Kharidian, The Golden Sands, Legacy of Tumeken
The Kharidian Desert stretches vast and unforgiving, a land steeped in ancient history, hidden secrets, and enduring conflict.
On July 28th, it will become the stage for a climactic final showdown in "Eclipse of the Heart," the epic conclusion to a questline that has been quietly building since the earliest days of RuneScape.
Amascut has issued an ultimatum: surrender the last light of Tumeken before the new moon, or Menaphos will fall into darkness. You must rally your allies, from the desert’s citizens to the lesser gods of the Menaphite pantheon, To stand against the Goddess of Destruction and her armies, and fight for the fate of the world.
Eclipse of the Heart marks the long-awaited finale of one of RuneScape’s oldest and most beloved storylines, a saga spanning 24 years.
What began as a simple mission to rescue Prince Ali has grown into a sprawling journey through time, unearthing forgotten gods, exposing ancient betrayals, and shaping the very fate of Gielinor itself. Along the way, you have forged alliances, faced unimaginable dangers, and uncovered truths buried beneath the shifting sands.
Now, as the ominous eclipse casts its shadow over the city of Menaphos, the desert’s timeless sands stir with anticipation.
I am ready, where do I start?
Ascend the steps to the Golden Palace and meet with Pharaoh Leela and begin your plans to stop Amascut.
Requirements
Eclipse of the Heart is the finale of the Desert series, in order to embark on this adventure, you’ll need the following skill levels and completed quests:
- Completion of the quest "Pharaoh's Folly"
- 90
Necromancy - 65
Agility
While those might not sound too bad we hope that you have been keeping up to date on your quests as to access Eclipse of the Heart, you’ll need to have completed over 50 quests.
True to classic RuneScape style, the path is filled with numerous intertwined moments—including outliers like Ernest the Chicken and Gertrude's Cat, which are narratively essential for returning the monkeys to the desert and communicating with the Sphinx but you wouldn't guess that from the quest title.
So ahead of the launch of Eclipse of the Heart, we want to take a moment to reflect on the rich story that has brought us here, not just the quests that have shaped this epic journey, but also the game updates that have been quietly sculpting the ever-shifting sands of the Kharidian Desert over the years. From early hints to major revelations, every step has built toward this defining moment.
A massive shoutout to Mod Juna, who like her namesake is a scholar of lore and has done all this intrepid research into both the desert and the story surrounding it, helping pull all these bits of info together!
Timelines in the Sand
The story is expansive, with countless threads woven across years of lore, characters, and quests. While we could easily spend all day exploring every intricate detail, this summary tries to focuses on the most essential elements currently at play, highlighting the pivotal moments, key players driving the narrative forward and the changes that were happening in the Desert.
1999 - The First Grains of Sand.
The desert was part of the world even before RuneScape became RuneScape, appearing on the original world map designed for Andrew Gower’s first game, DeviousMUD. Although it wasn’t implemented at the time of release, the map featured a familiar-sounding city, though it was missing the “h”!
Releases
- DeviousMUD
2001 - Runescape: Classic
What is now known as RuneScape Classic is released, and although only a small part of the desert is available, Al-Kharid opens as RuneScape’s first desert city.
It features shops selling scimitars, platelegs, silk, and kebabs, and the Prince Ali Rescue quest debuts as the tenth-ever quest.
- The Al Kharid Gate wasn’t added until 11 June 2001, meaning players could cross between Al Kharid and Lumbridge for free after completing Prince Ali Rescue. No toll, no problem!
- The first Jagex employee born after the release of Prince Ali Rescue was hired in 2020. Feel old yet?
- Amascut was the first deity we had a direct interaction with although in disguise as Lady Keli
Releases
- Runescape: Classic
- Prince Ali Rescue
Quick side tangent, while Prince Ali Rescue is the kick off point of the story narrative it was updated in 2012 and became the quest "Stolen Hearts", to keep the timeline in order we are going to mention Stolen Hearts now and talk about 2012 a little down this timeline.
Stolen Hearts
We meet Ozan and Leela and are swept into a kidnapping plot of princely proportions, orchestrated by the criminal mastermind Lady Keli. However, everything is not as it seems.
Diamond in the Rough
Leela’s father Osman, a spymaster and key figure in the events to come, sends you and Ozan to rescue Prince Ali. In doing so, you confront Lady Keli and uncover an important truth about what lies ahead: the Devourer has many faces.
2003 - Turning up the heat
We're still in the RuneScape Classic era, and we receive more desert content with the release of The Tourist Trap quest. This update opens up the Shantay Pass, introducing the desert heat mechanic and several new camps to explore.
- Like the Wilderness and Kharazi Jungle, the desert never made it onto official world maps. It only featured on fan-made versions. So underground!
- The desert heat mechanic, designed to gradually harm players, broke just 3˝ months after launch in RuneScape Classic and was never fixed. That is, until Mod Lykos patched it just to take a screenshot 30 days ago!
Releases
- Desert south of shanty pass
- Tourist Trap
2004 - Kal'fight me in the Duel Arena
RuneScape 2 is released, and the game begins to look much more familiar, especially if you're an OSRS player. One major update introduces the now somewhat infamous Duel Arena. At the time, however, it offered a one-of-a-kind PvP experience with customisable rules, which was a rarity for that era.
The Kalphite Hive also makes its debut, bringing with it the formidable Kalphite Queen, the second ever lootable boss after the King Black Dragon.
- If you climb atop the Duel Arena and talk to certain NPCs, one might yell: “Keep fighting!!! It’s just a flesh wound!” – a nod to Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
- The Kalphite Queen originally only used magic and melee. A ranged attack was added later to stop players from effortlessly camping her. Brutal!
Releases
- RuneScape 2
- Duel Arena
- Kalphite Queen
2005 - Laying the Foundations
The desert truly begins to expand this year, with numerous map additions and an entire month of desert-themed releases in April. During this year, Pollnivneach, Menaphos, Sophanem, and Nardah were added to the map, and the expanding region was officially named the Kharidian Desert. Additionally, we see the official start of the desert storyline with the release of Icthlarin’s Little Helper, followed by its second storyline quest, Spirits of the Elid, right at the end of the year.
- When replacing the canopic jar in a tomb, the examine text quotes Monsters, Inc.: "Put that thing back where it came from or so help me!"
- Menaphos and Sophanem are nearly semordnilaps (words that reverse into others), but the “ph” was cheekily kept intact to keep them pronounceable.
- And for the people who have anxiety around spelling, here's a completely relevant example of a semordnilap: 'desserts' spelled backwards is 'stressed'.
Releases
- Pollnivneach
- Sophanem
- Uzer Smoke Dungeon
- River Elid cave
- Icthlarin’s Little Helper
- Spirits of the Elid
Icthlarin’s Little Helper
In the deep south of the desert, unrest brews and the city of the Menaphites is sealed shut. As you seek entry into Sophanem, you become entangled in a deadly sibling rivalry and begin to realize that your actions are no longer entirely your own.
2006 - Agile Tomb Raiders
Even more of the desert is revealed with the discovery of the Agility Pyramid and the Quarry, along with two new minigames: the first-ever Thieving minigame, Pyramid Plunder, and the Magic-based Mage Training Arena. Plus the region’s narrative is further enriched by the arrival of the Mahjarrat in the desert, marked by the release of Enakhra’s Lament.
- The Agility Pyramid is also known as the Jaleustrophos Pyramid, which means “Tomb of the Agile” in an ancient desert language. Fancy, huh?
Releases
- Agility Pyramid
- Quarry
- Pyramid Plunder
- Enakhra’s Lament.
2007 - First Contact!
The desert storyline continues with the quest Contact! and the discovery of the Sophanem Dungeon. At the time, it was described in the release newspost as “one of the most dangerous places in RuneScape!"
- In Contact!, the maths equation to prove your brainpower? It’s based on the historic combat level formula. Yes, you do need maths for archaeology.
- If a player returns to Al Kharid for any reason whilst Osman is inside the dungeon, an NPC named Osman will still be there who the player claims is an agent of Osman. The 'Agent' seems to deny existing.
Releases
- Contact!
- Sophanem Dungeon
Contact!
The city of Menaphos remains sealed, even to its own citizens. With diplomacy exhausted, subterfuge becomes your only option. In search of an unofficial entrance, you navigate dangerous tunnels, meet Maisa, an Al Kharid spy, and defeat a monstrous giant scarab.
2008 - Going Deeper underground
More desert intrigue unfolds as we begin to connect the dots of what’s stirring in the region. You’ll encounter the devoted followers of the minor god Scabaras, survive a deadly attempt on your life, and gain access to a series of new dungeons that expand the desert’s vast underground world, especially thrilling for Slayer enthusiasts
- Smoking Kills was the second quest to require a minimum combat level (90), after Dream Mentor. A high bar for danger
Releases
- Dealing with Scabaras
- Ullek
- Scabaras Dungeon
- Smoking Kills
- Pollnivneach Slayer Dungeon
- Tomb of Catolax
Dealing with Scabaras
You uncover the lost city of Ullek and confront the high priest of Scabaras and his frenzied followers. Yet something is clearly wrong. Their minds have been twisted, their devotion distorted, and all signs point to a familiar figure behind the corruption.
Smoking Kills
Moved by compassion, you attempt a rescue on behalf of a grieving sister. But once again, nothing is as it seems. Amascut, weary of your interference, twists your goodwill into a trap and delivers a near-fatal reminder to choose your allies carefully.
2009 - Searching for Senliten
The desert expands further, and we all learn a new word, mastaba (a tomb similar to a pyramid, but flat rather than pointed). We also begin to receive some truly foundational lore about the region’s history in Missing My Mummy. This quest not only explores the background of the desert itself but also starts to connect threads from Gielinor’s wider history.
- The items that are found inside the pyramid are from AMCE, a pun on the fictional ACME company in the cartoon series Looney Tunes. The acronym "AMCE" stands for "Ali Morrisane Commercial Enterprises",
Releases
- Missing My Mummy
- Uzer Mastaba
Missing My Mummy
Rumors of a newly uncovered ruin lead you to restore Queen Senliten, a long-dead Pharaoh with firsthand knowledge of the land’s ancient past. As her memories return, a clearer picture of history begins to emerge, revealing powerful implications for the present.
2010 - Chimp Ice with a Flake
In the quest Do No Evil, we bring monkeys back to the desert and cross over another storyline by seeking support from the monkeys of Ape Atoll. This leads to the introduction of a new location, the Monkey Colony, and marks the first time we come face to face with one of the four minor desert gods we’ve heard so much about: Apmeken.
- Talking to the wise monkeys in-game? One sings: "Born from an egg on a mountain top, the punkiest monkey that ever popped” A line from Monkey Magic, based on Journey to the West.
- The names of the three monkey bosses—Leeuni, Ayuni, Eruni—hint at the senses: lips, eyes, and ears. Their masks give it away!
Releases
- Do No Evil
- Monkey Colony
Do No Evil
You help return the monkeys to the desert, but their disappearance may be no coincidence. All signs point to the Devourer. By thwarting her schemes once again, you restore balance and awaken Apmeken, one of the four lesser gods of the Menaphite pantheon.
2012 - Evolution of Ali
This year saw the arrival of the Evolution of Combat (EOC), but just before that, the desert received a major update with the Al Kharid rework and the game's first-ever quest double bill. This update introduced the lovable rogue Ozan and reimagined Prince Ali Rescue. Both quests were fully voice acted, giving voices for the first time to long-established characters like Leela and Osman, over a decade after their original appearance.
- The original name for Stolen Hearts was “Ozan’s Thirteen”, a pun on Ocean’s Thirteen.
- The Arabic text on the banner for the Stolen Hearts/Diamond in the Rough double bill translates to: “Ozan in a Quest”. Factually correct marketing
Releases
- Stolen Hearts
- Diamond in the Rough
- Apmeken Tomb
2015 - Touchdown Tuska
This year brought many changes to the desert following the world event Tuska Comes, after her body crash-landed next to the region. This event introduced a new Distraction and Diversion, Anima Islands, and, through the quest Call of the Ancestors, welcomed new settlers to the desert, the Goebies.
- Previously there was a glitch where, if players teleported off of Tuska's head before stabbing her, they would retain a "moon gravity" walking effect in the regular game areas.
- With the ring of visibility equipped, players could see Soran, emissary of Zaros, on Tuska’s back. He insisted Zaros was “just observing”. Creepy.
- Every member of the Dev team "the Watch" who worked on the Goebies of Mazcab’s had a Goebie named after them. That includes Kyle (Mod Ramen), Degland (Mod Deg), and Fred (Mod Avatar).
Releases
- Tuska
2016 - God Wars round two
While not directly tied to the desert’s own storyline, the area’s importance to Gielinor is further emphasised as it becomes the location of The Heart of Gielinor and God Wars Dungeon 2.
- In the lobby area, if no one enters the arena, Gregorovic will repeatedly say "I'm so lonely." until someone enters.
- Helwyr is Welsh for hunters
Releases
- Heart of Gilenor
2017 - Opening the Golden Gates
After 12 years of being sealed, Menaphos finally opens in one of the biggest expansions ever to come to the game. The update launched with four new quests, a bustling city to explore, a new Slayer dungeon, and an increased level cap to 120. It also introduced new skilling methods through Shifting Tombs, multiple Distractions and Diversions, and the slightly contentious reputation system.
- After the 9 August 2011 update, players could open the northern Menaphos gate… but only move one game square into the city. So close, yet so far.
- Ask Ozan how he snuck into the city and he’ll say: "Long story involving bribery, a wig, and a pink skirt." A cheeky throwback to Prince Ali Rescue.
- You might have already noticed, but there’s a clever connection between the desert quest titles after Ozan's introduction they each feature a playing card suit! Stolen Hearts, Diamond in the Rough, Jack of Spades, and 'Phite Club all follow this playful theme.
Releases
- Crocodile Tears
- Our Man in the North
- 'Phite Club
- Shifting Tombs
- Sunken Pyramid
- Sophanem Slayer Dungeon
- Menaphos
- Het Tomb
- The Magister
The Jack of Spades
The Pharaoh of Menaphos extends peace to Al Kharid, opening the way to enter the city at last. As you explore, you uncover hidden secrets, clash with criminals, and learn that Amascut’s influence still reaches into every corner of the desert, even beneath the sands.
Crocodile Tears
You meet Crondis, a member of the Menaphite pantheon trapped in a gluttonous cycle of excess. With your help, she confronts the corruption within herself, and Amascut’s malicious influence is revealed once again.
Our Man in the North
Osman’s true heritage and the genuine royal bloodline are revealed. As power shifts and tensions escalate, agents of the false Pharaoh scramble to hold onto control. Then divine intervention arrives when Het, the minor god of strength and health, makes himself known.
'Phite Club
A revolution brews in Menaphos. As unrest spreads, you help lead a coup and uncover the truth behind the Pharaoh’s reign. It turns out that a god with unresolved family issues makes for a terrible patron.
2020 - Digging up the past
Although it was a less than fantastic year for the real world, with many of us stuck indoors, we could at least pick up our mattocks and enjoy RuneScape’s 28th skill: Archaeology. Once again, the desert took centre stage as the heart of Gielinor’s ancient history. After a bit of on-the-spot training, the very first dig site players could access was located in the desert at the Kharid-et Dig Site, uncovering more of the history buried beneath the sands.
- The first player who fully completed this dig site on 6 April 2020 was le me. An in-game with the announcement was shown: News: le me is the first to master the Kharid-et Dig Site by fully exploring the site's history!
2022 - A calm Oasis
An earthquake destroyed the Duel Arena, marking the end of one of RuneScape’s oldest PvP areas, which had unfortunately become heavily associated with real-world trading and account abuse. In its place, Het’s Oasis was introduced: a vibrant skilling hub and a key location in the ongoing Elder God Wars saga, accompanied by the release of Eye of Het I and II.
- The shop owners in Het's Oasis named Croc and Dundee are nods to the classic film Crocodile Dundee.
Releases
- Eye of Het 1 & 2
- Garden of Kharid
- Het's Oasis
2024 - Soul Searching
In 2023, Icthlarin helps defeat Rasial, the First Necromancer, as part of the release of RuneScape’s 29th skill, Necromancy. Unsurprisingly, this causes major unrest among the souls of Gielinor, and it was inevitable that the Devourer of Souls would take notice. As Amascut builds her power, we face her followers in RuneScape's first boss dungeon, the Sanctum of Rebirth, and continue the story with the Ode of the Devourer quest and the skilling boss, the Gate of Elidinis.
- Some hieroglyphs seen throughout the Sanctum are the same ones used in Old School RuneScape’s Tombs of Amascut raid for a nice little Cross-game Easter egg!
Releases
- Scabarite Cavern
- Soul Searching
- Sanctum of Rebirth
- Ode of the Devourer
- Gate of Elidinis
Soul Searching
A secret exchange draws you into the Sanctum of Rebirth, where mind-controlled agents collect souls to fuel Amascut’s desperate thirst for power. Death and Icthlarin counsel caution, this ancient sanctum is steeped in Amascut's influence.
Ode of the Devourer
Soul devourers descend on Al Kharid, leaving a curse in their wake. Together with Icthlarin and the reluctant Mahjarrat Zemouregal, you cleanse the corrupted Gate of Elidinis and escape the clutches of the Avatar of Amascut , but the true scale of her ambition soon becomes clear.
2025 - Shifting Sands
We now make a true and long-awaited return to the desert with the official continuation of the main storyline in the aptly named series, Return to the Desert. With three new quests and the addition of a brand-new Slayer dungeon, the narrative finally reintroduces Scabaras himself—seventeen years after players first encountered his enigmatic followers back in 2008. As the sands shift once more, the stories of familiar characters advance, long-dormant threads begin to intertwine, and the path toward a climactic final confrontation begins to take shape.
- The glyphs on the two obelisks at the front of the Temple of Isolation read "NO CATS" in ancient Kharidian. A fun nod to the wards keeping Amascut at bay.
Releases
- Beneath Scabaras' Sands
- Temple of Isolation
- Pharaoh's Folly
- Eclipse of the Heart
- Amascut, Goddess of Destruction
Beneath Scabaras' Sands
Under orders from the Osman, the newest Pharaoh, you set out to find Scabaras, the god of isolation before Amascut does. But Osman’s arrogance reaches its peak when he betrays his people and tries to kill Scabaras in a misguided attempt to stop the Destroyer. You thwart both Osman and Amascut, but her end game is already in motion.
Pharaoh’s Folly
As Osman clings to power after his betrayal, you reunite with Ozan, free Leela, and plan another coup. This time, the battle moves to the courtroom, where you prove Osman unfit and Leela claims the throne. Yet the victory is bittersweet, for Amascut’s ultimatum looms ever closer.
What lies ahead?
Eclipse of the Heart drops on July 28th. Amascut has issued an ultimatum: surrender the last light of Tumeken before the new moon, or Menaphos will fall into darkness, you must be prepared to stop her.
Then on August 4th the full Boss version of Amascut, Goddess of Destruction will be available to challenge! You can join us live on Twitch as we host a Race to World First to watch the best players challenge her on a special "Race to World's First" difficulty!
