The Yarasa are a species of bat-like creatures native to Vampyrium. Visually impaired but with heightened senses of smell and sound,[1] they were powerful predators competing with the vampyres for food. When the god Zaros arrived on Vampyrium, he taught the vampyres of society and culture. The establishment, understanding and unity of a society along with their superior numbers allowed the vampyres to kill the Yarasa with ease.[2] While some managed to escape the initial slaughter, they too were eventually killed by the vampyres.[3]
The only survivor of the race was Xarpus, also known as the Yarasa King, who was the most powerful and dangerous of his kind.[4] Xarpus roamed the forests for millennia until he was caught by Lowerniel Drakan, who had managed to return to Vampyrium using the icyene blood of Efaritay Hallow. Drakan captured Xarpus and brought him to Gielinor, where he handed him over to Verzik Vitur to be used as a beast in the Theatre of Blood.[5]
Trivia
"Yarasa" means "bat" in Turkish.
References
^"Dev Blog: Theatre of Blood". Old School RuneScape News. Jagex. 7 March 2018. Archived from the original. "However, there was one species that even the vampyres feared, the Yarasa. Like bats, these large flying predators are visually impaired. However, that does not make them any less dangerous, as they have heightened senses of smell and sound. Their ability to attack in unpredictable ways makes them a deadly foe to the vampyres for it renders their immunities useless."
^Lowerniel Drakan. "The wild hunt". Old School RuneScape. "The yarasa were our true equals. Strong, fast, and unpredictable. They made for the ultimate hunt. Alas, the yarasa were amongst the many casualties of our domestication. Before then, we were a divided people. But with unity under the eight tribes came a power we had never before experienced. We massacred the yarasa with ease, their strength no match for our superior numbers."
^Lowerniel Drakan. "The wild hunt". Old School RuneScape. "While most of the yarasa fell that day, there were some that managed to evade our slaughter. Most of these were drawn out and killed soon afterwards."
^Lowerniel Drakan. "The wild hunt". Old School RuneScape. "However, there was one that managed to defy us right up to the day we left Vampyrium. Xarpus, the last King of the yarasa. The yarasa were a formidable foe, but compared to Xarpus, they were no foe at all. He is the apex predator of Vampyrium and he is my target."
