- For Apsalar, Lady of Thieves, see Apsal'ara
The original name of the young fishergirl who later became known first under the name of Sorry, then as Apsalar, was never revealed. She was born in the Quon Tali province of Itko Kan and lived in a small village by the sea with her fisherman father Rellock, who was missing an arm[1]. Their hut was close to the tidemark with a mooring pole opposite[2].
In Gardens of the Moon
Sorry
Interpretation of Sorry by genesischant
Interpretation of Apsalar by dejan-delic
Whilst observing a Malazan column of mounted soldiers passing on a gravel track road[3] near her village in Itko Kan, the young fishergirl aged about 12-13[4], met the wax-witch and Seer Rigga[5]. As the soldiers passed, Rigga had a premonition that foresaw the girl's possession by a God. Seeing the injustice of this, Rigga wove a spell which gave the young girl some measure of protection[6].
The young fishergirl found her life drastically altered after Cotillion possessed her[7]. She lived the next few years under the alter-ego "Sorry" which he created[8]. She never remembered her real name[9]. The possession was visible in her eyes: despite her young age, she had aged eyes, those that were similar to one who had been withered by famine and death[10], they were also described as dead, stony[11].
Sorry's first move was to go to a Malazan recruiting station manned by Staff Sergeant Aragan[12], and enlist with the Malazan Marines, specifically requesting a post with Dujek Onearm's Host[10]. She ended up being assigned to Sergeant Whiskeyjack's 9th Squad in the Bridgeburners.[13] Sorry was with the new troops arriving from Nathilog and joined the Bridgeburners when they were on a brief attachment to the 5th army in the middle of the Mott Campaign. She made a lasting impression, not a good one, when she mutilated prisoners, ostensibly to get information.[14]
After the battle at Pale, Whiskeyjack and his squad still referred to Sorry as the 'new recruit',[15] to indicate that she was not a fully accepted member of the Bridgeburners even though she'd been with them for two years[16]. Whiskeyjack observed that Quick Ben was scared of her and that Kalam would slip a knife into his hand anytime she was near.[17]
Through her possession Sorry was able to sense the opening of Warrens[18]. Fiddler called her an uncanny bitch referring to her uncanny ability to think things out.[11] Quick Ben referred to her as 'pure evil' and was initially visibly frightened by her.[11][19]
At the end of the Siege of Pale, Sorry was about 15 years of age[20][11].
When Quick Ben performed the soul-shifting on Hairlock, he kept Sorry away.[21]
Since the Itko Kan Massacre, Imperial Intelligence services had been following the trail of Sorry however, it was only just before (less than a week) the battle at Pale, that Topper came to the information of her being with Whiskeyjack's squad in the Bridgeburners.[22] Captain Ganoes Paran who was already on his way to Pale was given the order to assume command of the Bridgeburners and to stay close to the recruit i.e. Sorry. Once in place, he was to wait for further orders. Topper also told Paran that Sorry was being used by a god.[23]
Sorry/Cotillion attacked Captain Paran soon after his arrival in Pale. As Paran sank into unconsciousness, he overheard her talking to Ammanas in a Kanese accent.[24]
Sorry was wearing a non-standard, ankle-length raincape as the squad departed for Darujhistan with a hood which kept her face in shadow.[25]
Sorry surprised everyone when she professed to a knowledge of fishing, using her knowledge to help the squad enter Darujhistan disguised as fishing crew.[26]
Apsalar
Interpretation of Apsalar by Grimhilde
Interpretation of Apsalar by Artsed
When Sorry was abandoned by Cotillion[27], she was helped back to Darujhistan by Crokus. Having lost her memory, she asked Crokus for a Daru name. He originally suggested "Challice" but then decided that since it was someone else's name he should choose another. He then dubbed her "Apsalar", the name of his matron goddess, the Lady of Thieves but again changed his mind as it was the name of a goddess. The former Sorry disagreed and chose to remain Apsalar.
Although no longer possessed, the experience left Apsalar with residual effects. Amongst them an ability to speak other languages[28], see in virtual darkness[29] and recall some of Cotillion's memories[30]. The slight presence of the soul of Rigga shielded Apsalar's mind from some of the things she did whilst possessed and stopped her from going to pieces when the possession came to an end[31][32].
Crokus chose to try and protect Apsalar and decided to accompany her back to her village after his family was killed.
When Captain Paran assumed command of the Bridgeburners, Kalam and Fiddler declared they would follow him but that they must first help Apsalar back to her home on Itko Kan.
In Deadhouse Gates
When they arrived on the continent of Seven Cities, Kalam split from the group in Ehrlitan and the other three continued in disguise. Apsalar recalled more and more of Sorry's deadly knowledge as time went on. After the awakening of the Whirlwind, the travelling companions were attacked first by a tribe of Gral and then found themselves in a battle between some Soletaken and D'ivers. They were saved by the appearance of Icarium and Mappo who drove off the D'ivers, Gryllen.
Icarium and Mappo then escorted them back to the temple inhabited by Iskaral Pust, who showed a great talent for healing, mending Fiddler's crushed ankle. Pust also revealed Fiddler's true destination, Tremorlor, the Azath House in the desert which Quick Ben believed held a gate which could take them to the Deadhouse in Malaz City. He also reassured the group that Anomander Rake's bane held and Cotillion would not possess Apsalar again.
It was revealed that Iskaral Pust's servant was actually Rellock, Apsalar's father, who then chose to accompany the group back to his home village.
In House of Chains
Interpretation of Andarist (center), Cutter and Apsalar by Dejan-delic
Having travelled to her destroyed village and witnessed the death of her father, Crokus and Apsalar continued to travel alone across the continent of Quon Tali. In a bid to gain money and try to get closer to Apsalar, Crokus learned how to help her perform assassinations, and eventually become a skilled killer in his own right. He took the new name of "Cutter", which had the unintended affect of pushing Apsalar further away due to her revulsion at her own abilities.
Cutter was encouraged by Cotillion to secretly take Apsalar to Drift Avalii in order to protect the Throne of Shadow from an unnamed threat. Quickly realizing the deception, Apsalar was yet further pushed away from Cutter. The two travelled by boat to Drift Avalii, where the floating island destroyed their vessel, leaving Apsalar on land, and Cutter sucked into one of the vortices leading to the center of the island.
Believing Cutter to be dead, Apsalar travelled inland only to find survivors of the Malazan Navy who had been marooned on the island after a brief confrontation with Tiste Edur naval units. Together, they journeyed to the ruins of the castle protecting the Throne. There, Apsalar was reunited with Cutter and met the Tiste Andii, Andarist and plans were made to prevent the Edur from regaining the Throne. The ensuing battle left only Traveller, Cutter and Apsalar alive.
In exchange for their help, Cotillion eased their return to Seven Cities and the long journey to Darujhistan.
In The Bonehunters
Interpretation of 'Apsalar after her Malaz City Shadow Dance' by Rinserepeet
Key figures of the Warren of Shadow (Rashan and Meanas).
Interpretation by Shadaan (clockwise from the left) Gear, Cottilion, Shadowthrone, Edgewalker, Shan and Apsalar
Having returned to the monastery in Seven Cities inhabited by Iskaral Pust, Apsalar no longer felt she could safely travel with Cutter and decided she had to leave him in order to prevent him being further corrupted by her influence. Travelling within a fragment of Kurald Emurlahn to escape, she encountered two undead, skeletal lizards: Curdle and Telorast. Curious, the two lizards convinced Apsalar to free them from their bonds and chose to accompany her. Leaving the Warren, Apsalar wandered Seven Cities until she met up with the Bonehunters after the last siege of Y'Ghatan. They decided to allow her to accompany them to their ships, where they were ordered to return to Quon Tali.
In Malaz City, she killed the Clawmaster, Pearl and three hundred and seven Claws singlehandedly. Shadowthrone himself said that her shadow dance was even more impressive than Cotillion's.
In The Crippled God
Apsalar was finally reunited with Crokus in her father's fishing village.
| Bridgeburners | |
|---|---|
| Officers | Ganoes Paran • Ash |
| 7th Squad | Antsy • Blend • Detoran • Picker • Spindle |
| 9th Squad | Whiskeyjack • Fiddler • Hedge • Kalam • Mallet • Quick Ben • Sorry • Trotts |
| Others | Mulch (11th squad) • Bucklund (12th squad) • Aimless • Bluepearl • Cage • Corinn • Dasalle • Liss • Monkrat • Runter • Shank • Toes • Tormin • Story |
Speculations
- The Itko Kan massacre
- The young fishergirl found herself out and about because her father needed materials for new nets - his last one was taken by 'something' in deep waters, and the catch, too. This meant that unless he made a catch the following day, Rellock would be in trouble with the money lender. Did Cotillion engineer the loss of the nets to put the girl on the road (to buy twine for new nets[28]) where there would be few witnesses and to put her father in a precarious financial situation, making him more open to whatever Cotillion intended to suggest to him[33]?
- The dialogue between Cotillion and Ammanas seemed to indicate that until Ammanas gave away Cotillion's name, the plan to possess the girl might not have been definite yet[34].
- The killing of the Itko Kanese cavalary unit by the Hounds may have been planned by Shadowthrone only, without Cotillion's prior knowledge[34].
Notes and References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.13
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.24
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.12/16
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.31 age estimated by recruitment Sergeant
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.12
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.14
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.19
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.18
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 16, UK MMPB p.493
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.32
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 2, UK MMPB p.83
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.31
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Dramatis Personae, UK MMPB p. xii
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 4, UK MMPB p.159
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 3, UK MMPB p.104
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 4, UK MMPB p.160
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 4, UK MMPB p.133
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 12, UK MMPB p.402
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 4, UK MMPB p.133
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 2, UK MMPB p.58
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 2, UK MMPB p.82
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 3, UK MMPB p.94/95
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 3, UK MMPB p.96
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 3, UK MMPB p.124
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 4, UK MMPB p.159
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 8, UK MMPB p.259
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 15, UK MMPB p.474/483
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 15, UK MMPB p.484
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 19, UK MMPB p.566
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 20, UK MMPB p.589
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 20, UK MMPB p.590
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 22, UK MMPB p.644
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.13/19
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.17