Mathok

Mathok was the tall and fierce Warleader of the Desert Tribes in the Army of the Apocalypse. He was also described as "Beloved of the desert tribes". He was a taciturn, black-skinned warrior with a hard, weathered face who possessed an inherent nobility. He was widely considered to have a rather grating personality despite being ever courteous, even congenial, and quick to smile.

He wore leather armour and carried a scimitar and round shield on his hip.

In House of Chains

Mathok and his warriors gathered in Sha'ik Reborn's camp in the Pan'arak Oasis of Raraku. He was loyal to the Chosen One and a friend and ally of Leoman. When Leoman and Karsa Orlong left the oasis on their own tasks, Mathok assumed the role of Sha'ik's protector, and kept a dozen bodyguards at her side at all times.

On the eve of the Battle of Raraku between the forces of Sha'ik and Adjunct Tavore Paran's Malaz 14th Army, Mathok survived six assassination attempts at his tent. Sha'ik had given him The Book of Dryjhna for safekeeping, and he determined it was time to remove the book from camp. He gathered the members of his own clan and readied to leave for the Holy City of Y'Ghatan. Before he departed, he placed his remaining nine thousand warriors under the returned Leoman's command. Tears streamed down the heartbroken Mathok's face at the thought of leaving Sha'ik behind.

In The Bonehunters

Mathok was supposed to have met up with Leoman at Y'Ghatan, however the plague, as well as the visions of his shamans, changed those plans. The visions deemed joining Leoman as futile and instead showed images of Hanar Ara. So Mathok and his army journeyed there to deliver the Book of Dryjhna to Felisin Younger, the new Sha'ik Reborn. Mathok and his bodyguard, T'morol, brought the Holy Book before Felisin, but she rejected it and insisted she would write her own Book of Salvation. Further, she would only allow Mathok and his army to join her followers if they laid down their arms. Mathok dropped the Holy Book, shattering its spine and sending pages scattering, then left in disgust.

Soon after, Mathok and his army surrendered to High Fist Ganoes Paran. The rebel claimed he was no longer a believer in the Apocalypse and, with the flooding of Raraku, no longer had a home to return to. Not interested in retribution, Ganoes gave Mathok and his warriors permission to disperse. Instead, Mathok asked the High Fist to accept him and his roughly four thousand light cavalry veterans into Paran's army. Paran elevated Mathok to the rank of Fist and put him in charge of the new additions. Paran then informed Mathok of the standard structure employed by the Malazan army for mounted troops and tasked him with adjusting his troop disposition accordingly as well as naming suitable candidates for the officer positions.

Mathok recommended Paran and his soldiers slaughter Felisin Younger's followers at Hanar Ara as the cult could prove as deadly as the plague in the future. But Paran could not bring himself to follow Mathok's advice. The High Fist found himself liking Mathok when he realised the former rebel leader had been unable to direct his own warriors to slaughter the innocent either.

In The Crippled God

Mathok was part of Paran's Host that captured the North Citadel in Kolanse.

He was kept from combat and was not pleased about it. Paran used Mathok and his cavalry in a counterattack to stop the formation of the Bonehunter regulars from being broken apart. Paran threw a card he had Ormulogun make (probably the Shaved Knuckle in a Hole, but this is unconfirmed).

Mathok slew the High Watered commander in the closing stage of the battle.

Notes and references

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