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"I care nothing for pitiful little worlds, or the nations of pale grubs that writhe upon them. I am like unto a god, Malus. You could be, too. If you are worthy."
- —Tz'arkan, the Drinker of Worlds[9a]
Tz’arkan, the Drinker of Worlds, is an ancient daemon of Slaanesh, last seen during the First Chaos Incursion. A coven of Chaos Sorcerers imprisoned Tz'arkan in an attempt to harness its power for themselves, they would gain this power, but suffered horrible fates in their attempt to hide from Tz'arkan's wrath, who remained imprisoned in the Chaos Wastes.
Ages later, the prison was discovered and breached by the Druchii Malus Darkblade, who in his greed for Tz'arkans treasure, released the daemon, who then took hold over his soul. In order to regain it, Malus had to find the ancient relics that was used to bind Tz'arkan, and use them to release the Drinker of Worlds.
At the end of Deathmaster Snikch's Eye of the Vortex, Snikch kills Malus and Tz'arkan find a new host in Snikch.
Possession
Possession is the main campaign mechanic for the Hag Graef faction. It represents the struggle for mental and bodily control between Malus and Tz'arkan. It is measured quantitatively from -10 (Full Control) to +10 Full Possession). Tz'arkan's control increases by 1 every turn, and fulfilling each Whisper of Tz'arkan (see below) will increase it by 2. Using the Elixir provided by Malekith is the only way to decrease possession, with each use decreasing Tz'arkan's control by 10. Malus is under a time pressure to collect 5,000 Scrolls of Hekarti, as Malekith will demand a higher monetary price for each dose of the Elixir. The effects of the level of possession on campaign and Malus, his army, and his settlements are listed in the following table.
| Level | Effects |
|---|---|
| Full Control (-10) |
|
| Very Low Possession (-9 to -6) |
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| Low Possession (-5 to -1) |
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| Medium Possession (1 to 5) |
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| High Possession (6 to 9) |
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| Full Possession (10) |
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Elixir
- 1 - 600 gold
- 2 - 700 gold
Whispers of Tz'arkan
Template:See also
Bound as one, Tz'arkan's possessive power constantly saps at Malus' mind. Throughout the campaign, Tz'arkan will whisper mockeries and insults upon the player. besides that, he offers unique side quests with special rewards.
| Item name | Type | Description | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arleth Vann | Followers | The deadly Khainite Assassin Arleth Vann may look underfed, with the drawn look of a wolf, but he is probably the closest thing to a loyal companion that Malus possesses. |
|
| Amulet of Defiance | Item | Just like the Amulet of Vaurog, used by the Chaos Champion to survive his dual with Malus, this enchanted piece of makes the wielder almost invulnerable to wounding by a lesser weapon. |
|
| Balneth Bale | Followers | The Ruthless commander of the Black Ark of Naggor is also Malus' uncle on his mother's side. |
|
| Bruglir | Followers | Malus' eldest brother, a renowned captain and Corsair in his own right, is conducting an incestuous relasionship with his own sister, Yasmir. |
|
| Dagger of Souls | Item | Like the Dagger of Torxus, this blade is similar in that it can weaken and wound even the strongest of creatures in single combat. |
|
| Eldire | Followers | Despite being a Druchii of pure, noble blood - with all the vicious tendencies that entails - and a powerful Sorceress, Eldire still displays a strong maternal instinct towards her broken, possessed son. |
|
| Engvin | Followers | Engvin was the first Dark Elf to come into contact with Malus following his possession by Tz'arkan. Amazingly, he survived the experiance and escorted the possessed Darkblade back to Hag Graef. |
|
| Hauclir | Followers | For a Dark Elf, Hauclir is surprisingly relaxed and friendly, and as such has developed a genuine bond with Malus |
|
| Isilvar | Followers | Malus next eldest brother is Isilvar, whose unusually-fleshy countenance reveals, to those who know of such things, his secret devotion to Slaanesh... |
|
| Urial | Followers | Malus' half-brother may well be crippled, and as such should have been forsaken to die, but he remains a Chosen of Khaine and a priest of the Murder-God. |
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| Nagaira | Followers | Malus' sister is an immensely powerful Sorceress in league with the Chaos gods, whose goals and motives are perfectly aligned with those of the Ruinous Powers whom she serve. |
|
| Spirit of Lurhan | Followers | Though he will kill on the spot anyone who brings up the matter, Darkblade was in fact born a bastard - his father being Lurhan Fellblade, the fearsome, undefeated Vaulkhar of Hag Graef. |
|
| Spirit of Lhunara | Followers | Though she remains the nearest Malus has ever come to a true love, Lhunara died by his hand, and having pledged devotion to Chaos, was resurrected by the Ruinous Powers that she might take her revenge. |
|
| Yasmir | Followers | Malus' sister is one of the most beautiful women in Hag Graef. Though she herself keeps many lovers, she is – somewhat hypocritically – furiously jealous of them all. |
|
| Idol of Darkness | Item | Although not as powerful as the fabled Idol of Kolkuth, this lesser piece still gives the wielder control over the fabrics of time, though for a limited time only. |
|
| Octagonal Medallion | Item | This brass medallion, covered in runes, has the power to dampen the potency of the Winds of Magic. |
|
| The Warpsword of Blood | Item | This Lesser, but by no means less deadly, Warpsword hungers for the blood and yearns to gorge itself upon bested flesh. |
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| The Warpsword of Slaughter | Item | This dread blade, though lesser in power and stature than the Warpsword of Khaine, revels in the endless slaughter it unleashes upon the battlefield. |
|
| The Warpsword of Death | Item | This dread blade, though lesser in power and stature than the Warpsword of Khaine, revels in the endless slaughter it unleashes upon the battlefield. |
|
| Warp-Gem | Item | Just like Elgol's Warp-Gem, this lesser version gives the wielder limited control over the unpredictable Winds of Magic. |
|
Transformation
When Tz'arkan is in Full Possession, the Tz'arkan ability will allow him to take full control of Malus in combat. Upon activation, Malus (Tz'arkan) will replace Malus Darkblade on the field with full health, higher combat statistics, and alternative abilities (see below). However, his health will drain continuously until it reaches 0, and then he is Wounded. He can maintain his health by dealing damage and using abilities against enemy units.
Strategy
Note: Malus will retain his buffs at Full possession when he is controlled by the AI or confederated by another Dark Elf faction, with none of the debuffs. Thus, he becomes one of the most difficult legendary lords to fight against and also one of the best to have on your side.