Zekgazad (Giak; English: Hidden Citadel) is a fortress excavated below Emolyria by the Acolytes of Vashna and their Agarashi and Darklands allies. It was created primarily to attempt to revive Archlord Vashna using the power of the Nengud-kor-Adez, but also served as an attempt to build up the forces of Darkness in his name.
It is the setting of Dead in the Deep.
Etymology[]
In English, Zekgazad means "Hidden Citadel".[1][2] This is a direct translation from Giak: "zek" (hidden) + "gazad" (fortress).
History[]
Some time after MS 5100, the Maakengorge began to awake again, and the Acolytes of Vashna began to congregate near Emolyria, allying themselves with the remaining Agarashi who still roamed the area.[3] They began to excavate below the ancient Lyrisian city, creating a fortress called "Zekgazad", Giak for "Hidden Citadel".
The Acolytes of Vashna recruited far and wide, luring people into their cult in Zekgazad. The most loyal found roles within Zekgazad,[4] but those not judged worthy would be sacrificed into the Nengud-kor-Adez,[5] strengthening its power. Beyond these low-ranking acolytes, Zekgazad was full of Agarashi, creatures of the Darklands, and various humanoid races, including Cener Druids and Drakkarim.
Whilst the attempts to rebuild the forces of Darkness in the area were successful, attempts to revive Archlord Vashna were less so. The primary goal of the cult was to sacrifice a descendant of King Ulnar I (who slew Vashna with the Sommerswerd) into the Nengud-kor-Adez, using the Dagger of Vashna. However, they needed to first find the Dagger of Vashna, long lost in the Plane of Darkness after the events of The Legacy of Vashna. Additionally, it proved tricky to find a descendant of Ulnar I.
To recover the Dagger of Vashna, a Shadow Gate to the Daziarn was created in the depths of Zekgazad, where Cener Druids attempted to communicate with the Chaos-master — one of the few beings able to retrieve the Dagger of Vashna. However, due to the inability to find a descendant of Ulnar I, an alternative plan was formed: To bring the Chaos-master himself to Magnamund, a mightier foe, who would be able to shape Aon into an extension of his realm of Chaos.
In MS 5102, Lone Wolf sent Steel Hand to infiltrate Zekgazad, investigate their plans, and put a stop to them. However, Steel Hand was captured during his mission. Lone Wolf then sent Grand Master to complete his mission but also rescue Steel Hand, during the events of Dead in the Deep. It was revealed that Steel Hand himself was a descendant of Ulnar I, and Luthos Vorgada attempted to sacrifice him with the recovered Dagger of Vashna. However, Steel Hand did not go down without a fight, and in the scuffle, the Dagger of Vashna fell into the Nengud-kor-Adez, to be unmade. This, however, was enough to revive a form of Vashna, unified with the Nengud-kor-Adez. This rebirth caused the Nengud-kor-Adez to surge, consuming Zekgazad and Emolyria, destroying the latter.[6]
Vashna was reborn in full in MS 5103, during the events of The Dusk of Eternal Night. Threatening to expand the Nengud-kor-Adez further into the freelands, he challenged Lone Wolf to combat in Zekgazad, far beneath the earth where the Sommerswerd was ineffective.[7] Despite it being a trap, Lone Wolf, accompanied by Steel Hand, infiltrated a rebuilt Zekgazad, greater than before, with ambushes laid by the Heldajdok-taagim.[8] However, despite Lone Wolf having mastered the Sommerswerd to the extent that he could wield it effectively underground, he was unable to defeat Vashna, who was now and truly one with the Nengud-kor-Adez. He was forced to flee Zekgazad, rescued by Steel Hand.[8]
Features[]
Zekgazad is an immense fortress constructed below the ancient city of Emolyria. It has many chambers, many of which harness the power of the Nengud-kor-Adez, dedicated to the growth of the forces of Darkness. At the deepest levels, where the power is strongest, experiments that distort even the fabric of Magnamund itself, as well as a Shadow Gate are located.
Entering Zekgazad[]
Entering Zekgazad is limited to a small number of heavily-guarded entrances in Emolyria. Most enter via a tunnel,[4] but it is possible to enter via a teleporter, guarded by a Drakorozon.[9]
Mines[]
The first chamber is a vast cavern, scaffolded by a network of obsidian pillars. Here, the power of the Nengud-kor-Adez is used to power vast furnaces, crafting weapons and armour. Combat pits, training soldiers, also exist here. The atmosphere is full of screams of the victims of the Nengud-kor-Adez, as their eternal suffering powers it. There are also columns of pure Kagonite, which makes Grand Master think that Naar himself had a hand in creating this fortress.[10]
Deeper into the network of caves, Giak slaves mine away, gathering ore and expanding Zekgazad. Every once in a while, the Nengud-kor-Adez overflows, dragging some of these Giaks into it.[11]
Spawning pits[]
Near the base of the Maakengorge, many massive breeding pits are found, containing the misshapen larvae of creatures the Darkspawn, including Doomgah, Giaks, Doomwolves, Nozodgorakim, Kraan and many more. These pits are lined with spikes to keep the beasts in the pit. Liganim and Cener Druids pour acid and other chemicals into these pits. Nadziranim Breedmasters are responsible for triggering the birthing process itself, using Right-handed Magic, and stimulated by the Nengud-kor-Adez. Acolyte Elders take the strongest creatures away to be trained elsewhere; the weakest are simply pushed into the canals of the Nengud-kor-Adez.[12]
There are also specific facilities to breed Helghast,[13] and Xaghash.[14] A facility also exists that seemingly attempted to revive Vashna by recomposing his body — it is in this very room where Steel Hand was captured by Vladoka after destroying a sarcophagus intended for Vashna, after it exploded.[15]
Chaos Prison[]
Further down, possibly below the Maakengorge itself, Gavalandro contacts Grand Master and suggests that he is in an area where the physical laws of Magnamund are fundamentally broken, caused by the Nadziranim. Here, direction seems meaningless, with Grand Master able to walk on what appears to be a wall and ceiling and not fall.[16]
At the end of this room, there are two exits: One that embodies the power of Madness, and a possible encounter with a Jahksa;[17] and one that embodies the power of Chaos, and may cause a mutation that renders one of Grand Master's hands useless for the rest of the Dead in the Deep.[18]
After these rooms, a Temple of Karaushnitt[19][20] houses Steel Hand's Kai Weapon, which can be retrieved, although Grand Master will be tested by the powers of Lust and Envy. However, it is also possible to end up in what appears to be complete nothingness, where the Nadziranim have completely broken the barriers between the planes of existence.[21]
Steel Hand is trapped in this part of Zekgazad, trapped in a cell deep inside the Chaos Prison.
Cathedral of the Great Return[]
The Cathedral of the Great Return is the cult of Vashna's most sacred site. Its exterior is fashioned by statues of all twenty Darklords, with Vashna given prominence. The main chamber contains a discussion table and what appears to be a giant astronomical clock and related devices, to divine the stars.[22]
Shadow Gate[]
Connected to The Cathedral of the Great Return is a Shadow Gate, connecting this world to the Daziarn. A mountain of flesh surrounds the Shadow Gate, which is revealed to be the nascent Chaos-master to be reincarnated in Aon. The Chaos-master is sustained by the flesh of prisoners, and the whole room is powered by the Nengud-kor-Adez, partly-diverted through a diverticulum.[23]
References[]
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §38
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §60
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §335
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Dead in the Deep: §143
- ↑ 'Dead in the Deep: §90
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §350
- ↑ The Dusk of Eternal Night: §175
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Dusk of Eternal Night: §2
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §330
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §200
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §279
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §77
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §240
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §265
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §219
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §320
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §101
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §308
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §147
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §244
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §288
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §300
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §126/§280