
The icyene (Jagex pronunciation: i-SEEN) are an ancient race of winged humanoids aligned to the god Saradomin. While now nearly extinct, they were some of his most powerful followers.
History
Saradomin and the icyene arrived in Gielinor during the Second Age from their home in a floating city which followed the sun.[1] Incredibly powerful, the icyene were able to easily conquer and inhabit the area known as Hallowvale (now southern Morytania) during the Second Age, living alongside humans to create Saradomin's most powerful settlement. To replicate the constant light of their home, they constructed the Everlight, which kept Hallowvale always lit up.[1]
Towards the end of the Second Age, the god Zaros was betrayed and dethroned by his Mahjarrat general Zamorak, kicking off the God Wars. At the time, Zaros ruled over north-west Morytania as well as the large area of Forinthry, known today as the Wilderness and parts of Misthalin, and was by far the most powerful god in the realm. Hoping to push Zaros out of Gielinor entirely, Saradomin and Zamorak formed a shaky alliance to destroy all settlements loyal to Zaros.
After Zaros' banishing, the God Wars began, with followers of all gods pitted against each other. Many icyene were deployed from Hallowvale to fight for Saradomin in the war, and because trained icyene were extremely powerful, they were very useful to Saradomin's armies. It is assumed, however, that the icyene were wiped out during the God Wars, as there being no known icyene in the Fifth Age (modern times) other than Commander Zilyana, Queen Efaritay Hallow, and her son, the half-icyene Safalaan Hallow.
Imagery
Following the near-extinction of the icyene during the God Wars, modern knowledge of the race comes largely from surviving literature, architecture, and religious artwork. For instance, stained glass windows depicting an icyene can be found in the Saradominist church in Hosidius, while a darker variant is visible in the Zamorakian church in Slepe. A similar window is also found within Ardeaglais, the cathedral located on Wyrmscraig. Physical depictions are especially common across Morytania, featuring heavily as statues throughout the Hallowed Sepulchre and the Icyene Graveyard.
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A stained glass window portraying an icyene. -
A stained glass window portraying an icyene. -
One of the icyene statues found in the Hallowed Sepulchre. -
Another of the icyene statues found in the Hallowed Sepulchre. -
The statue of Efaritay Hallow above the large mausoleum in the Icyene Graveyard.
Notable icyene

- Commander Zilyana, Saradomin's favoured general, and the leader of his forces in the God Wars Dungeon.[2]
- Queen Efaritay Hallow, the former ruler of Hallowvale who once resided at Ver Sinhaza.[3]
- Safalaan Hallow, the son of Queen Efaritay and King Ascertes. A half-blood icyene and leader of the Sanguinesti Myreque.[4]
- Larina Hallow, the daughter of Queen Efaritay and King Ascertes. A half-blood icyene, she was the sister of Safalaan.[5]
- Elessia, an icyene who was captured and infected with vampyrism during the fall of Hallowvale. She fled with her followers in search of a cure and ended up on Wyrmscraig.[6]
Despite possessing icyene traits, Nex is not an icyene, but rather a nihil from Freneskae. Additionally, the Knight of the Wolf mentions that some claim Phosani had icyene blood, although this was not true.
Locations
- Ver Sinhaza, the former castle of Queen Efaritay Hallow.[7]
- Castle Drakan, the current seat of power in Morytania, where Queen Efaritay Hallow can be found after The Blood Moon Rises.[8]
- Icyene Graveyard, the private burial grounds of the Hallow family. The graveyard is visited during Sins of the Father and The Blood Moon Rises.[9]
- Hallowed Sepulchre, a Saradominist burial ground beneath Darkmeyer built to honour the dead of Hallowvale and featuring statues of icyene figures.[10]
- Annakarl, where the icyene Commander Zilyana was wounded in battle, resulting in Saradomin supposedly shedding a tear.[11][12]
- God Wars Dungeon, where Commander Zilyana continues to lead Saradomin’s forces against the other factions of the God Wars.
- Wyrmscraig and the Ardeaglais cathedral, where Elessia had herself isolated for safety.[13]
Items

Saradomin sword, the blade worn by Commander Zilyana during the God Wars.
Saradomin's blessed sword, an empowered Saradomin sword made by combining it with Saradomin's tear.
Medium statue, a statue that, when built to Saradomin, shows an icyene.
Strange hallowed tome, the diary of a human who married an icyene, but lost her when she was called to war.
Blisterwood tree, a tree grown by Queen Efaritay and used by the icyene to make poisons. The vampyres have been unable to kill the last one.
Sunspear, Queen Efaritay's signature weapon, taken from Lowerniel Drakan by the player at the conclusion of The Blood Moon Rises.
Hallowfell, an icyene blade that belonged to Elessia.- The rondache, an ancient icyene artefact.
References
- ^ 1.0 1.1 Efaritay Hallow in The Blood Moon Rises. Old School RuneScape. "Hallowvale wasn't always our home. My people once lived eternally in the light, in a floating city that followed the sun. We couldn't do that in Hallowvale, so we built a sun of our own. I suppose you could compare it to a lighthouse. It stood on the outskirts of our capital, ensuring that no part of our home fell into darkness."
- ^ Golem (Desert Treasure II). Old School RuneScape. "Race: Icyene"
- ^ "Update:Darkmeyer Poll Blog". Old School RuneScape. "Before the vampyres came to Morytania, the region was known as Hallowvale and was ruled over by the Icyene queen, Efaritay Hallow."
- ^ Vanescula Drakan in Sins of the Father. Old School RuneScape. "I'm sorry Safalaan, but it is true. You are the half- human, half-icyene son of Queen Efaritay Hallow. [Safalaan Hallow: A sister... I had a sister. And my powers?] The powers of an icyene, yes."
- ^ Player character in Sins of the Father. Old School RuneScape. "'Here lies Larina Hallow. Beloved daughter of Efaritay and Ascertes Hallow and... faithful sister of Safalaan Hallow.'"
- ^ "Observations". Old School RuneScape. "It has been no simple measure retrieving her from the clutches of the vampyres, and our losses pain me to count, but hope glimmers in some of the others now that she is free. I, however, am not so sure. [...] It became abundantly clear that we could not continue to fight with her condition worsening further, and so we have taken a decision I hope we do not come to regret. We left Hallowvale at first light to seek a cure for her sickness."
- ^ Garth (Theatre of Blood) in Theatre of Blood. Old School RuneScape. "It's called Ver Sinhaza. They say it was once the home of a Saradominist queen. Now it belongs to Verzik Vitur, a vampyre noble."
- ^ Efaritay Hallow in Castle Drakan. Old School RuneScape. "My days of leading ended long ago. However, I will always be here [Castle Drakan] to help where needed."
- ^ Vanescula Drakan in Sins of the Father. Old School RuneScape. "This graveyard is no normal graveyard. It was once the private graveyard of the Hallow family. Every member of the royal family was buried here. When she was still in power, the ruler of Hallowvale, Queen Efaritay Hallow, had this mausoleum built. It was constructed to one day house her and her human husband, King Ascertes Hallow."
- ^ Efaritay Hallow in The Blood Moon Rises. Old School RuneScape. "Hallowed marks. The old currency of Hallowvale. [...] Doing so required them to desecrate the tombs of my people."
- ^ Golem (Desert Treasure II). Old School RuneScape. "Last Known Location [of Zilyana]: Annakarl"
- ^ Saradomin's tear. Old School RuneScape. Examine text. "After a terrible battle, Saradomin wept over the wounds of his faithful Zilyana."
- ^ "Observations". Old School RuneScape. "We left Hallowvale at first light to seek a cure for her sickness. At her request, we shall travel by sea until we find somewhere where she can be in isolation. [...] The tales say she led the first settlers here. [...] To start with she was able t' live among the people, but eventually they had to build Ardeaglais for her."