TCG: Chapter Twenty Two - No Spoilers

[David Sven, Mortal Sword..Meow]

Chapter Twenty Two Discussion - no spoilers from the remaining chapters

[David Sven, Mortal Sword..Meow]

So the battle between Korabas and the rest of the Elient is on - a convergence that will bring the awakening of Tiam herself. Silchas and Tulas Shorn decide to side with the Otataral dragon. It's not that they don't think she needs to die - It's just that having the Elient with free reign is just as bad and they intend to thin out the flock - they expect to die themselves in the process.

Draconus kills Kilmandaros and Sechul. We see the Oponn twins show up to their father's death and decide to avenge Sechul by taking on Errastas.

We get a nice little conversation between Shadowthrone and Cotillion who are the masterminds of this current convergence. What did they hope to achieve? Were they truly concerned for the Crippled god? Or were they looking for a way to make their own place in the Pantheon more secure? Shadowthrone denies any altruism on his part but I like this little gem - a version of the liars paradox

Everything that’s followed – this whole insane scheme – it all began with our need to secure our place in the pantheon.’
‘Precisely.’
‘But then it all changed.’
‘Maybe for you,’ Shadowthrone muttered.
‘Liar.’
‘Shadows never lie.’
They were both silent for a moment, and then Shadowthrone tilted his head back and let loose a wild laugh. Fighting a smile, Cotillion looked away.

I'm inferring from this that Shadowthrone may have a heart after all - just a bit anyway.

Quick Ben and Kalam go Ninja and take out the pure. Kalam gets badly wounded but is healed by the Champion of the Wolves - the giant Toblakai possessed by an enkarel.

At the skirting wall, the assassin paused and glanced back. And nodded. ‘Always an even trade …’ Not that I can remember what I did to make him so happy.

We know what Kalam did if we remember back to HoC where Kalam stabbed an imprisoned demon possessed Toblakai at the bottom of a well - releasing the demon into the underground river, who then possessed an Enkarel who drank from the river, who was then stabbed and killed by Kalam, somehow sending the enkarel's soul back into the chained Toblakai - who was then subsequently recruited by the Wolves of Winter who promise the lonely Enkarel that it would be reunited with it's own kind in the beast hold. Bottom line - it feels it owes Kalam. WHO THINKS THIS STUFF UP!!!

Anyway, I like Paran's "Shaved knuckle in the hole" card

The first truly Malazan card for the Deck of Dragons. Artist, you did me proud. A single misshapen, vaguely polished object in the centre of a dark field.
‘Behold,’ Paran said under his breath, ‘the Shaved Knuckle in the Hole

And in that shaved knuckle Paran's been stowing some Moranth Munitions - when the sappers find out they are reduced to tears and ecstasy. They also find a way to steal the new "red bolt" munitions - give an inch and they take a mile. Anyway, the Shriven are blown to kingdom come and the Perish surrender, satisfied with the idea that a world without beasts will mean humans turning their blood lust on each other.

I also like the conversation that Silchas and Tulas have

What was Dragnipur, Tulas, if not a broken man’s attempt to save the woman he had lost? It failed – Abyss knows how it failed – but now, at last, Draconus has been freed – his own chains for ever cut away from him. Don’t you see? My brother ended Mother Dark’s vow of isolation – once again she faces her children. But why should it stop there? Tulas! My brother also freed Draconus.’

Silchas implies that Rake opened the way for Draconus to be reconciled to Mother Dark. I think we have enough information now to infer that Kharkanas' destruction and the war between the Tiste all came from a love triangle between Mother Dark, Osserc and Draconus. Draconus was Mother Dark's consort - but Osserc was to be her husband proper, uniting Dark and Light...maybe. I'm sure we'll get that story in the Kharkanas trilogy. As well as maybe answers to this question

‘Since we are about to die, Silchas, will you tell me what happened to the Throne of Shadow?’
Silchas Ruin smiled and shook his head. ‘Perhaps, if the throne so desires, it will one day tell you itself.’

If the Kharkanas Trilogy doesn't give up some answers I will not be happy.

[Lori]

Not much time now but had to say the sappers are hysterical! And crazy of course.

It seems Draconus, in his rage, sealed the Liosan behind the wall but we've seen Osserc outside it when he saves L'Oric, I wonder where he is.

[David Sven, Mortal Sword..Meow]

Hmmm...I think you're in the wrong chapter again.

[Lori]

I don't think so, we never see Osserc on the shore yet we know he's alive because way back when he saved L'Oric. And you were saying that the war occurred because of the love triangle between Osserc, Draconus and MD. So I'm thinking Draconus is the one who sealed Light behind the wall in his anger yet not Osserc. And Rake and Osserc have played their rife' game throughout the ages so I was wondering where's Osserc these days? Hiding in Liosan presumably not interested in the rest of his kin who just were wiped out?

I can't remember updates on him. I think if was involved in this triangle he'd be dead, killed by Draconus, so it wasn't him.

[David Sven, Mortal Sword..Meow]

Oh I see what your saying. Osserc isn't in Kurald Thyrllain at all. That's why they set up a guardian in his absence. I wonder if Rake got in Draconus' way of killing Osserc.

[Lori]

Looking forward to finding out In the next series, that's for sure. Still not sure it was Osserc in the triangle, but his father who we know nothing about. Rake and Osserc are both the Sons. They have a tense relationship that I'm also curious about!

[David Sven, Mortal Sword..Meow]

Lori (Hellian) wrote: "Still not sure it was Osserc in the triangle, but his father who we know nothing about. "

You are right. Osserc is Father Light's son

[Lee, High Priest of Shadow]

I thought it was Karsa who stabbed the demon in the bottom of the well. I thought Karsa and Dev was there and Karsa was pretty badly raked up.

[Damian]

Nope. Kalam, around the time he first met up with Sinn I believe.

[David Sven, Mortal Sword..Meow]

Lee wrote: "I thought it was Karsa who stabbed the demon in the bottom of the well. I thought Karsa and Dev was there and Karsa was pretty badly raked up."

That was another battle with a K'Chain

[Johny]

Why those two T'lan Imass wanted to fight with sister Calm? To protect Icarium? They knew they don't have a chance.



Correct me If I'm wrong, but Draconus, Kilmandaros and Sechul Lath are elder gods. So why is Draconus so powerful and they without a chance? Like Sister Calm to those two Imass.



Shadowthrone is really hillarious with his memories of his mother.



Being an otataral aspected dragon is apparently hard work and suffering.



So Korabas was created by ten thousands eleints and hundreds of elder gods who just throw every magic they had to one place? I thought some dragons just volunteered and became aspected, to warrens, otataral, etc.



QB really know how to kill FA with style. Make a hole under one, throw a burner to it.



David, you are really good, I didn't picked all that stuff about enkaral/toblakai even on second read, I didn't know why it owed to Kalam.



Watered ones and Perish officers are talking about some new hold here, in land of Akhrast Korvalain, what hold? We know it isn't hold of animals, so? Hold of ice? Or Che Malle?



Oh my gods, sappers are crying because Paran gives them permission to use munition! :D I reaaally love these scenes with sappers and their addiction to their job.

I just know that when a sapper steps on to the field of battle, they’d
be wise to call on every god they ever heard of.’
‘Amen and a spit in the eye t’that.’


‘We wanted them broken , sapper – not all dead!’
Stern scowled. ‘Sorry, Fist, but nobody told us that.’

Battle is awesome, sappers just kill almost whole Shriven army with their favorite toys and with one famous drum too.

[David Sven, Mortal Sword..Meow]

Johny wrote: "Draconus, Kilmandaros and Sechul Lath are elder gods. So why is Draconus so powerful and they without a chance?"

I'm guessing there are elder gods and then there are really badass elder gods

Johny wrote: "Watered ones and Perish officers are talking about some new hold here, in land of Akhrast Korvalain, what hold? We know it isn't hold of animals, so? Hold of ice? Or Che Malle?"

I'm guessing this may be the Hold of Death? Only because we know the Bridgeburners are about somewhere and also Death is a recent arrival on the continent - maybe


Johny wrote: "QB really know how to kill FA with style. Make a hole under one, throw a burner to it."

This is the same trick Quick Ben used to get away from Kallor in MOI ((minus the burner)

The High King’s flat, grey eyes fixed on Quick Ben. ‘You, wizard, are a hoarder of souls ... I am a man who releases souls – shall I break the chains within you? An easy thing, to leave you helpless.’
‘Even easier,’ Quick Ben replied, ‘to make a hole in the ground.’
Kallor dropped from sight, the earth gone from beneath him. Armour clattered, followed by a bellow of rage.

I like how even someone as badass as FA or Kallor still has to answer to gravity.

[Johny]

David Sven wrote: "This is the same trick Quick Ben used to get away from Kallor in MOI ((minus the burner)"

Yeah, but with burner, this is real style.

And with that gravity thing, FA maybe could be able to levitate, but QB has moment of surprise in these things.



David Sven wrote: "I'm guessing this may be the Hold of Death? Only because we know the Bridgeburners are about somewhere and also Death is a recent arrival on the continent - maybe"

Problem is, almost every hold has someone here. It could be any hold, Ice, Death, Fire, Che Malle, Starvald Demelain closing in..

And if you mean Hood when speaking of Death, he no longer belongs to that hold. But I assume it's me who don't understand you, not otherwise.

[Lori]

The Bridgeburners now are Death, not Hood, I think that's a good guess - I was also wondering about the new hold.

[Rob, Quick Ben]

I want a book/series focused on just QB and Kalam. They've been my favorite characters for the whole series.

And the notion that Kalam is the better of the two to 'negotiate' with the Parish was amusing. I can't wait for them to meet up with the bonehunters.

Also, look out when the bonehunters get some of those Monarath munitions again.

[Duffy]

I want a Primer on Jousting co-authored by Kruppe and Pust.

[Linette]

I think that was the funniest scene in the series, the showdown of Kruppe and Pust and their mules.

[Rob, Quick Ben]

It's really all been downhill since there..

[Sumant]

We get a nice little conversation between Shadowthrone and Cotillion who are the masterminds of this current convergence. What did they hope to achieve? Were they truly concerned for the Crippled god? Or were they looking for a way to make their own place in the Pantheon more secure? Shadowthrone denies any altruism on his part but I like this little gem - a version of the liars paradox

These guys are really smart, they have outwitted most powerful gods with brains than brawn.

Quick Ben and Kalam go Ninja and take out the pure. Kalam gets badly wounded but is healed by the Champion of the Wolves - the giant Toblakai possessed by an enkarel.

Didn't QB use kurald galain ?. Also loved the scenes involving these two guys they definitely make a formidable team.