Unknown
The Unknown is supposedly all of the dark areas in Gielinor where players can neither travel to nor see. These areas are not connected to the World Map and enclose the areas on the map. For example, there is no map area south of the Kharidian Desert and the vast endlessness of these are displayed with black areas on the world map. It is also possible to see the unknown by walking to the edge of a Player-owned house.
Future updates
It is more or less the end of the RuneScape visible area, until something is constructed there. As of 1 July 2008, the "Unknown" is displayed as checkered blue and white squares on the World map, but has still remained colourless in game.
On one version of the RuneScape world map, the "Unknown" is covered in clouds that hide the black areas around Gielinor.
Future Areas
There are many areas in the game that are currently hidden but still have been talked about by NPC's. Here is a list of locations that have been mentioned:
| Area | Possible Location | Other Information |
|---|---|---|
| Kudos Island | Somewhere north of Morytania | Can only be accessed when players have got enough Kudos for the Varrock Museum. |
| A New Large Continent | Above Morytania | It could be linked to Kudos Island. It will most likely be NE of Morytania, due to the location of Daemonheim. |
| Acheron | Found north of the Fremennik Province | Confirmed to be released with the 4th penguin quest. This is the Penguin Motherland. |
| Underwater City | Somewhere in the sea of Gielinor | Guthix mentioned this in one of the God Letters. Might be linked to the sea slugs' home. |
| More Fremennik Islands | North-West of Rellekka | Many NPCs have mentioned other islands near Rellekka. |
| Eastern Lands | East of Port Phasmatys | A few NPCs have mentioned a continent east of Port Phasmatys and Dragontooth Island. |
| Arposandra | Near or underneath the Poison Waste | Plays a huge part in The Eyes of Glouphrie and The Path of Glouphrie quests. During The Prisoner of Glouphrie, the player is able to access a small section during the quest only. |
| Cursed Archipelago | South of Mos Le'Harmless | Mentioned in The Great Brain Robbery quest. |
- Prifddinas, Castle Drakan, and Menaphos are also three areas in the game that can not be accessed but are still visible on the world map. Still, a bit of each has been cut off stopping the player from seeing what's on the other side. With the release of Branches of Darkmeyer, the other side of Castle Drakan has been revealed as Darkmeyer; however, Castle Drakan itself is still inaccessible.
- With the release of Botany Bay, all the remaining main continent unknown areas have been revealed. Prifddinas is still inaccessible, but players can walk entirely around Prifddinas, and reach it by heading south from Eagles' Peak. This is the only way to enter Tirannwn without Regicide. A castle east of Meiyerditch resembling the Dragonkin Castle from A Tail of Two Cats was also revealed.
Progress
With the release of RuneScape High Detail, the unknown now comes in more colours than just black, depending upon one's location in Gielinor. This has created a couple of interesting cases where the unknown is known to peek through local scenery such as the trapdoor leading from the Grand Tree ground floor down to the mines, this in an unintended feature of the game and can be considered as a small graphical glitch. Some parts of the ground in the wilderness and other hilled locations in RuneScape can also appear transparent when viewed from the correct angle, showing what is on the other side of the hill.
List of Unknown reveals
Postbag from the Hedge
On Issue 32 of the Postbag from the Hedge, Trader Stan revealed that parts of the "Unknown" are really just water.
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There are many theories about the black spaces surrounding the lands of RuneScape; you may even have heard Evil Dave’s rather unusual conspiracy theories on the matter. As a paying customer, you do need not to worry yourself with the technicalities of your voyage. I provide you with a high-quality service for a very reasonable price (considering my skills and experience), and this includes negotiating areas that some people claim do not exist. I will, however, tell you a little-known secret about crossing these spaces. For many generations, sea-faring piratical folk have protected their business interests by encouraging the widespread use of maps that show mysterious black areas surrounding the lands of RuneScape. These maps have fostered the belief that these areas are dangerous and can only be navigated by professionals with a mastery of the seas; professionals that charge, I think you'll find, a very realistic fee. The truth is, the black spaces are neither dangerous nor empty, and anyone could travel through them if they had enough nautical knowledge and a sturdy ship (and a more accurate map, of course!). I wish you safe travels and I hope to welcome you onto one of my vessels again soon, although what is this ring of Charos that you mentioned? Is it valuable? I feel like I have given you information that should not be public knowledge, but I’m sure I wouldn’t do that; I’m a professional after all.
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” |
— Postbag from the Hedge - Postbag 32
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God letters
On Issue 24 of the God letters, Guthix revealed that there exists an underwater city beneath the oceans of Gielinor.
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If thou art asking of the city beneath the waves, it hath been submerged for many centuries, and most commonfolk consider it naught but a myth. I tell thee true, however, that such a place doth indeed exist, and even as I write this there are those working to re-establish access between this place and the outside world that hath all but forgotten it over these past centuries.
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” |
— God letters - Issue 24 - Guthix Ponders
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