Malazan Wiki
Register
Malazan Wiki
No edit summary
Tag: sourceedit
(Infobox)
(38 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
  +
{{Quote|It never gets any easier.|Iron Bars|RCG/4}}
'''Iron Bars''' was an [[Avowed]] in the [[Second Blade]], [[Fourth Company]] of the [[Crimson Guard]].
 
  +
{{Infobox character
  +
|name=Iron Bars
  +
|image=[[File:Iron Bars by Dejan Delic.jpg]]
  +
|caption=[[:File:Iron Bars by Dejan Delic.jpg|Iron Bars]] by [https://www.deviantart.com/dejan-delic/art/Malazan-Dramatis-Personae-Pt-2-819959704 Dejan Delic]
  +
|pseudonyms=Bars
  +
|race=[[Human]]
  +
|gender=Male
  +
|born=
  +
|died=
  +
|appearance=
  +
|family=
  +
|affiliation=[[Crimson Guard]]
  +
|occupation=Mercenary
  +
|rank=
  +
|titles=[[Avowed]]
  +
|warren=
  +
|soletaken=
  +
|divers=
  +
}}
  +
  +
'''Iron Bars''', or just '''Bars''',<ref>[[Assail (novel)]], Dramatis Personae</ref> was the [[Avowed]] leader of the [[Second Blade]], [[Fourth Company]] of the [[Crimson Guard]] serving under [[Cal-Brinn]]. He was described as "a burly, scarred fellow" and obvious veteran.<ref>[[Return of the Crimson Guard]], [[RCG/4|Book 1 Chapter 4]], UK PB p.154</ref> He had a seamed, clean-shaven face, cool, blue eyes, and a broad smile with even, white teeth.<ref name=":1" /> His shoulder-length hair was the hue of polished iron.<ref name=":1">[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/16|Chapter 16]], US SFBC p.495-496</ref> As part of the guard, he wore a blood-red surcoat over his armour.<ref>[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/16|Chapter 16]], US SFBC p.501</ref>
  +
  +
Iron Bars was good friends with fellow Guardsman, [[Jup Alat]].<ref>[[Return of the Crimson Guard]], [[RCG/6|Book 2 Chapter 1]], UK PB p.265</ref> He was said to be nearly as good a fighter as [[Skinner]], but no one could match his sheer will.<ref>[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/25|Chapter 25]], US SFBC p.738</ref> He fought with a combination of weaponry and bare hands. He was abnormally strong, capable of breaking necks with just a strike from his palms or fingers.<ref>[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/16|Chapter 16]], US SFBC p.501-502/504</ref>
  +
  +
He had a reputation for making bad enemies.<ref>[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/19|Chapter 19]], US SFBC p.583</ref> Among his soldiers, he was always the first to wake up and make breakfast for the others.<ref>[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/21|Chapter 21]], US SFBC p.627</ref> He was likely originally from the province of [[Gris]] as he claimed to have a great-granddaughter still living there in the [[D'Avore]] Valley.<ref>[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/19|Chapter 19]], US SFBC p.577</ref>
   
 
== In ''[[Midnight Tides]]'' ==
 
== In ''[[Midnight Tides]]'' ==
[[File:Iron bars by dejan delic.jpg|thumb|260px|Interpretation of Iron Bars by [http://dejan-delic.deviantart.com/art/Iron-Bars-581016146 Dejan Delic] ]]
+
[[File:Iron bars by dejan delic.jpg|thumb|250px|Iron Bars vs. the Tiste Edur by [http://dejan-delic.deviantart.com/art/Iron-Bars-581016146 Dejan Delic] ]]
After fighting their way out of [[Assail]], Iron Bars and his squad were for some time stranded on the continent of [[Lether]] after their sieve of a ship sank. After seven months, Bars and his men were heavily indebted. While trying to find passage on a ship in [[Letheras]], the city was attacked by the [[Tiste Edur]]. Iron Bars killed [[Rhulad Sengar]] making him even stronger. He also slew the [[The Pack|god of the Soletaken Jheck]] and the [[Seregahl|gods of the Toblakai]], with help from [[Silchas Ruin]] and [[Ublala Pung]]. He left the continent with [[Shurq Elalle]] and her crew.
+
Iron Bars and his squad fought their way out of [[Assail]] and became separated from the rest of Cal-Brinn's company. They were stranded for two years on the continent of [[Lether]] after their sieve of a ship landed at a [[Letherii]] port and began incurring debt. After seven months, Bars and his men were heavily indebted, doing ugly work and living off scraps in [[Trate]]. They found work aboard a ship in [[Letheras]] through an agent and intended to commandeer it and go home once they got to sea.<ref name=":5">[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/16|Chapter 16]], US SFBC p.495-496/503</ref>
  +
  +
Before they left Trate for Letheras, war broke out between the Letherii and the [[Tiste Edur]]. Iron Bars met [[Acquitor]] [[Seren Pedac]] drowning her sorrows in a bar and offered her a place on their ship. He warned that the Letherii were in serious trouble despite their confidence. Seren Pedac turned down his offer, and Iron Bars advised her to leave the city as soon as possible.<ref name=":5" /> His words proved prophetic as the Edur soon entered the city. Iron Bars returned once more for Seren only to find she had been raped and robbed. He killed her attackers and escorted her to safety. Along the way, they were stopped by an Edur wearing strange armour. After a clash of swords, Iron Bars broke the man's neck with punch to head without realising he had killed [[Rhulad Sengar]], emperor of the Tiste Edur.<ref>[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/16|Chapter 16]], US SFBC p.500-505</ref>
  +
  +
[[File:Rhulad vs Iron Bars by Shadaan.PNG|left|thumb|Rhulad vs. Iron Bars by [http://shadaan.deviantart.com/ Shadaan] ]]
  +
Crimson Guard [[mage]], [[Corlo]], took them from the city by [[warren]].<ref>[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/16|Chapter 16]], US SFBC p.493-496/500-505</ref> The group found themselves trapped in [[Kurald Galain]] surrounded by [[Shadow wraith]]s until Seren suggested bargaining with one for aid. The wraith, named [[Sandalath Drukorlat]], showed them the exit in return for delivering her soul to oblivion. Once free, Seren broke down sobbing nearly overcome by the emotions of her attack. Iron Bars respectfully cast the wraith's ring into the sea, then did his best to comfort the Acquitor.<ref>[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/16|Chapter 16]], US SFBC p.508-512/515-516</ref>
  +
  +
The Acquitor guided the Guardsmen overland towards the capital amid a countryside awash in refugees, looters, and deserters. The Guard commandeered horses from a looted and burning stable whose owners had been slaughtered. Iron Bars and the Guard tracked the raiders to their camp and killed them.<ref>[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/19|Chapter 19]], US SFBC p.577-578/587-591</ref> He continued to worry about Seren Pedac as she dealt with her feelings of grief, shame, and guilt. He was ever ready to comfort her in his arms and hovered worriedly nearby as Corlo guided her through a [[Mockra]] ritual to release her emotions.<ref>[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/21|Chapter 21]], US SFBC p.624-625</ref>
  +
  +
The group reached Letheras just ahead of the Edur army and Iron Bars insisted on bringing Seren to her home. He doubted the wisdom of her staying in the house alone while the city fell and promised to return later.<ref>[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/22|Chapter 22]], US SFBC p.654/664-666</ref> By the time Emperor Rhulad's troops entered the city, the Guard had reached the ship of their new employer, [[Shurq Elalle]]. [[Bugg]] found them there and recruited them to slay [[The Pack]], the [[D'ivers]] god of the [[Jheck]]. Iron Bars agreed, saying they had crossed paths with [[Soletaken]] before.<ref>[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/24|Chapter 24]], US SFBC p.697</ref>
  +
  +
[[File:Iron Bars vs Seregahl by Shadaan.PNG|thumb|Iron Bars vs the Seregahl by [http://shadaan.deviantart.com/ Shadaan] ]]
  +
Bugg took them to the [[Fulcra]] temple where the Pack hid and the [[Errant]] awaited. Iron Bars greeted the god with a "pleased-to-meet-you-see-you-later" as the his blade stormed the temple. In a short while, the six [[Lizard cat]]s that formed the Pack were dead along with one of Iron Bars's soldiers. They exited the temple just in time to see an enormous wolf lunge towards the Errant. Bars intervened and caught the beast by its neck and leg, then smashed it into the street to crush its skull. An astonished Errant noted that the wolf had been [[B'nagga]], leader of the [[Jheck]].<ref>[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/24|Chapter 24]], US SFBC p.701-702/707-708</ref>
  +
  +
Still ready for a fight, Iron Bars accepted Bugg's request to help with another problem at the city's [[Azath Tower]]. While the Errant cleared the other Guard's way back to their ship, the Avowed followed Bugg alone.<ref>[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/24|Chapter 24]], US SFBC p.708</ref> He arrived at the dead [[Azath House]] just as the five [[Seregahl]] broke free from their barrows. With a smile, Iron Bars attacked saying he had already killed one god that day. Initially, he fought the five gods alone, but soon Corlo arrived to use his magic to help cloud the gods' minds. Iron Bars killed one of the Seregahl before he was joined by the half-[[Tarthenal]], [[Ublala Pung]]. But even together they would have fallen but for the arrival of [[Silchas Ruin]]. The [[Tiste Andii]] slew the remaining Seregahl and told Iron Bars he had done "passably well".<ref>[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/25|Chapter 25]], US SFBC p.716-718/726-729/737-739</ref>
  +
  +
Iron Bars survived the fight with a broken arm. He and the rest of the Guard left the conquered city with Shurq Elalle and her crew.<ref>[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/25|Chapter 25]], US SFBC p.728/766</ref>
   
 
== In ''[[Reaper's Gale]]'' ==
 
== In ''[[Reaper's Gale]]'' ==
Shurq Elalle revealed that she had dropped off Bars and his men on the continent of [[Jacuruku]]. The last she'd seen of Iron Bars and his soldiers was when they were turning inland to face a dozen massively armoured figures descending the broken slope, great-helmed with visors lowered.
+
Shurq Elalle revealed that she had dropped off Bars and his men on the continent of [[Jacuruku]]. The last she'd seen of Iron Bars and his soldiers was when they were turning inland to face a dozen massively armoured figures descending the broken slope, great-helmed with visors lowered.<ref>[[Reaper's Gale]], [[RG/3|Chapter 3]]</ref>
   
 
== In ''[[Return of the Crimson Guard]]'' ==
 
== In ''[[Return of the Crimson Guard]]'' ==
  +
[[File:Iron Bars vs Seguleh by Shadaan.PNG|thumb|195x195px|Iron Bars challenging a Seguleh by [https://shadaan.deviantart.com/ Shadaan]]]
The slave galley, ''[[Ardent]]'', found Bars and ten of his soldiers on a sodden raft on the Southern [[Rust Ocean]]. He killed the ship's captain and seven of his guards and later ordered the crew to make for the Cape of [[Stratem]].<ref>[[Return of the Crimson Guard]], [[RCG/4|Book I Chapter IV]], UK PB p.153-156</ref>
+
The slave galley, ''[[Ardent]]'', found Bars and ten of his soldiers on a sodden raft on the Southern [[Rust Ocean]]. He killed the ship's [[Hesalt|captain]] and seven of his guards with his bare hands, taking a crossbow bolt to the chest in the process, before ordering the crew to make for the Cape of [[Stratem]].<ref>[[Return of the Crimson Guard]], [[RCG/4|Book 1 Chapter 4]], UK PB p.153-156</ref>
   
However, their ship was becalmed and later boarded by [[Seguleh]]. He challenged the Seguleh speaker so that their supplies would not be taken. He defeated this Seguleh, revealed to be a female youth named [[Leal (Seguleh)|Leal]], earning a place among the [[Agatii]]. He also declined a challenge from another Seguleh, who was identified as ranking in the top twenty.<ref>[[Return of the Crimson Guard]], [[RCG/6|Book II Chapter I]], UK PB p.260-268</ref>
+
However, their ship was becalmed and later boarded by [[Seguleh]]. Bars challenged the Seguleh speaker so that their supplies and men would not be taken. He barely defeated this Seguleh, revealed to be a female youth named [[Leal (Seguleh)|Leal]], earning a place among the [[Agatii]]. Bleeding from a severe neck injury, he declined a challenge from another Seguleh, [[Oru]], who was identified as ranking in the top twenty. Oru notified Bars that he was now Bars' ''Yovenai'', a word that roughly translated to patron, commander, and teacher.<ref>[[Return of the Crimson Guard]], [[RCG/6|Book 2 Chapter 1]], UK PB p.260-268</ref>
  +
  +
When word reached Iron Bars via the [[Brethren]] that he had missed the Guard's climactic showdown with the [[Malazans]] at the [[Battle of the Plains]], he became listless and withdrawn. All that he had endured since leaving Assail had been for nothing. He also blamed himself for the deaths of the friends he had not been able to fight beside.<ref>[[Return of the Crimson Guard]], [[RCG/E|Epilogue]], UK PB p.696-698</ref> Before they could reach Stratem however, their vessel was sunk by a [[Mare]] ship and they were sold to the [[Stormguard]] for service on the [[Stormwall]].<ref>[[Return of the Crimson Guard]], [[RCG/E|Epilogue]], UK PB p.696-698</ref>
   
 
== In ''[[Stonewielder]]'' ==
 
== In ''[[Stonewielder]]'' ==
  +
[[File:Iron bars by shadaan.jpg|thumb|240x240px|Iron Bars at the Stormwall by [http://shadaan.deviantart.com/art/IRON-BARS-685235840 Shadaan]]]
After their encounter with the Seguleh, Iron Bars' ship was captured and he and his crew were sold as slaves to defend the [[Stormwall]]. While on the wall, he rose to the rank of Champion.
 
  +
[[File:Iron Bars by PLUGO.jpg|thumb|140px|Iron Bars by [http://plugoarts.com/blog/ PLUGO]]]
  +
Iron Bars' martial skill and seeming immortality impressed his new masters and he soon rose to the rank of Champion on the Stormwall. But his disillusionment and sense of failure continued. Only fellow imprisoned Guard [[Corlo]]'s repeated intercessions and Bars' sense of duty to his blade kept him from giving up and ending his own life.<ref>[[Stonewielder]], [[SW/1|Chapter 1]], UK TPB p.75-76</ref> He became gaunt and skeletal, and barely recognizable even to those who knew him well.<ref>[[Stonewielder]], [[SW/10|Chapter 10]], UK TPB p.511</ref>
   
 
Things came to a head after [[Shell]], [[Blues]], [[Fingers]], and [[Lazar]] came looking for him. At one point, he and Shell were both brought to defend the shoring up of the northern Stormwall and he attacked her, assuming that she was part of Skinner's [[Disavowed]].<ref>[[Stonewielder]], [[SW/10|Chapter 10]], UK TPB p.512</ref> When Corlo confessed that the rest of their blade had died on the Wall, Bars went mad and attacked him as well. After this, even the Stormguard considered him useless and allowed [[High Mage]] [[Ussü]] to use him for his bloody scrying experiments.<ref>[[Stonewielder]], [[SW/11|Chapter 11]], UK TPB p.570</ref>
Although he was the reigning Champion, his will to fight waned over time as he assumed that his crew had all been killed on the wall. Only [[Corlo]]'s words motivated him to keep fighting for a time, and ultimately, even the mage could no longer keep telling Bars lies to keep him going.
 
   
  +
When the Stormwall began to fall, his bonds were loosened enough to allow him to choke his tormentor Ussü to death. Then Blues and his squad found Bars, Corlo, and Jemain and transported them to safety by [[warren]].<ref>[[Stonewielder]], [[SW/12|Chapter 12]], UK TPB p.588-593</ref>
Things came to a head after [[Shell]], [[Blues]], [[Fingers]] and [[Lazar]] came looking for him. At one point, he and Shell were both brought to defend the shoring up of the southern Stormwall and he attacked her, assuming that she was part of [[Skinner]]'s [[Disavowed]]. After this, even the [[Stormguard]] considered him useless and allowed [[Ussü]] to use him for his scrying.
 
   
  +
Once free, they sensed Skinner and his [[Disavowed]] at the [[Sky Tower]]. They raced to meet them only to see their former comrades disappear into a warren with a fragment of the [[Crippled God]]. Iron Bars was particularly incensed by the sight of the man who had betrayed the Guard, and Skinner made a special effort to mock him before he retreated. Blues took Bars and the others back to Stratem to inform [[K'azz D'Avore]].<ref>[[Stonewielder]], [[SW/12|Chapter 12]], UK TPB p.615-619</ref>
The Guardsmen eventually managed to free Bars and he choked Ussü to death during the escape. They tracked Skinner and his Disavowed to a tower on the [[Plains of Blight]], but Skinner managed to escape with a shattered piece of the [[Crippled God]].
 
   
 
== In ''[[Assail (novel)|Assail]]''==
 
== In ''[[Assail (novel)|Assail]]''==
Iron Bars returned to Assail as part of [[Shimmer]]'s expedition to find [[Cal-Brinn]] and the lost [[Fourth Company]]. He revealed that his [[Blade]] had been separated from Cal-Brinn during a conflict with the [[Sharr]] and [[Sheer]] mage families at [[Exile Keep]]. Cal-Brin lured the mages away to allow Iron Bars' Blade to escape.<ref>[[Assail (novel)]], Chapter 4</ref> On the journey, he began a romantic relationship with Shimmer. As the Guard neared Cal-Brinn on the high peaks of the Salt Mountains, Iron Bars and others began to succumb to the extreme cold of [[Omtose Phellack]]. [[K'azz D'Avore]] asked Iron Bars to go back with others to safety off the ice. He complied even though he wondered what made him different than K'azz, Shimmer, or Blues.<ref>[[Assail (novel)]], Chapter 14</ref>
+
[[File:Iron bars by luztheren.jpg|thumb|140px|Iron Bars by [http://www.deviantart.com/art/Iron-Bars-656095136 Luztheren]]]Iron Bars returned to Assail as part of [[Shimmer]]'s expedition to find Cal-Brinn and the lost [[Fourth Company]]. He revealed that his [[Blade]] had been separated from Cal-Brinn during a conflict with the [[Sharr]] and [[Sheer]] mage families at [[Exile Keep]]. Cal-Brinn lured the mages away to allow Iron Bars' Blade to escape.<ref>[[Assail (novel)]], [[A/4|Chapter 4]]</ref> On the journey, he began a romantic relationship with Shimmer. As the Guard neared Cal-Brinn on the high peaks of the [[Salt Mountains]], Iron Bars and others began to succumb to the extreme cold of [[Omtose Phellack]]. K'azz D'Avore asked Iron Bars to go back with others to safety off the ice. He complied even though he wondered what made him different than K'azz, Shimmer, or Blues.<ref>[[Assail (novel)]], [[A/14|Chapter 14]]</ref>
   
  +
==Quotes==
==Notes and references==
 
  +
{{Dialogue|Iron Bars|Skinnerrrrrr!|Skinner (laughing)|Bars! Is that you? You look like Hood's own shit! Lost them all, did you, Bars? Always were murder on your people...|attr=Iron Bars and Skinner|src=Stonewielder/Chapter 12}}
   
 
==Notes and references==
 
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Reflist}}
  +
  +
[[de:Eisenhart]]
 
[[Category:Avowed]]
 
[[Category:Avowed]]
 
[[Category:Males]]
 
[[Category:Males]]

Revision as of 23:51, 16 March 2020

"It never gets any easier."
―Iron Bars[src]

Iron Bars, or just Bars,[1] was the Avowed leader of the Second Blade, Fourth Company of the Crimson Guard serving under Cal-Brinn. He was described as "a burly, scarred fellow" and obvious veteran.[2] He had a seamed, clean-shaven face, cool, blue eyes, and a broad smile with even, white teeth.[3] His shoulder-length hair was the hue of polished iron.[3] As part of the guard, he wore a blood-red surcoat over his armour.[4]

Iron Bars was good friends with fellow Guardsman, Jup Alat.[5] He was said to be nearly as good a fighter as Skinner, but no one could match his sheer will.[6] He fought with a combination of weaponry and bare hands. He was abnormally strong, capable of breaking necks with just a strike from his palms or fingers.[7]

He had a reputation for making bad enemies.[8] Among his soldiers, he was always the first to wake up and make breakfast for the others.[9] He was likely originally from the province of Gris as he claimed to have a great-granddaughter still living there in the D'Avore Valley.[10]

In Midnight Tides

Iron bars by dejan delic

Iron Bars vs. the Tiste Edur by Dejan Delic

Iron Bars and his squad fought their way out of Assail and became separated from the rest of Cal-Brinn's company. They were stranded for two years on the continent of Lether after their sieve of a ship landed at a Letherii port and began incurring debt. After seven months, Bars and his men were heavily indebted, doing ugly work and living off scraps in Trate. They found work aboard a ship in Letheras through an agent and intended to commandeer it and go home once they got to sea.[11]

Before they left Trate for Letheras, war broke out between the Letherii and the Tiste Edur. Iron Bars met Acquitor Seren Pedac drowning her sorrows in a bar and offered her a place on their ship. He warned that the Letherii were in serious trouble despite their confidence. Seren Pedac turned down his offer, and Iron Bars advised her to leave the city as soon as possible.[11] His words proved prophetic as the Edur soon entered the city. Iron Bars returned once more for Seren only to find she had been raped and robbed. He killed her attackers and escorted her to safety. Along the way, they were stopped by an Edur wearing strange armour. After a clash of swords, Iron Bars broke the man's neck with punch to head without realising he had killed Rhulad Sengar, emperor of the Tiste Edur.[12]

Rhulad vs Iron Bars by Shadaan

Rhulad vs. Iron Bars by Shadaan

Crimson Guard mage, Corlo, took them from the city by warren.[13] The group found themselves trapped in Kurald Galain surrounded by Shadow wraiths until Seren suggested bargaining with one for aid. The wraith, named Sandalath Drukorlat, showed them the exit in return for delivering her soul to oblivion. Once free, Seren broke down sobbing nearly overcome by the emotions of her attack. Iron Bars respectfully cast the wraith's ring into the sea, then did his best to comfort the Acquitor.[14]

The Acquitor guided the Guardsmen overland towards the capital amid a countryside awash in refugees, looters, and deserters. The Guard commandeered horses from a looted and burning stable whose owners had been slaughtered. Iron Bars and the Guard tracked the raiders to their camp and killed them.[15] He continued to worry about Seren Pedac as she dealt with her feelings of grief, shame, and guilt. He was ever ready to comfort her in his arms and hovered worriedly nearby as Corlo guided her through a Mockra ritual to release her emotions.[16]

The group reached Letheras just ahead of the Edur army and Iron Bars insisted on bringing Seren to her home. He doubted the wisdom of her staying in the house alone while the city fell and promised to return later.[17] By the time Emperor Rhulad's troops entered the city, the Guard had reached the ship of their new employer, Shurq Elalle. Bugg found them there and recruited them to slay The Pack, the D'ivers god of the Jheck. Iron Bars agreed, saying they had crossed paths with Soletaken before.[18]

Iron Bars vs Seregahl by Shadaan

Iron Bars vs the Seregahl by Shadaan

Bugg took them to the Fulcra temple where the Pack hid and the Errant awaited. Iron Bars greeted the god with a "pleased-to-meet-you-see-you-later" as the his blade stormed the temple. In a short while, the six Lizard cats that formed the Pack were dead along with one of Iron Bars's soldiers. They exited the temple just in time to see an enormous wolf lunge towards the Errant. Bars intervened and caught the beast by its neck and leg, then smashed it into the street to crush its skull. An astonished Errant noted that the wolf had been B'nagga, leader of the Jheck.[19]

Still ready for a fight, Iron Bars accepted Bugg's request to help with another problem at the city's Azath Tower. While the Errant cleared the other Guard's way back to their ship, the Avowed followed Bugg alone.[20] He arrived at the dead Azath House just as the five Seregahl broke free from their barrows. With a smile, Iron Bars attacked saying he had already killed one god that day. Initially, he fought the five gods alone, but soon Corlo arrived to use his magic to help cloud the gods' minds. Iron Bars killed one of the Seregahl before he was joined by the half-Tarthenal, Ublala Pung. But even together they would have fallen but for the arrival of Silchas Ruin. The Tiste Andii slew the remaining Seregahl and told Iron Bars he had done "passably well".[21]

Iron Bars survived the fight with a broken arm. He and the rest of the Guard left the conquered city with Shurq Elalle and her crew.[22]

In Reaper's Gale

Shurq Elalle revealed that she had dropped off Bars and his men on the continent of Jacuruku. The last she'd seen of Iron Bars and his soldiers was when they were turning inland to face a dozen massively armoured figures descending the broken slope, great-helmed with visors lowered.[23]

In Return of the Crimson Guard

Iron Bars vs Seguleh by Shadaan

Iron Bars challenging a Seguleh by Shadaan

The slave galley, Ardent, found Bars and ten of his soldiers on a sodden raft on the Southern Rust Ocean. He killed the ship's captain and seven of his guards with his bare hands, taking a crossbow bolt to the chest in the process, before ordering the crew to make for the Cape of Stratem.[24]

However, their ship was becalmed and later boarded by Seguleh. Bars challenged the Seguleh speaker so that their supplies and men would not be taken. He barely defeated this Seguleh, revealed to be a female youth named Leal, earning a place among the Agatii. Bleeding from a severe neck injury, he declined a challenge from another Seguleh, Oru, who was identified as ranking in the top twenty. Oru notified Bars that he was now Bars' Yovenai, a word that roughly translated to patron, commander, and teacher.[25]

When word reached Iron Bars via the Brethren that he had missed the Guard's climactic showdown with the Malazans at the Battle of the Plains, he became listless and withdrawn. All that he had endured since leaving Assail had been for nothing. He also blamed himself for the deaths of the friends he had not been able to fight beside.[26] Before they could reach Stratem however, their vessel was sunk by a Mare ship and they were sold to the Stormguard for service on the Stormwall.[27]

In Stonewielder

Iron bars by shadaan

Iron Bars at the Stormwall by Shadaan

Iron Bars by PLUGO

Iron Bars by PLUGO

Iron Bars' martial skill and seeming immortality impressed his new masters and he soon rose to the rank of Champion on the Stormwall. But his disillusionment and sense of failure continued. Only fellow imprisoned Guard Corlo's repeated intercessions and Bars' sense of duty to his blade kept him from giving up and ending his own life.[28] He became gaunt and skeletal, and barely recognizable even to those who knew him well.[29]

Things came to a head after Shell, Blues, Fingers, and Lazar came looking for him. At one point, he and Shell were both brought to defend the shoring up of the northern Stormwall and he attacked her, assuming that she was part of Skinner's Disavowed.[30] When Corlo confessed that the rest of their blade had died on the Wall, Bars went mad and attacked him as well. After this, even the Stormguard considered him useless and allowed High Mage Ussü to use him for his bloody scrying experiments.[31]

When the Stormwall began to fall, his bonds were loosened enough to allow him to choke his tormentor Ussü to death. Then Blues and his squad found Bars, Corlo, and Jemain and transported them to safety by warren.[32]

Once free, they sensed Skinner and his Disavowed at the Sky Tower. They raced to meet them only to see their former comrades disappear into a warren with a fragment of the Crippled God. Iron Bars was particularly incensed by the sight of the man who had betrayed the Guard, and Skinner made a special effort to mock him before he retreated. Blues took Bars and the others back to Stratem to inform K'azz D'Avore.[33]

In Assail

Iron bars by luztheren

Iron Bars by Luztheren

Iron Bars returned to Assail as part of Shimmer's expedition to find Cal-Brinn and the lost Fourth Company. He revealed that his Blade had been separated from Cal-Brinn during a conflict with the Sharr and Sheer mage families at Exile Keep. Cal-Brinn lured the mages away to allow Iron Bars' Blade to escape.[34] On the journey, he began a romantic relationship with Shimmer. As the Guard neared Cal-Brinn on the high peaks of the Salt Mountains, Iron Bars and others began to succumb to the extreme cold of Omtose Phellack. K'azz D'Avore asked Iron Bars to go back with others to safety off the ice. He complied even though he wondered what made him different than K'azz, Shimmer, or Blues.[35]

Quotes

Iron Bars: "Skinnerrrrrr!"
Skinner (laughing): "Bars! Is that you? You look like Hood's own shit! Lost them all, did you, Bars? Always were murder on your people..."
―Iron Bars and Skinner[src]

Notes and references

  1. Assail (novel), Dramatis Personae
  2. Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 1 Chapter 4, UK PB p.154
  3. 3.0 3.1 Midnight Tides, Chapter 16, US SFBC p.495-496
  4. Midnight Tides, Chapter 16, US SFBC p.501
  5. Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 2 Chapter 1, UK PB p.265
  6. Midnight Tides, Chapter 25, US SFBC p.738
  7. Midnight Tides, Chapter 16, US SFBC p.501-502/504
  8. Midnight Tides, Chapter 19, US SFBC p.583
  9. Midnight Tides, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.627
  10. Midnight Tides, Chapter 19, US SFBC p.577
  11. 11.0 11.1 Midnight Tides, Chapter 16, US SFBC p.495-496/503
  12. Midnight Tides, Chapter 16, US SFBC p.500-505
  13. Midnight Tides, Chapter 16, US SFBC p.493-496/500-505
  14. Midnight Tides, Chapter 16, US SFBC p.508-512/515-516
  15. Midnight Tides, Chapter 19, US SFBC p.577-578/587-591
  16. Midnight Tides, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.624-625
  17. Midnight Tides, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.654/664-666
  18. Midnight Tides, Chapter 24, US SFBC p.697
  19. Midnight Tides, Chapter 24, US SFBC p.701-702/707-708
  20. Midnight Tides, Chapter 24, US SFBC p.708
  21. Midnight Tides, Chapter 25, US SFBC p.716-718/726-729/737-739
  22. Midnight Tides, Chapter 25, US SFBC p.728/766
  23. Reaper's Gale, Chapter 3
  24. Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 1 Chapter 4, UK PB p.153-156
  25. Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 2 Chapter 1, UK PB p.260-268
  26. Return of the Crimson Guard, Epilogue, UK PB p.696-698
  27. Return of the Crimson Guard, Epilogue, UK PB p.696-698
  28. Stonewielder, Chapter 1, UK TPB p.75-76
  29. Stonewielder, Chapter 10, UK TPB p.511
  30. Stonewielder, Chapter 10, UK TPB p.512
  31. Stonewielder, Chapter 11, UK TPB p.570
  32. Stonewielder, Chapter 12, UK TPB p.588-593
  33. Stonewielder, Chapter 12, UK TPB p.615-619
  34. Assail (novel), Chapter 4
  35. Assail (novel), Chapter 14
List of abbreviationsPaginationsHow to reference an article