No one survived. No Gods, no fish, no bugs…and certainly no humans, elves, gnomes…none of that. For a long time, Runescape was empty. That is, on one fateful day in the year 534 of the Sixth Age, a trickle of life was born. A single-celled bacterium that was to be called a Spirit Wolf appeared out of the tainted water. The next was Dreadfowl, then Spirit Spider years later. Soon, Runescape was populated by what is now called Familiars. These "Familiars" ranged greatly in size, shape, and attitude – the metal Minotaurs only wanted one thing: to fight. The Titans lugged their enormous masses all around the land lazily. The Evil Turnip tortured any who dared take a fork and knife within ten meters of it!
It took much longer for Humans to populate the world again. They made friends with the Spirit creatures, and tapped their previously untamed abilities. These abilities were trapped inside enchanted scrolls, then the Humans regained control of Runescape by creating another realm and sending the Spirits in through the portal. Only through a pouch, Spirit shards, and a magical charm could the Spirits be summoned. This was to be known as the Summoning skill.
Life soon returned to normal for the Runescapians. The only difference was the absence of Camelot and Gods to worship, and the only thing Humans knew about it was that the Fifth Age ended in year 169, and so the Sixth Age began – the Age of Man.
Well, look on the bright side:
There isn't a Combat Triangle.