Zhelkas
| Zhelkas | |||||
 Zhelkas, from Ultima VII Part Two | |||||
| Species: | gargoyle | ||||
| Appearances | |||||
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Zhelkas (meaning "iron helm") is the ruling king of the gargoyle population located on Serpent Isle. He appears in Ultima VII Part Two.
Description[edit]
The Avatar met him at the eastern drawbridge of Furnace when trying to find the way back to the mainland. Zhelkas was mistrustful against humans, since the knights of Monitor were actively hunting them, but had been told by the Great Earth Serpent (although he didn't know that) to trust the Avatar and help. He went on telling that the knights only wanted to spill their blood and had no desire to let them live in peace.
Zhelkas went on to speak of the recent disasters that had befallen the Serpent Isle, of the dreams that came to the Gargoyles and spoke of the end of the world and how only one hero could stop it. All of his people had fallen into an unnatural sleep and only he had managed to again wake up by sheer force of will. He also told the Avatar of three powerful beings that threatened the land (the Banes of Chaos), which he had seen in his dreams.
Zhelkas wanted to believe the Avatar to be the promised hero, but first he wanted proof in form of a test before he would help. Allowing entrance, he directed the Avatar to the Test of Purity, while speaking of how the gargoyles had found the city. He also offered the Serpent Ring for passing the test.
The Avatar did manage to pass and Zhelkas kept his word, giving the ring and then triggered the western drawbridge, so that the Avatar could return to Monitor.
Lore[edit]
| “ | As I crossed into the main chamber of the building I saw a Daemon Sitting upon what could only be a throne. I assumed he, like the others, was lost in sleep and so I walked forward to examine his chair. When he opened his eyes to look at me, I nearly fainted from shock. I drew back and prepared to cast a spell, but the pain and weariness in his eyes stopped me. I could tell it was an effort to rouse himself enough to speak. He looked at me and inquired as to my business there . Not quite knowing how to address him, I introduced myself and explained I was seeking information of the Stranger.
At my mention of the Stranger, his eyes opened wide. His voice sounded tired and his manner of speaking was difficult to follow. He said that a great sickness had fallen upon his people. This sickness caused them to fall into a deep slumber from which they could be roused only with great difficulty. He said that as they slept, they dreamt. He knew this, for he had almost succumbed to the sickness himself. He fought it off now only by sheer strength of will and a desire to find a cure. – from Balancing the Scales (Ultima VII Part Two)
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Trivia[edit]
- Should the Avatar actually fail the test, then Zhelkas will demand the Everlasting Goblet to be delivered to him in order to prove that it was just a fluke and that the Avatar is the promised hero.
- His name has a basis in Russian. "Zhelelznaya kaska" means "iron helm" in Russian and the game designers used the bold parts to create his name.
- Should the Avatar ignore the serpent staff until Xenka reminds the hero about it, the Avatar can ask Zhelkas about it. The gargoyle will tell that he did own the staff, until it got stolen by the troll king, who thought it to be the key to destroy the gargoyles. Zhelkas can't get it back, since he has to watch over his helpless subjects.