Toc the Younger [TOCK][4] was a Claw, a soldier in the Malazan 2nd Army assigned to the Messenger Corps outrider class,[5] and a poet. Although a Claw, he had no training as an assassin or mage.[6]
He had been badly injured during the Siege of Pale by falling debris from Moon's Spawn.[7] Half his face had been burned away, an eyepatch covered what used to be one eye and he held his head at an odd angle. He spoke with a rasping voice.[8] Toc thought of the missing eye as being the left one. Presumably, Paran had named it the right one as seen from his own view. The loss of his eye left him with a lasting urge to scratch around the empty eye socket.[9]
When riding, Toc was armed with a scimitar[9] sheathed at his hip and a short bow stowed in a saddle holster. He used the bow right handed.[10] He was a competent archer even after losing one eye.[11]
Toc was the son of famed Malazan commander Toc the Elder. Although he had heard the rumours that his father was dead, he tersely reminded others that his father had "disappeared" and was "not dead for sure."[12]
Toc was known to have used at least one alias, and in his capacity as a Claw, also went by the name of Render Kan.[13]
While a Claw, Toc developed a strong camaraderie with the soldiers of the 2nd Army, which sometimes resulted in divided loyalties when their interests conflicted with those of the Empire.[14][15] Also unlike most Claw, he was warm and open with allies who did not pose a threat.[16]
In Gardens of the Moon[]
Toc the Younger was the only active Claw left in the 2nd, 5th and 6th Armies after the Siege of Pale.[17] Following the siege, he was assigned to escort Captain Ganoes Paran upon his approach to the city of Pale. He cheerfully offered Paran his assessment of the city's political situation and warned that the loyalty of High Fist Dujek Onearm's soldiers should not be tested.[18]
Toc by Merlkir
Sometime after a Hound of Shadow had attacked the camp, Toc went out to rendezvous with Adjunct Lorn. They were due to meet a day's ride outside Pale but Toc had ridden for three days before he came across evidence of her party having been ambushed by Ilgres Barghast on the Rhivi Plain north of Pale. He followed the trail of Lorn and her surviving Jakatakan Élite bodyguards. When he came upon them, his archery which killed two of the Barghast, and the timely arrival of the T'lan Imass Onos T'oolan saved Lorn. Toc had last seen a T'lan Imass eight years previously in Seven Cities, but only from a distance. Toc bound Lorn's injured arm whilst he updated her on the situation in Pale. He and Lorn then rode double on Toc's Wickan breed mare to Pale.[19]
Once in Pale, he attended a meeting of the city's new Imperial leaders. Before Dujek, Lorn, and High Mage Tayschrenn, he chose to remain loyal to the 2nd Army and not inform the gathering of Tattersail's obfuscations regarding the recent attack of one of the Hounds of Shadow.[20]
Later, he chose to put his trust in Captain Paran, disobeying orders so that he could help the captain save the lives of the Bridgeburners.[21] Enroute to Darujhistan, both were ambushed by Hairlock and Toc was thrown into the Warren of Chaos.[22]
In Deadhouse Gates[]
The Imperial Historian Duiker recalled how he had been plucked out of the ranks of the Malaz 1st Army by Emperor Kellanved and given over to the tutoring of Toc the Elder, whom Kellanved called a "soldier with a brain." Toc taught Duiker to read and write alongside his own young son, Toc the Younger, a "runt of a boy who always seemed to be suffering from a cold." Toc the Younger was a quick learner and Duiker's education soon fell to him. Duiker said the boy later "rejected a life amidst scrolls and books."[23]
In Memories of Ice[]
'Toc and Tool' by Junalesca
While Toc was unconscious in Chaos for two months, Togg came upon him and chose to inhabit his body in order to search for his mate, Fanderay. Shortly thereafter, Toc awoke at Morn, where he found Onos T'oolan, now calling himself Tool. They both joined Lady Envy and her entourage composed of three subjugated Seguleh, Mok, Thurule and Senu, along with two large dogs, Garath and Baaljagg, the latter seemingly one of the extinct Ay.[24]
On the journey north, Lady Envy made Toc uncomfortable with her flirting, knowing her to be capable of overthrowing his mind if she so wanted. Tool was more companionable and the pair slowly became friends through their conversations. While making stone arrows together, Tool spoke of Envy's history with Anomander Rake and the significance of the Seguleh's masks.[25]
Near Callows, Envy left their camp on an errand. Toc wondered aloud at Baaljagg's past about her past and received a vision of the ay's dying in a tar pit and her rescue by an Elder God, who granted her a time among spirits until she was needed again. Toc insisted on cooking for the camp, treating the three Seguleh as companions, not servants, which surprised them. Hearing of Toc's vision, and Tool reacted with unexpected emotion. He gave Toc a new name Aral Fayle meaning 'touched by stone' for him having lost his eye to a chunk of Moon's Spawn.[26]
Before Envy's return, Toc had another vision, seeing through the eyes of Trake, the Tiger of Summer, who lay dying after a battle with K'ell Hunters. He witnessed the Soletaken Imass, Kilava Onass, kill the First Hero's attackers and urge Trake to survive for the coming war of the gods. After Toc awoke, Kilava arrived in camp, revealing she saw Toc looking out through Trake's eyes and warned her brother Tool that an Elder God was manipulating them for some unknown purpose. The voice of the Elder God K'rul then spoke in Toc's mind, telling him Kilava sought to right an old wrong. The god also told Toc it intended to send him into the Pannion Seer's hands to help free those under his power, an experience thE god thought Toc would not forgive him for. After Kilava left, saying the meeting gave her hope, the Seguleh began calling Tool and Toc "Stoneblade" and "Stonearrow" to Toc's amazement.[27]
On the Lamatath Plain between Callows and Bastion, Toc walked with Lady Envy, noting her nervousness since visiting Callows. Discussing the T'lan Imass, Envy told Toc that the undead warriors had outlived their gods and their time might be ending, after wiping out all the Jaghut. Toc hoped she was wrong, as he considered Onos T'oolan his friend. This caused Tool to stop and stare.[28]
In a small hamlet near Bastion, Envy's group was welcomed to a meal at the Pannion Domin temple by Seerdomin Kahlt. As they ate, Envy told Toc that the Pannion soldiers planned to kill them that night in their sleep, but told Toc to go to bed anyway. Toc woke to chaos, with Kahlt and his soldiers dead, killed by Envy’s magic, the Seguleh, and Baaljagg and Garath, who had grown to immense size. Envy kissed him, but Toc accused her of manipulating her companions to entertain herself. As part of her petulant denial, she accused Toc of acting just like Anomander Rake. Toc offered to tell her about how his mother was Cartharon Crust's sister, and his father, Toc the Elder, was initially reluctant to claim him as his own, given Crust's temper.[29]
In Bastion, Toc's party arrived at Bastion only to find its fields burned and the survivors eating the dead. Pannion priests warned them of the Embrasure, a phenomenon that began when the Seer came to found the Pannion Domin fourteen years ago. Toc noticed Envy's visible discomfort at this news. At the approach of a Pannion mob, Toc took the opportunity to flee, blending in with the Tenescowri, the Pannion Seer's army. He knew spending any more time with his vastly more powerful companions would likely mean his death in battle and he sought a means of getting back to Onearm's Host.[30] As well, he was likely moved by K'rul's earlier call for him to release the Tenescowri from their suffering at the hands of the Seer.[31]
Toc marched with the Tenescowri for three weeks, eventually arriving at the Pannion Seer's fortress at Outlook. The Malazan gained a reputation for his perceptive eye and caught the attention of Anaster, a member of the Seer's inner circle. But Toc refused to resort to cannibalism like Anaster and the others despite his growing hunger. From battle reports he knew Envy, Tool, and the Seguleh grew closer, inflicting heavy losses.[32] Anaster brought Toc before the Seer, who told him he had a "wolf's eye", and questioned him about Envy’s group. Toc denied knowing them. Toc realized the Seer was a dead man controlled by a Jaghut, who was himself connected to a more deadly power. The Seer accused Toc of trying to assassinate him for the Beast Hold's throne. Toc then experienced a vision of a child screaming "You lied!" before being trapped with a monstrous figure. His bones were repeatedly shattered by a mad K'Chain Che'Malle Matron, but the Seer's healing spells caused Toc's bones to knit back together each time. The Seer promised to keep him alive indefinitely, leaving Toc in endless agony, unable to scream.[33]
In Coral, Toc was tortured and healed for weeks, leaving him deformed and losing his sanity. He believed his visions of Tool, the Seguleh, and Lady Envy battling through ice and snow to be delusions, and in his dreams, he ran as a wolf, chasing something he must deliver, but always failed.[34] The Seer regularly mocked him, and Toc's occasional moments of clarity were broken by the Matron's continued crushing of his body.[35] An unnamed Seerdomin took pity on Toc, surprising the Malazan with kind gestures and a regretful tale of his own family coming to embrace the Pannion Domin.[36] After one incident in which a lucid Toc told the Seer and a group of his Septarchs and Seerdomin that the approaching Onearm's Host was the deadliest force ever produced, the nameless Seerdomin placed him just out of the Matron's reach and promised to bring him food and drink. Toc surprised the Seerdomin by telling him not to risk his own life for his comfort, but the Seerdomin insisted.[37]
The Malazans attacked the city in the Battle of Black Coral. Laying with the K'Chain Che'Malle Matron as the sounds of battle grow louder, Toc watched the Seer create a Finnest by channeling the Matron's power into a reptilian egg. Before disappearing with the Matron, the Seer promised to return, leaving Toc alone. Toc felt the wolf god, Togg, trapped within his broken body, struggling for breath. As the battle quieted, Onos T'oolan arrived to rescue his friend and carry him away.[38] Before they could reach safety, Tool was challenged to a duel by Mok. As their fighting intensified, Toc took his own life to release Togg from his broken body and into the Warren of Tellann.[39]
After the victory at Coral, Toc found himself sitting on a horse surrounded by the Malazan's Grey Sword allies. A woman approached and told him that Togg helped Toc's soul inhabit the empty body of Anaster. During the whole journey since Toc's return from Chaos, Toc had hosted Togg's soul, and Baaljagg had hosted that of Togg's mate, Fanderay. The two lovers were finally reunited in the dreamworld of Tellann. Toc decided to stay, and the woman called him the Mortal Sword of Togg and Fanderay.[40]
Toc-Anaster was later approached by a what looked like a scar-covered Barghast, who was actually Tool restored to mortal life by Silverfox. The man said nothing, only looking at Toc. When Toc asked if he needed anything, the man said he only wanted to see if he was well before departing without revealing his true identity.[41] Making conversation with Gruntle, the newly anointed Mortal Sword of Treach, Toc-Anaster said he had no idea what it meant to be a Mortal Sword, and asked Gruntle for advice. Gruntle smiled and said he did know not either before trading stories about who they once were.[42]
In Reaper's Gale[]
Toc-Anaster by Dejan Delic
As Toc Anaster, he was made co-commander of the 700 Grey Swords of the Wolf's Reve and accompanied them to Lether following the prophecy of a final war at a place called the Battlefield of the Gods. In the Awl'dan, they were hired as mercenaries by the Awl in their fight against the invading Letherii Empire. But the Awl war leader, Hadralt, grew too fond of the coin he intended to use as payment and left the Grey Swords to die alone on the battlefield. When Toc pleaded for the fleeing war leader not to abandon his troops, Hadralt had him taken prisoner and kept him in chains in the filth of a drainage trench.[43][44][45] In the fighting, Toc had once again lost his eye, which was now only blistered scar tissue.[44]
When Redmask overthrew Hadralt for control of the Awl, he was furious to learn of Toc's captivity and immediately freed him. A surprised Toc told Redmask the Grey Swords had been awaiting the First Sword of the K'Chain Che'Malle, but they had not expected him to be Human.[44] As Toc Anaster's body recovered, Redmask kept him near as an advisor on military matters against the Letherii.[46] Factor Letur Anict of Drene soon launched the Awl Campaign, sending the Eastern Army commanded by Atri-Preda Bivatt and Overseer Brohl Handar against Redmask and his people. However Toc did not want to fight anymore so he took on his old role as an outrider, guarding the Awl army's flank as it marched.[47] Redmask eventually paired him with a brash youth named Torrent to train Awl children readying for the death night rituals that marked them as adults. Torrent was insulted by the assignment, seeing Toc as a broken man without courage and regularly taunted him.[48]
Toc's presence was also deeply resented by the last remaining Elder of the Renfayar clan, who claimed Toc dreamt of running with wolves and advised Redmask to kill the man and be done with him. When Toc was dead, then the shame of Hadralt and the Awl would be erased as if it had never been.[49] On the night before the Battle of Bast Fulmar, the Elder approached Toc and informed him he did not trust him, accusing him of planning to betray the Awl for their mistreatment of him. He refused to believe Toc's stories of being reborn in a new body and suckling at the teat of a K'Chain Che'Malle Matron, claiming evil spoke in lies.The Elder let Toc know that Torrent expected him to break and run, and when he did, Torrent would chase him down and slay him. Toc said Torrent was welcome to try, but it was the Awl who would need the prove their courage at Bast Fulmar.[50]
A mage killer by Dejan Delic
Toc Anaster did not actually fight alongside the Awl at Bast Fulmar, which was a stunning Awl victory.[51] At the Battle of Pradegar he tried to dissuade Masarch from leading a doomed cavalry charge against Letherii sorcerers. When the charge broke apart and panicked as he predicted, he raced his own horse into the fray to cover the retreat. A stone arrow he shot into the forehead of a Letherii mage caused a magical backlash that slew three linked mages in total,[52] eliminating all but two of Bivatt's five mages.[53]
By the time of the Awl's last stand at the Battle of Q'uson Tapi, Toc knew Redmask was competent, but no tactical genius.[54] While the two armies grappled in Q'uson Tapi's mud, Toc remained behind the lines with Torrent and a score of children. After Redmask was slain and his people essentially annihilated, a large group of Letherii Skirmishers descended on Toc and his charges to finish the massacre. The Grey Sword hastily handed over his satchel of poetry to Torrent and ordered him to lead the children to safety while he bought them time to escape. Torrent had not gone far before he noted the arrival of another unknown army approaching on the horizon. Thinking they were dead anyway, he turned to bear witness to Toc's final moments, and realised he had been wrong to doubt the man's courage. He was astonished when the Malazan managed to kill ten or more skirmishers before being cut down and his face mutilated.[55]
The Mezla by Dejan Delic
Onos T'oolan and the newly arrived White Face Barghast came to Q'uson Tapi to slay both the Awl and the Letherii. They had seen the aftermath of the massacre of the Grey Swords and Tool had assumed his friend had been killed. When he found Torrent weeping, he would have slain him and the Awl children but for the revelation that Toc had died to protect them. Tool was consumed with grief at his friend's death, once again too late to save his life. Further, Tool had never revealed his true identity to Toc once the T'lan Imass had been restored to mortality. The game had long been a source of amusement for him awaiting the time for a revelation of the truth. Hetan worried her husband might never recover.[56]
Hood, the King of Death, came to personally collect Toc's soul which had already evaded his grasp more than once. When Toc argued that his soul was sworn to the Wolves of Winter, Hood revealed Toc's soul had first been sworn to Hood long ago by his father, Toc the Elder. And much to Toc's surprise, the God of Death revealed his father still lived. But Hood could not answer why Toc still had only one eye in death, only muttering, "Damned wolves."[57]
In Toll the Hounds[]
A Trygalle Trade Guild carriage led by Master Quell and accompanied by Gruntle attempted to pass through Hood's realm, but they were unexpectedly overwhelmed by a hostile army of the dead and forced to escape.[58] Quell and Gruntle returned later to learn the source of the problem and were threatened for trespassing by Hood's servant, the Seguleh Second. Before the Second could goad Gruntle into combat he was interrupted by the arrival of three more dead on horseback who he called his watchdogs: Toc the Younger, Whiskeyjack, and Brukhalian. Gruntle was startled to see his friend Toc Anaster among the dead and Toc sadly warned them that Hood's realm was now sealed to the living. Gruntle saw the warning as an anguished cry to a friend from one already doomed.[59]
After Hood was killed by Anomander Rake as planned and consigned to Dragnipur's prison, he summoned his armies to him under Whiskeyjack's command for the battle against Chaos. Toc attended him as the Herald of High House Death riding a Wickan horse.[60] Toc wanted to fight alongside the dead Bridgeburners, but Hood had other plans for him. Hood's servant, Cartographer, brought Master Quell's carriage to meet the god inside Dragnipur. This time Gruntle did not recognise his friend as Toc had apparently shed Anaster's body and reverted to his own. Hood sent Toc off to follow in the Guild carriage's wake with Cartographer as their guide to bring a message to all the gods of war. In the course of this duty he found Picker's wandering soul and helped her return to her body, asking her to deliver a message to Karsa Orlong that he must remain in Darujhistan if he wanted to fulfill his vow to kill a god. These were Toc's final acts as Hood's Herald before the King of Death released his soul to be claimed by another god that Hood did not name.[61]
In Dust of Dreams[]
(Information needed)
In The Crippled God[]
Whiskeyjack granted a longstanding desire of Toc's and inducted him (posthumously) into the Bridgeburners where he joined them as guardians and arbiters of Hood's Gate.[62]
History[]
Toc the Younger by HemlockMilk
Toc was born aboard a ship, quite possibly the Ragstopper. His mother was Cartheron Crust's sister and his father was Toc the Elder.[63] He, along with his two older siblings (probably half-siblings), Ingen and Leese, were subsequently raised among the Seti.[64] He was considered somewhat of a runt.
Later, at school he helped a veteran soldier, Duiker, learn to read.[23]
Creative works[]
He was the author of:
Under the name Toc Anaster he also authored:
Fan art gallery[]
Notes and references[]
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 7, UK MMPB p.311
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 10, US HC p.233
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 4, US HC p.103
- ↑ Steven Erikson Conversation 3 - Memories of Ice - Ten Very Big Books podcast - As pronounced by Steven Erikson at 08:05
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 3, UK MMPB p.117
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.63
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Dramatis Personae, UK MMPB p.xii
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 3, UK MMPB p.113
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 9, UK MMPB p.268
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 9, UK MMPB p.270
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 9, UK MMPB p.274
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 9, US HC p.202
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 10
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 9, US HC p.224
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 10, US HC p.234
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 3, US HC p.96
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 3, UK MMPB p.115
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 3, UK MMPB p.113-117
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 9, US HC p.267-278
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 9, US HC p.224
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 10, US HC p.233-235
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 15, US HC p.326
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 12, US HC p.314-315
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 1
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 5
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 7, UK MMPB p.311 - "Touched by stone, mortal - Chen're aral lich'fayle - there, on your brow. I give you a new name. Aral Fayle.
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 7
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 9
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 9
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 9
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 7
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 12
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 12
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 17
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 17
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 20
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 22
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 25
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 25
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 25
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 25
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 25
- ↑ Reaper's Gale, Chapter 1, US HC p.40
- ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 Reaper's Gale, Chapter 6, US HC p.150-152
- ↑ Reaper's Gale, Chapter 8, US HC p.210
- ↑ Reaper's Gale, Chapter 8, US HC p.211-212
- ↑ Reaper's Gale, Chapter 10, US HC p.266/271
- ↑ Reaper's Gale, Chapter 10, US HC p.271
- ↑ Reaper's Gale, Chapter 10, US HC p.267-268
- ↑ Reaper's Gale, Chapter 12, US HC p.305-307
- ↑ Reaper's Gale, Chapter 12
- ↑ Reaper's Gale, Chapter 16, US HC p.474-477
- ↑ Reaper's Gale, Chapter 22, US HC p.668-669
- ↑ Reaper's Gale, Chapter 22, US HC p.681
- ↑ Reaper's Gale, Chapter 22, US HC p.700-703
- ↑ Reaper's Gale, Chapter 22, US HC p.703-706/709
- ↑ Reaper's Gale, Chapter 22, US HC p.710-711
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 13, US SFBC p.504-507
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 14, US SFBC p.557-562
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 24, US SFBC p.955-956
- ↑ Toll the Hounds, Chapter 24, US SFBC p.956-959/969-971/993-994
- ↑ The Crippled God, Chapter 24, US HC p.888
- ↑ Memories of Ice, Chapter 9, UK MMPB p.406
- ↑ Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 2 Chapter 6, US HC p.497