Death

**Harold Death Esquire**, better known as simply **Death** or the **Grim Reaper**, also a Guardian of Guthix, is responsible for the reaping of souls in Gielinor. He and his pet hellhound, Muncher, can be found in his office north of the Draynor Village lodestone. He takes part in several quests and events.

## History

### Origins

Harold was the first being to die on Gielinor[source needed], presumably meeting his end during the First Age, although it is unknown exactly how he met his end, charging him with the responsibility of making sure that souls are able to leave their former bodies when they pass on. He was likely among the first humans that Guthix brought to populate Gielinor from Teragard or one of its colonies[source needed]. To help with his duties, Guthix himself outfitted Harold with his signature robes and his scythe, the only known weapon capable of "reaping" souls and sending them to the underworld. He also bestowed a weakness upon him, ensuring that he cannot kill those whose time has not yet come, and likewise cannot save those whose time has.

At the end of the First Age, Guthix withdrew underground to sleep in the hope that the mortal races would forget him and soon after, other gods arrived. These included Tumeken and Elidinis, who later had two children, Icthlarin and Amascut[source needed]. Icthlarin became God of the Dead, while Amascut became Goddess of Rebirth[source needed]. They tasked themselves with roles that made Death's role easier: they would meet the souls that Death escorted to the gates of the underworld, and then Amascut would allow those worthy a choice to be reincarnated or to continue to the afterlife, while Icthlarin would escort them to the afterlife[source needed]. After an incident on Freneskae, Amascut's mind became warped and began to devour souls, and the underworld became filled with her soul-devouring beasts, making Icthlarin's role much more important than it had been before.

### Becoming a Guardian of Guthix

At the end of the Third Age, Guthix awoke from his slumber, sensing the devastation that the gods had caused to Gielinor[source needed]. Guthix proceeded to bless various beings greatly[source needed], including Death, and tasked them with protecting him while he cast the gods out of Gielinor. After Guthix finished casting the gods out, creating the Edicts of Guthix in the process, he tasked some of the guardians with various duties[source needed], although as Death was already busy with his current duties, Guthix did not bestow any more on him. Guthix then departed back into the ground to resume his slumber, and Death resumed his role as guide of souls to the underworld.

### Recent activity

Although Death continued to perform his duties throughout the Fourth and Fifth Ages, he also garnered a bit of a social life, even founding his own clan known as The Horsemen alongside the three other horsemen of the apocalypse and a man named Frank, although the latter was only let in because 5 people are needed to start a clan and Frank happened to be wandering past at the time. At some point he also adopted a skeletal hellhound known as Muncher, who he likes to keep alongside him in his mansion.

#### Protecting Guthix

*The following takes place during The World Wakes.*
In 169 of the Fifth Age, Death accompanied most of his fellow Guardians and other Guthixians to Guthix's Cave after an adventurer triggered the alarm system. Like the other Guthixians, he chose to keep Guthix asleep and to preserve the edicts. The party arrived shortly after Zilyana and K'ril Tsutsaroth left, unable to open a giant door. Death explained their purpose and formed an alliance with the adventurer, not knowing that they were secretly working for the Zarosians on Sliske's "request". The adventurer managed to solve a locking mechanism for the door and unlock it, allowing passage for the Guthixian group.

At the other end of the door, they met with Cres, another Guardian of Guthix who had been placed to guard Guthix's cave with his automatons. After the adventurer was uplifted to become the newest Guardian by Guthix, Cres concluded that the other factions were about to storm the central room and kill Guthix, so the adventurer was placed as the leader of the group. The attacks indeed begun shortly after, with Bandosians and Zamorakians attempting to penetrate the storage wings. The adventurer aided Death in deterring the fearsome demon K'ril and his forces before dealing with Enakhra and her posse. After she had been dealt with, Zilyana invaded the room with her army of Saradominists, who swarmed the Guthixians. Death managed to easily hold his own in the ensuing battle.

Zilyana proceeded to send forth troops in an attempt to kill Juna, who had barricaded the passage to Guthix, while duelling Cres herself. Her troops were vanquished by the adventurer, but Zilyana, thinking the automaton to be Guthix, stabbed Cres in his torso, killing him. At that point, a small party of Zarosians arrived, having avoided all combat by trailing Zilyana's legion. The three parties pleaded for the adventurer to either aid them in protecting Guthix (Guthixians), killing him (Saradominists) or bargaining with him (Zarosians). Death was convinced the adventurer would pick their side, but was devastated and betrayed if they didn't. At that point, Sliske, concealed in the Shadow Realm, broke the seal to Guthix and made his way to the god.

The adventurer attempted to pursue him, but was held back by attacks from Death and the Valluta (in case they didn't side with the Guthixians), who had lost trust in them, or Char and Nex. They survived, however, and witnessed Sliske breaking his promise and killing Guthix using the staff of Armadyl. Guthix then took the adventurer in confidence and took them to a projection of his memories, explaining his history and why he wants the gods banished, before dying. By that time, all factions had arrived to see Guthix's body and, his death having abolished the Edicts, witnessed the arrival of Saradomin to the world. To avoid more battle, he teleported the Mahjarrat, Char and Nex away before leaving with Zilyana to make plans. If the adventurer betrayed them, the Guthixians forgave them, for they had been chosen by Guthix, but Death concluded that the events of the day were "just a taste of what is to come".

#### Kidnapping

*The following takes place during Missing, Presumed Death.*
Shortly after the dawn of the Sixth Age, Death was kidnapped by Sliske, the Mahjarrat that had slain Guthix, and imprisoned within a shadowy cage within the Empyrean Citadel, a citadel that formerly belonged to Armadyl that Sliske had captured. During his absence, Frank and some of Death's helpers took over his duty of reaping souls by using fragments of his scythe; however they could only do this to monsters.

Sliske planned to bring all of the major gods to the citadel, intending to use Death to lure Icthlarin there, as, without Death to reap souls, Icthlarin would have no souls to escort through the underworld. Sliske used similar measures to lure the other gods, which included framing Saradominists for the murder of elves and Serenists for the murder of Saradominist monks, and claiming that he was having a "Grand Ascendancy", where he would ascend to godhood.

Shortly after his disappearance, the World Guardian was recruited by Brother Samwell to investigate the murder of his fellow monks. After their investigation ran fruitless, Icthlarin appeared and told the World Guardian of Death's disappearance. A band of wights sent by Sliske then attacked the duo, and one of them dropped a box, which contained an invitation for Sliske's "ascendancy" at the Empyrean Citadel, and also revealed that Sliske had kidnapped Death. While Icthlarin suspected that the "Grand Ascendancy" was one of Sliske's tricks, he nevertheless travelled to the citadel, taking the World Guardian with him, in order to try and rescue Death.

When the duo reached the main chamber of the citadel, they found Bandos, Saradomin, Zamorak, Armadyl and Brassica Prime, who had also been lured to the citadel. Sliske then presented Death inside his cage, and also revealed that he had captured the dragonkin Strisath. He revealed that the "ascendancy" was a ruse, and revealed that he obtained the Stone of Jas, and that he would be holding a contest, with the stone supposedly being awarded to the one to kill the most gods. Icthlarin and the other deities were outraged, and refused to trust Sliske, forcing him to "get things started himself". Sliske then attacked Icthlarin and tossed the World Guardian the key to Death's cage, before proceeding to release Strisath and teleport away, which caused the other gods to flee in fright.

Although Icthlarin questioned why Sliske had given the World Guardian the key, he protected them from Strisath's dragonkin-breath with a magical shield while they released Death, which they were able to do relatively quickly. After Death was freed, Icthlarin's shield broke, but Death was able to teleport himself, Icthlarin and the World Guardian away before Strisath was able to kill Icthlarin.

After the trio arrived safely back in the Silvarea mountain pass, Death warned the adventurer that gods would die in the coming days, and that as a World Guardian, they would be able to influence their fate. He also reassured Brother Samwell that the souls of his fellow monks would be safely escorted to the afterlife. Death then returned to his duty of reaping souls, while Icthlarin returned to the underworld.

### Fight against Nomad

*The following takes place during Nomad's Elegy.*Death is first seen when an adventurer ends up in his office after an explosion "killed" them. Death explains that Nomad is getting stronger and taking souls from Gielinor for his own purposes. He thinks up a plan with the adventurer after they have grabbed allies Death had found useful when they were with the adventurer. After creating a battering ram and breaking through heavy Ascension resistance, he senses the presence of a "god" and is shocked by the abomination he sees later on.
He assists in taking down Gielinor by removing souls from the construct to weaken it. After Nomad is defeated by the adventurer, they can decide who can kill Gielinor. If Death killed Gielinor, he is given an invitation by Sliske for killing a "god". Before Death can exact his vengeance on Nomad however, Sliske takes him away, much to his disappointment, although he is reassured of the victory by Xenia and the others. After the fight, he returns to his duties.

## Leisure time

When not reaping souls, Death lives in his mansion, where he has employed butlers and helpers to help him with its upkeep. His touch of death, however, has resulted in hundreds of accidental deaths over the years, despite supposedly only being able to kill people whose time has come. When his 999th servant Alfonse was killed when Death patted him on his back in gratitude, he contacted the Servants' Guild for a new worker and got 10% off due to them being number 1000. While waiting for the servant's arrival, his house became an utter mess due to an incident involving Muncher eating the postman. His helpers also serve a vital role, as he has tasked them with sending souls to the underworld in his place with fragments of his scythe if he were ever unable to perform his duties.

He is often accompanied by his skeletal pet hellhound, Muncher, for whom he cares deeply, although he is not happy when he disobeys his orders. Death has often had trouble with pets in the past due to their short lifespans, and his touch of death, which resulted in his pet bunny exploding when he tried feeding it a carrot. As such, Muncher, being undead, is the perfect pet for him. Aside from Muncher, he has experimented with undead fish to keep him company (he attempted to achieve this by undoing their deaths with a magical resurrection hourglass he had obtained).

File:Audio options icon.png**A player encounters Death in his office.**

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He also enjoys music, and is a big fan of bands such as Adamantite Damsel and Ping & Pong. When the latter two died before their time came, he reversed time so they could make more music for him, although he was saddened by this, as he would much rather have them with him. In addition, Death enjoys crochet and embroidery, stating that it keeps his skeletal fingers flexible.

## Holiday events

### Deathcon II

*The following takes place during Deathcon II.*
In 2011, Death was revealed to be the owner of his very own clan, with its very own citadel. The player was asked by Frank to help prepare the Citadel for a "DeathCon" event. The player had to perform tasks for Beauty, Frank and Infinity. After this was done, the player had full access to the citadel (with a Deathcon lanyard) and got a Deathcon t-shirt as a souvenir. The player also unlocked the Living on Borrowed Time emote.

### Death's Door

*The following takes place during Death's Door.*
In 2014, Death's mansion was attacked by a number of ghosts sent by the insane necromancer Melzar the Mad. Melzar sought to capture Death's realm in order to gain enough power over Death to restore his fallen friends and family of Crandor to life, even though their souls had long since passed on. As Death is unable to deal with already-deceased souls, and Icthlarin was unable to deal with souls that had never visited the underworld, Death sent Muncher to recruit adventurers into his mansion to try and deal with the ghosts, giving them tools made by a friend of his. He awarded adventurers who defeated ghosts with a unique set of armour.

### Gauntlet of Souls

Main article: Gauntlet of SoulsIn 2015, Death played a role in Gauntlet of Souls, which featured a battle between Icthlarin and Amascut. Death guarded the Soul Rift portal near the Burthorpe lodestone through which adventurers could enter the Underworld. The adventurer helped to gather and escort souls for Death and Icthlarin, protecting the rescued souls from Amascut's Soul Devourers. With Icthlarin's help, the adventurer fought against the Avatar of Amascut, as well as Amascut herself.

### Til Death Do Us Part

Main article: Til Death Do Us PartIn 2018, Death played a major role in saving Moia, who had been trapped by a Chaotic rift that had appeared just outside Draynor Manor. He was unsure of the rift's origins, but knew that there was nothing good from it and feared that something was trying to make its way into Gielinor through it. Death constructed several pillars to help stabilise the rift and stop whatever was behind it from coming through. He recruited adventurers to help him keep the unknown entity at bay.

Despite their efforts, the rift continued to expand in size and influence. He would have to rely on his old friends, first calling in War. The portal also began to spew out Infernal demons, which War would provide adventurers with his javelin to slay them.

## Powers and abilities

In his role as the regulator of life he is responsible for freeing souls from bodies with his scythe and escorting them to the Grim Underworld, the underworld of Gielinor, where Icthlarin, the Menaphite god of the Underworld, then guides these souls through it safely. The two have a good relationship as both require one another for their respective roles.

Death cannot kill or revive people on a whim, as he is only capable of killing people whose time has come in order to ensure balance.

In combat, his scythe is able to slice several foes at once, and he has an arsenal of magical spells at his disposal. He has been seen using a blue spell that sucks life out of a victim, as well as creating lethal spirit balls which inflict fatal damage when touched.

Death is capable of existing in multiple places at once

Death has the ability to turn back time itself.

## References

See:Guardians of Guthix
See:Riders of the Apocalypse

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jagex. Postbag 24 - "Transcript:Spooky goings on!", Letter 4, by Death. *RuneScape* Postbags from the Hedge.
2. ↑ Jagex. Above the Lore Episode 10 - *Missing Presumed Death* Mod Osborne *Above the Lore* podcast, 23 September 2013.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 **Death**, "The World Wakes", *RuneScape*. "When Guthix appointed me as a guardian, I was given the task of retaining the balance of life and death - as well as the power to do so. With all great power, there must be balance, so Guthix also bestowed a weakness upon me. I can only strike a killing blow on those who are due to die. I cannot take the lives of those whose time is not over, and equally I cannot save a life that is due to end... As much as I may sometimes wish to."
4. ↑ Thaerisk Cemphier, "Book of the underworld", *RuneScape*. "Thousands of years ago - before she became The Devourer - Amascut would stand opposite Icthlarin beside the gates of the Underworld, both atop separate pulpits... As her mind has become warped she is no longer the God of Rebirth, instead hell bent on devouring any souls she can before they reach the afterlife."
5. ↑ Mod Jack. "Order of Ascension - FAQ." 5 June 2013. *Recent Game Updates* Forums.
6. ↑ **Death**, "The Grim Reaper's diary", *RuneScape*. "A tragic day. Alfonse and I were in the garden looking at the state of a spiders nest. I patted my trusty servant on the back in thanks for all his hard work. Sadly, my touch of death killed him instantly. Feel quite guilty. *(...)* Ordered a new servant from the agency today and got a 10% discount for getting past the 1000th servant mark. Woo hoo!"
7. ↑ **Death**, "The Grim Reaper's diary", *RuneScape*. "My plan to make the undead fish is going quite well. I managed to obtain a resurrection hourglass today, so have added that to the fishtank to finish the process. It's so difficult to have pets when everything you touch dies horrifically. I remember having a rabbit once that exploded when I fed it a carrot!"
8. ↑ Jagex. Above the Lore - episode 4: *The Secrets of Sliske* Mods Osborne and Ollie *Above the Lore* podcast, 20 June 2013.
9. ↑ 2014 Hallowe'en Event
10. ↑ Some Like It Cold. if the adventurer dies during the submarine sequence.