View source for Dragonwilds:Zanik

{{External|rs|os}}
{{Infobox NPC
|title = Zanik
|release = 15 April 2025
|update = RuneScape: Dragonwilds is out!
|image = Zanik.png
|imagesize = 150
|race = Cave Goblin
|gender = Female
|location = * [[Dragonwilds:Temple Woods]]
* [[Dragonwilds:Bramblemead Valley]]
* [[Dragonwilds:Bleakfields Valley]]
* Under [[Dragonwilds:The Courtyard]]
}}
'''Zanik''' is a adventuring {{RSL|Dorgeshuun}} [[Dragonwilds:Goblin (race)|goblin]] from the mainland who traveled to [[Dragonwilds:Ashenfall]] along with [[Dragonwilds:Cathan]], [[Dragonwilds:Vannaka]], [[Dragonwilds:Doric]], and the [[Dragonwilds:Wise Old Man]]. She has a remarkable history as the first of her people to explore the surface world and interact with humans.

==Locations==
{{Map|Zanik}}

==History==
===History in Gielinor===
Zanik is an adventuring goblin of the Dorgeshuun tribe from the mainland of Gielinor. Like most of the Dorgeshuun, Zanik was isolated within the underground city of {{RSL|Dorgesh-Kaan}}, when they opened their doors to the surface, after an {{RSL|Player Character|adventurer}} managed to convince them, she was the first of her tribe to explore the surface world. Her exploration and {{RSL|Cave Goblin quest series|heroic deed}}s had led her to befriend the same adventurer who was her tour guide as well. 

Sometime during her time with dealing with an organisation known as {{RSL|Human Against Monsters|H.A.M}}, Zanik had come to learn that she was the {{RSL|Chosen Commander}} of [[Dragonwilds:Bandos]], the god of war. He had attempted to take control of her to force her into fulfilling a prophecy within his followers' belief, where she would lead the goblins and the rest of the bandosians to war with a promise of victory, but it was really an attempt to bypass the {{RSL|Edicts of Guthix}}. However, the same adventurer she had befriended helped her escape her fate and put a stop to Bandos before he could fulfill his prophecy without her. After these events, having been declared a hero by her people, she left the city and took up an adventuring career, making new friends and helping those in need.

After the death of [[Dragonwilds:Guthix]], and the start of the [[Dragonwilds:Sixth Age]], Zanik joined a group known as the {{RSL|The Godless|the Godless}}, as their emissary's speech had inspired her, although seeing flaws in their organisation. She was there to witness Bandos' death, aftering losing a battle against [[Dragonwilds:Armadyl]]. This is where she realized that her soul was connected to Bandos, where she is slowly dying as he was no longer alive. After protecting her people with her adventurer friend, who is now known as the '''World Guardian''', by the bandosians, who {{RSL|The Mighty Fall|blamed her and her tribe}} for Bandos' death, Zanik had passed away in {{RSL|Yu'biusk}}. She would be later assist the world guardian in stopping an crazed sorcerer from {{RSL|Nomad's Elegy|creating a abomination}} using the souls of the underworld. 

''In this event, the player in {{RSL|RuneScape}}'' ''(RS3) can decide if she should return to live her life again, or remain dead. Should they pick for her to live, she is allowed to return to the world of the living and would continue her adventuring career while protecting the {{RSL|Soul Obelisk}}''.

After some time, she was sent to represent the underworld in a {{RSL|Elder God Wars|alliance}} made to deal with the [[Dragonwilds:Elder Gods]] and became a digsite manager for the {{RSL|Archaeology Guild}}.

===Adventure in Ashenfall===
Sometime after the Elder Gods' threat, Zanik was visited by Cathan, who requested that she join an expedition to Ashenfall. She declined at first, but would change her mind after hearing of a lost tribe of goblins. Meeting with the other team members, they set sail from {{RSL|Port Sarim}}'s dock and headed north from the mainland. Zanik would be one of the few surviving members of the expedition team and assisted  the rest in exploring the [[Dragonwilds:Temple Woods]], where they uncovered the continent's own version of [[Dragonwilds:Rune Essence|rune essence]]. After helping repair the [[Dragonwilds:lodestone]] within the [[Dragonwilds:Temple of Saradomin]], Zanik would wait for new [[Dragonwilds:Player Character|adventurer(s)]] as well, to teach them how to [[Dragonwilds:Runecrafting|runecraft]] there and continue ahead to [[Dragonwilds:Brynmoor]].

She would explore the region, learning a bit about the goblins, and request the assistance of the new adventurer(s) in locating strange sources of power, where she connects them to her previous fate, when Bandos attempted to control them. She would then appear in Fellhollow, where she requests help in putting the unrest spirits there to rest.

==Quests==
* [[Dragonwilds:Rune Mysteries]]
* [[Dragonwilds:Goblin Diplomacy]]
* [[Dragonwilds:Even More Restless Ghosts]]

==Journal==
{{journal entry|
Few have lived a life as rich with adventure as the cave goblin Zanik. She was the first of her people to brave the sunlight, the first cave goblin to meet humans and the surface goblins, the first to learn about the gods and their influence on the world, and the first cave goblin to stand side by side with the World Guardian in defence of creation.

It cost her her life. Twice.

She was once the Chosen Commander of the war god [[Dragonwilds:Bandos]], who tried to use prophecy to put her under his thrall. She died; he resurrected her and then used magic to seize control. She resisted, fighting off his influence. Bandos's lingering affliction on her soul would claim her life after the War God's demise, but even death wouldn't stop her.

She became the emissary of the Underworld, resurrected once more by the god Icthlarin, and brought back to the surface to join the fight against the Elder Gods.

Now, she comes to [[Dragonwilds:Ashenfall]] in search of a lost and forgotten tribe. Hoping to stop history from repeating itself.
}}

==Dialogue==
{{hastranscript|npc|First Steps,Rune Mysteries,Goblin Diplomacy}}

==Concept art==
<gallery style="text-align:left">
File:Zanik - Concept art.png|Concept art for Zanik
</gallery>

==Trivia==
* Zanik's appearance in ''RuneScape: DragonWilds'' is heavily inspired by her ''{{RSL|RuneScape}}'' counterpart, with minor differences to her outfit and appearance.
** It was confirmed by [[Dragonwilds:Mod Raven]] that Zanik had undergone several appearance changes before sticking to her iconic look.{{CiteDiscord|author=Mod Raven|url=https://discord.com/channels/303835144073248770/436827573272576000/1394714059076796619|date=15 July 2025|quote=Some of the early character re-imaginings were interesting. Bi-icon Zanik with the classic bi-character hair was both strange and pretty cool.}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Goblin Diplomacy}}

[[Category:Goblins]]