Gardens of the Moon
Chapters - Steven Erikson
Prologue
In the last year of Emperor Kellanved's reign, twelve-year-old Ganoes Paran stands on the wall of Mock's Hold overlooking Malaz City. He meets an unnamed Bridgeburner commander and they discuss the death of Dassem Ultor at Y'Ghatan. Surly, who has renamed herself Laseen, appears flanked by Claw acolytes and exchanges veiled threats with the commander. Young Ganoes declares he will become a soldier, a decision the commander warns against.
On page: Ganoes Paran, Empress Laseen·Mentioned: Dassem Ultor, Kellanved
Pale
Chapter 1
Seven years after the Prologue, a fishergirl in Itko Kan encounters the old seer Rigga, who delivers a prophecy before being killed by a passing soldier. Cotillion and Shadowthrone appear and possess the fishergirl to use as an instrument of vengeance against Laseen. The Hounds of Shadow massacre an entire cavalry regiment as a diversion. Adjunct Lorn arrives to investigate and recruits Lieutenant Ganoes Paran to her staff. The fishergirl enlists in the Marines as Sorry, requesting assignment to Dujek's Host. Paran is led through the Imperial Warren by Topper to meet Laseen, then is assigned to the Adjunct's service.
On page: Ganoes Paran, Rigga, Cotillion, Shadowthrone, Lorn, Apsalar, Topper, Empress Laseen·Mentioned: Dujek Onearm
Chapter 2
The Siege of Pale ends in devastating fashion. Tattersail watches the aftermath as Hairlock lies dying, missing his legs, and only thirty-five Bridgeburners have survived from fourteen hundred. Earlier that morning, Tattersail woke with Calot before Tayschrenn briefed the mage cadre on the assault against Moon's Spawn. During the battle, Tayschrenn deflected sorcerous attacks onto the defenceless 2nd and 5th armies, and the other mages were cut down - Calot sacrificed himself to protect Tattersail, Nightchill was torn apart by a demon, and Hairlock was cut in two. Quick Ben soulshifts Hairlock into a puppet, and Tattersail is drawn into the Bridgeburners' conspiracy against Tayschrenn. That night, Tattersail conducts a reading of the Deck of Dragons, drawing Oponn and sensing a spinning coin of hope.
On page: Tattersail, Hairlock, Whiskeyjack, Quick Ben, Kalam Mekhar, Apsalar, Calot, Tayschrenn, Nightchill, Bellurdan, Dujek Onearm, Oponn
Chapter 3
Captain Paran receives orders from Topper to take command of Whiskeyjack's squad and investigate the possessed Sorry. In Pale, Bellurdan mourns Nightchill and plans to raise her barrow on the Rhivi Plain. Whiskeyjack, Kalam, and Quick Ben believe the Bridgeburners are being set up for elimination and plan to use Hairlock to turn the tables. Tattersail conducts a Fatid reading for Tayschrenn, drawing cards that predict a confrontation between Shadow and the Knight of High House Dark. Toc conveys Paran into Pale, where he meets Picker, Antsy, Hedge, Mallet, and Trotts before being assassinated by Sorry on orders from Cotillion. Shadowthrone appears and notes something has entered the Warren of Shadow.
On page: Ganoes Paran, Topper, Bellurdan, Tattersail, Whiskeyjack, Kalam Mekhar, Quick Ben, Hairlock, Apsalar, Picker, Antsy, Hedge, Mallet, Trotts, Toc the Younger, Shadowthrone·Mentioned: Nightchill, Cotillion, Tayschrenn
Chapter 4
Tattersail meets with Whiskeyjack, Quick Ben, Fiddler, and Kalam. Hairlock is growing increasingly insane from his use of Chaos, though Quick Ben believes the puppet remains controllable. The squad departs for Darujhistan, using Hairlock as their link back to Tattersail. They suspect Sorry is possessed and discuss the connection between Shadowthrone, Cotillion, and the vanished Emperor and Dancer. Meanwhile, Paran lies before Hood's Gate but is returned to life through Oponn's interference, his sword now named Chance. Shadowthrone arrives and allows Paran to live so he can be followed. Picker and Antsy find Paran's body still breathing. Tattersail lays the Deck in a spiral pattern, predicting a confrontation between Shadow and Anomander Rake. Dujek reveals there is pressure to disband the Bridgeburners and that the Darujhistan mission is designed to get the Ninth killed. Fiddler implies ten thousand soldiers stand ready to rebel if Dujek wishes. The injured Paran is taken to Tattersail's quarters, and the Bridgeburners depart for Darujhistan. That night, the Hound Gear pursues Hairlock to Tattersail's quarters. Paran lunges at the Hound with Chance, wounding it, and Tattersail trips Hairlock before he can seize the Hound's soul.
On page: Tattersail, Whiskeyjack, Quick Ben, Fiddler, Kalam Mekhar, Hairlock, Ganoes Paran, Oponn, Shadowthrone, Picker, Antsy, Dujek Onearm, Mallet, Gear·Mentioned: Apsalar, Kellanved, Dancer
Darujhistan
Chapter 5
In a dreamworld, Kruppe walks out of Darujhistan and discovers that Oponn's Coin is spinning, deciding to join the game and influence events on the city's behalf. Crokus burgles the D'Arle estate and steals valuables from Challice D'Arle's room. On the rooftops, the assassin Talo Krafar fires at Crokus but misses when the thief bends to pick up a dropped coin. Krafar is killed by cloaked assassin-mages who then pursue Crokus across the city. Crokus escapes through the thief lines to the Phoenix Inn, where the hunters decide to withdraw rather than create witnesses.
On page: Kruppe, Crokus Younghand·Mentioned: Challice, Oponn
Chapter 6
Crone flies from Moon's Spawn to Darujhistan. Circle Breaker witnesses a secret meeting between Turban Orr and Councilman Feder at Despot's Barbican. Baruk receives Circle Breaker's intelligence and meets with Crone, who requests a meeting between Baruk and Anomander Rake. Rallick Nom eavesdrops on Lady Simtal and Councilman Lim, then assassinates Lim instead of Simtal when a more elaborate plan for vengeance enters his mind. Ocelot informs Rallick of an assassin war on the rooftops. Crone departs with a warning of gathering darkness. Rake arrives at Baruk's estate bearing Dragnipur and proposes an alliance with the true rulers of Darujhistan - the mages, not the council. Rake reveals Moon's Spawn has no warriors, all being with Caladan Brood in the north, and demands the heads of two Pale mages who fled to the city. In the morning, Murillio, Crokus, and Kruppe play cards at the Phoenix Inn while Coll sleeps.
On page: Crone, Circle Breaker, Turban Orr, Baruk, Rallick Nom, Lady Simtal, Ocelot, Anomander Rake, Murillio, Crokus Younghand, Kruppe, Coll·Mentioned: Caladan Brood
Chapter 7
In Kruppe's dream, he speaks with the Elder God K'rul. Circle Breaker waits for a message from the Eel but tears up his personal plea for help. Lady Simtal and Turban Orr discuss their schemes, and Simtal wants Orr to kill her ex-husband. Murillio obtains invitations to Simtal's fete for himself and Rallick. Rallick confronts Crokus outside the Orr estate, warning him away from thieving. Crokus examines Oponn's coin, then retrieves the D'Arle loot from Kruppe at the Boar's Tears. Murillio and Rallick deduce that Crokus is smitten with Challice and feel hopeful about their plans for Coll. At Baruk's estate, noisy road workers startle the alchemist, and spilled ink spreads south across a map like a premonition. Kruppe arrives as an informer and shows Baruk a wax copy of Oponn's coin, revealing that an Ascendant has entered the game. Baruk instructs Kruppe to protect the Coinbearer.
On page: Kruppe, Circle Breaker, Lady Simtal, Turban Orr, Murillio, Rallick Nom, Crokus Younghand, Baruk·Mentioned: Challice, Oponn
The Mission
Chapter 8
Whiskeyjack bids farewell to the Moranth who delivered his squad to Lake Azur's north shore. The Green Moranth have supplied munitions and a fishing boat. Whiskeyjack implements his own infiltration plan instead of the Empire's, disguising the squad as fishermen. Quick Ben meets Hairlock in the Warren of Chaos, where the puppet grows increasingly powerful and insane. Hairlock mutters about the sword Chance and its wounding of the Hound Gear. Quick Ben proposes something to Whiskeyjack and Kalam that leaves them both shaken. The squad nervously prepares to cross the lake, with only Sorry having any knowledge of fishing.
On page: Whiskeyjack, Quick Ben, Hairlock, Kalam Mekhar, Apsalar·Mentioned: Gear
Chapter 9
Toc discovers eight dead Malazan Marines killed by the Ilgres Barghast and follows the trail to find Adjunct Lorn making a last stand. The T'lan Imass Tool arrives and they dispatch the remaining Barghast. Lorn names the Imass 'Tool' and they set out together. In Pale, Paran recovers and Tattersail awakens from her fever. Toc and Lorn arrive in the city, where soldiers are disgruntled about the dismantling of armies. Lorn meets with Dujek and manipulates Tayschrenn by inviting Tattersail to a formal dinner. At the dinner, Lorn confronts Tattersail about a past tragedy in Malaz City's Mouse Quarter that killed Lorn's parents. Dujek and Tayschrenn defuse the situation. Paran delivers Hairlock's message about a T'lan Imass involvement in the Adjunct's mission. Lorn departs Pale with Tool, who reveals that the Year of the Three Hundredth Millennium approaches. Crone flies north to Caladan Brood's summons.
On page: Toc the Younger, Lorn, Ganoes Paran, Tattersail, Dujek Onearm, Tayschrenn, Crone·Mentioned: Caladan Brood, Whiskeyjack, Apsalar
Chapter 10
At an inn in Pale, Toc convinces Paran that the Adjunct's mission extends beyond Sorry. They decide to pursue Tattersail, who has already left for Darujhistan. Tool's Elder barrier exhausts Tattersail as she travels by her Warren, forcing her onto the Rhivi Plain where Bellurdan confronts her with orders for her arrest. They clash in a massive conflagration, and Tool senses something born from the collision of Warrens including Starvald Demelain. Paran and Toc find the bodies and child-like tracks heading northeast. Paran vows vengeance against the Adjunct. Crone reports to Caladan Brood about events on the Rhivi Plain. Two days later, Crone narrowly survives an encounter with Hairlock who has been incinerating Great Ravens. Tool and the Adjunct witness Crone's flight.
On page: Toc the Younger, Ganoes Paran, Tattersail, Bellurdan, Crone, Caladan Brood, Hairlock, Lorn·Mentioned: Tayschrenn, Nightchill, Oponn
Assassins
Chapter 11
In Kruppe's dream, he travels backward in time and encounters K'rul, the Imass Pran Chole, and a Rhivi woman. Tattersail is reborn into Nightchill's body through the Tellann Warren, and the Rhivi woman gives birth to the Tattersail-child. Earlier, Kruppe noticed Whiskeyjack's squad disguised as road workers outside Baruk's estate. Sorry tells Whiskeyjack that Kruppe is important to their mission and follows him. Cotillion fights for control of Sorry's mind as memories of a dying seer surface. Mammot tells Crokus about a Jaghut barrow rumour in the Gadrobi Hills. At the Phoenix Inn, Sorry kills the thug Chert, and Crokus discovers the body. Meese and Irilta agree to keep quiet. Crokus drops Oponn's coin on the bar and it keeps spinning, revealing him as the Coinbearer to Sorry. Kalam fails to contact the Assassins' Guild while Quick Ben prepares to travel the Warrens. Rallick, Crokus, Murillio, and Coll gather at Kruppe's table. Quick Ben enters the Warren of Shadow to seek an audience with Shadowthrone.
On page: Kruppe, Apsalar, Whiskeyjack, Mammot, Crokus Younghand, Meese, Irilta, Chert, Oponn, Kalam Mekhar, Quick Ben, Rallick Nom, Murillio, Coll, Shadowthrone·Mentioned: Tattersail, Cotillion
Chapter 12
At Mammot's study, Kruppe reads about the Crippling and Chaining of a god and the inhabitants of Moon's Spawn - five black dragons and the red dragon Silanah. Baruk communicates with Mammot via Warren. At Baruk's estate, Crone delivers Anomander Rake's report about events on the Rhivi Plain - a puppet pursuing another power toward the Gadrobi Hills. Baruk tells Crone about the Jaghut Tyrant imprisoned in a barrow there. Four Hounds escort Quick Ben to Shadowkeep where he makes a deal with Shadowthrone: Hairlock in exchange for removing the mark of assassination. Shadowthrone recognises him as 'Delat' but Quick Ben escapes. Kruppe arrives at Baruk's and relays a message from the Eel. Baruk instructs Kruppe to take his friends and the Coinbearer to observe the Gadrobi Hills. Rallick is to kill the Coinbearer if Oponn's influence turns against them. Quick Ben tells Kalam about his successful deal. Sorry arrives and reveals she sensed Quick Ben's power, confirming his suspicions about her nature. Rallick spots Kalam entering the Inn and informs Ocelot.
On page: Kruppe, Mammot, Baruk, Crone, Quick Ben, Shadowthrone, Kalam Mekhar, Apsalar, Rallick Nom, Ocelot·Mentioned: Turban Orr, Crokus Younghand, Silanah, Anomander Rake, Hairlock, Gear
Chapter 13
Kalam and Quick Ben follow Rallick to the harbour district. Rallick leads them to a warehouse where Ocelot waits in the shadows. Tiste Andii assassins descend from the sky and begin slaughtering Guild assassins on the rooftops. Kalam fights two of them, sustaining injuries while killing one. Quick Ben battles an assassin mage. Rallick survives thanks to concealed armour. Sorry follows Crokus to the D'Arle estate where he returns the stolen loot. Challice wakes and they have a brief conversation before Crokus flees, unnerved to find Sorry watching from the garden. Quick Ben releases a Korvalah demon named Pearl to cover their escape from the Tiste Andii. Pearl recognises Quick Ben's true name from a list of dead High Mages of Seven Cities. Rallick warns Crokus to stay off the rooftops and tells him to report to Mammot about a Claw presence in the city. Serrat reports casualties to Anomander Rake. Whiskeyjack observes Fiddler playing with Moranth munitions, then Quick Ben brings in the wounded Kalam for Mallet to heal. Sorry watches Crokus and ponders his connection to Oponn.
On page: Kalam Mekhar, Quick Ben, Rallick Nom, Ocelot, Apsalar, Crokus Younghand, Challice, Pearl, Serrat, Anomander Rake, Whiskeyjack, Mallet, Fiddler, Murillio·Mentioned: Baruk, Vorcan, Oponn
The Gadrobi Hills
Chapter 14
Tool and Lorn enter the Gadrobi Hills. Tool explains that the Tellann and Omtose Phellack Warrens share a similar nature, allowing him to find the Jaghut barrow where others could not. He reveals that releasing the Tyrant is a gamble relying on Anomander Rake using Dragnipur to enslave the Jaghut. Kruppe, Coll, Murillio, and Crokus journey to the Hills from Darujhistan on mules. They reveal to Crokus they are collecting information for Baruk about the ravens circling the area. Sorry follows the group and enters the Shadow Warren, sensing danger ahead. Tool finds the Barrow marker and proposes opening it at dawn. Paran and Toc follow the Adjunct's trail, finding dead Ravens killed with sorcery along the way. Toc is worried about facing the Imass and doubts Paran's sword Chance will be enough.
On page: Lorn, Kruppe, Coll, Murillio, Crokus Younghand, Apsalar, Ganoes Paran, Toc the Younger·Mentioned: Baruk, Anomander Rake