Sliske

StandardHolding up lantern
Sliske
Released	26 July 2023 (Update)
Members	Yes
Race	Mahjarrat
Quest	Desert Treasure II - The Fallen Empire
Location	N/A
League region	N/A
Gender	Male
Options	None
Examine	The one pulling the strings.
Advanced data
NPC ID	12314
Link	MOID

Sliske is a mysterious Zarosian Mahjarrat responsible for giving the Barrows Brothers their equipment and subsequently raising them as undead wights. He is referred to as "Sliske the serpent-tongued, who delves the shadows" by Azzanadra in the 20th Postbag from the Hedge^[1] and is the mysterious stranger mentioned in the crumbling tome.

History

Service to the Empire

Sliske served in the Zarosian Empire as an unknown, but high-ranked official. At some point, Sliske managed to find a strange totem, which he identified as being the idol that led to the destruction of Imcandoria.^[2] Believing it to hold the answers to the Shadow Realm, Sliske brought it back with him to Lassar,^[3] placed a protective barrier on it,^[4] and ordered that another official, The Whisperer, be stationed at Lassar so research on the totem could proceed without delay.^[5] While the siren's presence unnerved several researchers, Sliske insisted that she was an expert on the Shadow Realm. During their research, Sliske learned that some volunteers subjected to the stone were "reanimated" and spoke about seas, curses, and a blackstone, which got his attention.

When the dwarves of Imcandoria arrived to besiege Lassar, one of the people believed that they had come to destroy the totem, as it was responsible for their homeland's destruction and suggested relocating it, which Sliske refused. Sliske then ordered the Whisperer to seal the undercity and remove the protective barrier surrounding the pillar, stating that he needed a more "thorough" test and allowed her to do whatever she wanted to the researchers.^[6] The Whisperer would then send false orders to close the undercity off on the guise that Lassar had already fallen. To prevent these orders from being reversed, she killed the High Magister of Lassar, along with all of the researchers.^[7] Sliske and the Whisperer would then remove the barrier, which caused many of Lassar's citizens, including the Whisperer herself, to go insane.

Barrows brothers

Sliske got involved with six Misthalin small town brothers, now known as the Barrows brothers, by making a pact with them, in which he would supply them with powerful artefacts and arcane knowledge.^[8] In return, the brothers had to serve him once they were worthy.^[9]

Sliske's given armour and weapons made the brothers incredibly powerful, but this would ultimately lead to their doom. By the time the Morytania Campaign started, the brothers were near invincible, annihilating the enemy, all while Sliske was secretly watching over his later-to-be servants.

Once he deemed them worthy, he visited the camp and told the brothers that the time had come to fulfil their side of the pact: to die and become mighty Zarosian warriors.^[10] Upon hearing this, the brothers were weakened, and as the campaign pushed onward, their strength waned until at last even the mighty six fell to the enemy.^[11] The comrades of the six buried them into the barrows and returned to their homeland, unable to advance without the mighty six.^[12]

After the burial of the brothers, Sliske cast an ancient necromancy spell to animate their lifeless bodies to serve his god, Zaros. The brothers now reside as half-living bodies, summoned with rage and power to kill anyone that might disturb the peace.^[13]

Freeing Nex

Sliske was the one who tricked Ashuelot Reis and her comrades into freeing Nex from the Ancient Prison during the battle for the Godsword.^[14] He disguised himself as a Saradomin priest and encouraged Ashuelot Reis and her fellow priests, who had grown tired of war, to convert to Guthix.^[15] Sliske eventually taught them a supposedly ancient ritual meant to awaken Guthix;^[16] the ritual was a ruse as it destroyed the enchantments that sealed the Ancient Prison, releasing Nex and her army.^[17]

Elder Horn

After being freed from his prison, Azzanadra contacted Sliske to help collect various items for him so he could contact Zaros. Unbeknownst to him, Sliske decided otherwise and secretly destroyed the artefacts he needed for reasons unknown. One of these included a strange icon from the Barrows, which he had his servant the Strange Old Man destroy when the adventurer recovered it. Another one was a relic that had been stolen by Saradominists long ago and was being guarded by the monks of Entrana before being stolen by an assassin, though it was most likely him in disguise.

Sliske helped an adventurer in their journey to unseal the Ancient Vault. He assumed the identities of Ketla, Mia Persten, an assassin, and Kasonde Shaw,^[18] having used them to open the vault as the Mahjarrat are not able to do so. Sliske then claimed that the Elder Horn was his and that he would use it to free their kind from the endless and pointless Rituals they used to survive,^[19] only to be opposed by all the Mahjarrat present. During the fight, he summoned the Barrows brothers to stall Hazeel and Azzanadra, as Enakhra and Akthanakos were busy bickering with each other. He summoned the wights of the four the adventurer had worked with to stop them, but they defeated them with ease. This left him impressed and he told them that it was a test to see if they would be worthy vessel, telling them that they would meet again in the "North" before teleporting away with the horn.

Hazeel revealed that Sliske had also destroyed the Frostenhorn when he was at Ghorrock, leaving Azzanadra confused and shocked as to his motives. Following the battle, the adventurer informed Archmage Sedridor, Ramarno, Sir Tiffy Cashien, and the Carnillean Guard of his identity and how he had masqueraded as them.

Dialogue

This article on an NPC has an associated transcript list.
Click here for a list of transcripts that this NPC speaks in.

Gallery

Concept art of Sliske, by Mod Grub.

References

^ Azzanadra. Postbag 20: "Tales from earlier ages". letter 3. RuneScape Postbags from the Hedge. Jagex. "Before I was imprisoned there were many of us, the most powerful of which you have named - but do not forget Sliske the serpent-tongued, who delves the shadows, and the impostor Zamorak, who calls himself a god."
^ Remnant. Old School RuneScape. "[Sliske]: The dwarves of Acheron uncovered it. They lost their home as a result. They fled south, but some remained under its control. They brought it with them."
^ Remnant. Old School RuneScape. "Mysterious Voice 1: What am I looking at here?
[Sliske]: An answer.
Mysterious Voice 1: To what question?
[Sliske]: What lies beyond?"
^ Remnant. Old School RuneScape. "Mysterious Voice 1: What became of these dwarves?
[Sliske]: They succumbed. It had no further use for them.
Mysterious Voice 1: Could it do the same to us?
[Sliske]: I have shielded it. It will do you no harm."
^ Remnant. Old School RuneScape. "Mysterious Voice 1: Then we'd better not waste time. There are resources that can be diverted, though there will be pushback.
[Sliske]: It will be dealt with. My companion will remain to oversee your research. She will ensure that you face no barriers."
^ Remnant. Old School RuneScape. "[Sliske]: Have the undercity sealed, then remove the protections on the totem. We require a more thorough test.
[The Whisperer]: And the researchers?
[Sliske]: Their work is complete. Do with them as you wish."
^ Remnant. Old School RuneScape. "Mysterious Voice 2: The undercity is being sealed. They say the fortress has fallen.
Mysterious Voice 3: Sealed? On whose orders?
Mysterious Voice 2: Well... yours.
Mysterious Voice 3: I gave no such order. Round up the centurions! We have a traitor among us.
[The Whisperer]: No.
Mysterious Voice 3: You! This was your doing!
[The Whisperer]: You have served your Empire well, High Magister, but that servitude is at an end. Now it is time for a new one to begin."
^ "The Fall of Six". RuneScape Lores and Histories. Jagex. "His long years had taken him to many distant lands where he had collected much arcane knowledge and many artefacts of value and strength, and it was those very weapons and armours he had given them, that they now wielded, which granted them their desire."
^ "The Fall of Six". RuneScape Lores and Histories. Jagex. "The time has come, my warriors. The gifts I bestowed upon you have served you well, and you, in turn, have served your god. Now, it is time to begin your servitude to me...to my god."
^ "The Fall of Six". RuneScape Lores and Histories. Jagex. "The time has come, my warriors. The gifts I bestowed upon you have served you well, and you, in turn, have served your god. Now, it is time to begin your servitude to me...to my god."
^ "The Fall of Six". RuneScape Lores and Histories. Jagex. "but much as the sun above giving way to night, so too was their fate inevitable. As the last rays of light failed, so too did the brothers and the campaign with them."
^ "The Fall of Six". RuneScape Lores and Histories. Jagex. "For six days, the survivors dug up the earth and built crypts for the brothers;"
^ "The Fall of Six". RuneScape Lores and Histories. Jagex. "Arms outstretched atop the central mound, the stranger chanted in some foul, ancient language, casting his old magic. A vulgar purple light formed in front of him, fell to the earth, and bled into each of the barrows."
^ Ashuelot Reis in The Frozen Door. Old School RuneScape. "I never saw [the priest] again. He never gave us his true name, but as Nex was freed, she spoke to him... I heard little of what they said, but I did hear what she called him. Sliske."
^ Ashuelot Reis. Old School RuneScape. "He encouraged us to join him. We abandoned the cause of Saradomin and became followers of Guthix."
^ Ashuelot Reis. Old School RuneScape. "Our new leader taught us the ways of the druids, including an ancient ritual that had the power to awaken Guthix himself."
^ Ashuelot Reis. Old School RuneScape. "When our leader led us to perform the ritual, it was not Guthix we woke, but Nex and her forces. The ritual also destroyed the protective enchantments on their prison."
^
Sliske in Desert Treasure II - The Fallen Empire. Old School RuneScape.
- Sliske: You and I have been friends for some time now. Don't you remember?
- Wizard Persten: Don't you remember how we survived the horrors of the Scar?
- Assassin: Don't you remember how we escaped Ghorrock Prison?
- Ketla: Don't you remember how we held back the shadows of Lassar?
- Kasonde: Don't you remember how we overcame the infected Stranglewood?
^ Sliske in Desert Treasure II - The Fallen Empire. Old School RuneScape. "Over and over, we have our ritual. Over and over, we doom one of our kind to the endless void. [...] 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."

[1] Azzanadra. Postbag 20: "Tales from earlier ages". letter 3. RuneScape Postbags from the Hedge. Jagex. "Before I was imprisoned there were many of us, the most powerful of which you have named - but do not forget Sliske the serpent-tongued, who delves the shadows, and the impostor Zamorak, who calls himself a god."

[2] Remnant. Old School RuneScape. "[Sliske]: The dwarves of Acheron uncovered it. They lost their home as a result. They fled south, but some remained under its control. They brought it with them."

[3] Remnant. Old School RuneScape. "Mysterious Voice 1: What am I looking at here?
[Sliske]: An answer.
Mysterious Voice 1: To what question?
[Sliske]: What lies beyond?"

[4] Remnant. Old School RuneScape. "Mysterious Voice 1: What became of these dwarves?
[Sliske]: They succumbed. It had no further use for them.
Mysterious Voice 1: Could it do the same to us?
[Sliske]: I have shielded it. It will do you no harm."

[5] Remnant. Old School RuneScape. "Mysterious Voice 1: Then we'd better not waste time. There are resources that can be diverted, though there will be pushback.
[Sliske]: It will be dealt with. My companion will remain to oversee your research. She will ensure that you face no barriers."

[6] Remnant. Old School RuneScape. "[Sliske]: Have the undercity sealed, then remove the protections on the totem. We require a more thorough test.
[The Whisperer]: And the researchers?
[Sliske]: Their work is complete. Do with them as you wish."

[7] Remnant. Old School RuneScape. "Mysterious Voice 2: The undercity is being sealed. They say the fortress has fallen.
Mysterious Voice 3: Sealed? On whose orders?
Mysterious Voice 2: Well... yours.
Mysterious Voice 3: I gave no such order. Round up the centurions! We have a traitor among us.
[The Whisperer]: No.
Mysterious Voice 3: You! This was your doing!
[The Whisperer]: You have served your Empire well, High Magister, but that servitude is at an end. Now it is time for a new one to begin."

[8] "The Fall of Six". RuneScape Lores and Histories. Jagex. "His long years had taken him to many distant lands where he had collected much arcane knowledge and many artefacts of value and strength, and it was those very weapons and armours he had given them, that they now wielded, which granted them their desire."

[9] "The Fall of Six". RuneScape Lores and Histories. Jagex. "The time has come, my warriors. The gifts I bestowed upon you have served you well, and you, in turn, have served your god. Now, it is time to begin your servitude to me...to my god."

[10] "The Fall of Six". RuneScape Lores and Histories. Jagex. "The time has come, my warriors. The gifts I bestowed upon you have served you well, and you, in turn, have served your god. Now, it is time to begin your servitude to me...to my god."

[11] "The Fall of Six". RuneScape Lores and Histories. Jagex. "but much as the sun above giving way to night, so too was their fate inevitable. As the last rays of light failed, so too did the brothers and the campaign with them."

[12] "The Fall of Six". RuneScape Lores and Histories. Jagex. "For six days, the survivors dug up the earth and built crypts for the brothers;"

[13] "The Fall of Six". RuneScape Lores and Histories. Jagex. "Arms outstretched atop the central mound, the stranger chanted in some foul, ancient language, casting his old magic. A vulgar purple light formed in front of him, fell to the earth, and bled into each of the barrows."

[14] Ashuelot Reis in The Frozen Door. Old School RuneScape. "I never saw [the priest] again. He never gave us his true name, but as Nex was freed, she spoke to him... I heard little of what they said, but I did hear what she called him. Sliske."

[15] Ashuelot Reis. Old School RuneScape. "He encouraged us to join him. We abandoned the cause of Saradomin and became followers of Guthix."

[16] Ashuelot Reis. Old School RuneScape. "Our new leader taught us the ways of the druids, including an ancient ritual that had the power to awaken Guthix himself."

[17] Ashuelot Reis. Old School RuneScape. "When our leader led us to perform the ritual, it was not Guthix we woke, but Nex and her forces. The ritual also destroyed the protective enchantments on their prison."

[18] Sliske in Desert Treasure II - The Fallen Empire. Old School RuneScape.
Sliske: You and I have been friends for some time now. Don't you remember?

Wizard Persten: Don't you remember how we survived the horrors of the Scar?

Assassin: Don't you remember how we escaped Ghorrock Prison?

Ketla: Don't you remember how we held back the shadows of Lassar?

Kasonde: Don't you remember how we overcame the infected Stranglewood?

[19] Sliske: You and I have been friends for some time now. Don't you remember?

[20] Wizard Persten: Don't you remember how we survived the horrors of the Scar?

[21] Assassin: Don't you remember how we escaped Ghorrock Prison?

[22] Ketla: Don't you remember how we held back the shadows of Lassar?

[23] Kasonde: Don't you remember how we overcame the infected Stranglewood?

[19] Sliske in Desert Treasure II - The Fallen Empire. Old School RuneScape. "Over and over, we have our ritual. Over and over, we doom one of our kind to the endless void. [...] 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."

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v t e Mahjarrat
Zamorakian	Bilrach Enakhra General Khazard Hazeel Lamistard Lucien Palkeera Ralvash Zamorak Zemouregal
Zarosian	Akthanakos Azzanadra Jhallan Mizzarch Sliske Trindine Wahisietel
Unknown allegiance	Kharshai

v t e The Fall of Six
Characters	Reldo Strange Old Man Ahrim Dharok Guthan Karil Torag Verac The Stranger
Related	Barrows Barrows brothers Lore and Histories