The Malazan Fallen discussion

Spoilers up to chapter Nineteen are ok.
Please mark any other spoilers using the spoiler tags. (when in doubt, use them) .

So Rallick not only survived his fight, he seems to be perfectly healed despite all the blood he lost.

We find that WJ seems to be planning to weaken the city not for Malazan, but for Dudek to sweep in with his soon to be renegade army and take over in perpetration for a coming holy war.

so something definitely happened with Rallick after the powder touched him and he "ascended" up the stairs in chapter 17.
he goes to Murillio with bloody clothes and his scars already look a week-old. no dust on his face either, just a lot of dried blood.

Rob wrote: "So Rallick not only survived his fight, he seems to be perfectly healed despite all the blood he lost.

We find that WJ seems to be planning to weaken the city not for Malazan, but for Dudek to swe..."

You're absolutely spot-on, Rob, Whiskeyjack's discussion of the strategic situation with Kalam, Paran, and the other Bridgeburners was a great preview for (view spoiler)[the plot of Memories of Ice. (hide spoiler)]

Lorn mentions that her constant exposure to otataral helps her heal quickly, which also explains Rallick's healing.

☃❄ ~Thena~ ❄☃ wrote: "Lorn mentions that her constant exposure to otataral helps her heal quickly, which also explains Rallick's healing."

true! i hadn't made that direct link yet.
still wonder whether those otataral effect is going to be longlasting for Rallick or just a temporary thing

Hanne wrote: "☃❄ ~Thena~ ❄☃ wrote: "Lorn mentions that her constant exposure to otataral helps her heal quickly, which also explains Rallick's healing."

true! i hadn't made that direct link yet.
still wonder wh..."

*Nods* It's a good question, especially since he absorbed it through his skin as opposed to simply carrying an item made of it with him.

☃❄ ~Thena~ ❄☃ wrote: "*Nods* It's a good question, especially since he absorbed it through his skin as opposed to simply carrying an item made of it with him. ."

... and that came with a lot of warning signs...
i doubt the FDA would ever approve it :)

The last part of this chapter is very interesting. Apsalar talks about the gardens .... On the moon. It's kind of in a dreamlike way, she's wishing to visit them. Makes me wonder about the title of the book and I think it's the title of the book because it is a book of people's perceptions, people's wishes of how things are/should be. At least that's what I get. I never understood this being the title of the book before because it's such a small part.

Wow Seak, come to think of it, I think I noticed that upon reading and questioned the title myself but then moved along because it didn't seem significant as you say. SE's titles are well chosen and somewhat more apparent than this one but the first thing I think of is Moon's Spawn. Great question.

that is a really good find, now i might need to go back and read that part. i was thinking of it as a metaphor, like this being moon where things are 'growing', as in people living. and that's how i did make a link with the garden.

a lot of erikson's book title seem to be quite poetic (dust of dreams, midnight tides) so i wasn't looking for literal gardens. but a wish of sorry might do!

The more I think of it, the more I like it. We've already talked about how the gods meddle and Sorry is "possessed" for most of the book, and at the end she is liberated somewhat unscathed - I would think most who are possessed without retaining any self are basket cases if released at all, yet she is innocent. Seak, it's brilliant!

It's another reason I've always felt like Dancer had some heart.

Lori wrote: "It's another reason I've always felt like Dancer had some heart."

Spot-on, Lori, and in contrast to Ammanas/Shadowthrone, who is, in my opinion, a stark raving mad homicidal lunatic.

Hanne wrote: "a lot of erikson's book title seem to be quite poetic (dust of dreams, midnight tides) so i wasn't looking for literal gardens."

I just love the poetic style of his titles (although his style is overall wonderful). Languages are a beautiful thing, and it's so wonderful to read novels in which the written language makes a difference.

I also thought the underwater gardens Apsalar spoke of sounded wonderful. I had an absolutely stunning vision of what they looked like.

Love the opening poem. A reference to blood being spilled in Krull's temple - again.

"Maker of Paths, you
were never so thirsty
in youth ..."

So Krull didn't demand blood sacrifices of his worshippers in the past?


Is this the first mention of an official Thieves' guild?
Hood's Breath, the Thieves' Guild takes care of such things, that's why they get ten per cent of every job I do.

So that would probably make The Phoenix Inn guild HQ with Kruppe as guild leader?

It appears that Rallick's magic deadening powder has "taken"

'Anyway, get me a washcloth, so I can clean all this rust off.'
Murillio sat back on his haunches, clearly confused. 'What rust?'


I thought this was funny. Kruppe complaining about his talking too much

Kruppe mopped his brow with his limp, sodden handkerchief. 'Kruppe has uttered every single detail at least a thousand times, Master Baruk,' he complained. 'Will this ordeal never end? Look at yon window. A whole day in Kruppe's life has passed!'

Yet - instead of simply saying "Baruk I'm hungry"

'Master Baruk,' Kruppe tried again, 'may your loyal servant leave? He's not yet recovered from his horrific journey in the eastern wastelands. Simple fare, of roast mutton, potatoes, fried onions and carrots, mussels in garlic butter, dates, cheese, smoked slipper minnows and a carafe of wine,(sounds simple enough) now occupies Kruppe's mind to the exclusion of all else. Such as he has been reduced, his world contracting apace with his stomach—'

We can't have Kruppe's stomach contracting can we!


Another thing to note - Apsalar/Sorry can see clearly in the dark (or shadows)

What at first seemed to be impenetrable darkness slowly faded to grey, and Apsalar was surprised to find herself able to discern even the minutest details....
'Crokus,' she whispered, 'there's a story painted on this wall.'
Crokus snorted. 'Don't be ridiculous! You can't even see your hand in front of your face in here.'
I can't?

It appears her possession by Rope may have left her with some ability - I wonder if there will be abilities other than being able to see in the dark?


And Crokus sees something leaving Moon Spawn

Then his eyes widened. Five massive winged shapes seemed to sweep down the Moon's face, angling north-east.

Could this be Coll's reference in chapter 11?

'Who lives in there?' Crokus asked.
Coll tottered and threw both hands down on the table to steady himself. He thrust his red face at Crokus and bellowed, 'Five black dragons!'


Poor Serrat. She's can't catch a trick. Who keeps yanking her chain?

Good catch on the poem, yeah that went over my head the second time even! I think he was always into blood sacrifice it's just that there has been lots of blood lately. That other assassin was killed just a day or two earlier and now Ocelot. He was more of a monthly sacrifice kinda god. :) (oh man did I really just make a human sacrifices joke? That's terrible.)

Seak (Bryce L.) wrote: "He was more of a monthly sacrifice kinda god."

Ah, that makes sense. Never so thirsty. But still a little bit thirsty. He probably wouldn't have been happy if the vampire succeeded and stole what was his though. ;)

David Sven wrote: "Seak (Bryce L.) wrote: "He was more of a monthly sacrifice kinda god."

Ah, that makes sense. Never so thirsty. But still a little bit thirsty. He probably wouldn't have been happy if the vampire s..."

Haha! Yeah but maybe that makes Ocelot an Elder god? Okay I guess there's a point of extrapolation of Erikson's work that goes too far. :)