Xzar Baldur's Gate 1
Xzar Location
Xzar is a Baldur's Gate companion in BioWare's cRPG of 1998, Baldur's Gate 1. Together with Montaron, Xzar is found on the first wilderness map: the Lion's Way east of Candlekeep (the same one Imoen is on).
Both Xzar and Monty want to go to Nashkel. Once we reach Nashkel and meet with Berrun Ghastkill, they stay in the party.
In BG2, Xzar and Monty are slain by the Harpers. See Jaheira BG2.
Xzar Dual-Class
Xzar is usually dual-classed to Cleric because Necromancers don't gain access to the Mirror Image spell, which is key to Mage survivability.
The problem with Xzar is that he is as weak as a kitten; not just because of that Constitution score of 10 (which gives him a max of just 8 HPs at second level!), but also because Illusion is the Opposition School of Necromancy, and so Xzar does not have access to the best defensive spell: second circle Mirror Image [1]. The other Illusion spells are: Blindness, Blur, Invisibility and Improved Invisibility.
[1] Specialist Mages may erroneously cast Opposition School spells from scrolls, but they may not scribe them to their spellbook in order to cast them conventionally, as per AD&D rules.
Note that Wisdom score, though: one point shy of meeting the dual-to-Cleric prerequisite of 17. From my Baldur's Gate retrospective:
By virtue of the Necromancer's Wisdom prerequisite (16), Xzar can be dual-classed to Cleric as early as Necromancer second level if you first acquire the Tome of Understanding found in Durlag's Tower, which when read bestows permanent Wisdom +1.
Of course, venturing into the tower portion of Durlag's Tower early on in the proceedings is no mean feat; however, veterans will have little trouble in making it happen in order to get the coveted Tome.
Necromancer 2nd (2,500 XP): Downtime is a very manageable 5,500 XP. Xzar will end up with three first circle arcane spell slots but, much more importantly, his Cleric circle spell slots cap out as follows for what becomes Necromancer (2) / Cleric (8): 5-5-4-2. Give him the other two Wisdom tomes for 6-5-4-4. The Ring of Holiness makes that 7-6-5-5.
Xzar now wears full plate, wields Ashideena on-hand, wields the Large Shield +2 in the off-hand, and casts Animate Dead from the divine range (5 castings per day), which keeps the necro flavor going. Nice. Note that Animate Dead is not an arcane spell in BG1.
Give him the Gauntlets of Ogre Power if you can spare them. Of course, Xzar cannot cast his arcane repertoire while armored, but it's a simple matter of removing the armor in order to cast Identify.
Anyway, while heavily armored, Xzar can still cast arcane spells from scrolls, and also fire from wands. Thus, his two arcane levels can be put to solid use.
In regard to raw divine spellcasting power, Xzar is on par with Branwen and slightly superior to Viconia. But those two can't cast arcane spells from scrolls or fire from the many powerful arcane wands that are itemized throughout the campaign.
Enjoy your new and improved Xzar: Necromancer General.
I guess the only downside is that you won't hear his highly amusing death cry all that much, anymore, due to the notable increase in survivability.
Perhaps as payment you would go with us to Nashkel. It is a troubled area and we mean to investigate some disturbing rumors surrounding the local mine. Some acquaintances are very concerned about the iron shortage. Specifically, where to lay blame in the matter. You would be useful, though I'll not hold you to it. We are to meet the mayor of the town, a man named Berrun Ghastkill, I believe.
Xzar Stats
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| I ate his liver with a nice Chianti and some fava beans. |
Xzar Biography
When asked about his past, XZAR has very few coherent things to say. His desire to determine the cause of the iron shortage seems benevolent enough, but his motives remain unclear. His ramblings seem disjointed, but his faculties are obviously in good enough order for him to be adept at magic. He mutters something about how he and his associate Montaron are in the employ of a powerful group, but when pressed for details he gets extremely agitated and does not speak for some time. He is obviously at least partially insane, and the network that would hire him must be dark indeed.
Harper / Zhentarim factional rivalry
The Harpers and Zhentarim are opposing factions in the Forgotten Realms.
Jaheira / Khalid vs. Xzar / Montaron. First, we have the verbal warnings:
Now, the dialogue-based warning signs (which are fully voiced) are truncated versions of the breaking-point dialogues screen-capped below. Basically, just the two or three lines, semi-randomly picked providing they have a logical flow. From my tests, Khalid & Xzar can boil over as can Jaheira & Xzar and Khalid & Montaron, but not Jaheira & Montaron (probably just an oversight).
• You are amusing, in a "what the hell is wrong with you" kind of way. - Jaheira.
• Oh speak no more, lest ye gorge my sweet tooth! - Xzar.
• I don't want to seem c-confrontational, but could you be a little less . . . well . . . evil? - Khalid.
• Ye live longer if ye don't annoy me. Mayhaps even a week or more. - Montaron.
So! It's Harpers and Zhentarim duking it out! Who will win? It could go either way!
We can encounter Xzar's Zhentarim superior, Niemain, on the second floor of Sorcerous Sundries, in the city of Baldur's Gate.
Usually the convo goes like this, causing Niemain and three other Zhentish mages to attack:
Usually the convo goes like this, causing Niemain and three other Zhentish mages to attack:
And, while there is a peaceful solution independent of companions:
... it's a nice touch that, with Xzar or Montaron in the party, the aggro is avoided based on their presence. First:
If we inquire:
Inquiring without Xzar but with Monty still in-tow:
Of course, it is possible to learn of Xzar and Monty's faction long before this encounter. The rivalry with the Harpers is one way. Charming Xzar, another:
Xzar quotes
- Montaron, you are so AGGRAVATING! 'Tis disturbing to my demeanor!
- Waaaa! Mommy I'm a scared!
- I am become death, destroyer of worlds!
- I'm starting to find this group almost ... palatable.
- Must we be so insufferably charitable?!
- I'll not tolerate any more of this benevolence!
- I can take this no longer. May you all die cold miserable deaths! Farewell!
- A wise choice for leader.
- I tire! I'll be MUCH MORE AGREEABLE with rest!
- Much as I enjoy these moments of repose, GET A MOVE ON IT!
- Mommy, I don't feel too good.
- The trees ... move. Do you not see it?!
- A cutthroat in every alley, but I'll not let them take us alive!
- I'm never quite so comfortable, as when I'm at least 6 feet under.
- I've never liked the sunlight. 'Tis just too ... bright.
- I wanted infravision like the elves, but 'tis more than just taking their eyes.
- Something troubling you?
- Your voice is ambrosia.
- Stop touching me!
- If I must!
- I could do no other.
- Hardly worth my time!
- Tell me 'bout the rabbits.
- Those the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad!
- I ate his liver with a nice Chianti and some fava beans.
- I'll teach yer grandmother to suck eggs!
- Tell us a story, Monty. Something with bears and gold.
- HaHAR there Montaron! Quite the fight, eh chum!
- C'mon Montaron, lighten up. Must you be so moody all the time?
- Why must you goad us into other peoples concerns? Can you not just let us mind our own enterprise?
- I begin to see your true nature, and 'tis as I expected. None are as insufferably righteous as Harpers!
- Oh speak no more, lest ye gorge my sweet tooth!
- I'll not be mocked, thou most slanderous harlot!
- Ahh yes, the chatter of friends and compatriots! Does it not warm the cockles?
- Could we cease the incessant noise?! 'Tis such a pain behind the eyes!
- Smiles everyone, smiles! This is like some great Fantasy!
- I know dragons with feet like rabbits! 'Tis true I swear!
- I suppose I should feel a sense of loss. How unfortunate I don't care.
- Montaron! I ... I never loved you.
- Remove (content): You...you're letting me go? But we have shared so much... so many good times... this is truly a sad day indeed. Goodbye, so sad, blah blah blah and all that rot. Come along Montaron. You are my counterpart and we shall not be separated.
- Remove (discontent): Indeed, it is quite about time that we should part company. You have proven unsympathetic to my interests, and I look forward to eventually owning a charming little ashtray made from your skull. Come, Montaron. We shall not be separated by this fool.
- Quest (reminder): I've no wish to strain our relationship, but you did promise to go to Nashkel. Our delay is making me rather... tense. I'm not nice when I'm tense.
- Quest (break): You said we would go to Nashkel! You did! I don't wanna be you friend no more! Wahhhhhh!
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