Gazad Helkona (Giak; English: Blackwood Fortress[1]) is a a citadel within Northern Skaror in the Darklands. It was ruled by Darklord Chlanzor. It is the setting of Trail of the Wolf.
Appearance[]
Gazad Helkona is the only meaningful settlement within Northern Skaror. It is a fortress and city, although sparsely-populated, pettered by dust storms and violent tremors.[2] It is located in a basin of rock within the Helkona forest.[3] Parts of Gazad Helkona and its surroundings have been damaged by fissures of lava.[4][3]
Gazad Helkona is protected by a tall curtain wall. Beyond the wall lies countless buildings, with roofs of minarets and needle spires. These buildings are grouped into four hexagonal blockhouse complexes, connected by bridges that span the wide avenues in between. A broad ramp leads to the entrance of the fortress, guarded by fifty armoured sentries. Darklord Chlanzor's sanctuary lay in the Citadel of Gazad Helkona.[2] Atop a domed observatory lies a gem that emits crimson light that can be seen from over 30 miles away.[5] This was placed as a homing beacon for his squadrons of Kraan after they completed their patrols south of the border.[2]
After Chlanzor's death, Gazad Helkona slowly began to fall into decay.[3]
History[]
Darklord Chlanzor was the ruler of Northern Skaror, with Gazad Helkona as his centre of power. Within Gazad Helkona, Chlanzor studied necromancy, undeath and disease magic.[2]
After Chlanzor's death, Gazad Helkona lost most of its forces, meaning it was much more lightly-guarded.[6] One of his servants, Xaol, hid in Gazad Helkona, and plotted revenge on Lone Wolf for killing Chlanzor.[7]
In MS 5083, during the events of Rune War, Grand Master infiltrated Skull-Tor to destroy the Runes of Agarash. Zorkaan the Soultaker had also been summoned to Magnamund with the power of the Runes, and when Grand Master destroyed them, it was unable to return to the Plane of Darkness, and began to roam Magnamund freely. Naar gave Xaol the secrets of a Ritual of Binding to enslave the spirit of Zorkaan, which was successful. Using this power, Xaol attempted to assassinate Lone Wolf in Ruanon, but was only successful in subduing and abducting him to Gazad Helkona, where his magical and mental defenses would eventually be broken.[7] During the events of Trail of the Wolf, Grand Master infiltrated Gazad Helkona and slew Xaol,[8] but Zorkaan took possession of Xaol's dead body and attacked. After a titanic struggle, in which Zorkaan overpowered Grand Master, Zorkaan was slain after Lone Wolf threw the Sommerswerd at him, impaling and destroying him.[9] The two then escaped Gazad Helkona on Banedon's Cloud-dancer.[10]
In the gamebooks[]
Gazad Helkona is the setting of Trail of the Wolf, and the only notable place where it is mentioned in the gamebooks.
References[]
- ↑ The Darklands, Dever, Joe, First Edition [2004]. Hahn, August, Mongoose Publishing, pp. 10–11.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Darklands Geography: Northern Skaror – The Province of Entropy", The Darklands, Dever, Joe, Second Edition [2004] (2011). Hahn, August, Mongoose Publishing.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Trail of the Wolf: §120
- ↑ Trail of the Wolf: §200
- ↑ Trail of the Wolf: §315
- ↑ Trail of the Wolf: §299
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Trail of the Wolf: The Story So Far...
- ↑ Trail of the Wolf: §178
- ↑ Trail of the Wolf: §196
- ↑ Trail of the Wolf: §110
| Archlords | Vashna • Zagarna • Haakon • Gnaag |
| Darklords | Chlanzor • Dakushna • Ghanesh • Ghurch • Gnaag • Haakon • Khatellu • Kraagenskûl • Menashga • Mrugor • Nhorg • Shebnar • Slûtar • Taktaal • Tomogh • Unc • Vashna • Xog • Zagarna • Zhanshal |
| Domains (and capitals) within the Darklands | Helgedad • Aargataag (V'taag • Argazad) • Dajaraa • Dajdorza • Ghargon (Gournen) • Gourizaga (Gourzaa) • Hourdast • Iznogdazokim (Aarnak) • Jegdazok (Dugazogak) • Kagzizad (Nadgazad) • Luurvad • Maarkaag (Kaag) • Northern Skaror (Gazad Helkona) • Tar Ogashaar (Ogvast) • Yr-Naoga (Naargarod) • Zutzinozaga (Mozgôar) |
| Media | The Darklands • Terror of the Darklords |