Armadyl

Armadyl (pronounced ARM-uh-dill) is the God of Law and Justice, having very close beliefs to Saradomin's. Worship of Armadyl is largely limited to the Guardians of the Staff of Armadyl and the very few remaining Aviantese, Armadyl's patron race. After Zamorak became a god with the aid of his staff, his reputation was greatly damaged and soon his favourite followers, the Aviantese almost faced extinction after Zilyana's plot and due to that, many of his followers likely switched to Saradominism, as the religions are alike, or that they all were near extinct like the Aviantese, a race once-thought dead. Saradomin speaks highly of Armadyl and has admitted their faiths differ in only minor ways, though he played a large role in diminishing his favourite creation, the Aviantese, to near extinction. Some were frozen in the God Wars Dungeon, and now are awakened after a series of natural causes (earthquakes and climate changes) and continue to fight in Armadyl's name. Kree'arra, the leader of them, guarded his godsword during the Third Age and it likely broke, leaving the hilt and shards of the blade, but nevertheless, he still guards them. Their supposed extinction, and the Edicts of Guthix are the major factors of his departure from Gielinor. Armadyl (or at least the Guardians) seems to hold the Mahjarrat in low esteem, especially Lucien, who has stolen the staff to further his designs and Zamorak, who heavily damaged Armadyl's reputation by stealing his staff and achieving godhood with it.

Symbol
The Armadyl Symbol is not Armadyl's own design or symbol perse, but instead got adopted from the Elder staff (later known as the Staff of armadyl. The symbol resembles "a pair of conjoined wings". This is a standard Heralidic Charge. The exact phrasing of the charge may differentiate across the various languages of the Heralidic Blazon. Conjoined wings are found in many coats of arms and badges, including fictitious entities and the armed services of various countries.

History


Although little is currently known of Armadyl, most point to the time of his appearance due to his arrival in Gielinor during the Second Age, roughly around the time Zaros had arrived. The Aviantese, a race of bird-creatures, worshipped Armadyl as his beloved followers and had originally been given the goal of protecting his relics, namely the Staff of Armadyl - an Elder Weapon that Armadyl had discovered and taken for himself - from falling into the wrong hands. However at the end of the Second Age his Staff was stolen, leading to Zaros' banishment from Gielinor and Zamorak's ascendance to godhood. Although Armadyl had intended on remaining active throughout the rest of the God Wars, the tragic supposed extinction of the Aviantese led him into inactivity. Before Armadyl's disappearance into the Third Age, he charged an entrusted group of humans and their descendants to guard his staff and to protect it from falling within the reaches of evil for a second time. This group of humans became known as the Guardians of Armadyl. Most information about Armadyl and his current followers are discovered throughout the Temple of Ikov quest. The Guardians also carry pendants that show their devotion to him.

Avalani revealed as part of the Cryptic Clue Fest III that Armadyl had floating citadels high in the sky. In modern times, these will be converted into clan citadels after a ritual that idolizes Armadyl.

Religion
Armadyl has similar philosophies as Saradomin and departs from his view on minuscule points. He was revered by the Aviantese, a race that he shared a deep bond with. It is also rumoured that Armadyl is the god of the sky mainly due to the Aviantese being his followers. However with their supposed extinction, a small cult of human followers emerged before he left Gielinor, they are the Guardians of Armadyl.

Followers
Groups and species Individuals
 * Aviansies
 * Guardian of Armadyl
 * Clan Avatars
 * A few warband tribes
 * Idria
 * Kree'arra
 * Wingman Skree
 * Flight Kilisa
 * Flockleader Geerin
 * Larrissa
 * Ikov - long deceased, but known for building the Armadyllian 'Ikov's Temple'.

Trivia

 * The symbol on the bottom of the Armadyl Pendant resembles the Triforce from the Legend of Zelda series.
 * According to Postbag From the Hedge 42, Lucien mentions that he is writing with a quill that he "tore from Armadyl all those beautiful millennia ago." Thus Armadyl may look like the Aviansie that follow him.
 * Armadyl's name bears a striking resemblance to the word "Almadel" a wax tablet which according to The Lesser Key of Solomon is used to summon angels. Interestingly, the Almadel is supposed to bear a strong connection to the skies, and Armadyl himself is often associated with the skies of Gielinor as well as having winged followers (Aviantese) that can resemble angels.
 * Because Armadyl is the god of Justice and his God book is called the Book of Law, there is a possibility that the Law rune and Altar could be affiliated with him. Though the Law altar is on Entrana, which is a Saradominist island (Saradomin allegedly stepped onto Gielinor for the first time through this island). This might be further hint to the friendly entanglement between Armadyl and Saradomin. Or suggest a Saradominist take over of the island.
 * If you try to bring the Clan Avatar into the Tears of Guthix Distraction and Diversion, Juna, the guardian, prevents you and says "I will not allow that creation of Armadyl into this cave," further implying that Citadels are related to Armadyl.
 * In Botany Bay, the symbols that surround an accused bot during the 'Deity' punishment bear a striking resemblance to the symbol of Armadyl. This makes sense, because Armadyl is the god of 'Supreme Justice', and bots that are brought into Botany Bay are always brought to justice (by being banned) after the trial ends.
 * In rituals used to create citadels in the sky during the Third Age, he was referred as 'Armadyn' and not Armadyl. This may have been an ancient language once used by the Aviantese, or a simple typo.
 * According to Armadyl's Emissary, Taw'Paak, Armadyl himself has returned to Gielinor.