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At the dawn of the Second Age, the founding gods of the Menaphite Pantheon,
Tumeken and Elidinis, descended upon the lands now known as the Kharidian Desert
and soon wed. They produced two children, the demi-god guardian of the dead,
Icthlarin, and the demi-goddess of rebirth Amascut. The gods, however, did not wish to
rule the lands directly, rather they wanted to lead spiritually. And so they appointed
Pharaohs to lead their new Menaphite Empire.
At some point during the Second Age, Tumeken would enter sleep and begin a
journey of dreams over the next four days. These dreams subsequently created the four
minor gods of the pantheon. After the first dream, Apmeken, Goddess of
companionship, was created. Following the second and third dreams, Crondis and Het
were created, the Gods of resourcefulness, and health respectively. Finally, on the
fourth night, Tumeken dreamt of solitude and loneliness, which birthed Scabaras, God
of Isolation.
Sometime later, many of the Menaphites grew fearful of their neighbors, the
powerful and expanding Zarosian Empire, whom they had nicknamed the “Ruinous
Powers”. This fear of the expanding Zarosians gave way to several small border
disputes, which soon grew into a much larger, bloodier conflict. The Menaphites were
losing the war and so the Gods of the Menaphite Pantheon gave their people powerful
weapons to aid in their defense. Despite this advantage, they were still no match for the
Zarosians, forcing Icthlarin to seek outside help. He found the help of the Mahjarrat,
supposedly a group of powerful beings and some agreed to swear loyalty to Icthlarin
and aid in the war.
The group of Mahjarrat, now given the title of “Icthlarin’s Stern Judges”, drove
away the Zaroisian forces over the next several years. During this time, Osmumten was
chosen as Pharaoh by Tumeken, who began to lead the Menaphite armies on the
frontlines. This appointment by Tumeken caused a Mahjarrat by the name of Sliske to
join the Zarosian forces. He subsequently convinced the other Mahjarrat to abandon the
Menaphites, which allowed the Zarosian forces to push the Menaphites back.
Seeing no other way out of the situation he was faced with, Tumeken sacrificed
himself in a blaze of mystical fire, wiping out both the Zarosian and Menaphite armies.
His widow Elidines would then mourn his loss, gifting Tumeken’s Heka and Her Ward to
Osmumten. This sacrifice had turned the luscious green lands into the area we now
know as the Kharidian Desert. The costly victory did generate much resentment from
the Menaphites towards Osmumten.
Among those affected by the betrayal of the Mahjarrat and the death of Tumeken
was Amascut. These events caused Amascut to change drastically, she began to
devour the souls she was meant to be guiding to rebirth and declared herself The
Devourer. She wrought destruction on the land and became locked in a great rivalry
with Icthlarin. She created beasts to prowl the underworld and devour souls, causing
Icthlarin to have to personally guide more and more souls through the underworld,
taking up nearly all of his time and blocking him from devoting any efforts toward the
surface world.
In the Kharidian Desert, Osmumten would rule the land with his son Mehhar. He
would be tasked with retrieving and hiding the powerful weapons the gods had gifted
the Menaphites as well as rebuilding the empire back to its former glory. He would use
the Jaltevas Pyramid to hide the weapons in the tombs of dead Pharaohs. His rule
would not last long, however, as a group of Menaphite usurpers killed him and his entire
family, besides Mehhar, who was saved by the family's servants and taken to Ullek.
Mehhar then devoted himself to the teachings of Scabaras and created the Sect of
Scabaras.
With the betrayal of Zaros by Zamorak, the Third Age began. The Kharidian
Desert was surprisingly mostly left alone during the majority of the conflict, however, it
would become a hotspot in the last thousand years of the God Wars. The battles
between Saradominist and Zamorakian forces would wipe out almost the entirety of the
Menaphite Civilisation, the only surviving cities being Menaphos and Sophanem.
According to all known sources, Amascut surprisingly did not take this
opportunity to cause more chaos in the region. The only significant interaction she had
during the God Wars was her participation in the major battles of the region.
After the Edicts of Guthix, Elidinis was banished from Gielinor, leaving Icthlarin,
Amascut, and the four minor gods as the main spiritual influences over the region.
During the Fourth Age not much of significance happened, mostly the denizens of the
Kharidian Desert and the wider world of Gielinor rebuilding.
In more recent years, the Jaltevas Pyramid has been rediscovered after a storm
blew through, unearthing the monument and allowing for excavations to begin. Reports
of remnants of the previously destroyed Sect of Scarabas have also been made note of
and many have heard of the four minor gods, led by Amascut, heading into the pyramid,
though the credibility of these reports is still up to debate. Also noted is an attempt by
some Menaphites in service of Amascut to overthrow the Pharaoh was foiled, and other
tales of Amascut’s recent involvement in the region.
These reports of increased activity from Amascut hint at a larger resurgence of
her influence and carries with it the dangers of a deranged and misplaced demigoddess. Which is why I must break the Academic nature of this text to warn you, dear
reader. I am quite knowledgeable of the history of these gods and must warn caution
and vigilance in these times. It is my belief that Amascut is planning something that
could spell doom for many. For now, you are now caught up to the modern history of the
Menaphite Pantheon. In these dire situations, knowledge means everything. Stay safe,
and may the Gods be with you.