Kaag

Kaag is a Darklord fortress built closest to the Durncrags that separate the Darklands from Sommerlund. It was one of the most important fortresses in the Darklands, which housed the forges that constructed the Darklands' weapons and armour. It is located in the Darklord realm of Maarkaag, which was ruled by Darklords Zagarna and Slûtar.

Appearance

Kaag takes the form of a huge conical pyramid, about 40 miles wide and two miles high at its highest point. It is surrounded by an inwardly sloping circular wall, all of which is constructed from black basaltic stone from the Darklands. Kaag has five large gates, and the South Gate was adorned with the gigantic skull of the dragon Nyxator, and his skin was used to cover the main gateway.

Kaag's shape represents the Pentad. The four corners at its base represent the four Gods under Naar, and the peak represents Naar itself. At one corner is a huge idol of Xhagvash the Bloody. Essentially, Kaag serves as a shrine to the Gods of Darkness.

Kaag is built on one of the biggest resurgences of the Nengud-kor-Adez. Kaag's heat source came from vents to the Nengud-kor-Adez, and these vents emitted considerable heat, which in turn caused the air pressure and structure of Kaag to change. This was also noticed by Vonotar when he visited Kaag, where the lower walls could glow a dull red if no other lighting is present, due to the supernatural heat of the Nengud-kor-Adez.

History

Kaag is the primary fortress and settlement within Maarkaag. It was filled with forges and the slaves with the finest metalworking skills in the Darklands, and as such, the loss of Kaag would be a crippling loss to the Darklands. It was the only city in the Darklands roughly equivalent in might to Helgedad, but it was still dwarfed in size by it.

For the Drakkarim, service in Kaag was considered a great honour, and much infighting took place to serve there. Kaag's Drakkarim guards were assigned with their ability to defend themselves from such reprisals in mind. Service in Kaag often led to promotion within the Darklands.

Darklord Zagarna was made Lord of Kaag during the time of Archlord Vashna. After becoming Archlord, Darklord Slûtar ruled Kaag in Zagarna's name. However, many denizens of Kaag still considered themselves servants of Zagarna, causing permanent warfare between the two factions. They were named the Bloody Sides, wearing orange, minions of Slûtar; and the Broken Skulls, wearing green, minions of Zagarna. In reality, both factions were led by Nadziranim, who used the civil war as a form of entertainment. The situation got worse after Zagarna's death in MS 5050.

During Zagarna's rule, he found the skull and hide of Nyxator, long slain by Agarash the Damned millennia ago. To showcase Naar's power, and his own, Zagarna draped the hide of Nyxator over the Southern Gate of Kaag.

After Lone Wolf destroyed the Transfusor, causing all the Darklords to perish, Kaag began to fall into decay. However, the Drakkarim and Giaks continued to keep Kaag running, although it was plagued by civil war, just like other Darklands cities.

In MS 5075, during the events of The Captives of Kaag, Archdruid Cadak, ruler of Mogaruith, also inherited Kaag. His agents kidnapped Banedon to lure Lone Wolf to Kaag, so Cadak could take revenge (for the events of The Plague Lords of Ruel). Lone Wolf was able to rescue Banedon and the two escaped Kaag. For his failure, Cadak was forced to leave Kaag, as he was no longer considered useful to the Nadziranim. Cadak finally met his (physical) demise in The Legacy of Vashna, where he was slain by Lone Wolf as he tried to summon Demoness Shamath and the Deathstaff to Magnamund. His soul was then captured by the Künae in the Plane of Darkness.

In MS 5100, Lone Wolf, now Kai Supreme Master, infiltrated Kaag once again, together with disciple and Kai Grand Master Black Hawk. The two daringly reclaimed the hide of Nyxator from the Southern Gate of Kaag. From this, Lone Wolf forged eight suits of Nyxator Mail — harder than Durenese steel yet light as silk, with each retaining the afterglow of Nyxator's power — to be used by himself and his most-skilled Kai Grand Masters.

In the summer of MS 5102, the skirmishes within Kaag and other Darklands city-fortresses stopped, and began preparing for war.

Politics

Darklord Zagarna was Lord of Kaag during the time of Archlord Vashna. After Zagarna became Archlord, Darklord Slûtar ruled it in Zagarna's name. However, many creatures in Kaag considered themselves servants of Zagarna, causing a rift between the two factions, leading to a permanent state of war. This situation got worse after Zagarna's death in MS 5050. During Slûtar's rule, he frequently left Kaag to spend time in Helgedad to partake in political intrigue. He left day-to-day control with Tizzgat, a Nadziran.

In the gamebooks

Kaag is the setting of The Captives of Kaag, where Banedon was captured, and Lone Wolf rescued him. It is also the only place in the gamebooks where it is notably mentioned at all.