[Mezla PigDog]

What in the heck was he doing hiding beneath the Eternal Domicile in Letheras, of all places?

[Obdigore]

Didnt he ask the errant to keep him safe... so he could slowly fade away instead of being killed by some angry mortals?

[BridgeBurner]

I guess Fener went there, because in many ways Lether is a bit of a backwater, and therefore magically and powerwise not attractive to ascendants. Ergo, a good place for him to hide.

He just didn't (and probably couldn't) take the CG and Rhulad into account...

[Yellow]

It can be explained away in any number of ways.

It's still too stupidly convenient, though.

[Murrin]

I was kinda surprised when it didn't pay off--with Gesler and Stormy on the way it seemed likely, then when Erikson threw in a mention of some marines who still followed Fener's Cult it seemed a sure thing that something was going to happen with Fener, and then... nothing.

[blewin]

a Fener comeback.. maybe? has he the intention to contest Treach or the wolves for the throne of war?

[Mezla PigDog]

I was just wondering if him seeking help from the Errant was relevant. Why the Errant and not any of the other ascendants? I suppose with the Deck not being used on that continent and all. But ... why was he in the book at all? It must mean something....... maybe.

[Whelp]

Imho he went to the Errant as it seems the Errant was the only accessible, unaligned member of "the old pantheon".
As to his role in the book, he might just have made the first visible steps to being a sacrifice (as someone mentioned in an earlier book).
Also, he could have been drawn to an extent by the convergence that drew the Grey Swords as well.

[airheadgreg]

I think he re-awakening of the beast hold was significant to give the Errant some power after his was dwindling somewhat...

-Greg

[Abyss]

Plus, Fener and Errant both suggeted some massive final battle was on the way that Fener was to play a role in.

Errant's amazement at Fener being able to restrict himself to such a humanoid and relatively small form was interesting. When Fener was de-pigged by Heboric in DG, there was the hint of some massive form with shoulders in the sky, hooves the size of houses, etc, etc. Errant's comments to Fener seemed to suggest his usual/natural form was WAY more massive.

Also interesting was Fener's preference to be cut off from his followers, especially with a handful of its remaining cultists (a few random heavies we overheard, Gesler, Stormy) being is such close proximity. rather than gather more power and possibly survive, it seems to want to die in one last blaze of glory, so to speak.

I was expecting Fener to be part of the massive covergence it seemed we were building to with Silch, Iccy, the sea demon, Karsa, etc, yet the fact it didn't end up happening makes me wonder what's yet in store.

Errant's apparent sympathy for Pig-boy was also unexpected, altho from one-depowered/forgotten god to another, it made sense.

- Abyss, says "Move over bacon! Now there's something meatier!"...

[Flawed]

Wasn't he just hiding there in that old unused Temple? The Errant himself said he hadn't been there in centuries.

I thought Fener was just rumbled hiding out and asked if he could stay there. The Errant said sure.

I don't think Fener wants to fade away. He needs to find Stormy acquire his warren from his leg that Heboric put there and then ascend again.

He should just go to the wolves of war really,

Room for one more he asks?

[Mael]

Flawed;196169 said:

Wasn't he just hiding there in that old unused Temple? The Errant himself said he hadn't been there in centuries.

I thought Fener was just rumbled hiding out and asked if he could stay there. The Errant said sure.

I don't think Fener wants to fade away. He needs to find Stormy acquire his warren from his leg that Heboric put there and then ascend again.

He should just go to the wolves of war really,

Room for one more he asks?

hehe, a boar going to the Wolves for help doesn't seem like the smartest thing he could do. If i were him i would ask the 3 little pigs for advice on that one first.

As for Fener's hiding in Letheras, he figured the temple was abandoned and he wouldn't be found out (To be fair it is most likely the furthest possible place from the modern world). Asking the Errant to block out his worshippers wasn't a way for him to ensure a quiet death but rather a way to help further conceal him while he remains vulnerable.

Welp's comment regarding Fener making the first steps to becoming a sacrifice are interesting. Sacrificing a God for a ritual of some kind would be a hell of a lot of power.

[Sloppyfresh]

I took Fener hiding in the temple as an act of self preservation. If he wanted to die, im sure he could of picked a side in the Malazan vs Edur war, and died a heroic death.

He could be doing for a number of reasons:

1) The fact that he asked to be blocked from his followers was also very interesting, and it suggested to me that Fener did not want to be defined/controlled by his old worshippers. Since he was in hiding, he would not want anyone to know he was alive (like his worshippers). Once the time is right... he comes running back with tusks ready for battle!
2) By stopping the worship to him as a lord of war... maybe he could become the mortal boar... so he could still be aspected, but not at the top of the house/hold.
3) Fener might want to spite his followers for allowing him to fall from godhood. (he is still an acendant right?)
4) Fener wants out. He is done with the godhood game... and is simply waiting for his worshippers to stop worshipping.... so he will simply be a huge f'in boar.

I like none of these reasons... but the most likely is that Fener is trying to find a new way to gain power, without the house of war.

[Abyss]

Disagree. Fener really seemed resigned, even looking forward, to some glorious final battle. Linking to active worshippers would probably pull him away from that intent.

He's obviously not entirely without power, since the Errant stated he wasn't willing to challenge him even if he were inclined.

- Abyss, is that your fifth tusk or are you just happy to see me?

[xhentil]

Hetan;189684 said:

“I remember you,” came the creature’s voice, low and rumbling. “And I knew this place. I knew what it had been. It was … safe. Who recalls the Holds, after all? Who knew enough to suspect?"

Well the Errant was the Master of the Holds, so he has to remain somewhat... arbitrary? Neutral wouldn't cut it. Additionally, as Fener suggested, the temple was obviously buried--people had forgotten the holds.

I distinctly remember that when Heboric brought him out of his warren (hold?) he was pulled down far away, "on a distant continent" i believe. Or someone at some point mentioned that.

So:

Fener was pulled out, onto Letheras (for whatever reason. Don't warrens wander? Have position? Perhaps his was hanging around Letheras.)
Being stuck there, he sensed/remembered the Errant and his temple. Finding it forgotten, and perhaps the Errant would be mildly understanding, he took refuge.

Aside: Fener seems to be old, making mention to Holds, so perhaps he was in a Hold. Now it seems from older comments that the warrens on Letheras were weak. The Cedas and crew used Holds. So perhaps the Holds have a more prominent position over Letheras?

Yea there are several things there that don't add up. Just conjecture.

[Mael]

xhentil;197005 said:

Fener was pulled out, onto Letheras (for whatever reason. Don't warrens wander? Have position? Perhaps his was hanging around Letheras.)
Being stuck there, he sensed/remembered the Errant and his temple. Finding it forgotten, and perhaps the Errant would be mildly understanding, he took refuge.

Aside: Fener seems to be old, making mention to Holds, so perhaps he was in a Hold. Now it seems from older comments that the warrens on Letheras were weak. The Cedas and crew used Holds. So perhaps the Holds have a more prominent position over Letheras?

Yea there are several things there that don't add up. Just conjecture.

The only warren that wanders is the Warren of Shadow due to its being fragmented.

Due to Gothos' spell the Warrens were completely unheard of on the continent of Letheras until recently so the Holds definatly have a more prominent position (following) there then the warrens do.

[Abyss]

When IB, Corlo and co were mucking about on Leth, they couldn't access any warrens initially, although Corlo still had use of Mokra.

So, Corlo could access his power, but not another warren by which to travel until eventually that chunk of KG became available when the Edur invaded with the wraiths.

Backtrack: we don't know how old Fener is. Evidently he remembers Holds, so at least that old. We also don't know where he went between when Heboric yanked him down in DG until he shows up in the Errant's old temple.

All through RG, mages and gods are still using Hold magic. When the Malazans show up, they're using warrens, apparently without difficulty.

All of which is to say, by the time warrens came to exist, warrens and holds coexist, but no one on Leth knew how to access warrens until Corlo showed Seren. The House of Death taking over for the Azath in MT also would have 'forced' Leth into the modern pantheon, obviously with some overlap.

All of which is to say, Fener, being a god, tho substantially depowered, had no reason NOT to know about Leth or be able to access it.

- Abyss, notes that's one travellin pig.

[Mulch]

I have a theory that Fener is still need. I think that in order for the crippled god to be disposed of the chaining will need to be reversed. At this point the gods / ascendants present at the other chainings will need to be present. This included Fener, Cotillion, Ammanas, Draconus, Envy, Rake, etc.

[Abyss]

Was there not a remark in MoI or HoC that Fener was key to the last Chaining?

- Abyss, like eggs need bacon.