Shasarak, also known as the Wytch-king, was an evil renegade Shianti who became Overlord of the Shadakine Empire. A former Shianti wizard, he became a black necromancer, attaining the title of Wytch-king of the Shadakine people. He gave the people of Taklakot a Sun-stone that harnessed the fire of the sun; this stone would eventually lead to the destruction of the land.
Despite this setback, he continued to wield formidable political power. Investigating the explosion, Shasarak discovered that the destruction of his land had made the fabric of the world unstable where the explosion occurred. He was able to cause a second explosion and tear the fabric of the world, opening a Gate of Doom to the Pit of Eternal Pain, where Agarash the Damned was trapped. Here, Shasarak made a bargain with Agarash: Agarash would grant Shasarak powerful forces from the Pit, but should Shasarak lose his war, he would switch places with Agarash in the Pit. His plans were thwarted by Grey Star, who forced Agarash's forces back into the Pit, and as Shasarak attempted to cheat death by fulfilling the bargain with Agarash, Grey Star was able to use the power of the Moonstone to trap both Shasarak and Agarash in the Pit of Eternal Pain, and seal it.
Trapped in the Pit of Eternal Pain, Shasarak was able to use his powers to communicate beyond the Pit and put into motion a plan to free himself, and Agarash if required. He was able to influence an Ice Demon to plant an Ice Crystal shard inside of Kai Grand Master Blazer's brain while he was on a quest in Kalte. While on a subsequent quest to investigate the Naarvakim, Blazer unwittingly transmitted information about their plans, and was possessed to take Grey Star hostage to be sacrificed into the Pit of Eternal Pain, releasing Shasarak in exchange. However, his release was short-lived, as he was cast back during the events of The Dusk of Eternal Night.
Appearance[]
Shasarak is hunch-backed, missing half of his face, which is now covered by a metal plate, and has bony claw like fingers covered by charred black flesh. His one eye is shrunken and sightless while the other burns with intensity like the sun.
History[]
Becoming a renegade[]
Shasarak was once one of the Shianti. As one of their member, he visited many worlds in Aon and the Daziarn before the Shianti left Magnamund. However, Shasarak refused to leave with them, becoming a renegade, and turned to evil.[1]
The Rise and fall of Taklakot[]
In the year MS 3154, the land of Taklakot rose to power following the arrival of the renegade Shianti wizard — Shasarak the Great — who had refused to obey the call to exile of his fellow Shianti brothers. Shasarak created the Sun-stone: A magical stone filled with the power of the God Kai, but this power was stolen. The power of his Sun-stone accelerated the evolution of the Taklakotians, but by their own ineptness, its power was eventually misused, and the Taklakotians became greedy and corrupt. The God Kai turned his attention to Taklakot, and in his anger, destroyed the Sun-stone and Taklakot. But Kai was not the only deity who had their attention on Taklakot. Their greed had drawn the attention of a mysterious Evil power beyond Aon, and this explosion released this entity, whose evil cursed the land, driving anyone in it insane.[2][note 1]
It became known as Desolation Valley, and the only city which remained — Gyanima — was shunned by all outsiders due to the curse of a terrible wasting sickness that befell nearly all who dared enter its environs.[3][4] This disaster also killed their entire race since great fires had rushed through the kingdom and destroyed an entire civilization in a day. Only Shasarak survived, though he was horribly crippled and burnt. Legends still say that the dead spirits of Taklakot roam the forest of Fernmost to this day, seeking vengeance and taking it upon any who enter the forest.
Overlordship of the Shadakine[]
He ruled the province of Shadaki which granted him control of an army of brutal soldiers. He bound his people to demonic worship and set out to create an empire. He waged war on the surrounding provinces and subjugated a large portion of the Southern tip of Magnamund in what became known to the Shadakine as the Old Wars of the Empire. The land they conquered became known as the Shadakine Empire.
Downfall[]
The night that Shasarak was crowned Overlord, a great storm broke upon the Sea of Dreams, causing a ship to run aground on the Isle of Lorn, with one survivor — a baby. The Shianti, who had hidden themselves from mankind, on the Isle of Lorn at Ishir's request, saw an opportunity to lawfully aid mankind without breaking their vow to Ishir. The child was named "Grey Star", and he was taught by the Shianti their secrets, to one day rival Shasarak and allow mankind to determine its destiny.[5]
At some point around MS 5044, Shasarak, by accident, while experimenting with the remnants of his Sun-stone, discovered that a powerful explosion, close to where the fabric of Aon was weakest (such as the former location of Shadow Gates in Southern Magnamund), could open a Gate of Doom. The very same day he did so, he made a bargain with the trapped Agarash the Damned: Agarash would grant Shasarak the troops required for his military goals, but if he lost his war, he would switch places with Agarash in the Pit of Eternal Pain. Shasarak believed that if he called upon the forces that had helped Agarash conquer the world during the Age of Eternal Night, he could not lose, so he agreed.[1]
Grey Star undertook a quest to recover the Moonstone, to use the power against Shasarak. With the help of Tanith, Grey Star succeeded in retrieving the Moonstone from the Daziarn, and returned to Magnamund. Seven years had passed since Grey Star had entered the Daziarn, and rebellions had begun to destablilise the Shadakine Empire. Sharasak was forced to summon the Zadakar Horde from the Pit of Eternal Pain, but Grey Star discovered that these were incomplete summonings (as no souls were sacrificed to be switched for them), and they were bound to the Pit — this meant that closing the Gate of Doom was enough to banish the Zadakar Horde.[1]
With the Freedom Guild closing in on Shasarak from all sides, Shasarak chose to honour his side of the bargain, choosing eternal damnation over eternal death.[1] After a new Gate of Doom was opened, Grey Star confronted Shasarak, and the two engaged each other in combat. Shasarak was defeated, and in his final moments, Agarash dragged him into the Gate of Doom; however, using the power of the Moonstone, Grey Star sealed the portal, trapping both Agarash and Shasarak in the Pit of Eternal Pain.[6]
Short-lived return[]
Trapped in the Pit of Eternal Pain, Shasarak plotted his return.
In MS 5103, during the events of The Dusk of Eternal Night, the Naarvakim planned to bring Agarash back to Magnamund, by opening a Gate of Doom where the boundaries between the Planes of Existence were weakest — Agarash's throne room in Naaros, where reality itself had been weakened in his titanic battle with the Elder Magi. The Naarvakim had planned on sacrificing Grey Star to take Agarash's place in the Pit of Eternal Pain; Shasarak however, conspired to bring himself back too, using his powers to to communicate beyond the powers of the Pit of Eternal Pain.
He first set in motion a plan to corrupt Blazer. As Blazer embarked on a quest in Kalte, the Nadziranim were able to implant a shard of an Ice Demon into Blazer's brain, allowing him to be intermittently-controlled by the Nadziranim. Blazer himself suffered much during his quest in Kalte despite his success, leading Lone Wolf and Grand Master to wonder if Blazer had truly recovered from his ordeal,[7] not realising this mood was down to the possession.[8]
The possessed Blazer was able to transmit information to the Naarvakim about the whereabouts of Grey Star and Grand Master as they hunted the Naarvakim.[8] Shasarak attempted to corrupt Grand Master in a dream, where Shasarak masqueraded as Lone Wolf, but Grand Master saw through it.[9][note 2]
As the party neared Naaros, they were attacked by the Naarvakim, forcing Grey Star to attempt to teleport the crew of the Starstrider directly into Naaros. Possibly due to the Nadziranim and/or Shasarak, the attempt failed, teleporting Grey Star and Blazer, but leaving Grand Master and the remainder of the crew behind.[10] Blazer was then possessed into capturing Grey Star, whilst Grand Master successfully made their way to the throneroom of Naaros separately.
Here, Blazer delivered Grey Star into the Gate of Doom, with the Naarvakim expecting Agarash to be exchanged. However, unexpectedly, Shasarak returned first, much to the anger of the Naarvakim.[11] Agarash would threaten Shasarak beyond the Gate of Doom, but Shasarak, in his fear, pointed out that he had a Candidate of his own for Agarash — a Kai Grand Master (either Blazer or Grand Master).
Shasarak's own return would prove to be short-lived. Blazer revealed his unknowing betrayal, with the Ice Demon taking full possession of Blazer. However, Shasarak himself was cast back into the Gate of Doom. Depending on the actions of the player, either:
- Grand Master confronted Blazer and cast Shasarak into the Gate of Doom themselves, or[12][13][14]
- Grand Master was betrayed by Blazer, and cast into the Gate of Doom themselves. Then, Shasarak and the Ice Demon (with Blazer) dueled, Shasarak was defeated and cast into the Gate of Doom, releasing Grand Master in exchange.[15]
In the gamebooks[]
Shasarak is the main villain in the World of Lone Wolf series, featuring Grey Star as the protagonist. Grey Star encounters Shasarak multiple times during the series, although he is only fought at the very end, in War of the Wizards. He makes his return in The Dusk of Eternal Night, successfully tricking the Naarvakim into releasing him before Agarash the Damned.
War of the Wizards[]
Shasarak fights Grey Star at the end of War of the Wizards. Grey Star can avoid the combat by raising the power of the Moonstone, throwing some of the power of the Moonstone at Shasarak, then striking him with his Staff, then continuing the duel of life forces that ensues. This route will cost Willpower, Endurance and even halve Grey Star's Endurance points, and if Grey Star is too weak by the end of it, the alternative is instant death. If all the steps are followed except the last, then both combatants will be severely-weakened, and the player will face a much-weakened Shasarak in standard combat.
Alternatively, Shasarak can be weakened somewhat depending on actions taken by the player.
Enemy | CS | EP | Section | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wytch-king Shasarak | 30 | 25 | 345 | Either:
|
Wytch-king Shasarak | 10 | 20 | 129 | Raise Moonstone (-2 Willpower, -1 Endurance), shield with the Moonstone's light, throw back some of the Moonstone's power (-1 Willpower), strike with staff (half Endurance, -1 Willpower) continue duel of life forces, Willpower + Endurance - 10 > 0 (if not, instant death) |
Wytch-king Shasarak | 30 | 30 | 131 | All other cases |
The Dusk of Eternal Night[]
Shasarak starts this book still trapped in the Pit of Eternal Pain, but behind the scenes, he successfully pulls the strings into freeing himself from the Pit before Agarash the Damned. He sows the seeds of this plan before the start of the book, planting an Ice Crystal inside Blazer's brain without his knowledge, allowing him to transmit information about the Kai's plans and location, and eventually possess him for their means.
Shasarak will first appear to Grand Master in a dream, pretending to be Lone Wolf. He will attempt to bait Grand Master into thinking that good and evil are equivalent, and that they are merely pawns in their game that would be sacrificed with little thought. He will tell Grand Master there is a third way to restore order to the world, by freeing a powerful entity from the Gate of Doom.[16] If Grand Master accepts, they are given a Neverness Sphere and will willingly sacrifice themselves into the Gate of Doom later, unwittingly freeing Shasarak, though sparing Magnamund from the restoration of Agarash, and at the expense of Grand Master's life.[17]
After Blazer sacrifices Grey Star to the Pit of Doom, Shasarak will be released from the Pit of Eternal Pain, to the surprise of the Naarvakim. Grand Master will then have a choice: To confront Blazer, or attack Shasarak.
Confront Blazer[]
Grand Master's suspicions of Blazer will be confirmed, as they do not believe Blazer would have done this without a fight to the death. Grand Master will attack Blazer, temporarily breaking the spell controlling him. Shasarak will then attack Grand Master.[8]
If Grand Master possesses a Darkflame Zejar-dulaga arrow and a Bow, Shasarak is defeated instantly. Otherwise, Shasarak will be fought.
Enemy | CS | EP | Section | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Shasarak the Wytch-king (weakened) | 54 | 45 | 290 | Kai-alchemy |
Shasarak the Wytch-king (weakened) | 54 | 48 | 161 |
In both cases, Shasarak is immune to Mindblast but not Kai-surge. Grand Master fights with -2 Combat Skill due to Shasarak's power of coercion. The Kai Weapon Valiance gains its bonuses here. The fight ends when Shasarak's Endurance is reduced to 10 or below.
Whether fought in combat or defeated by the Darkflame Zejar-dulaga arrow, Shasarak will fall into the Gate of Doom, and release Agarash in return.
Attack Shasarak[]
Grand Master will attack Shasarak, expecting to be backed-up by Blazer; however, he is betrayed and Grand Master themselves is cast into the Gate of Doom by Shasarak and Blazer's combined powers. This sacrifice releases Agarash. If Grand Master has Grand Nexus and Grand Huntmastery, and is at Sun Prince, Grand Master is able to spirit-walk back into the world of Aon (although their body is trapped in the Pit of Eternal Pain). If not, Grand Master is trapped in the Pit of Eternal Pain, and the adventure ends.
Back in the world of Aon, the Ice Demon in Blazer requests of Agarash that he fight Shasarak for enslaving his race, which Agarash agrees to despite Shasarak's pleas. During this duel, Blazer awakens, and the Ice Demon and Blazer join forces to fight a common enemy. Grand Master may be able to help Blazer in this duel in their spirit-form.
The duel has a Combat Ratio of -6, and Blazer and Shasarak have 40 and 50 Endurance respectively. Combat is fought as normal, as if the player was controlling Blazer. If Grand Master possesses Telegnosis or a Mind Gem, they can impact the duel as follows:
- If Grand Master possesses Kai-surge, Kai-blast or Kai-ray can be used as usual (Grand Master still loses Endurance points)
- If Grand Master possesses Kai-alchemy, they can cast Strength on Blazer, increasing the Combat Ratio by 2
- If Grand Master possesses Astrology, they can summon a flare from the Sun to help Blazer, increasing the Combat Ratio by 2
- If Grand Master possesses Deliverance, they can restore 10 Endurance to Blazer if his Endurance falls to 8 or less
However, each round of combat, Grand Master loses 3 Endurance due to spirit-walking in such extreme conditions. Additionally, if Blazer dies, Grand Master is condemned to the Pit of Eternal Pain, and the adventure is over.
The combat ends if Shasarak is reduced to 5 Endurance or lower. The combined Ice Demon and Blazer will cast Shasarak into the Gate of Doom, releasing Grand Master.
Design[]
In the Lone Wolf Club Newsletters, Shasarak is spelt "Shazarak".[18]
Notes[]
- ↑ This evil entity may have been Agarash the Damned. Shasarak would later conduct experiments with the remnants of his Sun-stone and discovered, by accident, that a powerful explosion close to where the fabric of Aon was weak could open a Gate of Doom. The wrath of the God Kai would likely have fit this purpose.
- ↑ If Grand Master falls for the trap, they are tricked into taking Shasarak's place in the Pit of Eternal Pain, although Magnamund is spared Agarash's return.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Dusk of Eternal Night: §40
- ↑ The Dusk of Eternal Night: §205
- ↑ The Dusk of Eternal Night: §38
- ↑ The Forbidden City: §111
- ↑ Grey Star the Wizard: Of the Coming of Grey Star
- ↑ War of the Wizards: §356
- ↑ The Dusk of Eternal Night: §46
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 The Dusk of Eternal Night: §240
- ↑ The Dusk of Eternal Night: §80
- ↑ The Dusk of Eternal Night: §125
- ↑ The Dusk of Eternal Night: §170
- ↑ The Dusk of Eternal Night: §339
- ↑ The Dusk of Eternal Night: §290
- ↑ The Dusk of Eternal Night: §161
- ↑ The Dusk of Eternal Night: §250
- ↑ The Dusk of Eternal Night: §222
- ↑ The Dusk of Eternal Night: §335
- ↑ Dever, Joe [1985–1995] (2015-11-16). "Introduction and Acknowledgements", Lone Wolf Club Newsletters, Internet Edition, Project Aon, p. 2. “In the “Of the Coming of Grey Star” section, the Wytch-king is consistently called Shazarak. Although this is not in harmony with the spelling ultimately presented in the published Grey Star books, we have opted to keep the original spelling here as an insight into the history of the series.”