Zashnor

Zashnor is a powerful Nadziran and leader of the Naarvakim. In MS 5101, he seized the city of Bakhasa, and built an Agarashi army to invade Chai and retrieve the Eye of Agarash, to combine it with the Claw of Naar. His plans were foiled by Grand Master a year later, during the events of The Storms of Chai, who slew and destroyed him in Dwala.

Biography

Background

In MS 5085, Bhanar, ruled by Autarch Sejanoz, invaded Chai in order to recover the Claw of Naar, taken there by Grand Master for safety. He was slain by Grand Master using the Arrow of Atonement, and Sejanoz's death caused the collapse of Bhanar. Chai counter-attacked, massacred the city of Yua Tzhan, occupied eastern Bhanar, and blockaded the remainder by sea. Eventually, Bhanar fell, and Chai installed a puppet ruler, Overseer Klutan. Taking advantage of Bhanar's weakness, King Kardisa of Vaduzhan invaded south-western Bhanar, claiming his right to the territories of the former Vaduzhan Empire. Chai opted not to contest his claims, and Klutan gradually lost control over Bhanar.

Preparing to invade Chai

In MS 5101, Zashnor emerged from the Doomlands of Naaros, wielding the Claw of Naar. The Claw of Naar was stored and secured in Dessi, but was stolen by an Ice Demon, and it was believed to have been delivered to Zashnor. Zashnor was a member of the Naarvakim, a cult aiming to bring their master, Agarash the Damned, back to Magnamund. Zashnor also headed a thousand-strong army of Agarashi, intending to invade Chai, to recover the Eye of Agarash, set into the throne of Chai without the royal family's knowledge. This would allow him to merge the Claw of Naar with the Eye of Agarash, creating a weapon that multiplied their individual powers several hundred-fold. Prior to the invasion, Zashnor prepared a backup plan in case he failed. He created a clone of himself in the Breeding Pits of Bakhasa, allowing this clone to continue to advance the cause of the Naarvakim, just in case.

Bhanarian forces, wanting to enact revenge on Chai for the Massacre of Yua Tzhan, also flocked to Zashnor's call. Chai was further rocked by the death of Khea-khan Zha-zhing that same year, and his heir, Lao Tin, was young and lacked Zha-zhing's leadership qualities.

In the spring of MS 5102, a new warlord, Golzaarn, united the Drakkarim of Zaldir, Ghatan, Skaror, the Hammerlands and the Western Darklands. Golzaarn attempted to revive the Skarorian Horde, a legendary army of Agarashi during the Age of War. On a quest to thwart Golzaarn, Star Lynx discovered a necromantic ritual had been performed with the dead there, caused by the latest bout of violence. Grand Master later believed that this was caused by Zashnor charging the Claw of Naar with power.

Pursuit of the Eye of Agarash

In MS 5102, during the events of The Storms of Chai, Zashnor began his invasion. His army attacked Fort Jhung, which rapidly fell and left no survivors. This created a breach in the Chai Wall, allowing his forces to freely expand beyond it, and they quickly amassed near Pensei. Around the same time, Grand Master arrived in Pensei, and retrieved the Eye of Agarash, intending to bring it to Dwala, but started a pursuit by Zashnor to the Grand Master. His forces flanked Grand Master's party and setup a roadblock near Vabou, forcing them to go round it. In Vabou, Zashnor's forces attacked, but were repelled. However, it became clear that the road to H'lau was blocked, forcing another detour through Jueng. Grand Master eventually made it to Dwala, barely before Zashnor's forces attacked.

In the battle, Grand Master was confronted by the reconstructed form of Xaol, who was slain during the events of Trail of the Wolf, and whose revival was thanks to the power of Zashnor. Zashnor then entered battle himself, meeting Grand Master, who realised, in horror, that Zashnor did not possess what was rumoured to be a replica of the Claw of Naar, but the Claw of Naar itself. Zashnor cast a spell to try and draw the Eye of Agarash towards the Claw of Naar, then transformed into its Ice Dragon form, the most powerful combat form of a Nadziran, but in Zashnor's arrogance, he did not realise that this form was not the best to wield the Claw of Naar. A gust of wind blew the Claw out of his uncertain grasp, and Grand Master took advantage to engage him in combat without it. Grand Master defeated Zashnor in this titanic combat, and discovered that Zashnor was not completely destroyed, as was expected like most Nadziranim, as Zashnor had somehow been able to preserve his body so it could be revived. Grand Master made sure this would not happen by destroying his skull with their Kai Weapon.

In MS 5103, during the events of The Dusk of Eternal Night, the Naarvakim began to converge in the Night Spire of Naaros, intending to open a Gate of Doom to release Agarash the Damned, possibly with the Claw of Naar. The clone of Zashnor appeared to be the leader of the Naarvakim, directing proceedings. The clone, and the rest of the Naarvakim, were successful in their plans, as Agarash was released from the Pit of Eternal Pain, no longer Damned.

In the gamebooks

The Storms of Chai

Zashnor is the primary antagonist in The Storms of Chai, and is fought at the end of the book. He is encountered after the reborn Xaol is defeated. He will first start to summon the Eye of Agarash, to join it with the Claw of Naar. The player has the option to attack or evade. If they choose to attack, Zashnor first attacks psychically. Kai-screen at Grand Thane allows Grand Master to absorb the attack and restore 10 Endurance points,, although lesser ranks reduce the damage. Outside of Grand Thane Kai-screen, however, it is better to evade, as both paths lead to the same obstacle after this (i.e. attacking in the open just loses Endurance points without Grand Thane Kai-screen).

The next obstacle is a roll of death: Zashnor will attempt to blast Grand Master with the Claw of Naar. If a 9 is rolled (blocked by Grand Huntmastery, subtracting 2 from the roll), Grand Master is consumed by the blast, and will not be able to stop Zashnor from combining the Claw and the Eye. Otherwise, Grand Master loses 3–7 Endurance points depending on the roll.

Zashnor then transforms into its Ice Dragon form, although this form cannot hold the Claw securely, and a gust of wind blows it from his hand. Grand Master then has the option to use a Bow and Arrow (requiring a test), Grand Nexus at Grand Thane, Magi-Magic or Kai-alchemy. Not using any of these or failing the Bow and Arrow test results in a loss of 2 Endurance points due to the Eye of Agarash. Zashnor is then confronted in combat:

Zashnor (in Ice Dragon form)
Combat Skill 54, Endurance 52
Immune to: Mindblast
↪The Storms of Chai: §100

Zashnor is immune to Mindblast, and partially-immune to Kai-surge and Kai-blast:

• Kai-surge: +4 Combat Skill rather than +8
• Kai-blast: Pick only one random number (rather than two)

In the seventh round of combat, if Zashnor is still alive, he calls on his Zlanbeast to help. This increases his Combat Skill to 59, and he regains 5 Endurance points. On the eighth round, his Combat Skill returns to 54, but the bonus Endurance points still apply.

After Zashnor is defeated, Grand Master will shatter his skull to destroy him.

The Dusk of Eternal Night

In The Dusk of Eternal Night, when Grand Master arrives at the top of the Night Spire in Naaros, Grand Master will discover a Nadziran that is dictating proceedings. If the player visited the port of Valus (i.e. they completed The Storms of Chai), they will discover that this Nadziran bears an uncanny resemblance to Zashnor, then realise that it was created from the essence of Zashnor in Bakhasa, possibly possessing the memories of Zashnor. Grand Master will then watch the ritual of the Naarvakim, and hypothesise that Zashnor may have received the Claw of Naar from an Ice Demon who stole it from safeguarding in Dessi, and charged the Claw of Naar in Skaror. The player, however, does not otherwise interact with Zashnor.