[Nequam]

Here is how I would call it:

1. Quick Ben
2. Ceda Kuru Qan
3. Tayschrenn
4. Kimloc
5. Beak (should he be higher?)
6. Pust
7. Cowl
8. Hairlock
9. Tattersail
10. Sinn


I am most likely forgetting some people but this is who I thought of and what order my first impulses put them into. Notice how I didn't Bottle in, yeah I thought about him...but then I thought about wringing his filthy little neck two seconds after. Sure maybe he should be up there, I'll just refuse to acknowledge him until the end of his days.

[The Dark Wanderer]

I'ld have to put Tayschrenn above Quick Ben as although we've not seen him at full power, he is Quick Ben's 'shaved knuckle-in-the-hole' as mentioned at the end of Bonehunters so I figure he's got to be pretty powerful.

[Svaran]

The Dark Wanderer;277496 said:

I'ld have to put Tayschrenn above Quick Ben as although we've not seen him at full power, he is Quick Ben's 'shaved knuckle-in-the-hole' as mentioned at the end of Bonehunters so I figure he's got to be pretty powerful.

1) Tays - Quick Ben acknowledges that Tays is more powerful than he is in one of the earlier books.
2) Ceda - his battle with the Mosaag in Midnight tides shows his true power.
3) Cowl - solely based on what he did in Gardens of the moon and how the Cripple god mentions that Rhulad is lucky that Cowl was not present.
4) Quick Ben - craftiest and most skilful of the high mages
5) Sinn?

Special mention to shadowthrone before he ascended as he must have been powerful to have created the malazan empire and gather such a formidable collection of individuals around him to assist him.

[Lisheo]

1)Beak. That was impressive.
2)Kuru Qan. I love the old guy.
3)Tays. Hmmm, not sure bout him, but he's impressive enough alright.
4)QB. No need to explain
5)Agayla.
6)Obo. Seems impressive.
7)Sinn. Nice OP undoing.
8)Bottle.
9)Cowl. I think he rocks, according to GotM.
10)Tattersail.

[The Crippled God]

My personal opinion, is that Tayschren is the most powerful of the Mortal Mages... After all, QB admitted, that Tays is stronger than him, and I think, QB hasn't got another equal opponent...

[Lisheo]

QB never knew Beak or Kuru Qan though. Tays is the most powerful mortal mage QB KNOWS of, and his knowledge is not flawless...

[dktorode]

The Crippled God;277692 said:

My personal opinion, is that Tayschren is the most powerful of the Mortal Mages... After all, QB admitted, that Tays is stronger than him, and I think, QB hasn't got another equal opponent...

Yes, but he said that before he became "Meaner" didnt he?

[Zanth13]

dktorode;277698 said:

Yes, but he said that before he became "Meaner" didnt he?

Nastier I think was the word but yes.. yes indeed

[Urb]

There are three contestants from Shal Morzin(sp?) who would probably make that list. I agree with Aptorian though, Kimloc wins.

[Battalion]

I think Obo is the most powerful human mage (think he is human) after the rather savage way he delt with Oppon. He treated them like a naughty child.

I believe Mallick Rel to underestimated. Granted we've not seen him use his power, but he's got something about him.

Other mages who aren't quite human, who'd fill any magical list would be Loric and the Warlock King.

[Kimloc]

Urb;277704 said:

There are three contestants from Shal Morzin(sp?) who would probably make that list. I agree with Aptorian though, Kimloc wins.

I win, I win.

2)QB
3)Kuru Qan
4)Cowl
5)Tays-I love the fact he never sags and "says I'm done"
6)Corlo
7)Beak
8)Sinn
9)Agayla
10)Bottle

[q21]

Oppon is a god(s). Obo treated Oppon like little kiddies. Therefore Obo wins in my estimation. Not 100% sure he's human though...

Also, didn't Mallick Rel set High Ruse traps all over Malaz city at the end of Bonehunters? That's got to take some doing.

My list:

1) Obo
2) Adaephon Ben Delat
3) Kimloc
4) Tayschrenn
5) Ceda Kuru Quan
6) Beak
7) Iskaral Pust
8) Sinn
9) Mallick Rel
10)Bottle

[The Dark Wanderer]

Battalion;277706 said:

I believe Mallick Rel to underestimated. Granted we've not seen him use his power, but he's got something about him.

This is true, but I thought that the main base of his power was his 'worship' of Mael which Mael didn't care about at the time. Now given that Mael is now back in the game (so corny I know), isn't it likely that this power is lessened? However, all of the rubbish written above suggests that Mael cares about the political infighting of the Malazan empire which I'm not sure he does.

I'm still going with Tay being more powerful than QB. Although as QB was/is a Bridgeburner, maybe we shouldn't be including him as he's (and yes I realise this is still an ongoing debate, but you all know what I mean) 'ascended'.

Not sure I'd count Kimloc as human either as from a scene in DHG(Fiddler in desert sees past and Kimloc's there), he seems to have been around a long time.

I think it's also almost impossible to place Kuru Qan accurately in this last as he plays with the holds rather than the warrens and I vaguely remember someone suggesting that the holds are more powerful even if less precise.

[Battalion]

Rumours still persist about whether or not Quick Ben is Soletaken or not, if he were, he'd be elimitated from our enquiries.

What about Shadowthrone. Allthough he has ascended, he's still essentially human, or he was, and he's obviously a very poweful mage.

[q21]

We're looking at soletaken so long as it isn't the soletakeness that they get their power from.

Kellanved was doubtless a potent mage, but we've never seen him do anything as a standard human so including him is difficult.

[Raraku]

i think we ought to give Sinn a little more credit
she would have to be better than Bottle cause she is a natural High Mage whereas Bottles a squad mage.
well my list would go like:
1. Tay
2. QB
3.Obo and Agayla(spelling) cause Tay said that they were powers and atleast
his equal
4.Kuru Qan
5.Kimloc
6.Cowl
7.Beak and Sinn dont know why but yeah
8.Pust and his wife again dont know why
9.Rel cause of his ritual at the end of tBH
10.maybe bottle but or Corlo

[Raraku]

also i dont know but Kruppe seems to be pretty crafty with his art but havent seen him let loose so...........

[The Crippled God]

Who are Obo and Agayla? Refresh my memory please!

[Kimloc]

[quote name='Battalion;277742]Rumours still persist about whether or not Quick Ben is Soletaken or not' date=' if he were, he'd be elimitated from our enquiries./QUOTE']

Great point that brings to mind something I'd forgotten all about. In GoTM, ST screams, "Delat, you shapeshifting bastard.." I'm curious about this and also how Tay managed to masquerade as Arthantos in front of Dujek/WJ/Rake/Brood during the entirety of MoI.

Any opinions on how QB accomplished this? Is he Soletaken and hiding his magical abilities like ST seems to? Remember QB was a priest or high level member of Shadow cult or temple. I believe it was QB with Cot that watched Lostara's shadow dance mentioned in HoC?

Now I also remember that QB admitted he was a High Mage before to Tays but Tay doesn't recognize him. He claims to have pulled Tays butt out of the fire in the pre-Laseen days. That was how he got the vial which he broke to save his ass from Rake and the Andii on the rooftops in GoTM.

So now QB seems even more mysterious than ever, which is saying quite a bit.

[The Crippled God]

I think he is talking about a sort of Rashan, that can create an illusion aroud a person and change his appearance.