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Coll Jhamin [KŌL][1] or [CALL][2] was a noble of House Jhamin,[3] who lost his position and became a drunk.[4] He was one of the regulars at the Phoenix Inn in Darujhistan[5] where he was often found in the company of Rallick Nom, Murillio, Crokus, and Kruppe.[6] He sometimes served as an agent for the alchemist Baruk along with Kruppe and the other Inn regulars.[7]

Coll was described as having thinning hair,[8] broad shoulders, blunt features,[9] and light blue eyes.[10]

He had some martial training and at one time had men of the city's guard reporting to him.[11]

In Gardens of the Moon[]

Coll by Dejan Delic

Coll by Dejan Delic

Coll had once been a nobleman and member of the Noble Council. His downfall began when he had broken off his arranged marriage to instead marry the woman he loved, a prostitute named Aystal. As Coll's wife, Aystal changed her name to Lady Simtal and began an ambitious bid for power. With the aid of her highborn conquests, Simtal soon forced Coll from his estate, stripped him of his title and wealth, and had him officially listed as dead in the city's records.[12]

Coll's friends Rallick Nom and Murillio secretly sought to restore Coll to his former position. Rallick's attempt to assassinate Simtal went awry when Oponn interfered and caused Councilman Lim to die in her place.[13]

Before his friends could make another attempt, Coll, Murillio, Kruppe, and Crokus were sent by Baruk into the Gadrobi Hills to investigate the activity of the Malazan Adjunct Lorn.[14] The group stumbled upon Lorn, resulting in a skirmish in which Coll was wounded. The others left Coll behind to recover while they returned to the city to inform Baruk of their findings.[15]

Coll's campsite was soon discovered by Captain Ganoes Paran and the two became uneasy allies.[16] Paran's unnatural luck worked to Coll's benefit, as his wounds had become infected, and Paran brought him back to Darujhistan. Meanwhile Rallick discovered that Simtal's lover Turban Orr had contracted with the Assassins' Guild to end Coll's life.[17] Rallick ambushed the assassin at the city's gate, allowing Paran and Coll to safely enter. Once back at the Phoenix Inn, Paran arranged for Coll to be tended by the Bridgeburner healer Mallet, which saved his life.[18]

As events with larger ramifications took place, Murillio distracted Lady Simtal while Rallick Nom challenged Turban Orr to a duel over an assumed slight. Turban Orr was killed and this led to Coll sobering up and being restored to his rightful position.

In Memories of Ice[]

Once again a member of the Council, Coll joined Estraysian D'Arle to represent Darujhistan in the negotiations with the merged forces of Caladan Brood and Onearm's Host. He and Murillio were attached to the combined army for the march on Capustan against the Pannion Domin.[19] Feeling out of place amongst the soldiers, the two men found themselves tending the Mhybe who had seemingly been abandoned by her daughter, Silverfox.[20] The latter had been aging very rapidly by unknowingly taking the life force of her mother, leaving the Mhybe incredibly wizened and frail.

Murillio and Coll also spent their time gambling with the crew of the Trygalle Trade Guild[21] and holding long discussions about the paths of their lives. Coll still carried the burden of wasting nearly two years of his life as a miserable drunk. He revealed to his friend that shortly before she had destroyed his life, Simtal had informed him that she carried his child. Coll's subsequent prolonged state of drunkeness and supposed demise had prevented him from discovering if the claim was true. Murillio and Rallick Nom had kept tabs on Simtal during Coll's absence, but she disappeared from the public eye for several months while claiming to be in mourning. Murillio suspected a child had been born and sent away to be used as a bargaining chip later. Realising he was likely the father of a three year old child, Coll was determined to find it.[22]

The Mhybe's two caretakers grew to pity her and believed themselves the only ones to care for her welfare. After the Siege of Capustan was relieved by the allies, they decided it was time to act. Amidst the post-battle chaos, they purchased horses from the Mott Irregulars and brought the Mhybe's wagon into the city looking for someone who could help ease her final days.[23][24] Inside the city, they were attacked by the necromancer, Korbal Broach, looking for parts for his vile creations. Murillio was knocked unconscious and the two Daru were saved only by the appearance of the Knight of Death, a servant of Hood, who drove off Broach and brought them to Hood's temple.[25]

Coll stood guard at the temple's door where he discovered the spying Mask Councilor Rath'Shadowthrone. The two traded barbs until Coll grew weary of the priest and knocked him unconscious with a blow to the jaw.[26] Coll, his hand on his sword, also challenged K'rul when he later appeared. The Elder God assured Coll he meant no harm and explained that the living Mhybe was to be forever interred in Hood's temple while her spirit was sent to live as young woman in a sort of afterlife that existed within her dreams. Silverfox had bargained with Hood for the arrangement.[27]

Weeks after the war ended, Coll, Murillio, and Kruppe were back in Darujhistan. They were the only locals to attend the opening of K'rul's Bar, a new establishment opened by several retired Bridgeburners.[28]

In The Bonehunters[]

Cutter and Scillara made plans to journey to Darujhistan. Scillara teased the young thief, saying he could teach her the trade. Cutter demurred, saying it would be more advantageous for her to associate with a better kind of person, like Coll.[29] Cutter later reminisced of a fête at Coll's estate held just before he and Apsalar had left celebrating the withdrawal of Malazan interests.[30]

It was revealed that Ganoes Paran had buried Adjunct Lorn's Otataral sword by the back wall of Coll's estate before eventually retrieving it.[31]

In Toll the Hounds[]

During the Gedderone Fête, a severely wounded Murillio made his way to the Phoenix Inn after being stabbed in the chest by the drunken Prelick at the home of the wealthy Sepharla. Kruppe sent for Coll, who went to K'rul's Bar seeking the aid of Mallet's healing magic.[32] The Bridgeburners had just learned they were the targets of the Assassins' Guild and Coll repaid them by assisting Picker and Bluepearl in their search for the source of the Guild contract.[33] After the Bridgeburners were struck by a nearly overwhelming attack of the Assassins' Guild, Coll sent a local cutter to tend the survivors in Mallet's place.[34]

In the Council, Coll and Estraysian D'Arle recognised young and ambitious upstarts Gorlas Vidikas, Hanut Orr, and Shardan Lim as a rising threat. Although the trio was kept busy on every meaningless committee D'Arle and his fellow councillors could think of, their political aspirations saw them regularly tangle with Coll.[35] They saw Coll as a specific threat to their attempts to place Humble Measure on the Council.[36] Hanut Orr also challenged Coll outside the council chambers regarding policy toward the Malazan Embassy, but Coll was able to deflect charges of corruption (and the invitation to a duel) by invoking the possibility of official censure.[37]

Recognising Murillio's connection to the deaths of Turban Orr, Councilman Lim, and Lady Simtal, Gorlas Vidikas challenged him to a duel and killed him. Afterwards, Gorlas ordered the body sent to the Phoenix Inn to taunt Murillio's friends.[38] Coll was summoned and his half-mad grief turned to rage when he learned Gorlas was the killer. Kruppe threw cold water on his empty threats to ban dueling through the Council and the alcoholic sought solace in drink. But Kruppe made sure Coll's glass contained only spiced water. Coll bristled at Crokus' absence until Kruppe informed him the young man had left to avenge their friend. Kruppe had to convince the startled Coll and Rallick Nom that the man now known as Cutter was up to the task. Coll's further efforts to get drunk saw him curse out Kruppe and come to blows with Rallick Nom until Meese shamed the men into honouring Murillio by attending his interment. Murillio was placed in Coll's family crypt.[39]

In the evening, word of Gorlas' death reached Hanut Orr, who knew of Coll's ties to the Phoenix Inn. Determined to kill Coll and the lowborn conspirators who he suspected had also murdered his uncle, Turban Orr, Hanut assembled four of his most capable guards. Two were sent to watch Coll's estate while Hanut brought two others, Havet and Kust, with him to the Inn.[40] Hanut set Havet to watch the Phoenix Inn's front door while Kust went inside to make a show. Hanut positioned himself in the back alley intending to slay anyone attempting to flee. Coll quickly overpowered Kust, who valued his own life more than loyalty and divulged his master was nearby. While Meese watched over Kust, Coll grabbed an antique broadsword from behind the bar and went to confront Hanut. But he and Kruppe found only his corpse. The noble had crossed paths in the alley with the notorious killer Gaz, who had beaten him to death.[41]

In Orb Sceptre Throne[]

Coll was one of the Council members negotiating with the Seguleh.

Trivia[]

Coll was inspired by the character of Athos from Alexandre Dumas' novel The Three Musketeers.[42]

Notes and references[]

  1. An Evening With Steven Erikson - Nerdaí Irish Nerds - As pronounced by Steven Erikson at 18:29
  2. Discussing Inspiration and Imitation with Malazan Authors Esslemont and Erikson - A Critical Dragon - As pronounced by Ian C. Esslemont at 6:35
  3. Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 18, UK MMPB p.537
  4. Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 6, UK MMPB p.218
  5. Gardens of the Moon, Dramatis Personae, UK MMPB p.xiv
  6. Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 6, UK MMPB p.215-218
  7. Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 14, US HC p.317
  8. Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 6, UK MMPB p.216
  9. Memories of Ice, Chapter 5, US SFBC p.172
  10. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 1, US SFBC p.50
  11. Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 18, US HC p.377
  12. Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 13, US HC p.355-356
  13. Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 6, US HC p.155-156
  14. Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 14, US HC p.316-318
  15. Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 15, US HC p.338-340
  16. Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 16, US HC p.354
  17. Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 17, US HC p.363
  18. Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 18, US HC p.377-379/383-387
  19. Memories of Ice, Chapter 5, US SFBC 172-178/183
  20. Memories of Ice, Chapter 15, US SFBC p.498
  21. Memories of Ice, Chapter 18, US SFBC p.621
  22. Memories of Ice, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.799-800
  23. Memories of Ice, Chapter 19, US SFBC p.690-692
  24. Memories of Ice, Chapter 20, US SFBC p.732-735
  25. Memories of Ice, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.757-762
  26. Memories of Ice, Chapter 24, US SFBC p.861-863
  27. Memories of Ice, Chapter 25, US SFBC p.959-960
  28. Memories of Ice, Epilogue, US SFBC p.999-1000
  29. The Bonehunters, Chapter 16, US SFBC p.646
  30. The Bonehunters, Epilogue, US SFBC p.979
  31. The Bonehunters, Chapter 10, US SFBC p.435
  32. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 1, US SFBC p.46/49/50-51
  33. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 5, US SFBC p.157
  34. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 15, US SFBC p.586
  35. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.673
  36. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.248-249
  37. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.671-672
  38. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.697-703/710-713
  39. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 19, US SFBC p.792-794
  40. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.846-847
  41. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.861-865
  42. Discussing Inspiration and Imitation with Malazan Authors Esslemont and Erikson - A Critical Dragon - See 5:30
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