Assail (novel)

Assail
Publisher	Bantam Press
Released	July 03, http://malazan.wikia.com/wiki/Assail_(novel)?action=edit2014
Pages	720 (Bantam hardcover)
ISBN	978-0-593-06448-1 (0-593-06448-8)
Preceded by	Blood and Bone

Publisher's summary

Tens of thousands of years of ice is melting, and the land of Assail, long a byword for menace and inaccessibility, is at last yielding its secrets. Tales of gold discovered in the region's north circulate in every waterfront dive and sailor's tavern and now countless adventurers and fortune-seekers have set sail in search of riches. All these adveturers have to guide them are legends and garbled tales of the dangers that lie in wait -- hostile coasts, fields of ice, impassable barriers and strange, terrifying creatures. But all accounts concur that the people of the north meet all trespassers with the sword. And beyond are rumoured to lurk Elder monsters out of history's very beginnings. Into this turmoil ventures the mercenary company, the Crimson Guard. Not drawn by contract, but by the promise of answers: answers to mysteries that Shimmer, second in command, wonders should even be sought. Arriving also, part of an uneasy alliance of Malazan fortune-hunters and Letherii soldiery, comes the bard Fisher kel Tath. And with him is a Tiste Andii who was found washed ashore and who cannot remember his past life, yet who commands far more power than he really should. Also venturing north is said to be a mighty champion, a man who once fought for the Malazans, the bearer of a sword that slays gods: Whiteblade.

And lastly, far to the south, a woman guards the shore awaiting both her allies and her enemies. Silverfox, newly incarnated Summoner of the undying army of the T'lan Imass, will do anything to stop the renewal of an ages-old crusade that could lay waste to the entire continent and beyond. Casting light on mysteries spanning the Malazan Empire, and offering a glimpse of the storied and epic history that shaped it, Assail is the final chapter in the epic story of the Empire of Malaz.

Dramatis Personae (as found in books)

click here for extended Dramatis Personae

The Lady's Luck

• Kyle, Given name, Kylarral-ten, of Bael lands, south of Assail
• Tulan Orbed, Master of the Lady's Luck
• Reuth, Ship's navigator, and Tulan's nephew
• Storval, First Mate
• Gren, Steersman

In the North

• Orman, Son of Orman Bregin
• Old Bear, A legendary man of the mountains
• Keth and Kasson, The Reddin brothers
• Gerrun, Also known as Shortshanks
• King Ronal, Also known as 'King Ronal the Bastard'
• Lotji Bain, Nephew of Jorgan Bain

Of the Iceblood Holdings

The Sayers

• Buri, Legendary elder of the clan
• Jaochim, Master of the clan
• Yrain, Mistress of the clan
• Vala, Sister to Yrain
• Jass, son of Vala
• Bernal Heavyhand, A clan retainer, or hearthguard

The Heels

• Cull Heel, Also known as Cull the Kind
• Yullveig, Wife of Cull, also known as Yullveig the Fierce
• Erta, Daughter of Cull and Yullveig
• Baran, Son of Cull and Yullveig

The Overland Raiders

• Marshal Teal, A Letherii aristocrat
• Enguf the Broad, A Genabackan pirate
• Malle of Gris, A Malazan aristocrat
• Holden of Cawn, A mage of Serc
• Alca of Cat, A mage of Telas

The Sea Raiders

The Sea Strike

• Burl Tardin, Captain
• Whellen, First Mate
• Gaff, Second Mate

The Silver Dawn

• Jute Hernan, Captain
• Ieleen, Navigator, wife of Jute
• Lurjen, Steersman
• Buen, First Mate
• Letita, Master of weapons
• Dulat, A sailor

The Resolute

• Tyvar Gendarian, Commander of the Blue Shields and Mortal Sword of Togg
• Haagen Vantall, Steward of the Blue Shields

The Ragstopper

• Cartheron Crust, Captain
• Orothos, First Mate

The Supplicant

• Timmel Orosenn, Also known as the Primogenitrix, ruler of the island of Umryg
• Velmar, Priest and servant to Lady Orosenn

The T'lan Imass

The Kerluhm

• Ut'el Anag, Bonecaster
• Lanas Tog

The Ifayle

• Tolb Bell'al, Bonecaster

The Kron

• Pran Chole, Bonecaster

The Crimson Guard

• K'azz D'Avore, Commander
• Shimmer, Second-in-command
• Blues, New captain of the Second Company
• Tarkhan, Captain of the Third Company
• Bars, Also known as 'Iron Bars', formerly of the Fourth Company
• Cowl, High Mage and Master Assassin
• Gwynn, A mage
• Petal, A mage
• Black the Elder
• Black the Lesser
• Sept
• Cole
• Amatt
• Lean
• Keel
• Turgal

The Crimson Guard Fourth Company

• Cal-Brinn, Captain and mage
• Jup Alat, Lieutenant
• Laurel
• Leena

Of Mael's Greetings

• Ghelath Keer, Master
• Havvin, Ship's pilot
• Levin, Apprentice pilot

Others

• Silverfox, The 'Summoner' created to end the T'lan Imass war
• Luthal Canar, Representative of the Canar trading house, of Lether
• Lyan, A female warrior from north Genabackis, a Shieldmaiden
• Dorrin, King in exile of Anklos, Lyan's ward
• Fisher kel Tath, A well-travelled bard
• Jethiss, A Tiste Andii castaway
• Kilava, Ancient living Bonecaster of the Imass
• Mist, A sorceress
• Anger and Wrath, Mist's sons
• The Sharrs, A mage family
• The Sheers, A mage family
• Giana Jalaz, A former lieutenant in the Malazan army

Notes and References

List of abbreviations • Paginations • How to reference an article