It was always, always burning hot deep in the Karamja Volcano. The Tzhaar, dwelling in their domain underneath the blazing volcano, kept their city at a burning hot temperature, as they need the heat to survive. Forging weapons and armor from Obsidian and keeping many powerful beasts in their large caves deep in the city, the Tzhaar have always being a mysterious race. They were also the kind of people who keep secrets from outsiders. Their most terrible secret, though, was the Chest of Destiny, which can only be opened by a certain adventurer. Yet, an adventurer known as Raul Venkight found out about the Chest when he was visiting the city.
Raul proceeded to confront a Tzhaar-Ket patrolling the area near the city entrance. Putting one hand on his sword hilt, Raul stepped in front of the Tzhaar-Ket, blocking its path.
"Tzhaar, I know you keep the Chest here!" Raul insisted.
"Jalyt, it seems that you are no longer sane. Perhaps you would like a cool drink?" the Tzhaar-Ket replied calmly.
"Whatever! Show me the Chest right now!"
"Jalyt-Raul-Venkight, it is not your place to know." With that, the Tzhaar-Ket raised its Obsidian Maul and swung it in huge circles above its head. Instantly, five more Tzhaar-Ket guards lumbered over the gold rocks blocking the path to the bank area and charged towards Raul, who attempted to pull out his sword. However, the Tzhaar were too strong for him; they hurled him out of the city, where he landed onto solid ground. He lay there wincing in pain.
"This Jalyt knows too much! We should eradicate him!"
"Advice accepted."
Raul Venkight stood upright, facing the six Tzhaar-Ket guards standing in front of him in a straight line. He raised a hand. "Now just wait a moment, Tzhaar. You can't just kill me for~" Before Raul could finish his sentence, the Tzhaar-Ket guards pushed him into the burning lava. As Raul crashed into the lava pool, he screamed in agony and started to curse the guards with a string of words. The Tzhaar-Ket guards ignored the dying human and reentered the city. They did not notice the hooded stranger slinking into the entrance stealthily after them.
It was a fine day in Varrock. Allen Hawkins was in a good mood, ever since he got his house back. Sure, the economy was still bad, but at least he's got a place to live in again. He was walking along a path from the Grand Exchange back to his house, when a man with a dragon dagger at his belt emerged from a dark alleyway and stopped him. It was Takrinqer.
"So, Allen, you got the missing piece of the Shield of Arrav? Great job, mate! High five!" Takrinqer raised a hand and he and Allen slapped hands hard.
"You've got something else again, haven't you, Tak? You haven't changed much since I left Varrock one year ago, eh?"
"What do you expect? Anyway, you're correct. I managed to smuggle some prints from the Varrock Herald newspaper office. The managers aren't happy, but they'll need more than typing skills to arrest me." He extended a closed hand, and opened it to reveal several blue prints.
Allen swiped the blue prints from Takrinqer's hands and read through them thoroughly.
"The Chest of Destiny. Hidden deep within the Karamja Volcano, possibly in Tzhaar City. Whoever unlocks this learns their destiny, and gains instant power. If fallen in the wrong hands, could greatly benefit the evil."
"So, you want to try getting it? I'm rooting for you here, bud." Takrinqer grunted as he turned around to leave.
Allen smiled and stuffed the blue prints into his pocket. He started to leave, but he heard Takrinqer shout, "If you do get it and want to sell it, be sure to split the money with me fifty-fifty!"
Allen turned around and gave Takrinqer thumbs up. He then proceeded back to his house for final preparations. A quick Gnome Glider service could be useful. Unlike the humans, the gnomes actually lowered their price for Gnome Glider service, which had greatly attracted customers. Allen pulled out some coins from a drawer, and left his house.
Tzhaar City
Allen Hawkins entered the Tzhaar City after showing the guards that he was a true warrior.
"Man, it's burning hot in here! Seems like a microwave, in fact!" Allen exclaimed as he wiped a bead of sweat off his forehead. He glanced around and saw that there were plenty of Tzhaar roaming the city, but only four or five humans around. It was the Tzhaar's city, after all. He asked a Tzhaar-Xil about Tzhaar Ket-Tok, and the Tzhaar-Xil pointed at a particularly burly Tzhaar-Ket. Allen approached him warily.
"Hello, I'm Allen Hawkins, the adventurer from Varrock. You're Ket-Tok, if I'm not mistaken."
"Ah yes, I've been expecting you, Hawkins. And please, call me Kettok instead of the breath in between the two syllables."
"Well, all right. I messaged you in advance."
"Really? I didn't receive your message, but since you're here, nothing's wrong. Come through this cave please, Allen Hawkins." Kettok turned and walked into a narrow cave to the side of the entrance. Allen followed quickly.
Soon Allen arrived to an open area full of bustling Tzhaar citizens. Tzhaar-Ket patrolled the corners of the area, prepared to attack any unwelcome intruder. Kettok led Allen to the edge of the area, where a small Tzhaar shrine was located at. Kettok nodded at the guards around the shrine, who moved out of the way.
"Welcome to our glorious city, Jalyt-Allen Hawkins. Our leader is currently engrossed in fixing some financial problems, but as the second-in command, it's my duty to greet you. You, if I'm not mistaken, are looking for the Chest of Destiny. Humans aren't normally allowed to come close to this sacred item, but you are an exception, anyway. I've got some sources which confirmed this, so please, go ahead." Kettok rumbled.
"Hmm, what sources, Kettok?"
"Never you mind, Jalyt. Just approach the Chest, if you please."
Allen nodded once, and strode forward until he faced the large, Obsidian-constructed chest in the middle of the shrine. Allen reached out a hand and touched the chest lock, and it magically opened at his touch. Breathing heavily, the adventurer looked inside.
An orb lay inside, emitting white, red and yellow beams from it. Allen grasped the orb and suddenly words began appearing in front of his eyes.
"Allen Hawkins, there will be a time when you shall sacrifice yourself for all the good of Gielinor. Additionally, beware Falador, Vaarku and the Serkotzul…" Allen read aloud.
Kettok rubbed his chin. "Well, Jalyt, it seems to be predicting your future! I know it includes a disturbing sentence, but do not fear. See what else the Chest has in store for you."
Allen reached into the chest and pulled out a stack of papers. The Chest instantly slammed shut and the lock latched itself in place, sealing itself once more. Allen quickly scanned through the papers and gave them to Kettok to consult.
"These are instructions for two kinds of powerful weapons. Our technicians are already making the prototype of the first weapon, is a kind of gun, or more technically, a launcher of destructive power. The second one is more like a Sword, but we'll need time to read the instructions before attempting to construct it."
"Wow, the gun looks like a deadly weapon. The Sword looks impressive, too," Allen commented as he glanced at the pictures included on the papers. Suddenly, he had a wild thought.
"You Tzhaar can't let the weapons land into the wrong hands! The evil will surely grow once they gain these weapons of mass destruction!"
"I know. That's why it'll remain a secret, providing that you, too, keep it silent."
"Of course I will, but…"
"Ah, you better change your mind about that." A voice sneered.
Allen gripped his Abyssal Whip and turned around. Kettok and the other Tzhaar-Ket guards spun around, each grabbing onto their Obsidian Mauls. They all saw a human wearing the Socialist uniform. But that wasn't the worst part. The man was wielding the prototype "gun", and it was pointed straight at Allen. Allen instantly went cold as he stared at the deadly weapon.
Raising a trembling finger, Allen cried out. "It's the Troublesomes!"
"You've got it all wrong, we're the Socialists!" the man shouted back angrily.
Kettok started forward, but Allen stopped him. "What do you want, Troublesome?"
The man sighed and looked up. "We have been stealthily manipulating you through our agents. They are the same agents who told and gave Takrinqer the blue prints of the Chest of Destiny. We have heard that the Serkotzul are seeking a weapon hidden within the Tzhaar, but because we cannot open the chest, there's nothing to do except to force the Tzhaar to construct the prototype weapon. Thanks to you, Hawkins, the instructions to enhance and use the weapons better than ever are revealed to the world!"
"What's your name, Troublesome?"
"My name's General Vaarku, the leader of the Socialist army. My second in command, Leodon Takeeves, is still quite angry at you. You're lucky he isn't here right now, or he would've ripped you personally to shreds by now."
"Get out of here right now!" Kettok roared. "This is a sacred place!"
"I know, I know, but not until I get my hands on those instructions and ALL your prototype models! I ain't leaving until I have those super weapons safely in my possession!"
"I bet my Abyssal Whip can kill you right now!" Allen snarled as he advanced. He stopped as Vaarku raised the launcher a bit higher.
"Ah, it's wise to freeze when someone points a weapon of destruction at you. Anyway, compared to this prototype launcher, your Whip is nothing but a child's toy! One blast can completely incinerate you to ashes!" Vaarku laughed.
"You used us, you Troublesome Socialists!" Kettok protested.
Vaarku laughed. "What do you think, Tzhaar fool? Of course we did! And stop calling my army by that stupid name, or I'll blow all of your heads off!" Vaarku whistled loudly and six Socialist soldiers emerged from the darkness. One of them clutched the banner of the Socialists while the other five held Rune 2-hander Swords. Their eyes burned with the passion to kill.
Kettok and the Tzhaar guards looked helpless. They turned to Allen. "Jalyt Allen Hawkins, we need your help to drive these guys from our city!" Kettok pleaded.
Allen nodded curtly. "I'll always help those in need. Well, almost always. Anyway, let's get this show on the road!"
He held his whip tight, and instantly lashed it out upwards. The whip latched itself on an obsidian hook on the ceiling, and Allen swung above the Socialist soldiers. He started to run sideways on the walls, using the whip for leverage. Vaarku looked absolutely stunned as Allen came running rapidly towards him. He then regained control of himself and started firing rapid blasts of lava from the launcher at Allen, who easily dodged every blast with nimble speed. Allen swung himself at the Socialists, and lashed out his feet, kicking two of the Soldiers onto the ground. The Tzhaar guards cheered and applauded.
"I'll get you for this, Hawkins!" General Vaarku shouted, and fired a quick blast of lava at the hook on the ceiling. The hook instantly melted, and Allen fell towards the ground. He landed on his feet, and continued running, towards the exit. General Vaarku fired more shots at him, but Allen managed to avoid each attack. He finally jumped out of the Tzhaar City entrance, with the Socialists following him tightly. Allen continued running, refusing to give up, until he stopped at the pool of lava in which Raul Venkight had perished in.
The Socialist soldiers approached him silently, and General Vaarku pointed his launcher directly at Allen's chest.
"I'll give you one last chance, Allen Hawkins. Join my army, or suffer your death right here! It'll be a hot one, though."
"No way, General. I refuse to join evil people like you."
"Well, your loss. Die now." General Vaarku pulled the trigger quickly, but he dropped the launcher suddenly. The blast of lava veered off into the ceiling, and Allen saw his savior: Kettok, who had punched Vaarku on the back. Vaarku stood up again, but Allen lashed out his whip and slammed Vaarku into the air. A Socialist soldier caught the general in time. More Tzhaar guards were emerging to join the fight, and the Socialists were being outnumbered.
"Curse you, Hawkins, I'll hunt you down, don't forget about it!" Vaarku roared as the Socialists climbed out of the volcano, retreating from the battle. Allen just laughed.
"Nice job, Allen Hawkins. I must add, do you require a companion on your journeys?" Kettok asked.
"Why sure, why do you want to accompany me though? I'm headed to Falador, by the way, because destiny calls."
"I'm sure of it. Well, consider Kettok as your official companion as of today, Allen Hawkins! By the way, thanks for saving my people from General Vaarku."
"All right, Kettok, you're in, it'll be nice to have a bodyguard of some kind," Allen smiled. Kettok bid farewell to the guards, and the pair left the volcano. They hurried to the port, and after going through customs, went on a ship bound for Port Sarim.
"Falador, here I come!" Allen yelled as the ship breezed through the sea at full speed.