Xaol

Xaol is a necromancer who enslaved the spirit of Zorkaan, and used its power to attempt to assassinate Lone Wolf. Xaol was unable to do so, but managed to kidnap him to Gazad Helkona instead, planning on eventually breaking his mental defenses and killing him there. He was slain by Grand Master, but reanimated twice, both by Zorkaan himself and later Zashnor, failing to kill Grand Master in revenge both times.

Appearance

An illustration of Xaol is available at Trail of the Wolf: §74.

An illustration of Xaol is available at Trail of the Wolf: §70.

Xaol is a gaunt necromancer with a shaven head and dark eyes. He was a thin man with pale skin.

Biography

In MS 5083, during the events of Rune War, Zorkaan the Soultaker was summoned to Magnamund by Lord Vandyan. After Grand Master shattered the Runes of Agarash from where he was summoned from, Zorkaan became trapped on Magnamund. He was enslaved by Xaol, using knowledge from Naar, and Xaol used this power to attempt to kill Lone Wolf. He was unable to do so, however, and was forced to settle for kidnapping him instead, taking him to Gazad Helkona, where Lone Wolf's psychic and magical protections would eventually wear out, allowing him to be killed.

During the events of Trail of the Wolf, Grand Master set out to rescue Lone Wolf. Grand Master fought and slew Xaol, but not before Xaol swore vengeance before dying. Grand Master then attempted to destroy the sphere controlling Zorkaan, only for Zorkaan to defend the sphere, possessing the body of Xaol as a zombie to attack once more. Zorkaan was finally defeated with Lone Wolf throwing the Sommerswerd through Zorkaan's body.

In MS 5102, during the events of The Storms of Chai, the Nadziran Zashnor reanimated Xaol, albeit in weakened form due to the damage inflicted by Grand Master previously, only able to hobble around in difficulty. Xaol attacked Grand Master in Dwala, but was finally slain for good.

In the gamebooks

Xaol appears in Trail of the Wolf (where he is the main antagonist) and The Storms of Chai, and serves as one of the final encounters in both books.

Trail of the Wolf

Xaol will attack psychically first (-1 Endurance with Kai-screen, -4 otherwise), then physically.

Xaol the Necromancer (with Serpent Rod)
Combat Skill 50, Endurance 40
↪Trail of the Wolf: §70

This Xaol encounter is vulnerable to the effects of Spawnsmite and Valiance.

Zorkaan then reanimates Xaol's corpse, which attacks Grand Master once again.

Xaol Zombie (possessed by Zorkaan)
Combat Skill 55, Endurance 43
Immune to: Mindblast, Psi-surge, Kai-surge
↪Trail of the Wolf: §172

This Xaol encounter is vulnerable to the effects of Alema and Valiance. Any damage inflicted on Grand Master is reduced by 5 due to the Platinum Amulet. However, due to Zorkaan's potent psychic powers, Grand Master must reduce their Combat Skill by 3 unless they possess Kai-screen. The fight ends after 3 rounds.

The Storms of Chai

Xaol is reanimated by Zashnor this time, although the previous fights have left him injured. Once again, Xaol attacks psychically (regaining 3 Endurance points with Kai-screen at Sun Thane, losing none at Grand Thane, losing 1 otherwise, or 4 without Kai-screen), then physically.

Xaol the Necromancer (reconstructed undead, with Serpent Rod)
Combat Skill 50, Endurance 50
↪The Storms of Chai: §319/§51/§2/§230

Xaol is vulnerable to the effects of Spawnsmite and Valiance, and any weapon that gains bonuses against undead foes, such as one enhanced by a Dessi Stone.