Guthix

Guthix
Also known as	Lord of Balance
Gender	Male
Alignment	Neutral
Aspect	Balance, Nature
Colours	Green
Adjective	Guthixian
Symbol

Guthix (Jagex pronunciation: GUTH-icks) is the god of balance and nature and one of the three major gods of Gielinor, alongside Saradomin and Zamorak. He is the oldest and most powerful of the gods, interwoven with the world and nature itself.^[2]^[3] Even so, Guthix has been mostly silent since the First Age, as he has slept in the depths of the earth for thousands of years, waking only once to end the God Wars.

History

Guthix is said to have created Gielinor together with Saradomin and Zamorak at the start of the First Age^[4]; however, based on recent evidence from an adventurer, Zamorak could not have been involved.^[5] The name 'Gielinor' was given to the world by Guthix.^[6] One race that he is confirmed to have invited to Gielinor are the elves, whom he visited on their homeworld of Tarddiad. He described Gielinor to them as "perfect and filled with power", and so Seren, believing this power could save the elves from their curse, decided to travel there with them.^[7] Throughout the millennia, Guthix continued to lovingly shape Gielinor, possibly originating new creatures.^[8] By the Second Age, he had entered a deep sleep and presumably sealed the World Gate.

In his absence, other gods had discovered Gielinor and sought to bring it under their control, bringing with them new races to inhabit Gielinor and serve them. The most prolific and successful among these opportunistic gods was Zaros, who built a vast empire that stretched across Forinthry (which is currently known as the Wilderness), as well as large parts of Asgarnia, Misthalin, and some of the surrounding areas. As Guthix slept, wars raged; Zamorak betrayed Zaros; the Zarosian Empire rose and fell; and other gods, particularly Saradomin and Zamorak, caused vast destruction in the wake of Zaros' death during the God Wars, seeking to lay claim to the lands that had once made up his empire. The God Wars roiled throughout the Third Age for over 4,000 years until Zamorak used the Stone of Jas, laying waste to the entire northern region of Forinthry. The damage was so immense that Guthix at last awoke from his slumber.^[9]

To stop the destruction, Guthix cast out all the gods and decreed the Edicts of Guthix, which prevent the other gods from interfering with the world except in small, indirect ways, such as through prayer. After banishing the gods, Guthix wandered the world to witness the devastation that had taken place in his absence. In a cave under what is now southern Misthalin, he wept over the destruction, and the rocks wept with him, creating the legendary Tears of Guthix.^[10] With Gielinor slowly beginning to recover, Guthix went back to his slumber, never to be heard from again.^[11]

Religion

Guthix is generally considered a benevolent entity who wishes the best for mortals, thinking the best environment is one of balance. This would entail a utilitarian balance between peace and conflict, chaos and order, nature and culture; whatever is best for mortals or is necessary to maintain balance is thus permissible. Likewise, Guthix expects his followers to live in balance with their world and respect it.

There is a common misconception about Guthix, which is that he is the god of neutrality or tranquillity. While this holds some truth, seeing that Guthix seeks to create a world of balance where mortals could live in peace without the interference of gods, balance does not necessarily entail peace, and Guthix is not above the use of violence; for example, although he spared the gods responsible for the destruction of Forinthry and the massive loss of the lives of mortals during the God Wars, Guthix has warned that he will destroy and remake the world should his edicts be broken.

Followers

Groups and races

Druids - Naturalists and herbalists located in Taverley.
Certain dwarves - A small but rugged group of humanoids who are known to be great miners and smiths.
Ents - Sapient tree-like creatures.
Fairies - Small flying humanoids from Zanaris.
Certain Fremenniks - A group of humans who inhabit the Fremennik Province.
Gnomes - A small humanoid race who live closely with nature; they are known to love their small comforts but are also known for their ingenuity and inquisitive nature.^[12]
Moss giants - A species of giant that may have worshipped Guthix in times past.^[13]
Seers - A group of humans with precognitive abilities.
Void Knights - Maintainers of balance in Gielinor, found at the Void Knights' Outpost.^[14]
Crux Eqal - a group of Guthixians who protect the world from inbalance.

Notable individuals

Aris - An old fortune-teller who lives in Varrock.
Death - A Guardian of Guthix responsible for maintaining the balance between life and death.
Derwen - An ancient ent that roams the Wilderness.
Filliman Tarlock - A nature spirit in Morytania.
Juna - A large serpent and Guardian of Guthix charged with guarding the Tears of Guthix.
Kaqemeex - A prominent member of the Taverley order of druids.
King Bolren - The current monarch of the Tree Gnome Village.
King Narnode Shareen - The current monarch of the Tree Gnome Stronghold.
Sanfew - The leader of the Taverley order of druids.

Animals associated with Guthix

Affiliated items

The following items, while affiliated, are not recognised as Guthixian by Juna for the master cryptic clue.

Gallery

A statue and classic depiction of Guthix.
Guthix's appearance in the god letters, depicting Guthix as a floating skull with tendrils.
Guthix taking the form of a butterfly, depicted in the god letters.

References

^ God Letter 13: "Guthix Maintains". RuneScape God Letters. Jagex. While all in-game references to Guthix make use of the masculine form, when asked about being a "guy or a girl" in one of the god letters, Guthix responds, "I am Guthix. I am neither, and I am both. Thou canst not define a god as thou wouldst define a mortal." While these letters are no longer considered canon, this ambiguity has led some people to propose a gender-neutral designation for Guthix.
^ Kaqemeex in Druidic Ritual. Old School RuneScape. "Guthix is the oldest and most powerful god in Gielinor. His existence is vital to this world. He is the god of balance, and nature; he is also a very part of this world."
^ Juna in Tears of Guthix. Old School RuneScape. "Silence fell, for the gods knew that none could challenge the power of the mighty Guthix -- for His power is that of nature itself, to which all other things are subject, in the end."
^ "Varrock Museum, display 16". Old School RuneScape. "The world of Gielinor is said to have been created by the gods Saradomin, Zamorak and Guthix at the start of the 1st Age."
^ "Varrock Museum, display 16 (after Curse of the Empty Lord)". Old School RuneScape. "However, recent evidence from a brave adventurer suggests that Zamorak was not a god at this point in time and so would not have been able to create worlds."
^ Squire (Veteran). Old School RuneScape. "[Player: What's 'Gielinor'?] It is the name that Guthix gave to this world (...)"
^ Memory of Seren in Song of the Elves. Old School RuneScape. "...Another being came to our world. Divine like myself, but not by design. He spoke of a perfect world, one filled with power. I knew it was a risk, but I decided to travel there. The power he spoke of might have been the only thing capable of saving the elves." While not named explicitly, the divine being in question is generally acknowledged to be Guthix.
^ Juna in Tears of Guthix. Old School RuneScape. "Myriad and beautiful were the creatures and civilizations of the early ages of the world. Gielinor was a work of art, shaped lovingly over the millennia by the creative mind of Guthix."
^ Juna in Tears of Guthix. Old School RuneScape. "In time the noise of the conflict woke Guthix from His deep slumber, and He rose and stood in the centre of the battlefield so that the splendour of His wrath filled the world, and He called for the conflict to cease!"
^ Juna in Tears of Guthix. Old School RuneScape. "Guthix reclaimed that which had been stolen from Him, and went back underground to return to His sleep and continue to draw the world's power into Himself. [...] But on His way into the depths of the earth He sat and rested in this cave; and, thinking of the battle-scarred desert that now stretched from one side of His world to the other, He wept. [...] And so great was His sorrow, and so great was His life-giving power, that the rocks themselves began to weep with Him."
^ Jagex. Mod Ash's Twitter account. 7 November 2022. Archived from the original on 14 April 2023. Mod Ash: "Guthix is already in the game, albeit sleeping. It's quite an important point in the lore that Guthix isn't awake at present."
^ Gnome child. Old School RuneScape. "I worship Guthix, the god of balance."
^ Bryophyta. Postbag 28: "Bryophyta, Tarn Razorlor and more". To Bryophyta. Old School RuneScape Postbags from the Hedge. Jagex. "We keep ourselves to ourselves, we giants. A long time ago we might have worshipped the gods, but not anymore. We do love nature though! Well, we moss giants do, at least."
^ Squire (Veteran). Old School RuneScape. "The Void Knights, they are great warriors of balance who do Guthix's work here in Gielinor."
^ ^15.0 ^15.1 Bob (cat). Old School RuneScape. "Cats were the second thing Guthix brought here, after sheep of course."

[1] God Letter 13: "Guthix Maintains". RuneScape God Letters. Jagex. While all in-game references to Guthix make use of the masculine form, when asked about being a "guy or a girl" in one of the god letters, Guthix responds, "I am Guthix. I am neither, and I am both. Thou canst not define a god as thou wouldst define a mortal." While these letters are no longer considered canon, this ambiguity has led some people to propose a gender-neutral designation for Guthix.

[2] Kaqemeex in Druidic Ritual. Old School RuneScape. "Guthix is the oldest and most powerful god in Gielinor. His existence is vital to this world. He is the god of balance, and nature; he is also a very part of this world."

[3] Juna in Tears of Guthix. Old School RuneScape. "Silence fell, for the gods knew that none could challenge the power of the mighty Guthix -- for His power is that of nature itself, to which all other things are subject, in the end."

[4] "Varrock Museum, display 16". Old School RuneScape. "The world of Gielinor is said to have been created by the gods Saradomin, Zamorak and Guthix at the start of the 1st Age."

[5] "Varrock Museum, display 16 (after Curse of the Empty Lord)". Old School RuneScape. "However, recent evidence from a brave adventurer suggests that Zamorak was not a god at this point in time and so would not have been able to create worlds."

[6] Squire (Veteran). Old School RuneScape. "[Player: What's 'Gielinor'?] It is the name that Guthix gave to this world (...)"

[7] Memory of Seren in Song of the Elves. Old School RuneScape. "...Another being came to our world. Divine like myself, but not by design. He spoke of a perfect world, one filled with power. I knew it was a risk, but I decided to travel there. The power he spoke of might have been the only thing capable of saving the elves." While not named explicitly, the divine being in question is generally acknowledged to be Guthix.

[8] Juna in Tears of Guthix. Old School RuneScape. "Myriad and beautiful were the creatures and civilizations of the early ages of the world. Gielinor was a work of art, shaped lovingly over the millennia by the creative mind of Guthix."

[9] Juna in Tears of Guthix. Old School RuneScape. "In time the noise of the conflict woke Guthix from His deep slumber, and He rose and stood in the centre of the battlefield so that the splendour of His wrath filled the world, and He called for the conflict to cease!"

[10] Juna in Tears of Guthix. Old School RuneScape. "Guthix reclaimed that which had been stolen from Him, and went back underground to return to His sleep and continue to draw the world's power into Himself. [...] But on His way into the depths of the earth He sat and rested in this cave; and, thinking of the battle-scarred desert that now stretched from one side of His world to the other, He wept. [...] And so great was His sorrow, and so great was His life-giving power, that the rocks themselves began to weep with Him."

[11] Jagex. Mod Ash's Twitter account. 7 November 2022. Archived from the original on 14 April 2023. Mod Ash: "Guthix is already in the game, albeit sleeping. It's quite an important point in the lore that Guthix isn't awake at present."

[12] Gnome child. Old School RuneScape. "I worship Guthix, the god of balance."

[13] Bryophyta. Postbag 28: "Bryophyta, Tarn Razorlor and more". To Bryophyta. Old School RuneScape Postbags from the Hedge. Jagex. "We keep ourselves to ourselves, we giants. A long time ago we might have worshipped the gods, but not anymore. We do love nature though! Well, we moss giants do, at least."

[14] Squire (Veteran). Old School RuneScape. "The Void Knights, they are great warriors of balance who do Guthix's work here in Gielinor."

[cat-15] 15.0 ^15.1 Bob (cat). Old School RuneScape. "Cats were the second thing Guthix brought here, after sheep of course."

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Guthix

Contents

History

Religion