[Leanoric]

So, did I miss something here? When exactly did Cutter become an assassin? I know he's been referred to as that from maybe as far back as DG, but... really? When was Cutter ever hired by someone to kill someone else?

He's not a Claw or a Talon. He's not in a guild. I don't recall him ever murdering someone in cold blood for money. He doesn't even recall him being excessively under the influence of hashish (does durhang count?)

So... is he really an assassin or does he just like the coolness of the name, and things it might help him score with Apsalar?

[Banana]

I think he's an assassin in style more than anything. The way that he fights probably revolves around deception, stealth and speed like Kalam or Apsalar.

Hell, Kalam hasn't killed anyone for hire throughout the entire series but he is still considered an assassin and not a former-assassin turned soldier.

[Tattooed Hand]

SPOILER:


I think that's why he sees Apsalar trying to turn him away when he goes after Vidikas.

[Tattooed Hand]

That's because Kalam was in the Claw and thus was technically an assasin.

[Aptorian]

In lack of a better word for Crokus profession, Erikson can't very well call him a ninja or anything..., he calls Crokus an assassin.

Perhaps the title killer would had been more fitting. Wouldn't it had been awesome if Hood had used Cutter instead of Gaz?

[Banana]

Tattooed Hand;357089 said:

That's because Kalam was in the Claw and thus was technically an assasin.

Former member of the claw though, which was my point. While part of the bridgeburners he was just another squad member. Corporal if I remember correctly.

[Leanoric]

I think we can agree, though, the Kalam is at the very least a former assassin.

Cutter, though... he's just someone who likes to fight with knives. Rallick seems extremely upset that Cutter has chosen the role of an assassin, despite all his warnings. But, come on! Using a knife and changing your name to Cutter does not make you an assassin, nor a cold blooded killer. I don't think Cutter qualifies in any way as an assassin.

So, I didn't miss some phase of Crokus' transformation into an assassin, then? No time, maybe off camera, spent killing people for money?

[Tattooed Hand]

yes, he was ex-Claw. To my knowledge we don't really ever get a good explanation of how he was picked up form the 7 cities (he was part of a body guard to a Fahlad or what ever those city rulers were called), made a Claw and then joined the bridge burners. Maybe the latter happened when Whiskeyjack was broken down to a leiutenant? After Laseen took over the empire?

I mean, if the origin of the Bridge burners was in Raraku, when chasing Quick Ben, then he was an original Bridge burner, since he was the fake guide to Whiskeyjack.

[Dance]

Assassination doesn't necessarily refer to killing for money. In fact, most modern definitions don't include money at all:

1) the killing of someone by treacherous violence
2) the killing of someone in the public view (i.e. someone notable)
3) the killing of someone for political, moral, or ideological reasons

The assassin's guild generally refers to killing for money, but Dancer/Cotillion (Cutter's patron) is from the Malazan tradition, where the Talon and Claw are political tools, not monetary. Since Cutter generally fights as an assassin, then he qualifies.

[Banana]

Leanoric;357100 said:

But, come on! Using a knife and changing your name to Cutter does not make you an assassin, nor a cold blooded killer. I don't think Cutter qualifies in any way as an assassin.

Yeah that's true. Like I said earlier though, I think the author just uses the title the way video games and roleplaying games do. It describes his skills and fighting style more than anything. Although I think that by changing his name to Cutter, Crokus was trying to become more cold-blooded about killing. Maybe it worked, maybe it didn't.

[HoosierDaddy]

He and Apsalar assasinate people in House of Chains for Cotillion and ST. He considers Cotillion to be his god, Cot's is the patron of Assassins. Cots employs him as an agent, and he is trained as Apsalar was, and she is an assassin.

[Cougar]

HoosierDaddy;357109 said:

Er, he and Apsalar assasinate people in House of Chains for Cotillion and ST. He considers Cotillion to be his god, you know, the patron of Assassins? Cot's employs him as an agent, and he is trained as Apsalar was, and she is clearly an assassin.

Alright keep it friendly we've all missed stuff before.

Correct though.

[HoosierDaddy]

Cougar;357111 said:

Alright keep it friendly we've all missed stuff before.

Correct though.

Sorry, not trying to sound unfriendly, arrogant, or dickish. Apologies to all!

[Cougar]

HoosierDaddy;357115 said:

Sorry, not trying to sound unfriendly, arrogant, or dickish. Apologies to all!

Very gracious sir.

[Leanoric]

It's been a while since I read House of Chains - I guess I have completely forgotten Cutter and Apsalar actually assassinating people for Cot and ST. It does ring a vague bell now... Someone in Shai'ik's camp, wasn't it? Maybe. I need to reread.

I agree completely that assassinations can be done for political reasons as well as money, such as the Claw (although, presumbaly, they *are* being paid to be Claw...)

But I guess Cutter working as an assassin for Cotillion would qualify him for the name (even if he has done very little else). And I do now vaguely recall him taking Cotillion as his patron, although this was probably done more to try to impress Apsalar than anything else.

But thanks for point out his assassinish credentials to me. I only have one measly point of rep to give, but I'll see if I can work out how to give it to you.

[kalmavet7]

Leanoric;357118 said:

But thanks for point out his assassinish credentials to me. I only have one measly point of rep to give, but I'll see if I can work out how to give it to you.

hahaha i just figured that one out today it's the little scale icon to the right of the person's name, above the "join date". hope that helps.

and sure cutter's an assassin, but i think he is really the patron god of d-bags. i hate his character even more after Toll the Hounds.

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Leanoric;357118 said:

It's been a while since I read House of Chains - I guess I have completely forgotten Cutter and Apsalar actually assassinating people for Cot and ST. It does ring a vague bell now... Someone in Shai'ik's camp, wasn't it? Maybe. I need to reread.

I agree completely that assassinations can be done for political reasons as well as money, such as the Claw (although, presumbaly, they *are* being paid to be Claw...)

But I guess Cutter working as an assassin for Cotillion would qualify him for the name (even if he has done very little else). And I do now vaguely recall him taking Cotillion as his patron, although this was probably done more to try to impress Apsalar than anything else.

But thanks for point out his assassinish credentials to me. I only have one measly point of rep to give, but I'll see if I can work out how to give it to you.

I think a lot of assassinations he and Apsalar made were done off camera, so to speak. We only heard about them after it had happened.

[Raraku]

He also killed some people along with Aspalar to get a boat in HoC and thats where he got his name Cutter. I think it was 3 people of which he killed 2 and she killed 1.
He definatly qualifies as an assassin because of his fighting style and the fact that he tries to emulate Aspalar by being one and takes Cotillion as his Patron God.

[Masonity]

HoosierDaddy;357109 said:

He and Apsalar assasinate people in House of Chains for Cotillion and ST. He considers Cotillion to be his god, Cot's is the patron of Assassins. Cots employs him as an agent, and he is trained as Apsalar was, and she is an assassin.

Apsalar wasn't trained as an assassin. Her abilities are remenants of Cotillion dating back from his possession of her. She was "trained" by Cotillion's former life.

[Mailik]

Tattooed Hand;357102 said:

yes, he was ex-Claw. To my knowledge we don't really ever get a good explanation of how he was picked up form the 7 cities (he was part of a body guard to a Fahlad or what ever those city rulers were called), made a Claw and then joined the bridge burners.

Kalam was a BB before he became a Claw. They hired him as a guide to find the escaped mages, one of which was Quick. That trek through the desert created the Bridgeburners and at the end of that trek was when he and Quick joined them.