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"Drink deep that water, mortal, it matters not. You're dead anyway. You and every damned blood-swishing living thing in this realm and every other!"
―Seguleh Second[src]

Seguleh Second was the name used to refer to the Seguleh who was the Soldier of High House Death.[1] Presumably, he had held the rank of Seguleh Second amongst the Seguleh before entering into Hood's service.

The Seguleh Second was undead, tall, mostly made of raw bones with a few strips of flesh hanging from the cheek ridges with the connecting tendons visible, and blackened teeth filed into points.[1] His long filthy hair swung from his head like ropes.[2] There were far too many weapons on him to be counted, swords, throwing axes, boar spitter, bows long and short, and many others. He wore a gouged and dented helmet and a set of black, ornate armour, patched with verdigris and occasionally shedding rotted fragments. He carried an enamel mask on his belt with a single streak of red paint on one cheek.[1] He also wore a ragged cape.[2]

He was unusually loquacious and irreverent for a Seguleh, chastising his kin for their idiotic fever zeal.[3]

The Second's horse[]

The dark grey undead Jhag horse was described as a monstrous apparition whose mottled hide was worn away in places, showing tendons, ligaments and muscles. It was gaunt and withered with a long, greasy mane and eyes like empty pits. The Second used a high-backed saddle to ride it.[4][2][5] It wore boiled leather armour that was tarnished, cracked, and held together by frayed leather thongs.[2]

In Memories of Ice[]

K'rul referred to the Seguleh Second as missing at the time of the Siege of Capustan.[6] It was unclear if this referred to the Seguleh who served Hood.

In The Bonehunters[]

The Soldier of High House Death appeared from a Warren at the Temple of D'rek where Heboric and Cutter were re-stocking their supplies, having found the priests and acolytes of D'rek burned away. The frustrated Second had been on the trail of Skinner, like the rest of Hood's servants, before his passage had been detoured to the temple by his god. He saluted Heboric, nevertheless, saying that Treach had made a mistake in choosing the historian as his Destriant. He then proceeded to disabuse Cutter of the notion that Mammot was his actual uncle, asking whether the Tyrant still ruled Darujhistan. He also intimated that the Seguleh, now in Morn, were being held in readiness for the return of the Tyrant.[1]

Having seen the state of D'rek's temple as Hood had wished, he departed, shouting, "Skinner! Hear me, you damned Avowed! Cheater of death! I am coming for you! Now!" He left in something of a huff forgetting his spear behind. Cutter suspected the Second had been mistaken regarding Hood's reason for sending the Soldier to the temple and that the message of Darujhistan's Tyrant had been meant for him.[1]

In Toll the Hounds[]

The Seguleh Second was now the Knight of High House Death.[7] Gruntle and Master Quell encountered him in Hood's realm while they were looking for a safe path for their Trygalle Trade Guild caravan. Observing Hood's undead host on the march, they were approached by the Seguleh Second on horseback. He now wore his mask as well as boiled leather armour. Gruntle immediately reached for his weapons, but Quell knew better than to threaten a Seguleh and commanded him to stand down. The Second was in an exuberant mood over his army, boasting they lacked the fear of traditional soldiers. Then he demanded the trespassers leave and never return or he would track them down.[8]

The Second attempted to goad the frustrated Gruntle into attacking him until he noticed three other riders he identified as his watchdogs approaching. He quickly tried to convince the two mortals he had only been jesting and withdrew his threats. When Iskar Jarak, Toc the Younger, and Brukhalian arrived, Iskar Jarak told the Second to save his wrath for Skinner. The Second became enraged, just then realising Hood had made him forget about his arch-foe and raced off on his horse as Toc grinned and Brukhalian laughed softly.[9]

As part of his agreement with Anomander Rake, Hood brought his army of the dead into Dragnipur to defend The wagon from the legions of Chaos. The Second complained bitterly that he was being asked to face oblivion without ever having gotten his chance at Skinner and argued with Hood when the god named Whiskyjack leader of his forces. The Knight scoffed at Draconus' plea that Hood's army was doomed to fail, claiming that before he was Lord of the Fallen, Hood was a Jaghut--the Lords of the Last Stands.[10]

Once the battle commenced, the Second led more than a score of Seguleh into battle.[11] Eventually, Hood pulled the Second aside to give his "old friend" a final task in the god's service, which would free him to face Skinner once complete. The gleeful Second travelled to Darujhistan to aid in the defence of Dragnipur against the Hounds of Light. He first retrieved his lance from Cutter, who had brought it all the way from Seven Cities after their last encounter. Then, riding into battle, he shouted, "Skinner! I'm coming for you! But first, these guys..." He fought alongside Karsa Orlong killing at least two of the Hounds and injuring another.[12]

Quotes[]

"Hunt? Oh yes, we all hunt, but I was closest! Piss on Hood's bony feet! Pluck out the hairs of his nose and kick his teeth in! Drive a spear up his puckered behind and set him on a windy mountain top! Oh, I'll find him a wife some day, lay coin on it! But first, I hunt!"
―Soldier of High House Death, rather perturbed at being unable to find Skinner, and blaming Hood for it.[src]

Speculations[]

It is possible the Seguleh Second once served as leader of the Revenants, a group of warrior-priests of Hood who were commanded by an outlawed Seguleh and who eventually disappeared to serve in Hood's realm.[13]

Notes and references[]

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