Malazan Empire: ASSAIL - Malazan Empire

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ASSAIL Aka ICE 5: The Culminating Convergence SPOILERS!!!!

#41 User is offline   Salt-Man Z 

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Posted 16 April 2013 - 08:55 PM

View PostAbyss, on 16 April 2013 - 08:07 PM, said:

But on the bright side, HEY! ASSAIL this year!!!!!

Maybe.

That more or less jives with the Amazon release date of Nov 7th for "City in the Jungle".

This post has been edited by Salt-Man Z: 16 April 2013 - 08:55 PM

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#42 User is offline   worry 

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Posted 16 April 2013 - 11:31 PM

I'd like to hear more along those lines from ICE, sure. This might be cheesy, but I want to see Hawl and Nok together. While I thought Hawl's death was handled well in the one book she was in, IIRC there was never a point where Nok heard anything about it. Not saying there's a particular reason he should have, but it seems like something that could have added some character development to him, even if it's grief with a stiff upper lip, you know? Nok remains as much a mystery to me as Tays ever did.
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#43 User is offline   Sinisdar Toste 

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Posted 18 April 2013 - 12:45 AM

talking about the tyrants again, there's more to spinnocks tale about assail than just 'anomander isn't needed'.

when he reports to rake on assail in Ch.2 of TtH he tells him that he lost count of the number he (spinnock) had slain, and that the bay he escaped into was completely red. this throws huge doubt on the idea that the thing about assail is an undead thing i think. there's gotta be something else going on there, because t'lan don't bleed, and they don't die. neither do ghosts. ghosts who possess humans however, or humans who die and then re-constitute themselves ala smoky in B&B seem much more likely to me. however, the dying and re-constituting thing is pretty out there. how do you face a continent of rhulads? makes me hope i'm right.
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#44 User is offline   elmo 

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Posted 18 May 2013 - 07:27 PM

The smokey situation in B&B got my ideas on jaghut turned around here. and thinking about the various references so far we may have already met the answer.

What if the population of Assail is properly human not undead or possessed but all avowed to the Tyrants.

The avowed we have met are stronger so could hack up tlan imass.

They are incredibly hard to kill and after the smokey incident looks like can revitalise themselves. If they are Linked to the holder of the vow (ie:the crimson guard to Kazz) would this not suggest being a form of conatinment if the assail were avowed to these tyrants. The crimson Guard disavowed did go AWOL but we don't know how much power Kazz had over them as it becomes obvious that he still sees them as his own people so wouldn't wish them harm. The tyrants probably couldn't give a crap about their soldiers welfare making control alot like slavery and cotillon does say they see it as a game.

The link between the lost brothers comments on ghosts and brethen would support this and also the comments on how Kazz would need to go there to get answers the vow shows there is definately something similar already in place in Assail.

Cal Brins avowed army would easily have been overpowered by much superiors numbers of troops if they were avowed aswell.

In ROTCG Skinner reckons he could sweep the field with maybe a hundred avowed. If there are avowed armies on Assail even the imass would be getting a beating.

The issue here is that if this was the case how would this wrap up the series?

Or is it going to stick to the norm and leave us a whole load of questions unanswered?
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#45 User is offline   Jussi 

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Posted 31 May 2013 - 01:50 PM

Plot synopsis:

Quote

The final chapter in the awesome, epic story of the Malazan empire.

Tens of thousands of years of ice is melting, and the land of Assail, long a byword for menace and inaccessibility, is at last yielding its secrets. Tales of gold discovered in the region's north circulate in every waterfront dive and sailor's tavern and now countless adventurers and fortune-seekers have set sail in search of riches. All these adveturers have to guide them are legends and garbled tales of the dangers that lie in wait -- hostile coasts, fields of ice, impassable barriers and strange, terrifying creatures. But all accounts concur that the people of the north meet all trespassers with the sword. And beyond are rumoured to lurk Elder monsters out of history's very beginnings. Into this turmoil ventures the mercenary company, the Crimson Guard. Not drawn by contract, but by the promise of answers: answers to mysteries that Shimmer, second in command, wonders should even be sought. Arriving also, part of an uneasy alliance of Malazan fortune-hunters and Letherii soldiery, comes the bard Fisher kel Tath. And with him is a Tiste Andii who was found washed ashore and who cannot remember his past life, yet who commands far more power than he really should. Also venturing north is said to be a mighty champion, a man who once fought for the Malazans, the bearer of a sword that slays gods: Whiteblade.

And lastly, far to the south, a woman guards the shore awaiting both her allies and her enemies. Silverfox, newly incarnated Summoner of the undying army of the T'lan Imass, will do anything to stop the renewal of an ages-old crusade that could lay waste to the entire continent and beyond. Casting light on mysteries spanning the Malazan empire, and offering a glimpse of the storied and epic history that shaped it, Assail is the final chapter in the epic story of the Empire of Malaz.


http://www.bookloung...n=9780593064481
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#46 User is offline   Tattersail_ 

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Posted 31 May 2013 - 02:00 PM

I almost don't want it to come out because it has been built up. Yet I will be buying this.

Quote


The final chapter in the awesome, epic story of the Malazan empire.
Tens of thousands of years of ice is melting, and the land of Assail, long a byword for menace and inaccessibility, is at last yielding its secrets. Tales of gold discovered in the region's north circulate in every waterfront dive and sailor's tavern and now countless adventurers and fortune-seekers have set sail in search of riches. All these adveturers have to guide them are legends and garbled tales of the dangers that lie in wait -- hostile coasts, fields of ice, impassable barriers and strange, terrifying creatures. But all accounts concur that the people of the north meet all trespassers with the sword. And beyond are rumoured to lurk Elder monsters out of history's very beginnings. Into this turmoil ventures the mercenary company, the Crimson Guard. Not drawn by contract, but by the promise of answers: answers to mysteries that Shimmer, second in command, wonders should even be sought. Arriving also, part of an uneasy alliance of Malazan fortune-hunters and Letherii soldiery, comes the bard Fisher kel Tath. And with him is a Tiste Andii who was found washed ashore and who cannot remember his past life, yet who commands far more power than he really should. Also venturing north is said to be a mighty champion, a man who once fought for the Malazans, the bearer of a sword that slays gods: Whiteblade.

And lastly, far to the south, a woman guards the shore awaiting both her allies and her enemies. Silverfox, newly incarnated Summoner of the undying army of the T'lan Imass, will do anything to stop the renewal of an ages-old crusade that could lay waste to the entire continent and beyond. Casting light on mysteries spanning the Malazan empire, and offering a glimpse of the storied and epic history that shaped it, Assail is the final chapter in the epic story of the Empire of Malaz.






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#47 User is offline   blackzoid 

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Posted 31 May 2013 - 03:58 PM

Cannot wait!

And Kyle = Whiteblade guy. Baal is south of Assail if I recall.
"Ages-old crusade" sounds to me like it could be Tiste Liosan or Forkrul Assail

That mysterious Tiste Andii better not be Rake though!
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#48 User is offline   Tattersail_ 

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Posted 31 May 2013 - 04:01 PM

View Postblackzoid, on 31 May 2013 - 03:58 PM, said:

Cannot wait!

And Kyle = Whiteblade guy. Baal is south of Assail if I recall.
"Ages-old crusade" sounds to me like it could be Tiste Liosan or Forkrul Assail

That mysterious Tiste Andii better not be Rake though!


I think it'll be Draconus or Andarist or Silchas?
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#49 User is offline   blackzoid 

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Posted 31 May 2013 - 04:41 PM

Had a thought, it could be Clip?
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#50 User is offline   tiam 

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Posted 31 May 2013 - 04:42 PM

Very intriguing indeed not at all like BandB where you spot Kallor from fifty paces. Kyle for the whiteblade but the Andii is interesting.

I think Assail deserves its own subforum now surely?

This post has been edited by Jean-Claude Van tiam: 31 May 2013 - 04:43 PM

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#51 User is offline   Spoilsport Stonny 

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Posted 31 May 2013 - 04:46 PM

If he's coming with Fisher, it could be Orfantal. We never actually SAW him die. Dying, yes, but not dead.

Or it could be anyone. Lots of Tiste Andii in Black Coral. One fell into the sea, hit his head on a rock, BAM! Instant Tom Hanks.
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#52 User is offline   Abyss 

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Posted 31 May 2013 - 07:56 PM

Did one of Nimander's cousins in TtH 'dissappear' as opposed to die? Nenanda maybe.... I'm blanking... Darist wasnt that powerful and Silch is pretty distinct so i think they're off the table.
Orfantal... Unlikely but not unthinkable. Draconus is already back in play so not him unless Morn found himself an escape. A memory wiped Rake is entirely possible, esp after RCG gave us back a certain Wickan showing pretty clearly ICE is willing to go there.


I'm hoping Antsy is part of the treasure hunting team. I liked how ICE handled him in OST.

The Letherii angle leaves open a few fun possibilities for characters we haven't seen since TCG.

Whiteblade almost has to be Kyle, now with even more beard.
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#53 User is offline   Dragnipurake 

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Posted 01 June 2013 - 03:21 AM

Think its Rake (way more power than he should). Always wondered about the significance of the eye of the god Kadaspala creates on the wagon that he takes with him. Nenanda if I remember correctly is the empty female that MD takes over.
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#54 User is offline   Sinisdar Toste 

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Posted 01 June 2013 - 04:20 AM

thats aranatha. nenanda is male.

i really don't want the amnesiac andii to be rake. orfantal would be better.

This post has been edited by Sinisdar Toste: 01 June 2013 - 04:20 AM

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#55 User is offline   Imperial Historian 

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Posted 01 June 2013 - 11:11 AM

View PostJean-Claude Van tiam, on 31 May 2013 - 04:42 PM, said:

Very intriguing indeed not at all like BandB where you spot Kallor from fifty paces. Kyle for the whiteblade but the Andii is interesting.

I think Assail deserves its own subforum now surely?


Yes, apologies for the delay!

I'm looking forward to this. Feel free to go wild with Assail spoilers and speculation in this forum.
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#56 User is offline   Illuyankas 

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Posted 01 June 2013 - 03:07 PM

View Postblackzoid, on 31 May 2013 - 03:58 PM, said:

Cannot wait!

And Kyle = Whiteblade guy. Baal is south of Assail if I recall.
"Ages-old crusade" sounds to me like it could be Tiste Liosan or Forkrul Assail

That mysterious Tiste Andii better not be Rake though!

Haha, nearly exactly what I posted in the other synopsis thread just now, only a day ago. Great minds etc.
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#57 User is offline   Khellendros 

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Posted 01 June 2013 - 04:30 PM

Kedeviss is the Andii in Nimander's group who died but we didn't see it (Clip killed her with kelyk and then threw her body over a cliff). Could be her I suppose...but then could be an all new character all together.


Either way, and despite my decidedly mixed reaction to ICE's books, I'm excited!!!


Edit: Also, the blurb refers to the Andii as a male, so not Kedeviss then. Unless they had an Orfantal-style sex change of course.

This post has been edited by Khellendros: 01 June 2013 - 04:32 PM

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#58 User is offline   worry 

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Posted 01 June 2013 - 05:15 PM

Oh yes, male. And that means yet again we won't be seeing Feral. Biggest tease of the series for me. I doubt it's Rake, that would just be nutty (so would Andarist IMO, but relatively much less so; Silchas is fine and dandy at the end of TCG, plus he's an albino, so won't be him). And I personally thought Orfantal's death was pretty clear cut, so I'm betting against him, but what do I know. Clip or any of the Rake offspring post-Eleint battle make some plausible sense. Could also be any unknown or barely known Andii who just got out of Dragnipur with everyone else.

But ultimately, if I was to bet actual money on anyone, I'd go with Blind Gallan.
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#59 User is offline   tiam 

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Posted 01 June 2013 - 05:49 PM

Random dragnipured andii is actually a pretty good theory and gallan is the only andii that could be a possible game changer i really hope its him now.

Could it not also be an orchid kind of chracter. A draconian soletaken from knowhere in particular.

This post has been edited by Jean-Claude Van tiam: 01 June 2013 - 05:52 PM

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#60 User is offline   nacht 

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Posted 02 June 2013 - 11:25 PM

View Postsorrysort, on 01 June 2013 - 05:15 PM, said:

Oh yes, male. And that means yet again we won't be seeing Feral. Biggest tease of the series for me. I doubt it's Rake, that would just be nutty (so would Andarist IMO, but relatively much less so; Silchas is fine and dandy at the end of TCG, plus he's an albino, so won't be him). And I personally thought Orfantal's death was pretty clear cut, so I'm betting against him, but what do I know. Clip or any of the Rake offspring post-Eleint battle make some plausible sense. Could also be any unknown or barely known Andii who just got out of Dragnipur with everyone else.

But ultimately, if I was to bet actual money on anyone, I'd go with Blind Gallan.


This theory gives me some peace. Trying to guess potential candidates for this mysterious Andii was driving me crazy.
It is very much in ICE style to drop in strangers that we are not familiar with (like Orchid and Malakai)
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