Mahjarrat who follows Zamorak and helped rebel against Zaros. In the Enakhra's Lament Quest, it is shown that she knows Ancient Magic. She defeated Akthanakos (see above), her rival when he entered the temple that she built dedicated to Zamorak. At the end of the Enakhra's Lament quest the freed Akthanakos and Enakhra teleport to "the north" to continue their battle.



Hazeel
Hazeel is a follower of Zamorak. He was almost like a brother to Zamorak. Many years ago he was warlord of the region that is now Ardougne. He was later killed by an ancestor of Ceril Carnillien who later claimed his estate. In the Hazeel Cult Quest, players have a choice to revive him or leave him imprisoned. Joining the Cult and reviving Hazeel has been more productive with a larger reward. If the player sides with the Cult of Hazeel and listens to him, he says something similar to "I must go and make preparations with my fellow Mahjarrat to the North."

Zemouregal


Zemouregal is a Mahjarrat follower of Zamorak. Not much is known about him, and only first appears in-game in the Defender of Varrock quest. Zemouregal confronted Arrav in the Land of Dreams and tried to steal his famous and powerful shield. He eventually launched an assault on Varrock with the aid of an army of the undead. He nearly won, but was stopped eventually by Arrav. Arrav, by saving the city, also sacrificed himself. Zemouregal killed him and fled with his body, to resurrect him and use him as his general.

Zemouregal returns in the Defender Of Varrock quest, and is first seen in the Chaos Temple Dungeon with Arrav by his side as well as Sharathteerk. These three attack Varrock Castle, and at the end of the quest Zemouregal heads for "The North".

Zamorak
Zamorak was not always a god but was once a mortal. How he became a god was once not known, and the specifics are still a bit fuzzy. However, it is now known by talking to ghosts involved with a revolt which he led. He used to be a Mahjarrat general of the army of the great god Zaros until he and some of his close followers decided to rebel, and betray Zaros. Using the Staff of Armadyl, which he obtained through a series of circumstances mentioned in more detail during the Ghostly robes miniquest, Zamorak was able to stab Zaros in the back with it whilst his close followers (including Hazeel, Drakan, Zemouregal, a human warrior named Viggora, and some others not mentioned by name) fought off Zaros' body guards. He stabbed Zaros in the back with the staff but this did not do much at first other than sending Zaros into a blind rage. Even though Zamorak was a Mahjarrat, who originate from a plane of eternal war and thus are powerful fighters, Zaros was still able to beat him.

However, when Zaros had him in his grasp of a throat and was ready to deliver the death blow, he tripped, thus causing the Staff of Armadyl to impale Zamorak as well as him, thus sending Zaros' power through the staff into Zamorak like an electrical current. After this, Zaros faded out of the dimension while cursing all humans involved in the revolt to be invisible ghosts for the rest of eternity, and Zamorak seemed more solid, although he did not become a god until a short time later.

Zamorak, although now a god, still fears Zaros a lot. He dares not even speak of such a being, and Zamorak is fearing a return of Zaros. You can see this in one of the God Letters that were sent by players to the Gods Saradomin, Guthix and Zamorak. When a player mentioned the name 'Zaros' to Zamorak, Zamorak's response was a nerve-wrecking tremble of fear.

Sliske
Sliske was an ally of Zaros during the God Wars. According to The Fall of Six, a tale describing the fall of the barrows brothers, some players believe Sliske gave the barrows brothers their powers, and lead to their downfall, (though this is purely speculation). Azzanadra describes him as 'Sliske the serpent-tongued, who delves the shadows'.

The 'S' found on the Enchanted top could be linked to Sliske (seeming as purple is associated with Zarosian Mahjarrat).

General Khazard


Stated in Poll's "Runescape Quiz #2" and implied in the Shadow Sword miniquest. You fight and kill him and his pet Hellhound "Bouncer" in the Fight Arena quest. He can be found after the quest north of the agility log near Siclair Mansion, but is only vissible when wearing the ring of vissibility.

Trivia

 * It is unknown how Mahjarrat is pronounced.  Based on Postbag from the Hedge Issue 31, it is inferred that the word is pronounced Major-rat. Most likely pronounced with a British accent. (Mah-Jor-Raht)