The Master of Chaos; the Cheater of deaths; Master of the Undead. A very powerful and evil wizard who, prior to the Great War against Chaos, allied himself with the Dark Elves. Following the Great War he and his warped Elven followers, fleeing from the victorious forces of good, were captured and slain by a huge band of wildmen who flayed and quartered the wizard and then watched as the vultures picked his bones clean. All that happened some three hundred years ago. He was resurrected at the end of the third century AC.

In 284 AC, Shanzikuul, having decided that the best way to maintain control over the masses was to steal the Staff of Rulership from the Grand Wizards in the Old World, despatched an Astral Slayer. This powerful demon managed to circumvent the Grand Wizards' protections and murdered the Great Wizard of Analand, before stealing the Staff. In 284 AC, the Conclave of Wizards of the Old World despatched a great hero to recover the Staff of Power stolen by Shanzikuul, since, as a warrior, it will be more easy to evade Shanzikuul than if a wizard. The hero succeeded, with the help of a Dark Elf called Naas, who also sought the Staff. Shanzikuul was defeated and the Staff returned to the Conclave. Shanzikuul was described as appearing as a slim young man swathed in silver and black robes. On his left hand he wore a strange ring of platinum with gems inset which is thought to have increased his skill in some areas.