Several months have passed since City Of Senntisten, and things have gone from bad to worse: the Elder Gods have sent in their armies (well, three armies and an undying fungus monster), and the defenders' ground forces are barely managing to hold out. There's no more reinforcements, and the gods have grown desperate enough that they've let Zamorak's necromancers bring back their dead as puppet soldiers. Worse, Icthlarin returned from his journey only to reveal that he couldn't find anyone who was willing to help. However, Seren is working on a plan and Icthlarin has a possible alternative to necromancy, an ancient relic called the Eye of Het...
Eye Of Het I
The World Guardian joins Icthlarin at the ruins of what used to be the Duel Arena, which was destroyed in a strange earthquake just before Icthlarin's arrival. When asked, Icthlarin tells the World Guardian a few things: first, the Eye of Het isn't actually necromantic, because it takes the dead and returns them to genuine life. However, it was sealed away because the risks were too dangerous, until now. Second, Icthlarin found a lot of people on his journey, but most of the various races drove him away, most of the ones who didn't wouldn't believe him, and the few who did wouldn't send anyone with him. He understands why, but is afraid of what might happen as a result. And third, the Eye is still present in the ruins, but it may not be safe to retrieve yet.
After clearing some rubble, the World Guardian and Icthlarin have to get past the wards around Het's shrine. They do so successfully, though they need to stabilise some rifts in reality in the process. The World Guardian successfully retrieves the Eye, but Icthlarin doesn't want to immediately take it to Seren- he wants to know what happened to cause the earthquake first.
Eye Of Het II
Icthlarin thinks he knows what happened: someone tried to steal the Eye before he could retrieve it, but failed. He bases this off three things: first, there's never been an earthquake in the desert before; second, the rifts he and the World Guardian saw were signs of a powerful magical interference; and third, the timing is just too coincidental. If someone tried to break through the wards without knowing what they were, then yes, that could have caused the earthquake. Icthlarin suspects that one of the gods in Senntisten may have been behind it, and asks the World Guardian to interrogate the people in the oasis about what they saw before the earthquake.
A stranger north of the oasis claims to have seen some aviansie flying over beforehand. The Light and Shadow Voices tell the World Guardian that she's lying and that they want to help them solve the mystery. A quick investigation reveals a note nearby that seems to have been written by a Zarosian. The World Guardian takes it to Azzanadra and has the option of accusing him or not; either way, Azzanadra says that the note is a fake and was likely intended to frame Trindine. He can vouch for everyone at the Glacor Front, but suggests that the World Guardian ask the gods at the Cathedral.
When asked, Zamorak gives no straight answers but insists that he doesn't want to hurt Icthlarin. Seren already knew what happened, and says that she sent some scouts to check out the Duel Arena, but they didn't find anything strange. Saradomin's people helped out at the ruins, but he says that he doesn't otherwise have the resources to interfere. In addition, he doubts Icthlarin's ability to use the Eye if needed. Armadyl seems innocent, but the Light and Shadow Voices tell the World Guardian that he was hoping that Icthlarin wouldn't find the Eye.
The World Guardian follows Trindine around the city until they can talk privately. Trindine declines to help them, but says something interesting: the Mahjarrat, being made of magic, can see auras. The auras of mortals who manage to achieve competence with shadow magic change as a result, and the change is visible. When the World Guardian got Trindine out of the Vault of Shadows, she initially thought they were Sliske, but later, she couldn't understand why she thought that. But now she does- the World Guardian's aura is just like Sliske's, and she wants to know why. The Light and Shadow Voices suggest saying that it was Guthix, but the World Guardian can't answer. Instead, they ask her to ask Azzanadra to meet them at the Cathedral so they can solve the mystery.
At the Cathedral, you can accuse any of the four gods, but the culprit is revealed to be Zamorak by way of General Khazard, who went back for a second attempt at stealing the Eye and was successful this time. Zamorak explains why: he figured out what Seren's plan was, and it's not good. Seren wants to keep everyone at the Cathedral for eternity, the gods siphoning the anima and the mortals fighting the Elder Gods' armies, dying and being resurrected over and over. Seren admits that he's right- she refuses to let the eggs come to any harm, but she also won't let the war break out onto the surface. Saradomin tells Seren that she has to choose between the eggs or Gielinor, but while Zamorak says that Seren has already chosen the eggs, Seren insists that she has to save everyone, including the eggs.
Zamorak has had it, saying that if they won't break the stagnation, they can see how long they'll last without him. He breaks the Eye and leaves, saying that maybe they'll all die, but he'll die free. With Zamorak gone, the three remaining gods can contain the eggs, but they can't stop them from growing. The eggs are going to hatch, and it won't be long. Zamorak's forces have stayed, but things are dire. Armadyl is inches away from leaving as well, Seren has no plan, and when told of what happened, Icthlarin can only leave for the underworld, to prepare for the oncoming influx of souls.
