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L'oric [LOR-ick][2] was a High Mage of the Apocalypse army,[3] although he did not participate in the fighting. He was able to call upon Denul if required.[4]

L'oric was a tall man[5] with a thin face, long, pale loose hair, and a haughty manner.[6] He wore white[5] or layered green robes.[6] He was not by nature approachable or given to drama.[5] L'oric felt compelled to intervene when he witnessed offenses against nature, both small and large, but was never able to gather followers no matter how noble the cause.[7]

When necessity required, he possessed gouged and scarred white enamel armour with a visored helm, and a light, narrow-bladed longsword.[8] He kept his longsword in a scabbard banded in white enamel.[9]

In Deadhouse Gates[]

When Felisin Paran journeyed to Raraku's heart to become the Sha'ik Reborn, she was met by her three high mages, L'oric, Bidithal, and Febryl. Felisin saw in Sha'ik's memories that L'oric was the most reliable of the three, but also faithless. His decision to serve was based on pragmatism. As a result, the seer saw her every decision judged and weighed in L'oric's eyes. He was the most formidable and mysterious of her followers, and his weave of sorcery about himself left his thoughts unknown to her. Even so, he knelt before the Sha'ik Reborn like the others.[10]

He journeyed with the army of the Apocalypse to Balahn to visit Korbolo Dom near the site of his victory over the Malaz 7th Army. Like the other high mages he was appalled by the scope of the horror.[11]

In House of Chains[]

L'oric was revealed to be a Tiste Liosan secretly making himself appear human among the Army of the Apocalypse with his magic.[12] He had originally come to Raraku looking for his missing father, Osric, who was worshipped by his people. L'oric sensed he was somewhere nearby.[13] Although Sha'ik knew her High Mage was hiding something, his true nature was a mystery to her and the others.[14] Only Heboric was able to pierce a portion of L'oric's cloak of secrecy, as the pair traded information regarding the new Master of the Deck, the nature of the Jade giants, and the origin of the Crippled God.[15]

Unlike the others of his race, L'oric despised fighting and was averse to harsh judgement. He did not believe in an unambiguous world in which order could be shaped by a sword's edge.[16]

While living among the humans, L'oric still sought to protect his people. He used his demon familiar to hide his father Osric's disappearance from the Liosans. Without their god, Osric's seneschals would not be able to call upon their magic. So the familiar answered their prayers without the senechals' knowledge. This came to an abrupt end when T'lan Imass led by the Bonecaster, Monok Ochem, sensed the deception. The undead warriors slew the false god, leaving the warren unprotected and forcing L'oric to turn to the Queen of Dreams for help.[17][18]

Later, he attempted to travel through the Warren of Tellann by entering a fissure in the rock into which Karsa Orlong had carved the likenesses of the Faces in the Rock. Instead, he found himself in an alternate time (or "Raraku's memory") where he was cornered by the Deragoth.[19] Just when he thought the game was up, he was rescued by his father, who had purposefully withdrawn to the warren to study the Skykeeps of the K'Chain Che'Malle.[20] Once reunited, Osric admitted he could barely stand the company of his son.[21] It was at the edge of this "memory" that L'oric came upon several dying demons. He chose one and made a bargain with it. That demon became his replacement familiar, Greyfrog.[22]

L'oric returned to Sha'ik's camp to find that Felisin Younger had been taken by Bidithal in his absence and forcibly circumcised. He kept the attack secret from Sha'ik while her daughter healed.[23]

On the eve of the Battle of Raraku, Sha'ik sent L'oric to fetch Korbolo Dom so she could replace him with Leoman as general of her army. Korbolo Dom chose to rebel against Sha'ik and L'oric was knifed in the back and thought dead.[24] Greyfrog rescued him and L'oric arranged for his familiar and Heboric to leave Raraku and take Felisin Younger to safety. Then he set off to save the soul of Felisin Paran from the Whirlwind Goddess.[25]

Arriving too late to stop Sha'ik from facing Adjunct Tavore Paran, L'oric entered the Goddess' warren where he was witness to her murder by Korbolo Dom's assassins. L'oric was himself terribly wounded by the assassins who all fell at the Goddess' hands. The dying High Mage soon found himself gathered up in his father's hands.[26]

In The Bonehunters[]

L'oric new Shirt

Interpretation of L'oric by Yapattack

L'oric first appeared in the palace of Y'Ghatan during the Malazan siege after being summoned to join Leoman and the remnants of the Army of the Apocalypse. He had charged his white horse through the Malazan lines, nearly bowling over Fists Keneb and Tene Baralta, while disguised in a hooded grey cloak. The High Mage had taken a Crossbow quarrel to the back, but it had caromed off his shoulder and only bruised him.[27]

Leoman told L'oric that the summons came from the Queen of Dreams as she had plans for the High Mage.[28] As the Malazans entered the city, Leoman kicked off a firestorm to consume his enemies, allies, and the entire city. L'oric, Leoman, Dunsparrow, and Corabb Bhilan Thenu'alas gathered in the city's Temple of the Queen of Dreams as the inferno closed in. The High Mage chastised Leoman for involving him in a bargain with the goddess, saying she had long ago flung away her heart and lost interest in right and wrong. He opened a portal to the realm of the Queen of Dreams and the goddess appeared. She told L'oric she had someone in mind to replace Sha'ik as Felisin Paran was dead, and leaving the position open risked allowing something less desirable to assume the mantle. She asked L'oric to keep her chosen candidate safe until they could take their place. L'oric agreed. L'oric then led Leoman and Dunsparrow through the portal while Corabb chose to remain behind.[29]

L'oric later appeared on horseback in the small village where Barathol Mekhar lived, arriving just after The Unbound had ambushed Heboric, Cutter, Scillara, Felisin Younger, and Greyfrog. Pursuing them across the desert, he had been too late to stop the Crippled God's servants from snatching away Felisin Younger, the Queen of Dreams' chosen one. The exhausted mage said there was no point in pursuing the Unbound and the goddess' gambit had failed. He was also distressed by the death of his familiar, Greyfrog, although he was surprised to find the severing of their bond caused him no pain. Barathol convinced the High Mage to use his skill in Denul to save the lives of the gravely wounded Cutter and heavily pregnant Scillara.[30]

Upon realising that Barathol was the famous villain of the Aren Rebellion, L'oric drew his sword on the huge blacksmith to confront him. But Barathol's defense of his actions and the townspeoples' evident regard for the man gave the High Mage pause. He gave up on his efforts to seek justice for the alleged crime.[31][32] His efforts to convince Scillara that it was her natural duty as a mother to love and care for her newborn baby were also rebuffed.[33] Ultimately, he and Greyfrog (who had survived by moulting his gravely injured body) travelled through a portal back to Kurald Thyrllan.[34]

Spoiler warning: The following section contains significant plot details about L'oric.

In Stonewielder[]

L'oric was with Commander Jayashul and the Army of Light to investigate the Chaos Whorl created by Yathengar in Kurald Emurlahn. He was away from camp when Shadow travelers Kiska, Jheval, and Warran stumbled upon the army's encampment, but arrived during a dinner hosted by Jayashul. Stunned to recognize Jheval as Leoman of the Flails, he ordered the trio arrested.[35]

Later, he accompanied the Army of Light against the Chaos Whorl. They were successful in destroying it, but L'oric was bloodied in the process.[36]

In Blood and Bone[]

(Information needed)

Significant plot details end here.

History[]

L'oric was the son of Osseric (or Osric) with an unnamed, though presumably powerful, Ascendant mother. Jayashul was his sister or half-sister through Osseric.

Quotes[]

"This man should speak of arrogance! It marches emblazoned across his face completely unbeknownst to him."
―Kiska[src]

Notes and references[]

  1. House of Chains, Dramatis Personae
  2. Critical Conversations 01: House of Chains Chap 26 with Steven Erikson - As pronounced by Steven Erikson at 33:00
  3. Deadhouse Gates, Dramatis Personae
  4. The Bonehunters, Chapter 12, UK MMPB p.603
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 House of Chains, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.291
  6. 6.0 6.1 Stonewielder, Chapter 10, UK TPB p.522
  7. The Bonehunters, Chapter 14, US SFBC p.566
  8. House of Chains, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.681-682
  9. The Bonehunters, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.275
  10. Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 18, US HC p.480-481
  11. Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 24, US HC p.585
  12. House of Chains, Chapter 13, US SFBC p.489
  13. House of Chains, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.681
  14. House of Chains, Chapter 13, US SFBC p.482
  15. House of Chains, Chapter 10, US SFBC p.397-403
  16. House of Chains, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.681
  17. House of Chains, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.462/476-477
  18. House of Chains, Chapter 13, US SFBC p.487-491
  19. House of Chains, Chapter 21, US TPB p.531-533
  20. House of Chains, Chapter 21, US TPB p.533-534
  21. House of Chains, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.689
  22. House of Chains, Chapter 21, US TPB p.536-538
  23. House of Chains, Chapter 21, US TPB p.546-547
  24. House of Chains, Chapter 24, US SFBC p.769-772
  25. House of Chains, Chapter 25, US SFBC p.776-777/812
  26. House of Chains, Chapter 26, US SFBC p.820/823-826
  27. The Bonehunters, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.275/282
  28. The Bonehunters, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.282
  29. The Bonehunters, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.313-316
  30. The Bonehunters, Chapter 12, UK MMPB p.602-609
  31. The Bonehunters, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.501-503
  32. The Bonehunters, Chapter 14, US SFBC p.566
  33. The Bonehunters, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.554
  34. The Bonehunters, Chapter 14, UK MMPB p.674-680/686-690
  35. Stonewielder, Chapter 10, UK TPB p.522-523
  36. Stonewielder, Epilogue, UK TPB p.629
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