Ahzrukhal

Ahzrukhal is the owner and proprietor of the Ninth Circle bar in Underworld .
==Background==
The shrewd and fashionably dressed Ahzrukhal operates the Ninth Circle, Underworld's primary watering hole, where he milks people for all they are worth. He sees life as a simple equation: the more misery his customers suffer, the more money he makes when they come to drown their sorrows.Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p.59: "Ahzruhkal:Although well-mannered and a natty dresser, Ahzrukhal (the proprietor of the Ninth Circle Bar) is sneaky and sleazy, and is adept at feeding peoples' misery. In Ahzrukhal's narrow view of the world, the more miserable you are, the more you drink, and the more you drink, the more money ends up in his pocket. He hates competition, and wishes he could rid himself of Carol and Greta." Coupled with the fact that Underworld is the only ghoul refuge in the Capital Wasteland, he makes a killing on his customers.The Lone Wanderer: "What can you tell me about Underworld?"Ahzrukhal: "It's the only place in the Capital Wasteland where my people can escape the misery of the world above. And that misery, well... it makes a man like me very happy. And very, very wealthy."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue) His friendly Uncle Ahzrukhal persona is crafted specifically to convince patrons to buy alcohol (and other stimulants) to get drunk, forget about their miserable existence for a while, then come back for more.The Lone Wanderer: "I need a drink."Ahzrukhal: "Let ol' Uncle Ahzrukhal help you get rid of the pain."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue)The Lone Wanderer: "Let me see the real goods."Ahzrukhal: "Ah, back for more... excellent."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue)Ahzrukhal: "Come human, come drown your sorrows."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue)Ahzrukhal: "Don't you look absolutely... miserable. Pull up a stool and lay down a few caps, tell Uncle Akzrukhal all about it..."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue)
While he enables his customers' drinking, he keeps his drugs reserved for a more discerning clientele.The Lone Wanderer: "Look at these people. They're Jetting. Trust me, I know."Ahzrukhal: "Ah, an educated consumer. My favorite kind. Yes... yes. I think I can help you. Simply step over here, my friend and I'll show you my stock of more... potent goods."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue) While alcohol abuse is accepted at Underworld, abusing harder drugs and especially dealing in them is not. Ahzrukhal would rather sacrifice a bit of money, than draw attention to himself as a drug dealer and get potentially lynched: with no formal law enforcement, the community takes a more direct approach to dealing with ne'er-do-wells, and Underworld has no shortage of ghouls taking it upon themselves to keep the community neat and orderly.The Lone Wanderer: "Why do you bother to hide what you sell?"Ahzrukhal: "While there is no law in Underworld, per se, I'd rather not end up at the receiving end of an angry lynch mob. There is no shortage of do-gooders around here and it would be just like them to take it upon themselves to interfere in a fair business transaction. Honestly. I have something to sell, and you want to buy it, now why is that anyone else's business? Hrm?"(Ahzrukhal's dialogue)The Lone Wanderer: "Then I guess I'll take my caps someplace else..."Ahzrukhal: "Oh, now now now, don't be hasty. I'm sure that we can work out a compromise. Here, step this way and let me show you what I have."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue) To Ahzrukhal, getting customers hooked on drugs is just a "fair business transaction" others should not interfere in.
Ahzrukhal in general keeps his figurative ear to the ground, staying updated on outside developments, especially in the Mall. Local changes in ownership are of special interest, as it opens potential opportunities for trade and income.The Lone Wanderer: "Is the Lincoln Memorial around here somewhere?"Ahzrukhal: "Yeah. Just east of here. Bunch of guys with guns are holed up there."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue)The Lone Wanderer: "Is the Lincoln Memorial around here somewhere?"Ahzrukhal: "Yeah. Just east of here. Some freed slaves just occupied it. We trade with them occasionally."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue) Bounties put out on ghouls are also of interest to him, even if they are posted far away from the ruined D.C. metropolitan area.Ahzrukhal: "Too bad about Crowley. I heard Tenpenny put out a contract on him."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue)
===Personality===
Everything boils down to caps with Ahzrukhal. Competitors like Greta exist to be eliminated and their customers taken over to maximize Ahzrukhal's profits (as a matter of principle).The Lone Wanderer: "Couldn't we work out some sort of deal?"Ahzrukhal: "I suppose we could do that, although you might not like the deal that I have to offer. You see, I don't like competition. Not at all. It goes against every principle that I have as a businessman. So, the fact that there is another source for booze in town troubles me. Greta, the waitress over at Carol's... I want you to kill her. I don't care how, just make it quiet. Do it, and you can have Charon's contract."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue) The only question is finding out how much a potential assassin would need to be paid.The Lone Wanderer: "About that deal we had: Greta is dead as promised."Ahzrukhal: "Yes. She is. And you have Charon's contact, per our bargain. Now get him out of here. With the new profit I'll make from Greta's customers, I'll be able to hire a replacement for Charon with plenty left over for myself. And you held up your end of the deal, my friend. And I am a man of his word. Charon's contract is yours. You are his new employer. Congratulations. I'll give you the pleasure of informing him yourself."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue) Even essential assets like Charon, his slave, are up for sale, depending on the money offered.The Lone Wanderer: "I'll give you 1,000 caps for it."Ahzrukhal: "I suppose that could work... yes. Yes... here's the contract. And I'll take my payment in full. I'll give you the pleasure of informing Charon yourself."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue)The Lone Wanderer: "I want to talk to you about Charon's contract."Ahzrukhal: "Oh? Would you, now? He is a highly valuable asset to me and to the Ninth Circle. What did you have in mind?"(Ahzrukhal's dialogue) The one positive side of his principles is that once an agreement is reached, Ahzrukhal will stick to the bargain, come hell or high water.The Lone Wanderer: "Couldn't we work out some sort of deal?"Ahzrukhal: "My friend, we already have a deal. You can have the contract when Greta is dead. It's very simple."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue)
Furthermore, he will generally respect his customers' privacy, out of simple concern for profits.The Lone Wanderer: "Does Crowley spend a lot of time in here? What's his angle?"Ahzrukhal: "If I start telling tales about my customers, I'll lose all of them."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue) However, he will yield under pressure, revealing that he is one of the most perspective ghouls in Underworld, seeing through Mister Crowley's ruse.The Lone Wanderer: "No one will ever know. Come on."Ahzrukhal: " Now, all of sudden he's looking for payback against Ghoul haters. Except, I've met Dukov. He never insulted a Ghoul in his life. Dukov's got the foulest mouth in the wasteland. He's a drunk and a womanizer, but he's no bigot. Go ask him yourself."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue)
He does not appreciate history or cultural artifacts. The only reason he might entertain the notion of purchasing a priceless pre-War item would be to boost his profits. For example, becoming the only owner of a Stradivarius violin in the world,The Lone Wanderer: "I have a very unique item for sale, a genuine Stradivarius violin."Ahzrukhal: "Do I look like I play in a fucking orchestra? Why should I care?"(Ahzrukhal's dialogue)The Lone Wanderer: "I just thought you might be interested... It's an artifact."Ahzrukhal: "Yeah? Wonderful. The corns on my feet from standing in this joint all day long are artifacts too. Why don't you stop wasting my time and buy something or get out of here."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue)The Lone Wanderer: "You'd be the only one in the entire world to have this..."Ahzrukhal: "One of a kind, huh? I like the sound of that. Okay, I'll give you 200 caps for it... and believe me, that's generous."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue) and keeping it on display would bring in additional customers.The Lone Wanderer: "Let's make it 300 caps and you have a deal."Ahzrukhal: "Well, it would bring more people in here if I had it on display I suppose. All right. You got it. 300 caps."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue) Otherwise, he considers a priceless violin to be just a hunk of wood and strings.The Lone Wanderer: "Sure, 200 caps sounds good."Ahzrukhal: "Here you go. This is the most I ever paid for a hunk of wood and strings, but what the hell."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue)
===Relationships===
Ahzrukhal is the owner of Charon. He balks at slavery and calls it an abomination, of course, but their relationship is neither voluntary, nor equitable: Ahzrukhal obtained Charon's contract through unspecified means, becoming his "employer." Due to Charon's conditioning, that means Ahzrukhal has absolute control. His orders range from watching the bar and keeping drunks in line, to hurting anything Ahzrukhal wants to be hurt. Ahzrukhal relishes his control over Charon, and especially the fact that his slave never complains about his lot.The Lone Wanderer: "Who's that guy in the corner?"Ahzrukhal: "That's Charon. Let's just say... well, he's a loyal employee. Don't mess with me, and he won't mess with you."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue)The Lone Wanderer: "So he's your slave?"Ahzrukhal: "No, he is not. /, you insult me. I do not believe in slavery. It is an abomination. I am a firm believer in personal choice. To force another person into bondage is unthinkable. Chains are earned, never forced. Charon made some choices that landed him in my employ. The matters of our contract is between him and I -- no one else."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue)The Lone Wanderer: "He doesn't say much, does he?"Ahzrukhal: "His company is rather refreshing, isn't it? But don't mistake his brevity for stupidity. That would be very unwise. Underestimating an opponent has been the last mistake of far too many individuals throughout history."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue)The Lone Wanderer: "He's a loyal employee? What do you mean?"Ahzrukhal: "I hold his contract, which makes me his employer. He will do what I ask when I ask, without question. You see, Charon grew up around a very interesting group of individuals. They... well, I guess you could say that they brainwashed him. He is absolutely loyal to whomever holds his contract. Unfailing, unflinching, until the day that employment ends. Don't get me wrong, I have no doubt that he holds no end of animosity towards me. But so long as he is my employee, he is as gentle as a teddy bear."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue)The Lone Wanderer: "What does he do for you?"Ahzrukhal: "Watches over the bar. Keeps the drunks in line. Pretty much, I point at something and Charon hurts it. He's the best thug a corrupt bartender could ever ask for. He never bothers me with his own annoying sense of morality."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue) He does not treat Charon as a laborer: whenever a fight breaks out and Charon intervenes, Ahzrukhal takes it upon himself to scrub the blood out of the floors, even though he hates it.Ahzrukhal: "I hate scrubbing blood out of the floors."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue) 
Ahzrukhal sees his fellow ghouls as a source of income (especially if they consistently come up with money, like Patchwork, or reliably purchase Jet, like Snowflake),Underworld terminal entries; Ahzrukhal's terminal with one exception: Greta, his competitor. While he would like nothing more than seeing the only other source of booze in Underworld dry up, he is reluctant to order Charon to murder her. The simple fact that he is his owner would cause the community to rightly blame Ahzrukhal and lynch him.The Lone Wanderer: "Why not just have Charon do it?"Ahzrukhal: "Loyal employee that he is, Charon would do it without question if I asked him to. However, the entire town would come down on me for it. Greta is quite popular around here. If Charon is the one who kills her, everyone will know that it was me who ordered Greta's death. I need Charon clearly visible and in public when Greta dies, so that I can fairly claim ignorance of the situation."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue) As such, he is willing to pay a significant amount of money for Greta's death, or even trade Charon's contract for it, believing it would open the path to further riches,The Lone Wanderer: "I want nothing to do with this."Ahzrukhal: "No stomach for hard work, eh? No matter. If you don't want to do the job, then come up with the cash. Otherwise, I'll just hang on to this contract."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue)The Lone Wanderer: "Sure. Greta is nothing to me. I'll do it."Ahzrukhal: "I'm glad to hear it. Come back to me when she's dead and Charon's contract is all yours. A word of advice: be subtle. Open gunplay will only get the town to turn on you, and I will not be able to help you."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue) and allow him to prey on Carol with impunity.Underworld terminal entries; Ahzrukhal's terminal, Notes on Carol 
Beyond Underworld, he knows Dukov well enough to realize that for all his rudeness and bluster, the man is not a ghoul-hater. Ahzrukhal cannot abide bigots... If they are not buying his wares.The Lone Wanderer: "Some culture would be good for you, Ghoul."Ahzrukhal: "One snap of my finger and I could fill you with enough holes to cut your weight in half. Testing my temper is not a good idea. Now buy something or get out of here."(Ahzrukhal's dialogue) 
==Interactions with the player character==
===Interactions overview===
===Vendor===
* As a bartender, Ahzrukhal initially only offers alcohol, but through dialogue options (no Speech check), it is possible to convince him to offer drugs like Buffout, Jet and Psycho.
* The player can also purchase Charon's contract from him for 1,000 caps or a favor. Obtaining Charon will result in Ahzrukal being gunned down by his former slave, eliminating the chems and alcohol vendor permanently.
===Quests===
* Agatha's Song: The player can sell the Soil Stradivarius to Ahzrukhal instead of returning it to Agatha. He does not appreciate the artifact as anything more than a bar ornament that might attract more clientele, and offers 200 caps or 300 caps with a Speech check.
* Hired Help: Ahzrukhal offers an alternative method of acquiring Charon by eliminating his competition.
===Other interactions===
* If the player attacks Ahzrukhal, yields, and then initiates dialogue with him, he will threaten to sic Charon on them. 
* Turning off the radio at the bar causes Ahzrukhal to shout at the Lone Wanderer and turn it back on.
==Inventory==
==Notes==
* He has a unique voice that no other male ghoul has. It is much more gravely and deep, and somewhat more refined both in accent and diction. He also makes wheezy gasping noises occasionally when pausing between sentences.
* He is one of only nine named characters in the base game to have "Very Evil" Karma.
* He has a blue-looking stubble, similar to Mister Crowley.
==Notable quotes==
==Appearances==
Ahzrukhal appears only .
==Bugs==
* His name is misspelled "Akzrukhal" or "Ahzurkhal" in some of his dialogue.
* The scripted showdown between Charon and Ahzrukhal after purchasing the former's contract can bug out, especially if the latter is asleep. If this happens, they will remain semi-frozen and impossible to interact with. Saving before talking to Charon and informing him of the change in employment and reloading is recommended.
* Killing Ahzrukhal will turn Underworld hostile, but will not register with Charon, who will speak about Ahzrukhal as if his owner was still alive.
==References==
Non-game 
Category:Fallout 3 ghoul characters
Category:Underworld characters
Category:Fallout 3 merchants
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