The Chaos-master, also known as the Tzomah, is a supernatural being that tricks people into making unfair deals that they end up regretting. He dwells on the Daziarn plane.
Appearance and personality[]
The Chaos-master is thirty feet tall and, befitting his name, his appearance is constantly shifting.[1]
His facial features and characteristics are in constant flux, continually melting into new and hideous guises. Dark and loathsome creatures, beasts and beings of indescribable horror can be seen writhing around in the awesome god. He is the master of contradiction.
As his name suggests, he embodies the power of Chaos. The Chaos-master will listen to any summons for him, but his bargains can be full of opposites and contradictions.[2] This is not just restricted to those not of an evil heart: Although the Chaos-master is a being of Evil, he will happily take actions that hinder Evil should he feel like it. For example, in Dead in the Deep, depending on the actions of the player, the Chaos-master may give the Dagger of Vashna to Grand Master as he knows he was misled.[3]
History[]
In the Daziarn, the forces of evil were once defeated. However, evil returned, led by the the Chaos-master. His forces corrupted the lands they conquered, transforming them into desolate wastelands.[4]
During the events of Beyond the Nightmare Gate, Grey Star ventured into the Chaos-master's realm to rescue his travelling companion Tanith, who had been abducted by Grey Star's Jahksa. The Chaos-master gave him chance to leave with Tanith, but only if he took the Jahksa along. This Jahska attempted to sabotage Grey Star's quest.[5]
During the events of The Prisoners of Time, the Chaos-master has conquered most of the land between the elemental strongholds of Earth and Water, including the Nahgoth Forest, once the most fertile of the great timberlands, and the Plain of Guakor, once the mightiest realm in the history of the Daziarn.[4]
Prior to its defeat, the ruler of the Plain of Guakor, Sinay, fell in love with Serocca and wished to unite their realms, but she did not return his love. Sinay requested from the Chaos-master that the two would fall in love, which the Chaos-master agreed to. However, after weaving a spell to enchant Serocca, the Chaos-master demanded half of his realm, which Sinay refused. The Chaos-master then mutilated Sinay, giving him a hideous child-like body with an oversized, bloated brain.[4][6]
The Chaos-master and his army were determined to conquer the entirety of the Nahgoth, but were opposed by Meledor, one of the final realms still standing and resisting the Chaos-master. At Tolakos, the two armies were set to meet.[7] In parallel, Lone Wolf and the remaining Lorestones had fallen into a Shadow Gate (thanks to Darklord Gnaag), and Lone Wolf was seeking the Lorestones, one of which was found in Tolakos.[8] Here, the Chaos-master appeared in person, terrifying the forces of Meledor. However, Lone Wolf, wielding either the Sommerswerd or Ironheart Broadsword (depending on the actions of the player), slew the Chaos-master.[9]
The Chaos-master's death sent his forces and the power of chaos into retreat, slowly healing the lands of the Daziarn.[10] However, the rate of this retreat was accelerated as the forces of Evil had summoned the Chaos-master to Magnamund. He had been summoned to retrieve the lost Dagger of Vashna, but secondarily as a fallback plan to resurrect the Chaos-master in Magnamund, should they be unable to capture an ancestor of King Ulnar I to revive Vashna. The Chaos-master summoned the Dagger of Vashna (potentially giving it to Grand Master, depending on the actions of the player, who was watching the proceedings[3]), but was consumed by the Nengud-kor-Adez (possibly after fighting Grand Master) after Grand Master shattered the crystals that powered and kept the Shadow Gate stable.[11][12]
In the gamebooks[]
Beyond the Nightmare Gate[]
Grey Star encounters the Chaos-master in his realm here, although he is not fought. The Chaos-master lets Grey Star leave with Tanith, on the condition that a Jahksa of Grey Star follows him.
The Prisoners of Time[]
Lone Wolf encounters the Chaos-master in the Daziarn, during a battle on the Field of Meledor. Lone Wolf always wounds the Chaos-master before actual combat commences. Lone Wolf also always has a +8 CS weapon in this fight (either the Sommerswerd or the Ironheart Broadsword). If Lone Wolf engages with the Sommerswerd, the Chaos-master is only slightly wounded, but Lone Wolf gets to add +2 to his combat skill if he has completed the Lore Circle of the Spirit. The Chaos-master is immune to Mindblast, but not Psi-surge.
In the Collector's Edition, the Chaos-master's attributes were rebalanced from the original.
| Enemy | Original Edition | Collector's Edition | Section | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS | EP | CS | EP | |||
| Chaos-master (lightly wounded) | 47 | 68 | 44 | 62 | 341 | If Lone Wolf uses the Sommerswerd |
| Chaos-master (badly wounded) | 40 | 58 | 38 | 54 | 204 | If Lone Wolf uses the Ironheart Broadsword. This sword adds +8 to Lone Wolf's Combat Skill |
This fight with the Chaos-master is considered one of the most difficult in the entire series, especially if the reader uses the Sommerswerd.
Dead in the Deep[]
Grand Master hears about the plan of the Acolytes of Vashna: To resurrect Vashna, but if this plan cannot succeed, they will bring the Chaos-master to Magnamund instead. Then, depending on the actions of the player:
- If Grand Master arrives at the Shadow Gate before the Great Elders, the Chaos-master will try to tempt Grand Master into becoming a master of Chaos themselves on Magnamund. If accepted, Grand Master will indeed become immensely powerful, but their adventure as a warrior of Good will be over. If not, they will fight and slay the Chaos-master in his nascent form. The Dagger of Vashna will be summoned in his dying moments, and captured by the Great Elders.
- If Grand Master arrives at the Shadow Gate after the Great Elders, the Chaos-master will summon the Dagger of Vashna, but knowing the Great Elders do not require him, actively gives the Dagger to Grand Master. Grand Master then shatters the crystals powering the Shadow Gate and protecting it from the Nengud-kor-Adez, killing the Chaos-master. The Dagger of Vashna is later captured by Teakkro.
If the Chaos-master is fought, he has the following attributes:
- Combat Skill: 59
- Endurance: 56
The Chaos-master is immune to Mindblast, but not Kai-surge. If Grand Master is wearing Zhaaxa, any Endurance points lost are reduced by 2 (but cannot go below 2). The Chaos-master is also vulnerable to the effects of Illuminatus.
If Grand Master's Endurance falls to 12 points or below, the Chaos-master will again offer to make Grand Master the master of Chaos on Magnamund, which can be refused.
References[]
- ↑ Beyond the Nightmare Gate: §118
- ↑ Beyond the Nightmare Gate: §12
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Dead in the Deep: §280
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 The Prisoners of Time: §288
- ↑ Beyond the Nightmare Gate, §309
- ↑ The Prisoners of Time: §93
- ↑ The Prisoners of Time: §345
- ↑ The Prisoners of Time: The Story So Far...
- ↑ The Prisoners of Time: §302
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §15
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §331
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §115