Malazan Empire: Okay, so what exactly are the Barghast? - Malazan Empire

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Okay, so what exactly are the Barghast? I don't remember a clear explanation ever given.

#1 User is offline   Johnny Phoenix 

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Posted 05 May 2010 - 12:14 AM

All I remember is that the Barghast are mentioned as non-human. I don't seem to recall a single physical description. They are related to the T'lan Imass and are a relatively barbaric society so I picture them kind of like Neanderthals, is this an accurate image?
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#2 User is offline   Mischiefs' Folly 

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Posted 05 May 2010 - 12:19 AM

Imass + Thelomen Toblakai = Barghast
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#3 User is offline   Abyss 

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Posted 05 May 2010 - 02:25 PM

From MoI i figured they were the Imass/Thelomen mixed blood descendents of the Imass who missed the Ritual because they were at sea with the T3 at the time.

Relatedly it's also suggested that the Moranth are a spin-off Barghast tribe who bumped uglies with the Tiste Edur when they were passing through.

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#4 User is offline   Jhenna 

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Posted 20 May 2010 - 10:59 PM

I had the same question. They don't seem any different than human. If we weren't specifically told "not human" I would have never given it a second thought. So how do people differentiate that someone is a barghast? I walk in a bar - all humans, wait there's a barghast, I can tell because ... why? Sure in the books it says their tattoos or whatever, but whats with their physical description? Seems like a throw away line to call them non-human if for all purposes they ARE human. What did the Thelomen Toblakai give them?

This post has been edited by Jhenna: 20 May 2010 - 11:01 PM

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#5 User is offline   Beezulbubba 

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Posted 20 May 2010 - 11:17 PM

I thought the Barghast descended from the Imass who missed the ritual at the first gathering (ritual of Telann) because they were on the sea searching for Jaghut (or Tiste Edur?) to eradicate from existence.

#6 User is offline   Sinisdar Toste 

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Posted 20 May 2010 - 11:34 PM

they descended from those imass and the thelomen toblakai that were with them. the barghast are generally more bulky than humans, and they have imass-like features. rounder faces, less chin, bit of a brow ridge. the thelomen blood is probably weak.
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#7 User is offline   Jhenna 

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Posted 21 May 2010 - 02:05 AM

View PostSinisdar Toste, on 20 May 2010 - 11:34 PM, said:

they descended from those imass and the thelomen toblakai that were with them. the barghast are generally more bulky than humans, and they have imass-like features. rounder faces, less chin, bit of a brow ridge. the thelomen blood is probably weak.


Thanks - that helps me picture them better. Are they located somewhere on Quon Tali as well, or just over on Genabackis?
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#8 User is offline   Abyss 

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Posted 21 May 2010 - 08:52 PM

View PostJhenna, on 21 May 2010 - 02:05 AM, said:

View PostSinisdar Toste, on 20 May 2010 - 11:34 PM, said:

they descended from those imass and the thelomen toblakai that were with them. the barghast are generally more bulky than humans, and they have imass-like features. rounder faces, less chin, bit of a brow ridge. the thelomen blood is probably weak.


Thanks - that helps me picture them better. Are they located somewhere on Quon Tali as well, or just over on Genabackis?



The Toste is correct, and add to that they have fangs. likely big pointy incisors.

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#9 User is offline   Aptorian 

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Posted 21 May 2010 - 08:58 PM

Actually, I thought the sharp fangs were filed? Not natural.

This post has been edited by Aptorian: 21 May 2010 - 08:59 PM

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#10 User is offline   Abyss 

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Posted 25 May 2010 - 05:24 PM

View PostAptorian, on 21 May 2010 - 08:58 PM, said:

Actually, I thought the sharp fangs were filed? Not natural.


there's ref to them filing their teeth but also to 'fangs' ie naturally pointy teeth. Could go either way.

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#11 User is offline   SalokinX 

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Posted 26 May 2010 - 02:51 AM

Why did I imagine them as a tiger-human kind of mix?

I thought they had feline-like faces: hairy and with sharp teeth. I also thought that the tattoos were just a different kind of color on their facial fur.

*Sigh*, I am horrible with descriptions...
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#12 User is offline   Aptorian 

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Posted 26 May 2010 - 03:59 AM

Maybe you look at one of the drawings in the art section?
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#13 User is offline   Hetan 

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Posted 26 May 2010 - 06:21 AM

View PostSalokinX, on 26 May 2010 - 02:51 AM, said:

Why did I imagine them as a tiger-human kind of mix?

I thought they had feline-like faces: hairy and with sharp teeth. I also thought that the tattoos were just a different kind of color on their facial fur.

*Sigh*, I am horrible with descriptions...


sounds like you're muddling them up with the Eres who had fur?

@ Abyss - The Barghast don't have fangs - they file their teeth, which makes them fang-like.
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#14 User is offline   Sinisdar Toste 

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Posted 26 May 2010 - 06:46 AM

the barghast also cover themselves in grease, which would pick up a lot of debris. they're probably naturally hairier than humans too.
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#15 User is offline   The Tyrant Lizard 

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Posted 26 May 2010 - 10:36 AM

I always thought of the Barghast as neanderthals. Slightly broader than humans, slightly more robust, tougher, and fucking ugly.

Trotts is constantly referred to as filing his teeth isn't he?
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#16 User is offline   beru 

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Posted 26 May 2010 - 10:44 AM

yes he is...
and its the imass that are close to neanderthals i belive...
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#17 User is offline   Jorram 

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Posted 26 May 2010 - 11:47 AM

I thought the Barghast are like a head taller than humans as a rule due to the Thelomen blood but it's also mentioned all the time in GotM and MoI i think.
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#18 User is offline   Battalion 

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Posted 26 May 2010 - 01:12 PM

Basically, they look like Klingons, without such bony foreheads, IMHO.

Also, I think that the difference between them and humans is less, 'one is a cat, one is a dog,' and more, one is a 'German Shepard and the other is a Doberman' ... with Imass/TTT as the wolf from which they all decended.
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#19 User is offline   Kanubis 

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Posted 26 May 2010 - 01:28 PM

View PostSalokinX, on 26 May 2010 - 02:51 AM, said:

Why did I imagine them as a tiger-human kind of mix?

I thought they had feline-like faces: hairy and with sharp teeth. I also thought that the tattoos were just a different kind of color on their facial fur.

*Sigh*, I am horrible with descriptions...


Interesting - despite there being absolutely no evidence for it, I had a similar 'feline' imagine of the barghast. I think on my second read-through I paid more attention to the descriptive stuff, but it's damn hard to get an image out of your head once it's there.
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#20 User is offline   Jaghut Engine 

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Posted 26 May 2010 - 01:38 PM

For some reason the image or impression (to me) that the Barghast were, in some senses were similar to Native American tribes as being described as having some sort of quills and other such ornaments.
It is also is mentioned briefly in House of Chains that Karsa's race the Toblakai were somewhat related to the Barghast, has anyone else picked this upPosted Image??
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