Emancipor Reese

Emancipor "Mancy" Reese was the long-suffering manservantMemories of Ice, Dramatis Personae of the necromancers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. He was described as being at least six or seven decades old and hailed from Lamentable Moll on the island of Theft. He was described by his wife, Subly, as being nothing but "scrawn and bone".The Lees of Laughter's End, Section 4 His face was lined and sun-scoured, his skin was marked with age spots, his hair was streaked with grey, and he had a mustache.Blood Follows, Sections 2 and 5The Lees of Laughter's End, Section 4Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords, Section 7, p.37
As a child, Reese had lived in a home built on top of a barrow and haunted by ghosts.Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords, Section 7, p.29 In his youth he served with the Theftian militias that had turned back the invading Korelri legions at the battle of Estbanor's Grief and still carried the sword scars on his arms. Blood Follows, Sections 7 and 12 When pressed he could still summon the strength and determination of a veteran and he kept his black-iron broadsword hanging in the hall of his home.Blood Follows, Sections 2 and 12 Later, he spent twenty years as a coxswain on the trader ship, Searime.Blood Follows, Section 5
Prior to his engagement as manservant, he served as a sailor, coachman, and cook. These previous engagements had earned him the nickname of "Mancy the Luckless". He was said to have survived as many wrecks as he'd worked aboard and upon retiring to work as a coachman, had been predeceased by every employer. He jokingly referred to himself as "Hood's Herald".Blood Follows, Section 5
He could read and write the languages of Moll, Theftian, Stygg, and "Mell'zan". He was also familiar with horse husbandry, sewing, map reading and navigation, knots, and rope braiding.Blood Follows, Section 5
He was also father to two children, nominally his own though they had rather suspiciously both been born while he was away at sea.
Reese used a number of drugs to cope with the horrors he was exposed to in service of his necromantic masters including Durhang, D'bayang, and Uthurl. He kept the rustleaf for his pipe in a leather pouch.Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords, Section 10, p.47 
Bauchelain read Reese's future and foresaw that he would die laughing.Blood Follows, Section 7
== In Blood Follows==
Emancipor Reese needed new employment after his latest ill-fated master, the merchant Baltro, was murdered by the serial killer stalking Lamentable Moll. He drunkenly replied to a notice for a manservant left by necromancers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. Reese blustered his way through the interview process, intriguing Bauchelain with his history of luckless employers. Reese was happy to accept a job that took him away from Subly and the children and paid far more than expected.
He soon came to regret his decision when he discovered the true nature of his employers. On the voyage out of Moll on the Suncurl, Reese discovered Korbal Broach's "child" stowed among their luggage and became violently ill.Blood Follows, Section 20
== In The Lees of Laughter's End==
Reese spent his time on the Suncurl calming his nerves (over his employment situation and his disgust with Korbal's child) with copious use of Durhang. For this he was upbraided by Bauchelain, who took away the drug and told to him to expect much worse in their employ.The Lees of Laughter's End, Section 6 When Captain Sater came to consult with Bauchelain regarding the lich rampaging in the ship's hold, Reese mistakenly prepared a Bloodwine refreshment for his master. Bauchelain forced Reese from his cabin before the wine's effects completely took hold.The Lees of Laughter's End, Section 11 As panic swept over the ship in the wake of the lich's attacks, Reese attempted restore order at sword point. The sailors turned on "Mancy the Luckless", the doom of ships, and strung him up from the mainmast as a sacrifice to Mael.The Lees of Laughter's End, Sections 17 and 18 He spent the rest of the ensuing chaos in the crow's nest in relative safety with Bena Younger and her mother.
== In The Wurms of Blearmouth==
Shortly after departing Laughter's End, the Suncurl was attacked by the Unreasoning Vengeance. Her crew of Chanters sought vengeance against Captain Sater for stealing the Toll's City treasury. Bauchelain and Broach helped defend the ship, but the Suncurl was ultimately wrecked on a reef off the coast of Spendrugle.The Wurms of Blearmouth, Sections 3 and 11 Bauchelain pulled Reese from the surf without somehow getting wet himself while Broach flew to safety in crow form.The Wurms of Blearmouth, Section 3 Bauchelain and Reese were met on the beach by locals come to separate any weakened survivors from their belongings, but Reese recognized them for what they were. Comber Whuffine Gaggs slyly suggested that master and servant pay a visit to local lord Fangatooth Claw.The Wurms of Blearmouth, Section 5
Reese went to the King's Heel tavern to recover and fell into the hands of innkeeper Feloovil Generous. Thinking to turn Reese and his masters against the town's sorcerer-tyrant Lord Fangatooth Claw, she invited him to her room and introduced him to her breasts "Stout" and "Sidelopp". Reese was horrified to realize her breasts had mouths, teeth, and tongues in place of nipples. She assured him they could not speak as they licked their lips.The Wurms of Blearmouth, Section 13 A violent argument between Spilgit, Felittle, and Felittle's lizard cat gave Reese the needed distraction to escape back to his masters.The Wurms of Blearmouth, Section 15
At Wurms Keep, Reese commiserated with scribe Coingood over their shared servitude to madmen. When Lord Fangatooth Claw poisoned their food, Reese was shocked to find Bauchelain had made him immune to yellow paralt by lightly poisoning his rustleaf for months.The Wurms of Blearmouth, Section 20 Reese could barely constrain himself from eating the demon infested cookies that Bauchelain prepared in response to Fangatooth's treachery.The Wurms of Blearmouth, Section 40 After Fangatooth perished, the necromancers and their servant left town on a massive black-lacquered carriage. Bauchelain confided to Reese that he was their longest surviving manservant and that this made Bauchelain feel some affection towards him. After all, Bauchelain had been forced to murder all of the others for their disloyalty.The Wurms of Blearmouth, Sections 44 and 48
== In Memories of Ice==
Three years after leaving Lamentable Moll,Memories of Ice, Chapter 6, US SFBC p.228 Reese and his masters traveled for the first time to Darujhistan on Genabackis. Arriving shortly after the events of Gardens of the Moon, the pair engaged in their usual activities, visiting arcane places such as the new Finnest House and leaving a ghastly trail of murders in their wake.Memories of Ice, Chapter 1, US SFBC p.44Memories of Ice, Chapter 4, US SFBC p.122
As city leaders searched for the mysterious killer, the necromancers departed on the caravan road towards Saltoan. Reese was accompanied by his new pet, an anxious and bedraggled cat he named Squirrel. Bauchelain sent Reese to bring him the well-respected caravan guard captain Gruntle. The necromancer hoped to convince Gruntle to accompany him and Broach into the remains of the Jaghut Tyrant Raest's prison, but the guard captain declined.Memories of Ice, Chapter 1
Instead Bauchelain employed the suicidal caravan guard, Buke, who secretly suspected Broach of the Darujhistan murders and planned to kill both of the necromancers. Reese found something of a confidante in Buke, chilling the man with stories of their previous adventures. The caravan was attacked by six undead K'Chain Che'Malle K'ell Hunters on the road between Saltoan and Capustan and Reese was severely injured.Memories of Ice, Chapter 6
On the eve of the Siege of Capustan, Bauchelain and Broach took possession of an abandoned estate within the city and continued their predations.Memories of Ice,Chapter 10, US SFBC p.350 Buke continued to find ways to frustrate Broach's nightly hunts, but eventually became estranged from Reese over the servant's failure to disclose that the necromancers were Soletaken.Memories of Ice, Chapter 14, US SFBC p.487-489 
The Bridgeburner mage Quick Ben visited the necromancers' estate to take their measure. He bypassed the estate's wards and guardians to appear in the house's main chamber before Bauchelain and a startled Reese. Bauchelain sent Reese to fetch their guest a glass of wine, but the manservant mistakenly returned with Broach's bottle of virgin's blood. Unfortunately, he had sampled the vile drink in the cellar. Broach and Bauchelain attacked Quick Ben in turn and were both soundly defeated. As the Bridgeburner departed, Reese rebuked him for not finally killing off his employers. Reese resisted Bauchelain's offer to give him a bonus for dragging their unconscious bodies out of the house before extinguishing the sorcery-sparked fire.Memories of Ice, Chapter 18, US SFBC p.634-641/648-652
Once the siege was over, the necromancers readied to depart. They approached Bridgeburner Corporal Picker for directions to someone who could provide them supplies. Picker did not care for Bauchelain's haughty manner and knocked him unconscious with a gauntleted fist to the face. Blend assisted by dropping Broach with a sword pommel to the skull. Picker advised Reese to educate his masters in proper forms of address upon their wakening.Memories of Ice, Chapter 20, US SFBC p.707
The necromancers followed the allied army to Coral pulling two wagons full of corpses and loot. They were stopped by Gruntle who was suspicious at his friend Buke's absence. Reese confirmed that Buke had walked away from the job and Bauchelain asked Gruntle to let Buke know he was fired. Itkovian informed the necromancer that Reese seemed to be in pain from a broken tooth. Bauchelain admonished his servant for continuing to eat olive pits despite the belief that they contained a deadly poison. The necromancer ignored Reese's shaking, tearful pleadings and requested Broach make use of his surgical skills to fix Reese's third such tooth broken in that manner.Memories of Ice, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.793-796
== In The Healthy Dead==
Four years after leaving Lamentable Moll, Reese, Bauchelain, and Korbal Broach arrived on the outskirts of Quaint.The Healthy Dead, Section 11 They were one step ahead of an army pursuing them after they burned down half of the last town they had visited.The Healthy Dead, Section 5 Determined to keep a low profile they were nevertheless persuaded by Imid Factallo and Elas Sil to bring down the tyrannical health-based regime of King Macrotus for a large chest of gold and silver coins.The Healthy Dead, Section 5 Bauchelain stripped Reese of all his illicit substances and sent him into the city.
Inside Quaint, a series of misunderstandings resulted in Reese being recognized as the prophesized First Saint of Most Glorious Labour.The Healthy Dead, Section 11 Well Knight Invett Loath brought Reese directly before the king. In the process, Reese lent Loath his D'bayang tainted handkerchief, which set the mind altered Purest of Paladins on a righteous mission to adjudicate the entire sinful population at swordpoint.The Healthy Dead, Sections 13 and 15 Mass chaos ensued.
Bauchelain and Broach put their own plans into motion by raising the city's dead from their graves. Upon entering the now burning city, Bauchelain was impressed by Reese's work, saying his own efforts had been unnecessary and that the chest of coins rightly belonged to Reese.The Healthy Dead, Section 26 Appalled by the violence he had inadvertently ignited, Reese returned to their camp.
== In Crack'd Pot Trail ==
Bauchelain, Broach, and Reese travelled the Cracked Pot Trail to reach Farrog, home of the Indifferent God. The two necromancers, deciding that the god had "reneged on the most precious covenant of all", had determined that its life was forfeit. As they made the final ferry crossing to the city they witnessed a peculiar accident as a carriage, in its haste to make the ferry, fell over three hundred feet to the river from the nearby cliffs. The necromancers and their manservant were seemingly unaware that the Indifferent God travelled alongside them as the Ferryman conducting their journey.Crack'd Pot Trail, Chapter 6
==In The Fiends of Nightmaria==
Bauchelain, Korbal Broach--along with Emancipor Reese and the Indifferent God--arrived in the city of Farrog together.Crack'd Pot Trail, Chapter 6 In short order, Bauchelain usurped the throne of the reigning King of Farrog, N'Gorm the Lesser and declared himself Bauchelain the First with Broach as the city's new Grand Bishop of the Church of the Indifferent God. The ferryman that the God possessed was imprisoned in the palace dungeons.The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 3
Emancipor soon found himself serving as a one-man audience for the new King's ideas--particularly those involving an aggressive new direction for Farrog's policies with regard to the neighboring Empire of Nightmaria. As had long been his custom, Emancipor kept himself stoked not only by gulping down alcoholic beverages, but also by smoking rustleaf and d'bayang--often all at the same time. Since he was the two necromancers' only trusted manservant, Emancipor assisted the duo in any way that was required of him.The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 5 
When Broach reported that the Indifferent God had broken free of its prison and roamed the palace's dungeons, Bauchelain brought Emancipor to the Conjuration Chamber where the necromancer engaged in the practice of summoning and binding demons. Bauchelain used the reluctant manservant as bait to distract Demon Prince Flail Their Limbs upon his unwilling arrival before sending it and a host of others to hunt the god down.The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 5The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 9
Unlike practically all of the Farrogese (as well as Bauchelain and Korbal Broach), Emancipor was capable of empathy and understanding with regard to the Nightmarians--views that the manservant shared with the Nightmarian ambassador, Ophal D'Neeth Flatroq, before he ushered the ambassador into the Throne Room of the Royal Palace for an audience with King Bauchelain.The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 13 Farrog's plans for holy war against their neighbor were met by the ambassador's delivery of Nightmaria's own declaration of war. To Bauchelain's horror, the ambassador also apprised the King that a Nightmarian army--some 150,000 strong and far outnumbering their own--had crossed the border and were only two days' march from the Farrog city walls. Their intent was to take extensive and dire revenge on Farrog and all of its institutions. Bauchelain hurriedly ordered Emancipor Reese to ready the necromancers' carriage and horses to flee with their horde of wealth stored in a personal warren inside.The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 16The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 19The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 21 
Broach sent all of his undead servants to clear the way to the city's gate before flying away as a crow, but the population rose up to destroy them, so Bauchelain was forced to cut a path through the crowd for the carriage with his flaming sword.The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 21The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 25 Reese found Broach's undead army to be rather useless and Bauchelain warned him not to express such an opinion within Broach's hearing.The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 31 A day later, they could see the city burning behind them and Bauchelain prepared to lead the carriage through a warren to throw off another of their pursuers--an army commanded by a Mysterious Lady.The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 31
==In Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords==
The necromancers and their servant hastily left a burning city that had been the site of their most recent efforts. Rather than accept a reign of tyranny under the necromancers' command, the citizens had descended into savagery. Amidst the hail of bricks, knives, torches, broken furniture, and statuary thrown at them by the angry mob had been a puppy which had landed almost directly in Reese's lap. He kept the ugly, sand-coloured, snub-nosed dog with floppy ears and mismatched eyes wrapped in a coarse blanket.Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords, Section 19, p.4Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords, Section 12, p.61 Bauchelain allowed him to keep the as yet unnamed pet stating that it was an obligation for life, giving advice on its care, and warning the manservant to keep it away from Korbal Broach.Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords, Section 4, p.19-20 
Korbal Broach scouted ahead in crow form looking for their next destination and reported that the army that had been pursuing them for the past year had grown to include tens of thousands of soldiers. Despite Reese's terror, Bauchelain was not the least perturbed by their pursuers and decided their next endeavour would be more modest--a town of sufficient size to support their needs.Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords, Section 4, p.16-18
On the plain, they discovered a lone tower occupied by a survivalist and his life-sized doll, Solly. Bauchelain determined to rifle through the contents of the tower for valuables, inviting himself inside for a dinner prepared by Reese, who was disgruntled at being forced to remain outside to work. At evening's end, Broach decapitated the tower's owner with a swipe of his finger at Bauchelain's request. When Bauchelain justified the murder, Reese made a subtle criticism of the argument, earning the necromancer's terrifying regard. "Too often I underestimate you, Mister Reese, for all your coarse ways", he said.Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords, Section 7, p.34/35/37Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords, Section 10, p.47-56
Arriving at the wealthy town of Earbeford, Reese pulled the carriage into the main square. 
He was accosted by Thibly, a conscripted soldier, who failed to convince the manservant to move somewhere else. At Bauchelain's request, Thibly explained the doom facing the town in the form of three necromancers known as The Tearful Three and their undead army of ten thousand. When Bauchelain left to visit the town council to offer them salvation, an amused Thibly settled in near Reese in anticipation of witnessing Bauchelain scuttle away in rejection. He soon grew annoyed at Reese's seemingly ridiculously inflated views of his master's abilities and was startled when it was announced a deal had been struck. When Reese saw Chancellor Gullyb lead the necromancer toward the town's treasury building, he warned Thibly that that was a mistake.Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords, Section 16, p.69-73 
On the day that the Tearful Three sent their army against the town, Reese sat atop his carriage near where the chancellor and town council were to observe. Bauchelain had entered a contract with the town council to defeat the three necromancers for a price of fifty thousand jeerkhins, but once on the battlefield extorted a doubling of their payment. Having surveyed their treasury, the necromancer knew the town could pay, although they would be financially ruined for generations. Gullyb had no choice but to agree or face annihilation.Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords, Section 1, p.1Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords, Section 22, p.83-84 During the battle that followed, Bauchelain learned from the Three's servant, Abercrass, that Reese had achieved a worldwide celebrity amongst the members of the Grand Union of Manservancy as servant to "Bocky Lane" and "Kubby Brooch". Many guildmembers had been inspired to serve necromancer masters by his example and every guildhall honoured him. Bauchelain was not pleased.Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords, Section 28, p.92-95 
After the Three were dispatched, Gullyb tearfully asked Reese what his masters planned to do with the thousands of undead left roaming the town's outskirts. Reese told the horrified chancellor that the ultimate disposition of the undead was not covered by the contract and opined that the dead might leave on their own or or perhaps remain underfoot.Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords, Section 29, p.96 Reese then noticed a tail dangling from the blanket held to the breast of the wet-nurse, Anavalistia. It was revealed that the baby she held was actually Reese's puppy and he demanded the still unnamed dog's return. When the wet-nurse demanded three jeerkhins in exchange, Reese relinquished his ownership and Burok, the town Manuromancer, adopted it instead.Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords, Section 30, p.101
With the Tearful Three defeated, Bauchelain, Korbal Broach, and Emancipor Reese left the town to the mercy of the now masterless horde of undead. The townspeople were likely all slaughtered and eaten but for the wet-nurse, Anavalistia, who joined a surprised Reese atop the necromancers' carriage to travel with him while her brain freed itself of "the humors" that befogged it. He warned the woman, whom he found "pretty...in a hefty, motherly way", that his lifestyle required "Drink. Drugs. Rustleaf. Rustleaf. Drink." to survive, but she was not dissuaded. Once her brain was back, she would choose among those three remedies to remain with him for the long haul. She also carried the puppy, whose name she revealed only to the manservant. Reese found the name fit most perfectly.Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords, Section 31, p.102-104Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords, Section 32, p.104-106
==In Orb Sceptre Throne==
Bauchelain, along with Korbal Broach (and Emancipor Reese, taking care of the necromancers' extensive luggage)Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 16, US TPB p.456 visited the island remnants of the fallen Moon's Spawn — known as the 'Spawns' — which were located off the southern coast of Genabackis. The necromancers were seeking the Throne of Night, which was thought by some to have been destroyed.Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 15, US TPB p.426-428
The trio were described by Antsy as "...the elegant fellow, Bauchelain,...[then] an ugly squat man, pale and bloated,...[followed] by an old man [i.e., Emancipor]...perhaps not so old, just looking extremely careworn."Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 16, US TPB p.463 Bauchelain and Korbal Broach were present when the Throne of Night was found with the aid of Orchid, but — as it turned out — they were unable to access it and departed, Emancipor following after them with the luggage.Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 16, US TPB p.465-466
==Trivia==
Author Steven Erikson says Reese "imbibes every known chemical in the Malazan world in order to stay sane."Chatting With Nutts - Episode #18 ft Steven Erikson - The Fantasy Nuttwork - See 2:04:55
== Quotes ==
Emancipor: "Show me a man who can't smoke and you're looking at the end of civilization."
[A remark made by Emancipor Reese in The Wurms of Blearmouth, Section 3.]
Emancipor: "Ambassador? [King Bauchelain] will see you now... Please follow me--oh, you know the drill...remember, he likes genuflection, and obsequiousness. Groveling is even better. Abject despair soothes him best of all--I've turned that into an art... Come along."
[Emancipor Reese's remarks as he ushered the Nightmarian Ambassador, Ophal D'Neeth Flatroq, into the Throne Room of the Royal Palace of Farrog in The Fiends of Nightmaria, Section 13.]
==Notes and references==
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