Apto Canavalian was a judge for The Century's Greatest Artist competition in Farrog. He spent much of his time frowning or critiquing the works of others.[1]
In Crack'd Pot Trail[]
Apto traveled across the Great Dry on the Cracked Pot Trail towards Farrog in order to serve as a judge in the latest competition at his own expense. Along the way his mule died of pox and his servant accidentally strangled himself leaving Apto alone on a waterless plateau with ten bottles of cheap wine. He was discovered by a passing caravan in a dehydrated state with nine empty bottles.[2] Unfortunately the caravan was itself without food and had resorted to eating their "useless" artistic companions. Every night the poets and singers would perform in competition for the right to live another day. Apto was not included among the competitors, but instead provided his appraisal of the performances.[3]
Apto made the mistake of directing his cutting remarks against the Well Knight Arpo Relent. When the knight attempted to murder the man who criticized his goddess, the Lady of Beneficence, Apto used his skills as a critic to dodge the effects of his own words. Luckily for him, Relent crashed head first into a boulder and knocked himself out. Apto spent the rest of the trip fearful of Relent's slow recovery.[4]
In The Fiends of Nightmaria[]
Apto was one of the ultimate survivors of the dire events of the Crack'd Pot Trail who arrived safely at the city of Farrog. As guest-judge for the city's 'Festival of Flowers and Sunny Days', Apto became wealthy enough from the bribes intended to influence his decision that he was able to buy a river-side villa. Since he accepted every bribe offered, he felt they all cancelled each other out and he was free to judge on merit alone. Those who had paid for his services did not feel the same, and he was arrested before the vote to determine the Century's Greatest Artist.[5]
Shortly thereafter, Bauchelain and Korbal Broach overthrew Farrog's king and named themselves king and Grand Bishop, respectively. The new king arrested all of the city's artists and his other enemies so that Apto was reunited with six other Cracked Pot Trail survivors - i.e., Brash Phluster, Flea Chanter, Midge Chanter, Steck Marynd, Tiny Chanter, and Tulgord Vise in the torture chamber of the Royal Palace of Farrog. There, the seven survivors were tortured in rotation on the rack by the Royal Torturer, Binfun, in preparation for their execution. Apto spent the time squabbling with Brash Phluster, much to the others' displeasure.[6] Ultimately, the prisoners were able to escape with the aid of Seneschal Shartorial Infelance, who was smitten with Steck Marynd,[7][8] and were soon wandering the dungeon tunnels.[9]
At one point, Apto and the others had a mayhem-filled encounter with a group of thieves--the 'Party of Five'--who were searching the tunnels for their imprisoned Guild Mistress, Dam Loudly Heer.[10] After the brawl, the Seneschal brought them to the Royal Apothecary for some badly-needed healing, but they were ambushed there by thirty-two of Bauchelain's demons.[11] Apto hid while the others fought for their lives. When the battle ended and the extent of his cowardice was known, he was forced to flee from his onetime companions. In his flight, he stumbled and fell down a dark stairwell where he was found lying by the Indifferent God occupying the body of an ape-like demon. The God held his severed member in his hands and lamented that he had abused himself so much that it fell off. Now he needed a new body to possess. Apto managed to stave off the God's attempt to possess him by pretending he was dying with a broken back and the God left to seek a more suitable candidate.[12]
Meanwhile, the other escapees travelled to the palace's throne room to confront Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. They found only a demonic mouse sitting on the throne. Their attempt to confront Bauchelain's minion brought the entire palace crashing down.[13][14] Whether Apto survived in the dungeons was unknown.
Trivia[]
Apto Canavalian is named for A.P. Canavan, the advanced reader for many of the books by Malazan authors, Steven Erikson and Ian C. Esslemont,[15][16] and the host of A Critical Dragon on YouTube. Erikson says, "I would say A.P.'s presence in Crack'd Pot Trail isn't a parody at all, it's probably quite accurate."[17]
Notes and references[]
- ↑ Crack'd Pot Trail, Chapter 4
- ↑ Crack'd Pot Trail, Chapter 2
- ↑ Crack'd Pot Trail, Chapter 3
- ↑ Crack'd Pot Trail, Chapter 5
- ↑ The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 4
- ↑ The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 4
- ↑ The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 10
- ↑ The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 11
- ↑ The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 14
- ↑ The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 17
- ↑ The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 20
- ↑ The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 23
- ↑ The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 27
- ↑ The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 28
- ↑ Malazan chat with A.P. Canavan - See 5:00 and 51:00
- ↑ Chat with Stephen Erikson and A.P. Canavan - See 23:00
- ↑ Steven Erikson Live Q&A - Fantasy/SciFi Focus - See 1:12:50