(This article needs more work.
Added a section for references.
Added Nomenclature section, for common words used wrt Soletaken.
Dubious on "Silverfox" under "Selected Soletaken", needs more info.) Tag: Visual edit |
m (→Notes and reference: Added Spanish links) |
||
| (23 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| + | {{Icons|unsafe}} |
||
| − | '''Soletaken''' were |
+ | '''Soletaken''' were a lower order of shape-shifter<ref>[[Gardens of the Moon]], Glossary, UK MMPB p.709</ref> than [[D'ivers]]. They sembled between a single humanoid form and a single other form. This was made possible by a ritual which involved the use of the blood of the creature into which the person veered into. All [[Imass]] [[Bonecaster]]s were Soletaken,{{Cn}} and there were Soletaken among most races. |
| + | [[T'lan Imass]], Soletaken, and D'ivers shared a mysterious bond of kinship.<ref>[[Deadhouse Gates]], [[DG/15|Chapter 15]], US HC p.331</ref> |
||
| + | |||
== Nomenclature == |
== Nomenclature == |
||
| − | It |
+ | It was common when Soletaken were being spoken of that the word "veer" was used when they were transforming into the creature, while "sembling" was used for the reverse, when they turned back into their original form. |
| + | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | ==Appearance== |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | When a Soletaken was in the process of transforming, they appeared as an uncertain blurring and were strangely insubstantial. There was "a folding in of darkness itself" as the change completed.<ref name=":5" /> |
||
| + | |||
| + | == Scent == |
||
| + | The "spice of shapeshifters"<ref name=":0">[[Deadhouse Gates]], [[DG/4|Chapter 4]], UK MMPB p.174</ref> was often noted in areas where either D'ivers or Soletaken have been in large numbers (sometimes long in the past),<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">[[Deadhouse Gates]], [[DG/12|Chapter 12]], UK MMPB p.523</ref><ref>[[Deadhouse Gates]], [[DG/14|Chapter 14]], UK MMPB p.582</ref> where they have veered or sembled recently, in the vicinity of a recently veered/sembled individual,<ref name=":2">[[Deadhouse Gates]], [[DG/14|Chapter 14]], UK MMPB p.592</ref><ref name=":3">[[Deadhouse Gates]], [[DG/19|Chapter 19]], UK MMPB p.778</ref><ref>[[Memories of Ice]], [[MI/5|Chapter 5]], UK MMPB - when Rake lands</ref><ref>[[Reaper's Gale]], [[RG/23|Chapter 23]], UK MMPB p.1096-1097</ref><ref>[[Toll the Hounds]], [[TH/21|Chapter 21]], UK MMPB p.1106-1107</ref> or preceding a transformation.<ref>[[Memories of Ice]], [[MI/7|Chapter 7]] - when Kilava sembles</ref><ref name=":4">[[Memories of Ice]], [[MI/7|Chapter 7]] - when the [[T'lan Imass]] confronted [[Gethol]]</ref> It was, at least in one instance, a wood spice,<ref>[[Deadhouse Gates]], [[DG/12|Chapter 12]], UK MMPB p.521-522</ref> while elsewhere it was described as both sharp<ref name=":2" /> and sickly.<ref name=":3" /> It was also described as stale when the Soletaken were undead.<ref name=":4" /> |
||
| + | |||
| + | ==Sickness== |
||
| + | Like a D'ivers, a Soletaken's fangs and claws spread a virulent infection that usually caused hallucinations, madness, and death. Those that survived their terrible wounds faced the possibility of recurring bouts of insanity several times a year for the rest of their lives.<ref>[[Deadhouse Gates]], [[DG/3|Chapter 3]], US HC p.98</ref> |
||
== Selected Soletaken== |
== Selected Soletaken== |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | ===Soletaken [[Eleint]]=== |
||
| − | == <br> |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | Notes and References[[Category:Creatures]][[Category:Soletaken| ]] == |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | * [[Korlat]] - took the form of a black dragon |
||
| + | * [[Menandore]] - took the form of a blindingly bright dragon<ref name=":6">[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/7|Chapter 7]], UK MMPB p.279</ref> |
||
| + | * [[Olar Ethil]] - took the form of an undead dragon reputedly only rivaled by her mother T'iam and also known as the first Soletaken |
||
| + | * [[Orfantal]] - took the form of a black dragon, said to be second in size only to Rake |
||
| + | * [[Osserc]] - took the form of a gold and silver dragon<ref>[[Midnight Tides]], [[MT/7|Chapter 7]], UK MMPB p.278</ref> |
||
| + | * [[Scara Bandaris|Scabandari]] - known to be soletaken eleint |
||
| + | * [[Sheltatha Lore]] - known to be soletaken eleint |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | * [[Sukul Ankhadu]] - took the form of a dappled dragon<ref name=":6" /> |
||
| + | |||
| + | [[Draconus]] and [[K'rul]] also took the form of Eleint, however, their shifting was due to their [[Azathanai]] nature. |
||
| + | |||
| + | ===Others=== |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | Soletaken and D'ivers sought the [[Path of Hands]] which promised [[Ascendant|Ascendancy]] to those shape-shifters who gained it. Many were killed in the convergence that followed, and others, misled by [[High House Shadow]], were taken by the [[Azath House]], [[Tremorlor]]. Due to the vast number of them moving through the [[Imperial Warren]], the spice of shapeshifters was strong enough to be used by [[Kalam]] to determine their movements.<ref name=":1" /> |
||
| + | |||
| + | ==In ''[[Memories of Ice]]''== |
||
| + | While recalling the ritual that created the [[First Hero]]es of the [[First Empire]], [[Treach]] noted that it had unravelled unexpectedly and unpredictably. The strongest Soletaken were gripped by madness and splintered into pieces, birthing the D'ivers. The T'lan Imass attempted to exterminate those Soletaken and D'ivers created by the process.<ref name=":5">[[Memories of Ice]], [[MI/7|Chapter 7]]</ref> |
||
| + | |||
| + | As a result of coming into contact with the blood of a [[Hound of Shadow]] near [[Darujhistan]], [[Ganoes Paran]] gained the ability to take the form of one of the Hounds. He was not a Soletaken in the full sense as his veerings seemed to happen uncontrollably. |
||
| + | |||
| + | ==Soletaken Eleint== |
||
| + | During a September 2019 discussion on his Facebook page, [[Steven Erikson]] noted a Soletaken's "Eleint blood brings with it that dragon's life: its memories, its relationships."<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/steveneriksonofficial/photos/a.893848104100824/1328891780596452 Steven Erikson Facebook post 2 September 2019]</ref> |
||
| + | |||
| + | ==Notes and reference== |
||
{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | [[de:Wechselgänger]] |
||
| + | [[es:Soletaken]] |
||
| + | [[Category:Creatures]] |
||
| + | [[Category:Soletaken| ]] |
||
Revision as of 19:27, 24 March 2020
Soletaken were a lower order of shape-shifter[1] than D'ivers. They sembled between a single humanoid form and a single other form. This was made possible by a ritual which involved the use of the blood of the creature into which the person veered into. All Imass Bonecasters were Soletaken,[citation needed] and there were Soletaken among most races.
T'lan Imass, Soletaken, and D'ivers shared a mysterious bond of kinship.[2]
Nomenclature
It was common when Soletaken were being spoken of that the word "veer" was used when they were transforming into the creature, while "sembling" was used for the reverse, when they turned back into their original form.
Appearance
When a Soletaken was in the process of transforming, they appeared as an uncertain blurring and were strangely insubstantial. There was "a folding in of darkness itself" as the change completed.[3]
Scent
The "spice of shapeshifters"[4] was often noted in areas where either D'ivers or Soletaken have been in large numbers (sometimes long in the past),[4][5][6] where they have veered or sembled recently, in the vicinity of a recently veered/sembled individual,[7][8][9][10][11] or preceding a transformation.[12][13] It was, at least in one instance, a wood spice,[14] while elsewhere it was described as both sharp[7] and sickly.[8] It was also described as stale when the Soletaken were undead.[13]
Sickness
Like a D'ivers, a Soletaken's fangs and claws spread a virulent infection that usually caused hallucinations, madness, and death. Those that survived their terrible wounds faced the possibility of recurring bouts of insanity several times a year for the rest of their lives.[15]
Selected Soletaken
Soletaken Eleint
- Anomander Rake - took the form of a black dragon
- Envy - took the form of a dragon
- Korlat - took the form of a black dragon
- Menandore - took the form of a blindingly bright dragon[16]
- Olar Ethil - took the form of an undead dragon reputedly only rivaled by her mother T'iam and also known as the first Soletaken
- Orfantal - took the form of a black dragon, said to be second in size only to Rake
- Osserc - took the form of a gold and silver dragon[17]
- Scabandari - known to be soletaken eleint
- Sheltatha Lore - known to be soletaken eleint
- Silchas Ruin - took the form of a bone-white dragon.
- Spite - took the form of a dragon.
- Sukul Ankhadu - took the form of a dappled dragon[16]
Draconus and K'rul also took the form of Eleint, however, their shifting was due to their Azathanai nature.
Others
- Kilava Onass - Took the form of a black panther.
- Messremb - Took the form of a bear.
- Pran Chole - Took the form of an Arctic fox.
- Silverfox - Born in a dream, including Tattersail, 2nd Army Mage.
In Deadhouse Gates
Soletaken and D'ivers sought the Path of Hands which promised Ascendancy to those shape-shifters who gained it. Many were killed in the convergence that followed, and others, misled by High House Shadow, were taken by the Azath House, Tremorlor. Due to the vast number of them moving through the Imperial Warren, the spice of shapeshifters was strong enough to be used by Kalam to determine their movements.[5]
In Memories of Ice
While recalling the ritual that created the First Heroes of the First Empire, Treach noted that it had unravelled unexpectedly and unpredictably. The strongest Soletaken were gripped by madness and splintered into pieces, birthing the D'ivers. The T'lan Imass attempted to exterminate those Soletaken and D'ivers created by the process.[3]
As a result of coming into contact with the blood of a Hound of Shadow near Darujhistan, Ganoes Paran gained the ability to take the form of one of the Hounds. He was not a Soletaken in the full sense as his veerings seemed to happen uncontrollably.
Soletaken Eleint
During a September 2019 discussion on his Facebook page, Steven Erikson noted a Soletaken's "Eleint blood brings with it that dragon's life: its memories, its relationships."[18]
Notes and reference
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Glossary, UK MMPB p.709
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 15, US HC p.331
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Memories of Ice, Chapter 7
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 4, UK MMPB p.174
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 12, UK MMPB p.523
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 14, UK MMPB p.582
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 14, UK MMPB p.592
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 19, UK MMPB p.778
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 5, UK MMPB - when Rake lands
- ↑ Reaper's Gale, Chapter 23, UK MMPB p.1096-1097
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 21, UK MMPB p.1106-1107
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 7 - when Kilava sembles
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Memories of Ice, Chapter 7 - when the T'lan Imass confronted Gethol
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 12, UK MMPB p.521-522
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 3, US HC p.98
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Midnight Tides, Chapter 7, UK MMPB p.279
- ↑ Midnight Tides, Chapter 7, UK MMPB p.278
- ↑ Steven Erikson Facebook post 2 September 2019