Traveller

Traveller was a mysterious swordsman of great skill.

In House of Chains

The man known as "Traveller" was shown to be in the company of a group of Malazans, including Hawl. Their three war dromons were attacked by a fleet of Tiste Edur after a chance encounter off Drift Avalii, and Traveller was among a small group of survivors who made it to the floating island's shore.

Cutter sought the Malazans' aid in protecting the island's Throne of Shadow from the Edur. Aware of the Throne's importance, Traveller convinced the others that the fight was necessary for the Malazan Empire and all of humanity. With Traveller's help, Cutter, Andarist, Apsalar, and Cotillion drove the Edur away. During the fighting, Andarist and most of the Malazans were killed. Traveller took the fallen Andarist's sword, which Cutter noted was named 'Vengeance' or 'Grief', depending on which better suited the wielder. Traveller chose Vengeance and vowed to guard the Throne for a time and bury the corpses of the fallen.

As Cutter and Apsalar left the island by ship, they observed Traveller standing on the shoreline with a half-dozen Malazan survivors. From Dancer's memories, Apsalar understood that Dancer, Kellanved, and Traveller knew each other well and had once been companions, before Tayschrenn, before Dujek, and before Surly. Now she sensed great power and anger.

Later, Cotillion and Shadowthrone stood over Hawl's body in the forest preparing to take her home to Shadow. Cotillion notified Shadowthrone that Traveller was on the island, and Shadowthrone shrugged that the man would have no interest in answering their questions. They quickly left as Shadowthrone admitted Traveller being so close made him nervous. Eventually, Cotillion placed Demons of Shadow on the island to guard the Throne.

In The Bonehunters

Traveller sent the surviving Tiste Andii of Drift Avalii, including Nimander Golit and Phaed, away to safety by ship along with Mudslinger, Gentur, and the other Malazan marines. He eventually departed the island, as when Ahlrada Ahn's party of Edur later arrived, he was nowhere to be found. Disguised by Shadowthrone's magic, the Throne appeared to be destroyed and the Edur left enraged and bitterly disappointed. When Braven Tooth later heard the tale of Traveller's fighting prowess from Mudslinger, the Master Sergeant thought something about how he killed his enemies without breaking a sweat sounded familiar.

In Return of the Crimson Guard

'Traveller and Ereko' Interpretation by Shadaan

Ereko recalled Traveller's arrival at the Stormwall. He was said by the Stormguard to have been a Malazan deserter who attempted to break the blockade on [(Korel]] and was only stopped when his ship was set on fire. As Traveller was chained to the wall, Ereko heard the Queen of Dreams say that the man would bring Ereko's deliverance. He acquitted himself well against the unearthly Stormriders, long outliving others placed on the wall at the same time. Once, Ereko was horrified to see him cast aside his weapon and converse with one of the Riders. That night Ereko broke his chains, retrieved Traveller's cold numbed body, and carried him on his shoulder as he swam to shore.

The pair worked their way south to Stratem, where they began constructing a boat at the village of Canton's Landing. There they defended the villagers from the "grey raiders", two ships of Tiste Edur warriors. Traveller slew all of them except for the young witch Sorrow, who was appalled and fascinated to recognize him. She addressed him as the "Revealed One", sought his guidance, and claimed his presence proved "Everything was a lie! I -- my life -- all is bereft of meaning! I am empty!...I will return to my people and all the ancient lies will be cast down. I will bring this new truth to them." Fearing for her life for revealing such truth, Traveller instead advised her to travel north as a pilgrim.

Ereko and Traveller by PLUGO

Once the boat was completed, it was nearly stolen by the Crimson Guard deserters Kyle, Badlands, Stalker, and Coots. The six reached an agreement to travel together when Kyle stated that they were headed for the Dolmens of Tien on Jacuruku, a location that left Ereko feeling gut-punched and filled with emotion. On Jacuruku, they were attacked by the Thaumaturg Jhest Golanjar, who attempted to trap Traveller within a prison of D'riss beneath the sand. However, Ereko the Thel Akai, a child of the Earth, was able to counter the magery and retrieve Traveller alive. The encounter left Traveller weakened, feverish, and more susceptible to the whispered anguish of his sword.

At the Dolmens of Tien, the group found a desicated corpse where Kyle hoped to find imprisoned Crimson Guard leader K'azz D'Avore. Then the High King Kallor challenged Ereko and Traveller was forced to bow to his friend's wishes, allowing the Thel Akai to be killed. Afterwards, Traveller challenged the sneering Kallor to a duel of their own. He astonished the High King, impaling him upon Vengeance before the Crippled God rescued his servant. Traveller felt the sting of Kyle's rebuke for allowing Ereko to die.

They then tried to travel to Quon Tali but were swept by a storm into the Shadow Realm where Kyle accompanied Traveller to a meeting with Shadowthrone and Cotillion. Shadowthrone offered to help Traveller find Hood, in return for Traveller going back to Quon Tali and helping the Malazans fight off Skinner and the Crimson Guard. The group then split off, Traveller making his own way to Tali, while the others journeyed through Shadow.

At the Battle of the Plains, Traveller reunited with his friends and former guard, Temper and Ferrule, to fight the renegade Skinner and his Crimson Guard Avowed. Skinner's armor was magically impenetrable, but Traveller was able to fend him off and delivered a serious wound under the helm. At that point, Skinner and his Avowed retreated into their Warren. Traveller, too, disappeared, having forestalled Skinner's forces, forcing them to flee.

In Toll the Hounds

Traveller's ship washed ashore on the coast of Genabackis near Morn. He was the ship's sole survivor, tied to the tiller and surrounded by the corpses of its crew. Weak from not having water for three days, he was caught unawares on shore by a starving plains bear. The fight left him bleeding heavily, but he was able to slake his thirst by eating the bear's bloody heart. Two days later, he reached Morn where he was met by Shadowthrone and Cotillion. The gods were accompanied by the five Hounds of Shadow as well as two new Hounds--Pallid and Lock. Traveller told his one-time friends he planned to kill Hood and they would not stop him. But the gods professed to aid him in his quest, providing him food and water as well as the Hounds as guides in his initial journey across the barren Lamatath Plain. The older Hounds recognised Traveller and gathered around him, and Baran and Shan allowed him to stroke them. The gods did not reveal that it was Mael who had wrecked his ship in a misguided attempt to delay Traveller's march towards Hood.

While stopping at a Kindaru encampment on the plain, he met Samar Dev riding Havok in search of Karsa Orlong. Learning that the Teblor had defeated Emperor Rhulad Sengar and might still carry the Crippled God's sword, Traveller accompanied the witch on her search. He warned her that the cursed sword had to be destroyed whether Karsa desired it or not. They soon found the smoldering wreckage of The Captain's enormous wagon, which Karsa had destroyed while setting the Skathandi leader's slaves free. Seeing what the Teblor had accomplished without killing deepened Traveller's fear of meeting the man.

When they finally located Karsa the laughing Teblor pulled the complaining witch into a crushing embrace. Karsa took Traveller for Samar Dev's husband, assuming she must have had one to resist his advances and offered to fight for her. There was a moment of weighing up between the two men, but as Karsa had not kept the Crippled God's sword, there was no fight. Samar Dev wished to return home to Seven Cities, so the three agreed to travel together to Darujhistan where she could catch a ship. Karsa already planned to return north to his homeland to raise an army, but was interested in seeing the city that had defied the Malazans.

Karsa and Traveller quickly grew to enjoy each other's company as they crossed the Dwelling Plain, irritating Samar Dev with their shared stories and easy camaraderie. The Teblor admitted he had not been impressed by what he had seen of civilisation and remained determined to crush every city in the world. A thoughtful Traveller confided he had no love for cities either.

An undead Soletaken Eleint landed near their campfire, sembling into a Tiste Edur who warily introduced himself as Tulas Shorn. He spoke in Samar Dev's native Ugari and bowed before her naming her a priestess of Burn. Tulas Shorn claimed he had escaped Hood's realm and only wanted company after too long a period of solitude. The witch had to calm Traveller (who had no love for servants of Hood) and Karsa (whose first instinct was to kill Tiste Edur) before welcoming the stranger as her guest. Traveller warned the dead man that Hood would reclaim him sooner or later. When they awoke the next morning, they discovered Tulas Shorn had stolen Samar Dev and Traveller's horses. Samar Dev was hurt by their guest's betrayal and Karsa tried assuaging her feelings. But Traveller saw it as a sign the Soletaken remained Hood's creature--they would be delayed in reaching Darujhistan.

Another evening, their campfire was briefly investigated by De nek okral, a massive plains bear that Traveller identified as a god of war from the time of the Imass. Traveller noted the old gods of war were returning.

By the time they reached Darujhistan, it was clear Traveller had brought them to a place where something terrible was happening. The city flashed and rumbled, the Moon appeared to be shattered, citizens fled from the city gates, and even Havok began to shy and startle. Samar Dev was seized with dread and pleaded with Karsa to leave with her. But the Teblor insisted on following Traveller to guard his back. When the witch asked who would guard their backs, Karsa pointed to the approaching De nek okral.

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