Huge desert empire located in northern Magnamund, taking up most of the eastern coastal area between Sommerlund/Durenor and Dessi. Ruled by a sultan/king known as the Zakhan, the empire is held in a state of constant fear by his dreaded security forces, the Sharnazim. It has one of the most powerful armies in Magnamund, and sometimes fights alongside the Darklords, who enter into secret pacts with the Zakhan or use magic to influence him.
Featured in a number of Lone Wolf books, it is the main setting for Lone Wolf 5: Shadow on the Sand, and for two of the Legends of Lone Wolf books (numbers 7 and 8). In Shadow on the Sand, Lone Wolf is sent as an ambassador to the realm, but treachery is afoot and he is attacked on arrival. Forced to escape the dungeons of the zakhan, Lone Wolf eventually discovers that the Book of the Magnakai - a Kai treasure containing the secrets of the higher Kai disciplines - is hidden in Vassagonia. After finding the book, he must battle the new Darklord leader, Haakon, to claim it.
Other aspects of the story include the winged Itikar, giant birds used by the Vassagonian army, and the complex sewer system beneath Barrakeesh.
The somewhat one-sided portrayal of Vassagonia given in this book is offset in the Legends novels, when good Vassagonian characters are incorporated into the story, and the zakhan is overthrown (though not, presumably, for good, since he appears in Lone Wolf book 9 which is set later).
In Lone Wolf Book 9, the forces of Vassagonia, which are also attacking Cloeasia, Casiorn and other territories, converge with the Darklord forces in besieging the city of Tahou in the realm of Anari. Lone Wolf must defeat the Zakhan Kimah in one-to-one combat at the end of the book.
The capital of Vassagonia is Barrakeesh. Other notable features include the Dry Main, a virtually impassable desert inhabited by nomad traders.
The culture and imagery of the Vassagonian Empire seems to be based loosely on the Arab world in the Middle Ages, although the centralised sultanate is more reminiscent of empires from a later period.
Featured in a number of Lone Wolf books, it is the main setting for Lone Wolf 5: Shadow on the Sand, and for two of the Legends of Lone Wolf books (numbers 7 and 8). In Shadow on the Sand, Lone Wolf is sent as an ambassador to the realm, but treachery is afoot and he is attacked on arrival. Forced to escape the dungeons of the zakhan, Lone Wolf eventually discovers that the Book of the Magnakai - a Kai treasure containing the secrets of the higher Kai disciplines - is hidden in Vassagonia. After finding the book, he must battle the new Darklord leader, Haakon, to claim it.
Other aspects of the story include the winged Itikar, giant birds used by the Vassagonian army, and the complex sewer system beneath Barrakeesh.
The somewhat one-sided portrayal of Vassagonia given in this book is offset in the Legends novels, when good Vassagonian characters are incorporated into the story, and the zakhan is overthrown (though not, presumably, for good, since he appears in Lone Wolf book 9 which is set later).
In Lone Wolf Book 9, the forces of Vassagonia, which are also attacking Cloeasia, Casiorn and other territories, converge with the Darklord forces in besieging the city of Tahou in the realm of Anari. Lone Wolf must defeat the Zakhan Kimah in one-to-one combat at the end of the book.
The capital of Vassagonia is Barrakeesh. Other notable features include the Dry Main, a virtually impassable desert inhabited by nomad traders.
The culture and imagery of the Vassagonian Empire seems to be based loosely on the Arab world in the Middle Ages, although the centralised sultanate is more reminiscent of empires from a later period.
Lone Wolf's arrival in Vassagonia was marred when he was attacked on arrival by the Sharnazim.
The army of Vassagonia is feared across Magnamund because of its Sharnazim shock-troops and the airborne Itikar riders.
The army of Vassagonia is feared across Magnamund because of its Sharnazim shock-troops and the airborne Itikar riders.
by Andy April 22, 2004
A powerful sword, the "sword of the sun", created by the people of Sommerlund with the help of the god Kai, and usable only by a Kai Warrior. (In fact, the warrior must have the Kai Discipline of Sixth Sense). It appears in the Lone Wolf books written by Joe Dever.
If anyone else attempts to use the sword, many of its special powers are lost.
It is a large, glowing golden sword which gives off constant light.
Special powers resulting from possession of the sword include a huge increase in Combat Skill, extra damage to Undead and ability to harm a number of evil creatures immune to normal weapons, including Helghast and (crucially) Darklords. It is sometimes described as the only weapon capable of slaying a Darklord, although in some battles in the books this is patently untrue (since in Lone Wolf 12, the Darklord Gnaag can be harmed by zenjet-dulaaga and other magic weapons). At the end of Lone Wolf 2 and the novel version (Legends of Lone Wolf 3, or 4 in America), Lone Wolf lets loose a burst of sunlight channelled through the Sommerswerd, instantly slaying the Darklord Zagarna and putting to flight the army besieging the Sommlending capital, Holmgard.
The light emitted by the sword proves a liability in Lone Wolf 12: The Masters of Darkness, when Lone Wolf must travel into the Darklands themselves and slay the Darklord leader (the third in succession!), Gnaag. The light would draw enemies to him, so he has to keep the sword sheathed until he meets Gnaag himself, in a special scabbard prepared by the Elder Magi.
Less well-documented is the fact that the final battle of Lone Wolf 8: The Cauldron of Terror becomes virtually unwinnable if Lone Wolf is equipped with the Sommerswerd, whereas it is quite winnable with any other well-equipped character. (Fortunately, Lone Wolf can already leave the sword in safe-keeping at the Monastery if a player foresees this eventuality).
Additional powers appearing only in the Legends series include the production of an imaginary being able to appear only to the Kai Lord wielding the sword, who channels the wisdom of the sword's makers directly to this individual.
The name means "sword of the sun" in the invented language Sommlending (which seems to be based on old English).
If anyone else attempts to use the sword, many of its special powers are lost.
It is a large, glowing golden sword which gives off constant light.
Special powers resulting from possession of the sword include a huge increase in Combat Skill, extra damage to Undead and ability to harm a number of evil creatures immune to normal weapons, including Helghast and (crucially) Darklords. It is sometimes described as the only weapon capable of slaying a Darklord, although in some battles in the books this is patently untrue (since in Lone Wolf 12, the Darklord Gnaag can be harmed by zenjet-dulaaga and other magic weapons). At the end of Lone Wolf 2 and the novel version (Legends of Lone Wolf 3, or 4 in America), Lone Wolf lets loose a burst of sunlight channelled through the Sommerswerd, instantly slaying the Darklord Zagarna and putting to flight the army besieging the Sommlending capital, Holmgard.
The light emitted by the sword proves a liability in Lone Wolf 12: The Masters of Darkness, when Lone Wolf must travel into the Darklands themselves and slay the Darklord leader (the third in succession!), Gnaag. The light would draw enemies to him, so he has to keep the sword sheathed until he meets Gnaag himself, in a special scabbard prepared by the Elder Magi.
Less well-documented is the fact that the final battle of Lone Wolf 8: The Cauldron of Terror becomes virtually unwinnable if Lone Wolf is equipped with the Sommerswerd, whereas it is quite winnable with any other well-equipped character. (Fortunately, Lone Wolf can already leave the sword in safe-keeping at the Monastery if a player foresees this eventuality).
Additional powers appearing only in the Legends series include the production of an imaginary being able to appear only to the Kai Lord wielding the sword, who channels the wisdom of the sword's makers directly to this individual.
The name means "sword of the sun" in the invented language Sommlending (which seems to be based on old English).
Lone Wolf used the Sommerswerd to cut a swathe through the ranks of the zombie pirates.
If you are using the Sommerswerd, double the damage received by this opponent.
Lone Wolf was sent on a mighty quest to retrieve the Sommerswerd in Sommerlund's time of need.
If you are using the Sommerswerd, double the damage received by this opponent.
Lone Wolf was sent on a mighty quest to retrieve the Sommerswerd in Sommerlund's time of need.
by Andy April 19, 2004
by andy February 12, 2005
by Andy December 15, 2003
by Andy January 05, 2003
by Andy May 13, 2005