[Whelp]

1) The Fist was incompetent/pissed him off
2) 7c folks were fed up with the malazans, especially because of the malazan-kheran dhobri (?) treaty
3) To leave the city?
4) Imho the Book could have thrived on or actually caused a mayhem which lead to rebellion (also, the spilt blood could have empowered it).

[Rockyturnbull]

I loved the whole Barathol opening the gates bit, fantastic imagery. As to why he'd do it, makes sense to try and let people out or simply get away himself. Having said that I don't recall Bararthol ever confirming the story, it may be apocryphal or just state propaganda.

As for the fist, half of the Malazan ranking officers seem to be either incompetent or corrupt so I daresay he had good cause. It'll be interseting to see what happens when he meets up with his "cousin".

[Monoch Ochem]

1. Given what we've seen on his character so far, Barathol's loyalty seems without question...L'oric noticed as much. I therefore believe that the Fist must have been particularly reprehensible. Perhaps some twisted betrayal of the very Empire he pretended to serve.

2. The way L'oric mused, I thought they rebelled because they were unhappy with the Malazan occupation anyway but may have respected Barathol himself. Basically, I got the impression that his impending crucifixion was the triggering event.

3. I too thought he was trying to let people out. He probably knew that it would be worse for them being trapped inside- slaughter. Also, perhaps the empire wanted to keep things as quiet as possible...so maybe Barathol was trying to deter or minimise the effect by opening the gates to ensure a less private scenario.

4. Sounds probable...Barathol didn't participate in the rebellion. He probably uncovered the first plots to precipitate the rebellion and maybe discovered the Fist to be complicit in all of it. Or, he may have been framed for the Fist's death...you never know. In any event, the fact that Barathol didn't participate shows that he found the rebellion to be tainted....perhaps he first discovered the hand manipulating it all. A sense of the CG or his agents?

[Trotts]

I think Hetan raises a good point; Imass don't need doors. And I'm willing to bet thats pretty common knowledge. Maybe Barathol was opening the doors for some other reason?

[jayisspecial]

Um, wasn't this covered in the book? Barathol killed the Fist because, judging by Barathols personality, the Fist was a crook. Barathol was a hero to the populace, but you can't go around killing high Malazan officials. The Empire would have made an example out of him, and the populace knew this. They rose up in rebellion for Barathol, to save him from his fate. Perhaps they thought he would even join them and lead them on some path to impossible victory. Barathol knew however that their rebellion was the dumbest possible thing they could do and it ensured all of their deaths. If he stayed, he would have been hacked into pieces by Imass. So he opened the gate and got the hell out of dodge... The populace unfortunately no longer had that option and ended up slaughtered. It did not occur to some people that the Imass needed no gate, and Barathol was in no way aiding the Imass. So they thought he'd gone and helped slaughter all of his followers, the very people who rose up in his name. He is a smart man really. One of the few characters in the book who can see that clearly...

[Monoch Ochem]

The point was made indeed...by Barathol himself to L'oric: the Imass don't need gates.

[Mulch]

) why Barathol killed the Fist? was he a bastard? - Must have been
2) why the rebellion? - Hey it's the Seven Cities, it's what they do.
3) why would Barathol open the gates? was it to let people out rather than the Imass in? I think he was doing a runner and fprgot to shut the door - besides T'lan Imass don't need doors.
4) Anyone have an idea it may have had some wild connection with the Book of Dryjhna, which was being stored in the High Fist's vaults in Aren? (or part of Korbolo Dom and Mallick Rell's master plan which I haven't posted in the crazy theories thread yet..) hmmm you may be on to something here.

[tiam]

i actually thought that but how the hell would Mebra get it? i know his 'web is vast' but Barathol has been in that village for ages. The only way ne1 could have got it is because Barathol dropped it or sum1 took advantage of the situation and stole it. Personally i think its unlikeley and the events are completely seperate

[Dark Mac]

Eh? I'm pretty sure that the Red Blades gave the Book to Mebra.

[harvest_]

Just a wild thought, but Barathol claims to be just a distant cousin to Kalam. Bu then again, that's what everyone seems to believe is true of Quick Ben and his sister, at least initially. Maybe there is a closer family relationship between the two?

[tiam]

yeh Corkus notes that Barathol seems to be very vague in regards to kalam. He also notes that BArathol would toss kalam round like a ragdoll

[tiam]

yeh distant cousins by relation seems likely but a close on a personal level

[Abyss]

I tend to agree that the relationship was deliberately glossed over.

The Aren Massacre is one of those big mysteries that keep being raised... didn't someone make the point that the Imass actually acted without a clear/direct order to start killing people?

Plus, supposedly Laseen gave the order, but Kellanved didn't use the throne... it's perplexing.

And interesting point that Barathol is blamed, even tho Imass don,t need doors. It's a perfect example of the sort of mob mentality that causes fact to become fiction, including the whole Rel/Dom/Laseen/Coltaine mess.

- Abyss, was responsible for the Watergate thing. No, really...