In Search of "The Crippled God" Quiz

Answer: Kaminsod

Kaminsod is not of the Malazan world and was torn apart many thousands of years ago when he arrived. Supposedly, Kaminsod is a reference to both "Malazan" authors; "Sod" refers to Erikson and "Cam" refers to Ian Esslemont, who wrote the series "Novels of the Malazan Empire". His works include "Return of the Crimson Guard", "Stonewielder", and "Assail".

Answer: The Crippled God's heart

His heart is a rock-hard thing chained to an altar in Kolanse. It gives the Assail energy. They wish to kill the humans, whom they consider invaders and interlopers in their world. Way back in "House of Chains", the Teblor freed an Assail, who escaped after telling Karsa he would have a part to play in changing the world. That Assail was Calm, and she has returned to help her fellow Assail.

Answer: The lack of access to warrens

The Glass Desert has little, if any, access to warrens, so the mages cannot summon water, locate springs, or quickly transport the soldiers. What they start with is all they have until they reach Kolanse. An army marching through an immense desert with no water source is not an auspicious combination.

When they meet up with the Snake, the lack of water becomes an even bigger problem, as Tavore's compassion will not let her deny orphaned children water.

Answer: Remains of a Forkrul Assail god

The god splintered into many locusts, which the Snake children have been eating on their journey. This has a rather interesting payoff later in the book. According to Erikson, the word came from "diverse" but is pronounced slightly differently.

Answer: Hood eats her face.

Equity has more compassion than most Assail but still considers thousands of deaths necessary to achieve her favored ends. She doesn't get much chance to speak for herself before Hood eats her. He then says he never liked Forkrul Assail, which could mean he doesn't like them as a race or that he has eaten them before and doesn't like how they taste (or both).

Answer: The Walking Dead

He gives a speech about how the Bonehunters barely survived when they were forced underground in Y'Ghatan and now have to stay together as their own army. The AMC series about zombies is also called "The Walking Dead". It premiered in 2010, one year before this book was published. Since these books are such doorstoppers and took years to write, Erikson probably already had the name in mind before the TV series came out.

Answer: Yedan

He kills Aparal Forge, a Tiste Liosan Eleint who appears only in this book. Yedan's victory is short-lived, as he succumbs to the wounds Aparal gives him.

Answer: The Otataral Dragon

Korabas first appeared in "House of Chains", when Pearl and Lostara traveled through the Imperial warren and saw her crucified. Some Elder Gods free her; because she is an otataral creature, everything she comes near dies, as magic is found everywhere. Along with her, the rest of the Eleint break through the portal at the Azath house and return to the world.

Answer: Hoards water

Blistig thinks that certain soldiers deserve water (and thus life) more than others: officers and marines over regulars, highborn over the rest. Others point out that no one is really highborn. I'm not sure Blistig believes what he says--he may be using any excuse he can to keep water for himself and increase his personal chances of survival in a seemingly hopeless situation.

He stabs Pores but doesn't kill him.

Answer: A large lake is summoned.

Tavore finally accepts this as the situation that requires blood; she cuts herself, potentially fatal in her dehydrated state, and water springs from the sand. The new lake, made in the basin of a dried-up lake (which may have drowned them had Tavore not traveled far enough to ensure they'd crossed the basin first) ensures the survival of the rest of the Bonehunters, and they can continue to Kolanse.

A water-etched dagger given by a sea god really should have clued me in sooner that it would have to do with water.