Felisin [Feh-liss-in][1] was the youngest[2] daughter of House Paran in Unta. She was very fond of her brother Ganoes. Her sister Tavore described her as too soft for this world.[3] Felisin was described as the prettier of the two Paran sisters, with black hair,[4] a rounded figure, and full lips.
During the events of Deadhouse Gates she was fifteen years old.[5]
In Deadhouse Gates
In 1162 BS, Felisin was arrested as a noble during the Cull. In 1163 BS, the fourteen year old girl was sent to the Otataral mines on Seven Cities by her sister Tavore, the Adjunct, as a demonstration of House Paran's loyalty to Empress Laseen. The House had become vulnerable not least because Ganoes Paran had become a renegade under Dujek Onearm.[6][7]
Felisin by Mer Helv
As the prisoners were gathered to be paraded past the crowds to the slave ships, Felisin met fellow prisoners Heboric Ghost Hands and Baudin. Baudin protected her from the worst of the jeering mob's violence. By the time they arrived Skullcup, Felisin had already realized her only asset was her body, which she sold to the guards in return for more food for herself and her two companions. In the mining camp, Felisin attached herself to Beneth, the local crimelord, for protection and to gain favours. She quickly became addicted to Durhang and alcohol, spending her days in a haze to dull the pain. Her only other outlet was her hatred for the sister responsible for her condition and daydreams of revenge.[8][9]
When the camp's native guards revolted as part of the Whirlwind uprising, Heboric and Baudin arranged the trio's escape into the desert.[10] It was on this journey that she discovered that Baudin was a Talon, sent by her sister to protect her, and who had intended to remove her from Skullcup as soon as possible. They had remained in the camp for so long only because in Baudin words, "[you] can't pull out a person who don't want to go."[11] Baudin also revealed that he had murdered Beneth during their escape.[12]
Even after being freed from the mines, Felisin remained resentful and hardened from her experiences and continued to vow vengeance for her treatment against Tavore and now Baudin. She and her companions were rescued from the desert shore by Kulp and the crew of the Ripath, but after a disastrous trip through the warrens were left in the Holy Desert of Raraku. Felisin drove away Baudin, and made the lives of Kulp and Heboric miserable.[13] When the D'ivers Gryllen slew Kulp, Baudin reappeared revealing that he had not given up his charge. He saved the lives of Felisin and Heboric at the cost of his own, and died in a repentant Felisin's arms.[14] Felisin and Heboric continued on, stumbling upon Leoman and Toblakai who guarded the Book of Dryjhna and the corpse of Sha'ik. Felisin was proclaimed 'Sha'ik Reborn' by Leoman[15] and began receiving preternatural knowledge from the Whirlwind Goddess. They traveled to the oasis at the heart of Raraku where she took command of the Whirlwind and demanded the obedience of the High Mages, Bidithal, Febryl, and L'oric. Rather than opening the book, she struck a deal with the Whirlwind Goddess, unleashing a towering sandstorm column visible from hundreds of leagues away.[16][17]
Interpretation of Felisin by Yapattack
Whilst in Raraku, she adopted an orphan and named her "Felisin". Then she recalled Korbolo Dom and his army back from Aren, even as her sister Tavore arrived with an army to deliver the Malazan Empire's vengeance.[18]
In House of Chains
Interpretation of Sha'ik Reborn and Felisin Younger by Matt Smith
While she was preparing for her confrontation with her sister in Raraku, the Whirlwind goddess was consumed by forces from High House Chains who claimed the fragment of the Warren she was using as her own, leaving Felisin without her influence.
Tavore then killed Felisin with a single sword thrust, never realizing who she really was because Felisin (as Sha'ik) was clad head to toe in armour. This was witnessed by most of the army on both sides, and in particular by Leoman of the Flails, Karsa Orlong, Pearl, and Lostara Yil.
Pearl and Lostara had been trying to find Felisin for Tavore but arrived too late to save her. They did, however, conspire to keep the fact that Tavore had killed her own sister from the Adjunct, and Pearl spirited her body away to be buried on a hillside while Lostara distracted Tene Baralta who was eager to claim the body as a trophy.
Speculation
Felisin may have been the "Felisin" who authored the Call to Shadow poems. That poet's birthdate was listed as 1146BS.[19] However, Felisin herself noted that she "entered my sixteenth year" in 1164BS, putting her birthdate at 1149BS.[20]
Quotes
- "...though we leave the house of our birth, it never leaves us."
- ―Felisin Paran
Notes and references
- ↑ Read for Pixels 2016 Interview As pronounced by Steven Erikson at 46:17
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Dramatis Personae, UK MMPB p.xii
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.50
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 14, US HC p.385
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 3, US HC p.84
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Prologue
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 11, UK MMPB p.449
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 3, US HC p.79-80/84
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 6, US HC p.148
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 6
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 11, UK MMPB p.448-449
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 8, US HC p.202
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 11, US HC p.288
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 14, US HC p.374-381
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 14, UK MMPB p.603
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 18, UK MMPB p.750
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 19, US HC p.492
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 24
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 2, UK MMPB p.51
- ↑ Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 3, US HC p.84 - Note: Entering your 16th year is not the same as being 16 years old. A baby is not 1 year old during its first year of life.