Kadharian

"Slavemaster" redirects here. For the title this character once held, see Slavemaster (role).

President Kadharian of Magador (died MS 5095), formerly known as the Slavemaster of Aarnak, was a Magadorian mine owner, who later became an ally of the Darklords, running the mines of Aarnak as the Slavemaster, the role he became associated by. He later became an agent of the Elder Magi and helped Lone Wolf infiltrate Helgedad on his quest to destroy Gnaag and the Darklords. After the Darklords War, he led a revolt against King Vanagrom VI, a puppet of the Darklords, to become the first President of Magador. In MS 5095, he was assassinated by Marshal Luthos Vorgada.

Appearance

Kadharian is a tall, broad-shouldered warrior, with jade-green eyes.

Biography

Rise to Slavemaster of Aarnak

Kadharian was the cruel, greedy owner of a mine in the Zalbor Mountains of Magador. With his wealth, he formed his own mercenary company, and allied himself with the Darklords, thinking this would help him amass the most power and wealth. He proved to be an effective ally of the Darklords, with his skill in managing troops and slaves, drawing the attention of Gnaag himself. Gnaag forced Darklord Zhanshal to employ Kadharian in managing the immense mines of Aarnak. Kadharian obtained near-absolute power over Aarnak, amassing power and wealth far beyond his imagination, and becoming known as the Slavemaster.

However, as he spent more time alongside the forces of the Darklords, he became disillusioned and fearful, realising that the forces of the Darklands, if left unchecked, would inevitably destroy all mortal life on Magnamund. Additionally, the quotas demanded of the Darklords were ever-increasing, and it was only a matter of time before he himself became disposable. Spies of the Elder Magi contacted him, and he agreed to become a double agent against the Darklords, at great personal risk.

Agent of the Elder Magi

In MS 5070, during the events of The Masters of Darkness, Lone Wolf set out on a quest to destroy Darklord Gnaag and the Transfusor powering the Tanoz-tukor, which allowed the Darklords to operate outside of the Darklands. The Elder Magi informed Lone Wolf that the Slavemaster was their agent, and Lone Wolf could call on his aid with the phrase "Sommerlund is burning". Flying on Darklord Kraagenskûl's Zlanbeast and dressed as a Drakkar, Lone Wolf found no issue seeking an audience with the Slavemaster, passing on the secret passphrase. Cautious, knowing the deceit the forces of Darkness were capable of, the Slavemaster demanded that Lone Wolf remove his battle-mask, to verify Lone Wolf's Sommlending features.

The Slavemaster provided Lone Wolf with a silver-cloak, disguising him as a Liganim loyal to Darklord Ghanesh, and told him to wear his Backpack underneath it, to represent the hunchbacked Liganim who once wore the cloak. He also provided Lone Wolf with a Green Mask to shield him from casual inspection. He advised Lone Wolf to avoid all those who wore robes of green and scarlet, as those were followers of Darklords Xog and Taktaal, Ghanesh's closest rivals; but above all, to avoid those wearing silver-grey, like himself, as the followers of Ghanesh were familiar with each other. Lastly, he provided Lone Wolf with passenger access to a Lajakeka, destined for Helgedad.

President of Magador and death

Lone Wolf successfully completed his quest, and the Elder Magi provided Kadharian with safe passage to the Stornlands, where he was made a commander in the army of Lyris. Kadharian distinguished himself in battle, and later staged an uprising in his native Magador against King Vanagrom VI, a puppet of the Darklords. Kadharian's revolt was successful, and Magador became a republic, with Kadharian becoming its first President.

In MS 5077, during the events of The Legacy of Vashna, President Kadharian sent word to the Elder Magi about strange freak storms and unseasonal weather disrupting his nation, leading the Elder Magi to believe that a new plot was underway to revive Darklord Vashna from the Maakengorge. Lone Wolf travelled to Magador to meet his old ally once again, under the guise of a trade envoy of Sommerlund. Here, Kadharian showed Lone Wolf an amulet tainted with evil, depicting a scene where Vashna rose from the Maakengorge, and provided information on the rogue who wore the amulet, Smudd, detained in Helgor. Lone Wolf continued his quest, successfully ending Archdruid Cadak's plot to summon the Deathstaff to Magnamund to revive Vashna.

In MS 5095, President Kadharian was assassinated, and Marshal Luthos Vorgada, a senior military officer of Magador, seized power. Vorgada had become a follower of Darklord Vashna in secret, and furthermore, had gained the favour of Vashna's spirit. Under Vorgada, Magador's allegiance towards the Freelands was undone, and Magador once again became an ally of the forces of Darkness.

In the gamebooks

Kadharian appears in The Masters of Darkness, as the Slavemaster of Aarnak, helping Lone Wolf on his quest to defeat Gnaag. He later appears in The Legacy of Vashna, meeting Lone Wolf again and providing some information about the Cult of Vashna operating in Magador. He was assassinated in MS 5095, between the events of The Hunger of Sejanoz and The Storms of Chai.