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Hatchet head (dragon)
Unknown was removed after an update.
The contents of this page no longer exist in RuneScape, and this article is kept for historical purposes.
Unknown1

A player that has noclipped into the Unknown

Unknown2

A player stands at a "corner" of the world, looking out into the 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[]

Edge of tutorial

A player standing near the unknown surrounding Tutorial Island

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
Fossil Island Somewhere north of Morytania Can only be accessed when players have got enough Kudos for the Varrock Museum.
A new 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. This area may be linked to the home of the sea slugs.
More Fremennik islands North-West of Rellekka Many NPCs have mentioned other islands near Rellekka.
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 and Rocking Out quests.

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.

In 2013, various areas of the map were updated to fill out remaining sections of land, placing the unknown out of sight beyond bodies of water.

List of Unknown reveals[]

# Update Area revealed
2012
1 Stolen Hearts, Diamond in the Rough All remaining unknown areas on main continent.

Botany Bay, Castle East of Meiyerditch, Field South of Poison Waste, North and Northwest of Prifddinas, East and Northeast of Nardah, South Sophanem, West and Northwest of Menaphos

2011
1 The Branches of Darkmeyer Darkmeyer
2010
1 Impetuous Impulses Improvements Daemonheim, although it wasn't accessible until the release of Dungeoneering.
2 Fish Flingers Soul wars was replaced from the west of Tirannwn to the south of Tirannwn.
2009
1 In Pyre Need Phoenix Lair (south-west of Piscatoris Fishing Colony)
2 Soul Wars Soul Wars
3 Tale of the Muspah The North, Mahjarrat Ritual Site Cavern
4 Missing My Mummy Uzer Mastaba
5 The Hunt for Red Raktuber An unnamed island, South of Ape Atoll
6 Mobilising Armies Mobilising Armies Command centre, West of Oo'Glog
7 The Temple at Senntisten Ghorrock, West of the Ice Plateau
2008
1 Dealing with Scabaras Ullek (east of Sophanem)
2 As a First Resort... Oo'glog
2007
1 What's black and white and goes green when it's finished? (Cold War) Iceberg
2 Fremennik Isles Neitiznot, Jatizso
3 Great Brain Robbery Harmony Island
2006
1 Agility Pyramid Agility Pyramid
2 Cabin Fever A little bit of Mos Le'Harmless
3 Enakhra's Lament Western desert mining site
4 In Aid of the Myreque Burgh de Rott
5 Pest Control Void Knights' Outpost (Pest Control)
6 Return of the Wise Old Man! (Swan Song) Piscatoris Fishing Colony
7 Trouble Brewing The rest of Mos Le'Harmless
8 Lunar Diplomacy Lunar Isle, Pirates' Cove
9 Myreque Pt III - Darkness of Hallowvale Sanguinesti region (Darkmeyer and Meiyerditch)
10 Hunter skill Hunter area south of the Feldip Hills, as well as the Piscatoris Hunter area.
2005
1 Troll Romance, Banks and Chat Trollweiss Mountain
2 Creature of Fenkenstrain Fenkenstrain's Castle, Mausoleum
3 Ghosts Ahoy and Slayer Update Port Phasmatys
4 Ali Morrisane and Pollnivneach Pollnivneach
5 The Golem Uzer
6 Desert Treasure Jaldraocht Pyramid, Ice Path
7 Desert Month Finale Menaphos, Sophanem
8 Barrows Barrows
9 Waterbirth Island Waterbirth Island
10 Nardah, Tool Sheds & Spirits of the Elid Nardah
2004
1 Big Chompy Bird Hunting Feldip Hills
2 Priest In Peril Quest Canifis
3 Nature Spirit Quest Mort Myre Swamp
4 Death Plateau Quest Burthorpe
5 Plague City Part 4 Released Arandar, Isafdar, Prifddinas, Poison Waste
6 Morytania Expansion Haunted Woods
7 Morton Shades and Mage Armour Mort'ton
8 The Fremennik Trials Rellekka
9 Monkey Madness Ape Atoll, Crash Island
10 The Haunted Mine Abandoned Mine (Haunted Mine)

Postbag from the Hedge[]

On Issue 32 of the Postbag from the Hedge 32, Trader Stan revealed that parts of the "Unknown" are really just water.

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.

 
— Trader Stan Postbag from the Hedge - Postbag 32

God letters[]

On Issue 24 of the God letters, Guthix revealed that there exists an underwater city beneath the oceans of Gielinor.

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.

 
— Guthix God letters - Issue 24 - Guthix Ponders
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