Gielinorian God Wars

''"Third age" redirects here. For the armour received from Treasure Trails, see Third age armour. For the dungeon released in August 2007, see God Wars Dungeon.''

The Third Age or the God Wars as it was also known was a time of great calamity in RuneScape. Although the God Wars themselves are not a part of the gameplay of RuneScape, they are frequently referenced throughout the game and form the basis for many quests, characters, items, and locations.

History
During the Second Age, Zaros had almost complete control of the world. The areas that are now the Wilderness, Misthalin, and Asgarnia formed the greatest part of his kingdom, where many great fortresses and cities were constructed. When he was betrayed and defeated by his Mahjarrat general, Zamorak, the Second Age ended and the other gods could now begin ruling without interference. However, many gods, the most significant being Saradomin and Zamorak, wanted complete control.

Soon after Zaros's defeat, a massive war broke out. The gods, at the time, could directly interact with the world, which caused destruction far beyond any seen before or after the wars. During the wars, countless civilizations, races, and animal species disappeared. Many were destroyed, while others hid themselves or went under drastic changes in order to survive. Much of the world itself went under drastic changes, with much of the land being ruined or reformed. Many of these changes were so catastrophic that they continue to effect RuneScape even today.

In fact, the entire world was on the brink of destruction when the fighting awoke Guthix from his sleep. Upon the end of the First Age, Guthix went into a deep slumber that stretched over many millenia. When he awoke, he found his world in ruin. He was so enraged that he instantly ended the fighting and demanded that the gods stopped fighting their wars on RuneScape, and to continue to hold influence only through their followers. Most of the gods left RuneScape, although they continued to watch over it and hear the prayers of their faithful. It was at this time that the Third Age, which had lasted approximately 4000 years, finally ended.



On August 28th, 2007, Jagex released a game update entitled "God Wars Dungeon". This update brought about a re-awakening of sorts. A massive cavern that had been frozen for æons in the northern Troll Country began to thaw due to tectonic movements in the Wilderness. This cavern, it was revealed, was the site of one of the God War's last battles; and now its inhabitants have begun to thaw. Players are able to explore the dungeon, but not without conflict. Though this is a massive battle, with hundreds of NPCs fighting NPCs and players, it is a mere scruff of what was once the great God Wars.

Historical Discrepancies
The true history of the God Wars is always somewhat difficult to determine. Having occurred several thousand years ago, information about the God Wars is difficult to come by.

However, an even more hindering factor are the differences in accounts of the wars. Saradominists and Zamorakians often disagree on what truly occurred at the time. For instance, Saradominists such as The Wise Old Man state that when victory was nearly Saradomin's, he pitied the Zamorakians and allowed for a truce to be made. Zamorakians, however, insist that this was not the case, and have their own beliefs on the matter. Most now accept that it was actually Guthix that ended the wars, but others still reject this.

Another difficult subject are the Edicts of Guthix, which were created by Guthix when he ended the wars. Some religious groups doubt their existence. Others, however, including many important religious advisers such as Aeonisig Raispher, highly encourage the following of the Edicts. This makes understanding them difficult, and has been the cause of many political disputes since their creation.

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War Tactics
The God Wars were a bloody time marred by battles. Because the land was ever-changing from the constant battles which plagued its surface, there were no long-standing cities. Occasionally large camps would be created, but rarely did any significant settlement survive for long.



Because of this, the battles of the God Wars were more violent and bloody than any other. Everyone was pushed to fighting; there were very few "civilians". There were no walls to hide behind and no cities to lay siege to. The majority of battles were battles held on open land with make-shift defensive structures placed to protect soldiers. While some armies made use of strategy and cunning tactics to overcome their foes, others chose brute force. Followers of Bandos in particular were known for their strength and brutality. Making use of overwhelming numbers, Bandos's armies took no prisoners.



Equipment


Armour such as this was used often in the God Wars. Far stronger than most metal used today, its resilience made it the equipment of choice for those that could create it. What it is made from, depending on class is white dragonhide, enchanted silk, and enchanted silver, but where it came from is unknown; the art of smithing this equipment was lost long ago. This armour is crafted so well that it can still be used today, and is highly prized amongst those with the funds or the skills to obtain it.

Siege weaponry was used primarily during the beginning of the Wars, although it was utilized at times later into the Third Age. To eliminate the remaining settlements, soldiers made use of battering rams, siege ladders, and other such equipment.

Combatants

 * See Combatants in the God Wars.

Every race, god, civilization, and animal species fought during the God Wars, resulting in the destruction of most of the world. Any that could fight fought, and those that refused were either enslaved or forced into hiding. These times saw the extinction of many of the world's races, many of which were incredibly advanced but weak in combat.

Click the above link to learn more about the individuals, mortal and immortal alike, that are known to have fought in the God Wars. Keep in mind that the list is very incomplete, and that perhaps millions of individuals have been forgotten.

Impact on Gielinor Today
The God Wars continue to have an impact on Gielinor today. Many of the lands that were siezed by certain races in the God Wars are still under their rule today. Many areas, such as the Feldip Hills and Morytania continue to be effected by their roles in the Wars. The wilderness, in particular, has remained virtually unchanged since it was destroyed during the wars.



The God wars also serve as a historical reminder to the rulers of the modern age. Since the Edicts of Guthix were put in place, there have continued to be countless battles; indeed, the Fourth Age was a time of great violence between the world's races. The only thing that has prevented these from escalating into all-out wars are the Edicts, which prevent large-scale attacks between different races and religious factions. Rulers must be careful to abide by these. For instance, King Roald of Varrock is currently faced with a difficult situation; the werewolves of Morytania have begun to kidnap travelers near the Paterdomus to appease the blood tythes of the vampyres. However, the king can not launch a full-scale assault, as doing so could result in another God War and the destruction of the world. The God Wars could be seen as RuneScape's equivalent of nuclear war in the real world.

Excavations are also being performed in the search for relics from these ancient times. This is a difficult task, however; the God Wars occurred over 4000 years ago, so nearly all of the artifacts from this time have been destroyed. Furthermore, there were few permanent structures during the time, leaving us with little understanding of the architecture, literature, or any other cultural aspects of the age. Fortunately, there is a considerable amount of armour that has survived within the earth, and in some areas pottery and other such relics can be found. The largest excavation currently underway is being performed by the Varrock Museum at the Digsite east of Varrock, which was once the Zarosian capital of Senntisten (and later Saranthium). Other, smaller digs are also underway, such as the one performed by the Dorgeshuun. Recently, they discovered a large amount of artifacts from the Dorgeshuun civil war while they were helping the dwarves to build the Dorgesh-Kaan - Keldagrim Train System.