Elder Horn

UnnamedIdentifiedTeleportingDisappeared
Horn
Released	26 July 2023 (Update)
Also called	Imperium
Members	Yes
Quest	Desert Treasure II - The Fallen Empire
Location	Ancient Vault
Options	None
Examine	A strange horn that exudes a mysterious power.
Map
Advanced data
Object ID	48912,48912
Link	MOID

The Elder Horn is a powerful magical artefact that predates the gods^[1], sealed within the Ancient Vault. The vault is opened by the player during the events of Desert Treasure II, and the horn is subsequently stolen by Sliske.

History

The Elder Horn is an ancient artefact that predates the gods, possessing the ability to impose absolute control over anything.^[2] At some point during the Second Age, it was found and possessed by Zaros, its existence known only to high-ranking personnel of the Zarosian Empire as "Imperium". Sometime after the fall of Zaros, Praefectus Classis Perseriya was ordered to deliver the Elder Horn to the east.^[3]

However, the artefact sent east was in fact a fake; the delivery of the artefact eastwards was a cover operation, with the real one kept inside Perseriya's private cabin.^[4] The Elder Horn would later be transported to the Kharidian Desert and sealed within the Ancient Vault, with the means to open it entrusted to four individuals: Perseriya, The Whisperer, Duke Sucellus, and Vardorvis.

The Elder Horn would remain sealed until the Fifth Age, when it is uncovered by the player. However, multiple Mahjarrat follow the player into the vault, having been barred from opening it themselves.^[5] Most of the Mahjarrat believed the vault actually held the Frostenhorn, a less-powerful artefact, but quickly realise this is not the case.^[6] After a short argument between them, it is discovered that the opening of the vault was orchestrated by Sliske, an elusive Mahjarrat, under the identity of Asgarnia Smith and several other personas. He claims to have a plan to use the Elder Horn for the good of the Mahjarrat, to break the cycle of their rituals and be free of them.^[7] He then summons his wights to distract the other Mahjarrat and the player, while successfully teleporting away with the Horn.

Its current location remains unknown.

Trivia

In RuneScape 3, the Elder Horn was originally created by the Elder Gods. It passed through various hands in the subsequent years, including Guthix during the First Age and Quin, a siren who used its power to rule the Wushanko Isles as a goddess.

References

^ Azzanadra. Old School RuneScape. "A relic that predates even the gods themselves."
^ Azzanadra. Old School RuneScape. "[The Elder Horn] grants absolute control. With this, one person has the power to bring entire armies to their knees, all without a single drop of blood being shed."
^ "Old tablet". Old School RuneScape. "With artefact 'Imperium' safely delivered to the east, focus must return to artefact 'Primus'."
^ Wizard Persten. Old School RuneScape. "It's [a tablet] written by one of the crew on Perseriya's ship. Apparently they snuck into her private cabin... And found Imperium inside! This was after Imperium had already been delivered to the east!"
^ Hazeel. Old School RuneScape. "This vault was sealed with magics that prevented beings like ourselves from opening it."
^ Azzanadra in Desert Treasure II. Old School RuneScape. "Its rediscovery would be revolutionary, but there's just one problem... That's not the Frostenhorn." as "Dr Banikan"
^ Sliske. Old School RuneScape. "I want the Horn for all of us. Do you not see our fate? Over and over, we have our ritual. Over and over, we doom one of our kind to the endless void. It's all so... predictable. It's all so... tiresome. And in the end, it will be the death of us all. But the Horn will be our salvation. I will use it to break the cycle that has shackled us for so long. We will finally be free. The ritual approaches once more, but things will be different this time. This will be the final Ritual of the Mahjarrat."

[1] Azzanadra. Old School RuneScape. "A relic that predates even the gods themselves."

[2] Azzanadra. Old School RuneScape. "[The Elder Horn] grants absolute control. With this, one person has the power to bring entire armies to their knees, all without a single drop of blood being shed."

[3] "Old tablet". Old School RuneScape. "With artefact 'Imperium' safely delivered to the east, focus must return to artefact 'Primus'."

[4] Wizard Persten. Old School RuneScape. "It's [a tablet] written by one of the crew on Perseriya's ship. Apparently they snuck into her private cabin... And found Imperium inside! This was after Imperium had already been delivered to the east!"

[5] Hazeel. Old School RuneScape. "This vault was sealed with magics that prevented beings like ourselves from opening it."

[6] Azzanadra in Desert Treasure II. Old School RuneScape. "Its rediscovery would be revolutionary, but there's just one problem... That's not the Frostenhorn." as "Dr Banikan"

[7] Sliske. Old School RuneScape. "I want the Horn for all of us. Do you not see our fate? Over and over, we have our ritual. Over and over, we doom one of our kind to the endless void. It's all so... predictable. It's all so... tiresome. And in the end, it will be the death of us all. But the Horn will be our salvation. I will use it to break the cycle that has shackled us for so long. We will finally be free. The ritual approaches once more, but things will be different this time. This will be the final Ritual of the Mahjarrat."

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