Quatach-Ichl

Has two appearances: a black skeleton, and apparently human.

"...a skeleton wreathed in sickly green light. Its bones were black with a strange metallic sheen, as if they were not bones at all, but rather a facsimile of a skeleton made out of some kind of black metal. Encased in gold-decorated armor, with a scepter held tightly in one of its skeletal hands and a crown full of purple gemstones, the creature looked like some long-dead king risen from the dead."^[3]

Described as "an older man in an expensive-looking suit", with skin "darker than was common" (in Cyoria) and "very proud posture, like someone who had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth". Quatach-Ichl claimed that "this is how I usually look", and the skeleton form is reserved "for battles and intimidation purposes".^[1]

The human appearance is an ectoplasmic shell around the skeleton^[1][4][5].

Quatatch-Ichl is a calm and logical being who refers to himself as a "cynical old bastard." His underlings see him as a "harsh but fair" leader. When faced with unknown factors (such as Zorian and Zach,) he is cautious, likely because very little is unknown to him. Because the time period he came from was so brutal and violent, he is willing to kill anyone who stands in his way, though this is usually not his first response to such a threat.

He's honorable almost to a fault and will keep any deals he makes unless he's betrayed or cheated first, though moral system is from a far more brutal era.

He has demonstrated great proficiency with a wide variety of magic, including soul magic, dimensional magic, and a wide variety of combat spells, with vast mana reserves (further expanded by the the crown he wears; he stated the increase it provides to him is tenfold^[1]). His mental defenses are described as "impeccably made" and it is stated that "his defenses probably once been truly flawless", but "a bit rusty" from disuse^[6]. Voice of Peace, from the Deep Blue aranean web, presumed that he would have strong defences^[7].

Easily able to defeat Kyron and Zach (in normal circumstances). His armour and crown can be damaged but his bones are extraordinarily magic resistant. Zorian banished him by tricking him into picking up a "coin" from Kael which triggered his soul magic defences, sending him back to his phylactery. Zorian and Zach were able to get the crown from him and banish him^[6] by thoroughly preparing the battlefield beforehand (including the above-mentioned "coins").

He kept the Ibasans on track by hunting down and killing anyone who tried to leave, and with his strong reputation as harsh but fair, a hero to the people.

He is able to singlehandedly hold off a great number of mages during the invasion of Cyoria if they manage to organize, or teleport around killing anyone who causes problems with powerful spells and haste. Xvim is able to disrupt his magic and Alanic can summon a golden fire that can penetrate his bones.

His crown is one of the five Keys Zorian and Zach are required to collect, in order to escape the alternate reality time loop they are stuck in.

Outside the time loop, he summoned a bunch of demons for the final battle^[8].

"Merenptah" is a name of a Egyptian pharaoh (nineteenth dynasty). The pharaoh's name is more commonly spelled "Merneptah". (The 'e' is inserted only for ease of pronunciation, and does not correspond to anything in the original Egyptian). "Ichl" is an anagram of "lich".