Eye of Agarash

Not to be confused with the Doomstone of Kazan-Oud, sometimes called the "Green Eye of Agarash".

The Eye of Agarash is an evil relic that is one half of a powerful weapon until combined with the Claw of Naar. Although the Eye of Agarash has limited power, when combined with the Claw of Naar, it multiplies their combined effects several hundredfold.

History

The Eye of Agarash is an ancient relic in the shape of a gem. For centuries, it was unwittingly used to decorate the Grand Throne of the Khea-khans of Chai.

In MS 5085, during the events of Vampirium and The Hunger of Sejanoz, Grand Master managed to keep the Claw of Naar from the clutches of Autarch Sejanoz, and delivered it to the hands of the Elder Magi. However, it was stolen from containment in Dessi by an Ice Demon, and delivered to Zashnor. The Elder Magi, however, believed that Zashnor only possessed a weapon similar to the Claw of Naar, and not the actual Claw.

In MS 5102, during the events of The Storms of Chai, both Zashnor and the Sages of Chaman discovered the location of the Eye of Agarash, secured in the Great Throne of Chai, without the Khea-khans knowing. Grand Master travelled to Chai to secure the Eye of Agarash, and Zashnor invaded Chai at the same time. Zashnor began pursuing Grand Master across Chai to Dwala, with the Eye of Agarash slowly sapping the strength of Grand Master as the pursuit continued.

In Dwala, Grand Master slew the reraised Xaol again, and was confronted by Zashnor, and Grand Master discovered, to their horror, that Zashnor did not possess a weapon similar to the Claw of Naar, but the Claw of Naar itself. Zashnor and Grand Master fought in combat, and Zashnor was slain and destroyed. Grand Master and the Sages of Chaman then secured both the Claw of Naar and the Eye of Agarash, keeping them separate.

In the gamebooks

The Eye of Agarash is the primary focus of The Storms of Chai, where the player must deliver it to Dwala to be secured. It is a Special Item obtained in Chai in Pensei, roughly a third into the book.

The Eye of Agarash saps the energy of the player at multiple parts of the story, deducting Endurance points. If the player possesses Kai-screen, this is limited to one Endurance point per occasion. Laumspur may be used to counteract the effects of the Eye after it occurs, but it cannot regain more Endurance points than what was lost by the Eye's effects.

The Eye drains Endurance at the following points in the story (all non-combat instances reduce Endurance by 1 if the player possesses Kai-screen):

• Immediately after obtaining the Eye of Agarash in Pensei: -3 Endurance points
• After defeating five Nagah Ghouls in Pensei: -3 Endurance points
• While fighting Anseng, risen as an undead in Vabou: -4 Endurance points
• While fighting or evading Doomwolves in the Tviloi Forest: -5 Endurance points
• While trying to swim to safety in the Tkukoma Estuary, if the "fight" takes 7 rounds or more: -3 Endurance points
• While showing the Eye of Agarash to Priestess Zautro the Herbwarden in Dwala: -6 Endurance points
• While under attack by Kraan and their riders in Dwala: -3 Endurance points
• While fighting the Doomgah Klüz, who possesses a weapon that can trigger the Eye of Agarash's power:
  • If the player possesses Anseng's Kirusami, this blocks the effects of this weapon, and turns it against Klüz: Whenever 3 Endurance points or more is inflicted in combat against Klüz, inflict a further 1
  • If the player does not possess Anseng's Kirusami, -1 Endurance point per round of combat while fighting him
• After defeating Xaol: -4 Endurance points
• Before fighting Zashnor:
  • If firing a Bow that misses: -2 Endurance points
  • If opting not to use a Bow at all, or Grand Nexus at Grand Thane, or Magi-magic, or Kai-alchemy: -2 Endurance points
• Against Zashnor: -1 Endurance point per round of combat while fighting him

In total, 28 Endurance points (7 with Kai-screen) are lost in mandatory non-combat sections alone due to the Eye's power, with a further 5 that may be avoided (2 with Kai-screen), making Kai-screen more-or-less mandatory in this book. Deliverance is also likely to be useful, especially for new(er) characters.

At the end of the book, the Claw of Naar is recovered from the dead Zashnor, and is delivered to safekeeping alongside the Eye of Agarash.