Little is known of the life of Zacharias before he succumbed to the lure of the necromantic arts. He studied under the tutelage of Dieter Helsnicht and it is probably due to this great Necromancer's influence that, Zacharias was able to discover the location of the hidden tower of the Necrarch lord, Melkhior. His intentions were to sneak into the tower's crypt and steal away the Book of Nagash which Melkhior had acquired during his many years of unholy afterlife. As he crept into the tower grounds, Zacharias was caught by the minions of Melkhior. That night, rather than killing the over-inquisitive Necromancer, Melkhior gave him the Kiss of the Vampire and decided to take him on as a pupil.

At first Zacharias was horrified by his new vampiric form and swore revenge on the Necrach Lord. Over the following years, though, he began to embrace the power which Melkhior had bestowed upon him. Each night the two would rise and Melkhior would warn Zacharias that he grew bored of his company and that he would probably kill him before dawn. But Zacharias was a keen pupil and would constantly surprise Melkhior with his capacity to learn. Melkhior taught his acolyte everything he knew, but never let Zacharias near his precious Book of Nagash.

Melkhior would often fall into fits of insanity, killing his living servants and drinking their blood in a great feast of flesh. Zacharias was wise and always avoided his master's wrath. It was during one of these occasions that Zacharias boldly crept into Melkhior's chamber. There on a great plinth was the unholy tome. Unfortunately for Zacharias, Melkhior returned to his chamber whilst his pupil was still reading and a great fight ensued. Invigorated by the blood of his dead slaves, Melkhior was too powerful for Zacharias, who barely escaped with his life. Deeply wounded he fled into the Middle Mountains. For the following year Zacharias was pursued by the minions of Melkhior. From one cave refuge to the next he would flee, tired and severely emaciated from lack of blood; he would no sooner find a suitably secluded hiding place then his location would be discovered. Finally he stumbled into a large, dark cavern where he found a small niche deep inside, and there he fell into a sound slumber. Totally exhausted from the fight with Melkhior and the constant pursuit of Melkhior's dark servants, Zacharias' rest was to last for over a decade.

During this time a Black Dragon also discovered the cave. Unaware of the Undead abomination which slept within, she made her nest there, and, as do all Dragons, gathered a small mound of treasure around her. When Zacharias awoke, his thirst was great and the sleeping Dragon was a perfect source of nourishment. Finding soft exposed flesh on the Dragon's underside he bit deep into the slumbering monster. The blood of the great beast flowed through the veins of Zacharias, empowering him with untold strength. Such is the might of a Vampire that even a Dragon is unable to wake from its deathly bite. Over the following month Zacharias drank from the great beast, draining it clean of blood. Legends say that drinking the blood of a Dragon frees Vampires from their need for blood for the rest of their eternal life. If that is true, then who knows what other powers were bestowed upon Zacharias by the blood of the great wyrm. Using the dark necromantic powers he had learnt from Melkhior he raised the Dragon from death and flew on its back to Melkhior's hidden keep, where he fought a great battle with his master. It is said that so powerful were the magic forces unleashed that the tower was all but destroyed. When the dust and debris cleared Zacharias was the victor.

Of Melkhior no one knows of his fate; some say he was slain by Zacharias, who drank his blood to gain further powers. Others believe that Melkhior, is in hiding, licking his wounds whilst plotting revenge on his former pupil. Whatever Melkhior's fate, Zacharias claimed all of the magical wealth that his master had acquired and hoarded over his long rule of terror, including the powerful Book of Nagash. Zacharias now rules over the Forest of Shadows where both the Orcs of the mountains and the people of the forest live in equal fear of the vengeance of Zacharias the Everliving.

Zacharias can be taken as a Lord choice, but he and bis Dragon will use up three of your Hero choices as well. Taking Zacharias and his Dragon counts as taking a Lord and three Heroes. He must be fielded as presented here and no extra equipment or magic items can be bought for him.

Weapons: Staff of Kaphamon (hand weapon).

Armour: None.

Magic: Zacharias is a Level 4 Wizard (because of the effects of the Nehekahara Noble Blood power). He knows all six Necromantic spells (because of the combined effects of the Forbidden Lore power and the Book of Nagash).

Mount: Zacharias rides a mighty Zombie Dragon.

Bloodline Powers: Zacharias has all six powers from the Necrarch Bloodline, as well as the normal Necrarch ability of adding +1 to the total rolled for casting spells.

Book of Nagash: The nine Books of Nagash contain the ultimate secrets of Necromancy. The Book gives Zacharias one extra spell. In addition he can decide to cast Invocation of Nehek on a 15+ Casting Value. If cast successfully, the spell will raise 4D6 Skeletons or 4D6+4 Zombies, or heal 4 Wounds on an Undead model.

Staff of Kaphamon: This ancient artefact was found by the nomads of Araby under the sands of the Great Desert. Casts Dark Hand of Death once per bearer's Magic phase. Power Level 4.

Scrolls of Semhtep: The long formulas written in these arcane papyri trigger powerful counterspells. Zacharias carries an unlimited number of these scrolls (they count as Dispel Scrolls). He can use one of them in each of the opposing player's Magic phases.

Circlet of Rathek: The jewel in the centre of this unholy object has the power of invoking on the bearer the protection of the gods of lost Nehekhara. The circlet confers a 4+ Ward save to Zacharias.