The statue of Praefectus Classis Perseriya in the Ancient Vault.
Perseriya was a siren who served the Zarosian Empire under the rank of Praefectus Classis, the Admiral of the Fleet. At some point during the Third Age, after the Betrayal of Zaros, Perseriya was tasked with transporting the Elder Horn, known by its codename "Imperium", to the far east.[1] This was not without difficulty; one legionary would interact with the artefact, resulting in another legionary causing a massacre. The Admiral would order both soldiers executed.[2] While a strict disciplinarian, the Admiral was fair, inviting the crew to celebrate in her ancestral home following success of the mission.[3]
However, the artefact sent east was in fact a fake; the delivery of the artefact eastwards was a cover operation, with the real one kept inside Perseriya's private cabin.[4] The Elder Horn would later be transported and sealed within the Ancient Vault after returning from the far east, where the means to open it would be entrusted to the Whisperer, Duke Sucellus, Vardorvis, and Perseriya herself.[5] Following the success of her missions, Zarosian intelligence would discover the location of the Stone of Jas, known by its codename "Primus", which was stolen by Saradomin sometime after the Betrayal of Zaros. The Stone, known as the Eye of Saradomin by his followers, was hidden within the Temple of the Eye, found beneath the ocean south of Hallowvale.
The remains of Perseriya's ship in the Scar.
Despite being underwater, Perseriya gave the orders to prepare for a battle to reclaim it.[6] With a small force to surprise the Saradominist forces, Perseriya devised a plan to teleport a large number of soldiers directly into the Temple, while keeping control of the seas above with her ships,[7] and to call in reinforcements if deemed necessary.[8] Though the ensuing Battle for the Eye resulted in heavy losses on both sides, it was Perseriya's attempt to call in reinforcements that ultimately resulted in the loss of the Zarosian fleet, her ship included;[9] due to the presence of the Stone, her spell to summon reinforcements was warped and resulted in the opening of a rift into the Scar, a particularly dangerous part of Abyssal Space.[10] Within the Scar, what remained of her fleet would presumably be devoured by the Leviathan, who was pulled into the rift alongside them.
References
^"Old tablet". Old School RuneScape. "With artefact 'Imperium' safely delivered to the east, focus must return to artefact 'Primus'."
^In Desert Treasure II. "Damp tablet". Old School RuneScape. "Consensus is that while on duty guarding artefact 'Imperium', Legionary Gellius broke protocol and interacted with the artefact. This resulted in Legionary Valgus entering a frenzied state. Four legionaries were killed before Valgus was apprehended. By order of the Praefectus Classis, both Gellius and Valgus were later executed."
^In Desert Treasure II. "Damp tablet". Old School RuneScape. "With artefact 'Imperium' safely secured, the Praefectus Classis has given consent for a day of celebration before the return voyage. All are invited to join her in her ancestral home."
^Wizard Persten. Old School RuneScape. "It's [a tablet] written by one of the crew on Perseriya's ship. Apparently they snuck into her private cabin... And found Imperium inside! This was after Imperium had already been delivered to the east!"
^Player in Desert Treasure II. Old School RuneScape. "The one she took east was a fake. She secretly kept the real one. The intention must always have been to hide it here."
^"Old tablet". Old School RuneScape. "By order of the Praefectus Classis, all vessels are to be prepared for battle. With artefact 'Imperium' safely delivered to the east, focus must return to artefact 'Primus'. New intelligence has confirmed its location and it is expected attempts to recover it will be met with heavy resistance from Saradominist forces."
^"Slimy tablet". Old School RuneScape. "She [Perseriya] has acquired the means to teleport large numbers of individuals directly into the temple. While the fleet controls the waters above, your soldiers will be tasked with clearing the temple of all resistance."
^"Slimy tablet". Old School RuneScape. "Our force has been kept light intentionally to ensure we can surprise the Saradominist forces. However, using the same teleportation method she'll use to give us access to the temple, the Praefectus Classis also has the ability to call in any reinforcements we need."
^"Slimy tablet". Old School RuneScape. "The battle is lost and we must withdraw. The attempt to call in reinforcements failed, and the temple has been ripped asunder by a rift of unknown power. The rift is growing rapidly and has already claimed much of the fleet. The Praefectus Classis is lost. Retreat is the only option."
^Mod Ed. Desert Treasure II Lore Q&A Livestream. 3 August 2023. "...the Rift that was opened when the Leviathan got sucked in was caused by this attempt to summon reinforcements in during the Battle for the Eye. The teleport failed and that's what opened the Rift. The reason it failed was the presence of the Stone of Jas warping what the spell did."
