Svader, also known as Kezakitaaga or The Many-Faced Slayer (died MS 5000),[1] was the first Helghast created. It was fiercely loyal to Archlord Vashna, his creator, and part of his inner circle. Svader survived the Battle of Maakengorge, where his master did not, and plotted his return. Around MS 4799, Svader attempted to perform a ritual to revive him, involving the sacrifice of a Kai Lord and the skull of Sun Eagle at the Maakengorge, but this plot was foiled, and Svader was destroyed.
Biography[]
In Vashna's inner circle[]
Prior to being a Helghast, Svader was once one of Vashna's most loyal Nadziranim. He was involved in his own ritual to be reborn as an undead, and was successful, becoming the first[2] Helghast ever to be created.[1]
In the Battles of Moytura Pass and Maakengorge, Archlord Vashna fought the Lastlands in what was to be the final battle of that Age. Vashna's forces were defeated at Moytura, and then driven back and cast into the Maakengorge. It was said that the spirits of Vashna and his forces were intact, waiting to be released. The only survivor of Vashna's inner circle to survive was Svader, who hid in the Dajdokritzaga Mountains. Svader had lost most of his magical power after Vashna's death, and was forced to spend over 1,200 years living in exile, until its powers returned.[3]
Plot to revive Vashna[]
Infiltrating Sommerlund[]
When Svader felt strong enough once again, it returned to Helgedad to feign allegiance to now-Archlord Zagarna. Svader's immense knowledge and power allowed him to rise up fast through the political ladder, eventually allowing him to communicate, in secret, with the Acolytes of Vashna, a sect devoted to the return of Darklord Vashna, a goal shared with Svader. Svader proposed a ritual to combine the sacrifice of a Kai Lord and the skull of Sun Eagle at Maakengorge to do this, which was approved by the Acolytes of Vashna. Svader then convinced the Darklords to send him to Sommerlund, supposedly to spy on them and cause havoc. The Darklords agreed, and dispatched him to Toran.[3]
In MS 5000, during the events of Terror of the Darklords, Svader infiltrated the city guard of Toran, becoming a lieutenant. He slowly poisoned Captain Pel Avane with Graveweed, incapacitating him in the Halls of Healing. His command fell to Senior Lieutenant and Acting Commander Tremond, whom Svader murdered, transferring the command to himself. Now in control, he smuggled in Drakkarim Death Knights and disguised them as Kai Lords, and poisoned the city's water and food supplies with Graveweed. Furthermore, Svader sealed away all the supply of Oede, the only known antidote to Graveweed. His goal was to create an atmosphere of chaos and distrust, and blame it on the Kai Lords, leaving Toran ripe for conquest by the Darklords.[4]
Capturing a Kai Master[]
In the background, a party of Kai Lords were investigating a disturbance in Yrsonor. The party discovered a Sommlending warrior betraying his country by conversing with Drakkarim in secret. The party's leader, Kai Master Stormsong, ordered his disciples to wait and watch while he returned to the Kai Monastery to inform his leader what was happening. However, in the process, he was captured.[5] A battle ensued in Yrsonor, where the young Kai Lords distinguished themselves, but Master Stormsong was lost, and the Kai Grand Master later informed them that he was likely taken to Toran.[6]
The Grand Master sent the party out to rescue their master. In Toran, however, they were arrested, due to the Kai being under suspicion. The party forced their way out of prison, and investigated the city guard's rooms. They discovered that Captain Pel Avane was very sick and in Toran's Halls of Healing, and that Lieutenant Svader had taken control over the city. The party may, depending on skills possessed, also discover forged letters from and to Senior Lieutenant Tremond, to recover stolen goods in Anskaven. As they were investigating, Svader's forces arrived at the city guard, having discovered the party had escaped prison. The party entered a secret chamber in Svader's quarters, where they discovered huge quantities of concentrated Graveweed, Drakkarim armour, and Oede herb. Also present were shipping documents indicating the Graveweed originated from Mogaruith, the fortress of the infamous Cener Druids of Ruel. Additionally, a letter from the Brotherhood of the Crystal Star ordering Tremond to travel to the Kai Monastery to determine the identities of the renegade Kai was found. Lastly, they also found Master Stormsong's Kai badge of rank.[7]
Svader's forces fought the Kai, his betrayal revealed. As the party fought Svader in combat, however, they discovered he was invulnerable to their weapons. Svader laughed and simply left, although his Helghast Spear became trapped in a door as he left. Depending on the actions of the party, they may discover that Svader's exit path took him to a newly-excavated path to the tomb of Sun Eagle, the first Kai Lord, and that his skull had been taken.[8]
With all this evidence, the party of Kai Lords were exonerated, and allowed to continue their pursuit of Stormsong and Svader. Svader left for Kadan, but left various spies behind to slow down the Kai. In Kadan, Svader met with various Acolytes of Vashna, and travelled to the fortress of V'ka, in the Maakenmire, by boat. From here, Svader rallied the forces of V'ka, before departing for the Maakengorge on a fleet of Kraan, still bearing Master Stormsong and the skull of Sun Eagle. The Kai Lords pursuing him also infiltrated V'ka and discovered his plot, but were too late to stop him from flying to the Maakengorge. They were, however, able to take control of other Kraan themselves, and continue their pursuit.[9]
A ritual completed[]
In Maaken, Svader and the Acolytes of Vashna began the ritual. Master Stormsong was laid and bound on an altar, and Sun Eagle's skull was laid beside him. The Kai Lords interrupted the ritual, however, and a chaotic fight took place. In this battle, however, Master Stormsong bled, and with the presence of the skull of Sun Eagle, this was enough to complete the ritual: Archlord Vashna began to rise from the Maakengorge.[10] Svader was one of the last to fall, completing the ritual, before fighting in combat, and was eventually defeated with a magical weapon or flask of holy water that stripped away his powers (depending on the actions of the party). However, one of the Kai Lords, or Master Stormsong, leapt into the Maakengorge with the Banner of Ishir, which rallied the forces of Light that fell in the Battle of Maakengorge to its call, and dragged Vashna back into its depths.[11]
Legacy[]
In MS 5102, during the events of Dead in the Deep, the Acolytes of Vashna found a scroll, written by Svader, in the Dajdokritzaga Mountains, which described the secrets of Helghast creation. Using the power of the Nengud-kor-Adez, which migrated to the Maakengorge, the Acolytes successfully created a new Helghast using this information, something impossible before without a Darklord's power.[12] These new breed of Helghast were also enhanced, harder to detect without the powers of the second-level Brotherhood of the Crystal Star spells or a Kai Grand Master's skills. It was believed that this additional protection was due to the Helghast being more effective at taking advantage of the emotional bonds of those they impersonated.[13] These new Helghast flooded the Stornlands, causing untold havoc.[14]
In Lone Wolf media[]
Terror of the Darklords[]
Svader is the primary antagonist in Terror of the Darklords, where he plots to use the skull of Sun Eagle and the blood of a Kai Lord in a ritual at the Maakengorge to revive Archlord Vashna. Svader is successful in his ritual, but Vashna is driven back into the Maakengorge by a Kai Lord (either one of the party members or Master Stormsong) wielding the Banner of Ishir. Svader is fought in this RPG:
- Svader (Helghast)
Combat Skill 30, Endurance 40, Willpower 20
↪Terror of the Darklords: p. 118
Svader has the Aegis and Solder traits, the Influence and Occult Skills, and attacks with Mindblast. As is the case with all Helghast, he is immune to non-magical weapons. Svader can only be damaged by the Banner of Ishir, Surrvek's Ruzzaran Axe, or a Jewelled Scimitar. He can be damaged with normal weapons for ten turns if a Flask of Holy Water is thrown on him, after which the water is boiled away and Svader becomes immune again.
If Svader was attacked by Master Stormsong beforehand, his Combat Skill falls to 26.
After Svader is defeated, he is completely destroyed, leaving no trace.
Dead in the Deep[]
Although Svader is not encountered here, Grand Master may encounter a group of Acolytes of Vashna putting the final touches on a ritual using a scroll written by Svader and found by the Acolytes, over a hundred years after his death. To find this chamber, when entering Zekgazad,[15] the player must go via the training park,[16] then eventually cross at the closed blockhouse.[17][18] Once opening the door, they will witness this ritual: An Acolyte Elder will attempt to mimic Svader's initial ritual — sacrificing himself to become undead — using the power of the Nengud-kor-Adez, and supported by his fellow Acolytes.[1]
If the player decides to watch the ritual, a hidden ancient Helghast in the chamber will reveal themselves, behead the Acolytes, then rip the wires injecting the Nengud-kor-Adez into the Elder away. He will then declare that only the Archlord had the power and right to create Helghast, and not the Acolytes. He then ordered the player (not recognising the player was a Kai Lord in disguise) to spread this message, giving Grand Master a chance to escape the chamber.[19]
If the player chooses to stop the ritual, they will be attacked by the hiding ancient Helghast and the Elder, now risen as a Helghast.
- Ancient Helghast and Fledgeling Helghast
Combat Skill 46, Endurance 50
Immune to: Mindblast
↪Dead in the Deep: §182
These Helghast cannot be damaged by a normal weapon, so the player's Kai Weapon or a weapon-like Special Item must be used. Due to the power of the Nengud-kor-Adez in the room, the player's Combat Skill must be reduced by 2 (unless they wear Cynxa). Both Helghast attack with their Mindforce, meaning unless the player possesses Kai-screen, they must reduce their Combat Skill by (a further) 2. This encounter is vulnerable to the Kai Weapons Alema and Illuminatus, and as they are undead, a Wardstone-enhanced weapon is effective.
After killing the Helghast, the player can take the scroll — Svader's Scroll — a Special Item, or they may destroy its secrets in the Nengud-kor-Adez.[20] Taking the Scroll lets the player bypass one fight soon after,[21][22] although the fight lets the player take a Heldajdok Halberd, granting +3 Combat Skill as loot.[23] The Scroll has no use after this point.
Whatever the choice of the player, or whether or not the player actually visits this chamber or not, a new breed of Helghast, possibly using this ritual, eventually emerges and starts infiltrating the Stornlands, causing untold havoc.[14] These new Helghast are also more resistant to detection.[24]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Dead in the Deep: §240
- ↑ Gavin Duthie on Discord (2024-08-26). Given that he was first among their number, Kezakzkitaaga [sic] was one of Vashna's most faithful of the Helghast..
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Dever, Joe [2017]. Terror of the Darklords. Cubicle 7, p. 6.
- ↑ Dever, Joe [2017]. Terror of the Darklords. Cubicle 7, pp. 51–52.
- ↑ Dever, Joe [2017]. Terror of the Darklords. Cubicle 7, pp. 18–19.
- ↑ Dever, Joe [2017]. Terror of the Darklords. Cubicle 7, p. 24.
- ↑ Dever, Joe [2017]. Terror of the Darklords. Cubicle 7, pp. 44–48.
- ↑ Dever, Joe [2017]. Terror of the Darklords. Cubicle 7, pp. 48–49.
- ↑ Dever, Joe [2017]. Terror of the Darklords. Cubicle 7, pp. 101–104.
- ↑ Dever, Joe [2017]. Terror of the Darklords. Cubicle 7, pp. 114–118.
- ↑ Dever, Joe [2017]. Terror of the Darklords. Cubicle 7, pp. 118–119.
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §240
- ↑ The Dusk of Eternal Night: §1
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 The Dusk of Eternal Night: Timeline of notable events in Magnamund, MS 5102 Hestangor, Stornlands
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §200
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §140
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §17
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §83
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §336
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §158
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §202
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §258
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §27
- ↑ The Dusk of Eternal Night: §1