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Itkovian Otanthalian [it-KŌ-vee-an][2] was the thirty year old[1] Shield Anvil of Fener's Reve,[3] and was part of the Grey Swords of Elingarth. He was born in the city of Erin where his family name was Otanthalian.[1]

Itkovian was described as having long hair.[4] He wore a blue chain surcoat beneath a grey rain cape and wrist-length cuffed gauntlets,[5] boots,[6] and a helm with visor and cheek guards.[7] The visor had black-iron bars and the gauntlets were described as armoured.[8] Itkovian had a grey sash tied about his waist and wore a broach denoting his rank.[9]

The Destriant Karnadas thought Itkovian someone who stood in a cold, closed-in fashion and who was 'black mannered'.[10] He maintained a personal vow of celibacy although his sect did not require it.[11]

As Shield Anvil, Itkovian's position "demanded both scholarly pursuits and military prowess". He studied history, philosophy, and religion in order to formulate tactics and strategy based on an accurate understanding of both enemies and allies. While in Capustan, he was a keen observer of the city.[12]

In Memories of Ice[]

Itkovian was amongst the Grey Swords hired by Prince Jelarkan to defend the city of Capustan from the Pannion Domin's forces. Before the start of the seige, Itkovian led two wings of Grey Sword cavalry on patrol outside the city. His party stumbled upon an undead K'Chain Che'Malle K'ell Hunter and managed to bring it down with their skilled tactics but not before the creature killed two-thirds of his command. They were soon joined by an army of 14,000 Kron T'lan Imass drawn by the summons to the Second Gathering. The T'lan Imass allied with Itkovian to track down and kill more hunters, with the Grey Swords acting as bait. They dispatched six hunters attacking a caravan. In this way, they rescued Gruntle, Stonny Menackis, Keruli, Hetan, Cafal, Bauchelain, Korbal Broach, Emancipor Reese, and Buke and brought them back to the city.[12]

The Siege of Capustan[]

Day 28 gift by shadaan

Itkovian and Rath'Fener by Shadaan

He led the Grey Swords after the death of Brukhalian. He was recovering from wounds when a traitorous message was sent from Rath'Fener to the Mortal Sword. Brukhalian followed orders although he knew he was going to his death, leaving the messenger to tell Itkovian where they had gone when he woke up. Upon learning their fate, Itkovian gathered the last of The Grey Swords and moved to Prince Jelarkan's keep to fulfill their contract. They discovered the Prince already dead and Anaster sitting on his throne. They routed the Tenescowri and held the keep until the liberation of Capustan by the Barghast. Once it was clear that most of the enemy had been cleared Itkovian took the last of the Grey Swords to the Thrall to exact retribution for the betrayal of the Grey Swords to the Pannion. He did this in the traditional way, removing Rath'Fener's hands. But then he took on the false priest's grief as befitted his position as Shield Anvil. Although Captain Paran of the Bridgeburners attempted to stop him, warning him of the dangers of doing so without a god to hold him together, he took on the grief of all of Capustan, cleansing it. He was helped by Paran and Mallet. Although offered a new blessing of his vows by the new god of war, Trake, he refused and told Rath'Trake that the Grey Swords would continue to be sworn to Fener, though he now walked the mortal realm.

The Siege of Coral[]

What is Done by Artaya

Itkovian's burial by Artaya

When Silverfox attempted to force the T'lan Imass to aid Onearm's Host against the Domin at Coral, they were reluctant due to their fatigue at the endless fighting to which they consigned themselves. Itkovian recognized this and performed his duty as Shield Anvil, taking all their grief, pain, and memories into himself so that the T'lan Imass might pass on to the afterlife. Without Fener to help him perform the task, their sheer numbers and the intensity of their grief killed Itkovian. He was only thirty years old at the time. He was buried under a pile of tokens placed by the T'lan Imass and Onearm's Host, which was then blessed by the Imass to never be destroyed.[13]

I am the Shield Anvil by Dejan Delic

Itkovian embracing the T'lan Imass by Dejan Delic

In Toll the Hounds[]

Itkovian by Dejan Delic

Itkovian by Dejan Delic

Itkovian ascended to become the Redeemer, a god worshipped by the humans of Black Coral. With the death of Anomander Rake, the Redeemer learned the true depth of his role and, with Mother Dark, destroyed the Dying God.

Quotes[]

"I am the bearer of Fener's grief. I am my vow incarnate. This, and in all that follows. We are not yet done here. I am not yet done. Behold, I yield to nothing."
―Itkovian[src]
Itkovian: "As Shield Anvil, my faith demanded that I relieve others of their pain. In the name of Fener, I was to bring peace to souls, and to do so without judgement. This I have done."
Stonny Menackis: "But your god's gone, so who, in Hood’s name, did you deliver those souls to?"
Itkovian: "Why, no-one, Stonny Menackis. I carry them still."
―Itkovian and Stonny Menackis[src]
"We humans do not understand compassion. In each moment of our lives, we betray it. Aye, we know of its worth, yet in knowing we then attach to it a value, we guard the giving of it, believing it must be earned. T'lan Imass. Compassion is priceless in the truest sense of the word. It must be given freely. In abundance"
―Itkovian[src]
Itkovian: "I am the Shield Anvil, and I am not yet done."
Itkovian: "I am the Shield Anvil, and I am not yet done."
Itkovian: "Because. I was the Shield Anvil. But now ... I am done."
―Itkovian on three different occasions[src]

Trivia[]

  • When writing Memories of Ice, Steven Erikson initially had "no idea Itkovian was going to take over the end of the novel...[At his first appearance in the novel] he was just somebody out patrolling, he was the officer. And then I decided, no, he was going to be one of those three quasi-religious roles, Shield Anvil and [etc.] I remember coming up with the phrase 'Shield Anvil' and thinking what the hell does that mean? I have no idea, but I would find out, and I would find out through Itkovian." Erikson finds the process of discovery during writing to be rewarding.[14]
  • Steven Erikson says he returned to Itkovian in Toll the Hounds because he had been seeing readers "posting quotes from Itkovian regarding compassion given freely, and that's the thing that was sort of central to Itkovian's premise for Memories of Ice. But the quote is highly problematic, and it seemed...it wasn't the right place to end up, if that makes any sense. So I needed to return to it and say, well, this is the consequence of this particular belief system on Itkovian's part. It's not pretty. That at some point one has to be selective in the their fullest expression of their compassion. They can be limited in their compassion to all things, but they have to be selective in their fullest expression of their compassion. Otherwise, they reach an extent of vulnerability that is unsustainable and corruptible. So I needed to return to him and elaborate and explore the consequences of that particular quote."[15]

Notes and references[]

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