Forkrul Assail

Interpretation of a Forkrul Assail - Sculpture by Corporal Nobbs

The Forkrul Assail or Forkrul were a non-human, purportedly extinct mythical Elder Race. They used the Hold of Ahkrast Korvalain.

History

Interpretation of a Forkrul Assail by Shadaan

The Forkrul Assail were one of the founding races in the Malazan Book of the Fallen thought to have been created by the Azathanai Kilmandaros who was worshiped by them. They existed in isolation, interacting with other races through violent arbitration of conflicts, more accurately the annihilation of the involved parties.

Arguably, one of the greatest of their conflicts was with the K'Chain Che'Malle. During this conflict the Assail began to loose and turned on their own god, harnessing its power by wounding it. This resulted in the Forkrul destroying all bar one nest and Matron of the K'Chain. The final Matron opened a portal into chaos and blocked it from notice so that when the Assail used their god's power she could sacrifice herself to destroy the god, as it consumed both of their souls. What remained of the Assail god came down in the Glass Desert and lived on as mindless D'ivers with no chance of ever sembling again..

They also waged the "Just Wars" against the Tiste Liosan.

The Tiste Andii, Silchas Ruin once encountered Forkrul Assail. His refutation of the Forkrul concept of adjudication was absolute, to the point that he killed those he could find, the other Forkrul being killed by his Draconic kin. Silchas also revealed that the Forkrul people had once fashioned an alliance with the Jaghut.

Physiology

Forkrul Assail

Forkrul Assail by Corporal Nobbs

The Forkrul Assail were humanoid, although taller and thinner than humans. They possessed more joints in their limbs and hands, enabling them to bend their lower arms in all directions, a jointed sternum, large, solid black eyes and blue blood rather than red. Their skin was described as white as alabaster. It was said that their bodies were hinged as if they had two sets of hips and that whilst they could walk on two legs, they could also stand on four. They were physically far more robust than humans, and appeared to be virtually un-killable through conventional means, healing from cuts and blows extremely quickly. They also possessed incredible strength, speed and agility, and were able to successfully combat several powerful opponents such as Toblakai, Tiste Edur, and Kenryll'ah tyrants at once while sustaining only minor wounds. In addition, they had preternatural longevity, more so than most of the other races and could live for millennia without food or water.

Culture

Forkrul Assail seemed to lack a collective culture, existing primarily in isolation. Generally, the Assail only seemed to gather to pass judgement and arbitration when requested by other races, though this arbitration seemed to take the form of killing all involved in the conflict. Their only shown community was the Kolanse faction which had a fairly regimented hierarchical culture with the "Pures" (pure-bloods) at the top of the hierarchy, then with "Watered" (short for watered-down) next in level of authority and anyone lower down being essentially slaves.

In their own communities, names were irrelevant. But when dealing with lesser races they often adopted titles as names. Their names reflected their obsession with arbitration.

They used their voices to command their victims and communicated with each other telepathically.

Their architecture was formed by tunneling into stone forming underground buildings, which mimicked the pillars and windows of above-ground buildings. The continent referred to as Assail was said to be the most dangerous place on the planet.

Language

For a list of known Forkrul Assail words and phrases as well as translations please visit the Forkrul Assail Language page.

Interactions with the Malazan Empire

The Forkrul Assail had not interacted with the Malazan Empire until Tavore Paran and her Bonehunters decided to liberate the Crippled God.

In Gardens of the Moon

The Darujhistan historian Mammot informed his nephew Crokus Younghand that three races had struggled for dominion in the early days of the world. The first to bow out and disappear were the Forkrul Assail. The other races were the Jaghut and the T'lan Imass. Mammot also claimed the common term for the Forkrul Assail was "Krussail", although this term does not appear to have been used again in the books.

In House of Chains

In the first physical appearance of a Forkrul Assail in the books, Karsa Orlong and his companions, Bairoth Gild and Delum Thord, released the Assail named Calm who had been imprisoned beneath a large stone for thousands of years by Icarium and T'lan Imass. They concluded that the stone might be aspected to hold her down but detected no other signs of magic. Upon being freed, Calm briefly attacked them and inflicted a brain injury on Delum Thord which reduced him to a dog-like state. She did not attack further and left after having a brief exchange with Karsa and Bairoth.

The second appearance found an Assail, Serenity, released from enchanted bindings.

In Midnight Tides

Serenity was attacked by Fear, Trull, Rhulad Sengar, other Edur tribesmen, and two Kenryll'ah demons. Serenity killed Rhulad before being driven off by the two Kenryll'ah who followed excitedly.

In Reaper's Gale

Beak told a tale about Tiste Liosan and Forkrul Assail fighting against each other in what they called the Just Wars.

In Dust of Dreams

The race reappeared, chasing a column of children known as the Snake. The children referred to them as the "Quitters", which was a bastardisation of "inquisitors". They started out as a group of twelve: five women and seven men, but were whittled down to just four.

In The Crippled God

There was an all-out war between the Forkrul Assail and Malazan forces.

In Assail

The Forkrul Assail community in the Salt Mountains of Assail was disturbed by the conflict between the Jaghut matriarch and the T'lan Imass. Two Assail, Arbiter and Penance, met with Silverfox, Kilava Onass, Pran Chole, Orman, Kyle, Fisher kel Tath, and Jethiss to forge a new peace of the founding races. Additionally, they were intrigued by Kyle's amber amulet given to him by Ereko, the Thel Akai. Afterwards, Jethiss requested they give him a weapon worthy of the Andii. Their answer was the Blade of Bone, constructed from Jethiss' own arm.

In Forge of Darkness

The Forkrul Assail at the time of the events in Forge of Darkness, were a race called the Forulkan. Their priests were called Assail. It was also revealed that they had invaded the tiste realm and fought the Tiste. They were defeated but the war created the present civil unrest at the beginning of Forge of Darkness.

Known Forkrul Assail

• Brother Abide
• Brother Aloft
• Arbiter
• Sister Belie
• Brayderal
• Sister Calm
• Brother Diligence
• Sister Equity
• Sister Freedom
• Brother Grave
• Penance
• Placid
• Repose
• Sister Reverence
• Brother Serenity

Lawful Inquisitors

• Inquisitor Sever
• Brother Adroit
• Brother Beleague
• Sister Rail
• Sister Scorn

Trivia

A Forkrul Assail body was found in Tremorlor, the Azath House in the Holy Desert Raraku.

Speculation

There is speculation that the conflict with the K'Chain Che'Malle and the opening of a portal into chaos by the final matron may potentially have been the cause of The Rent.

Notes and references

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