Crippled God

The Crippled God, the Chained One,Memories of Ice, Dramatis Personae, UK MMPB The Shattered God,Blood and Bone, Chapter 15, UK MMPB p.822 Fallen God, or Fallen One,Stonewielder, Glossary was a majorly disfigured Ascendant who frequently came into conflict with the other gods and goddesses of the world. He could be considered the main antagonist of the Malazan Book of the Fallen.
The Crippled God often appeared as a bent figure wrapped and hooded in rags or blankets, inhabiting a dilapidated, sunbleached tent along a sandy beach.Return of the Crimson Guard, Epilogue, UK PB p.688 He was usually found huddled over a smoking brazier, and spoke in raspy voice intermingled with hacking coughs and laboured breathing. He had long, tangled hair and his thin mangled hand appeared to have every one of its bones broken.Memories of Ice, Chapter 2 His features were hidden in darkness beneath his hood.Midnight Tides, Chapter 9, US SFBC p.272 He was in constant agony and cast seeds into the brazier's coals to thicken the heady smoke.
The symbol of the Fallen God was a broken circle.Stonewielder, Prologue, US HC p.24
==In Gardens of the Moon==
Kruppe read an ancient tome in the study of the scholar Mammot that mentioned the Crippled God. The book detailed how the God was called to earth, crippled, and chained. In the process lands were sundered and things were born and released. A list of those gathered at the God's imprisonment included Hood and Dessembrae. The list was so absurdly long Kruppe "half expected to see his grandmother's name among those listed."Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 12, US HC p.274
==In Memories of Ice==
The Crippled God launched several assaults during this book.
He allied himself with the Pannion Seer to cause as much suffering as possible to the world and all its inhabitants.
Furthermore, he presented a dilemma to Caladan Brood. The Crippled God was kept bound to Burn's flesh by the Gods and other great powers of the Malazan world in events known as Chainings. But through these chains, the god infected her, poisoning her body like a virulent cancer and preventing her from awakening.Memories of Ice, Chapter 2, US SFBC p.72-76 Burn had long ago foreseen this attack and entered her sleeping state to focus her power into a hammer which she gave to Brood. Using the hammer to break the chains that bound them would stop the disease, but would unleash the Chained God's vengeance upon the world.Memories of Ice, Chapter 5, US SFBC p.166/195-196 At the same time, using the hammer would awaken the goddess and her resulting movements would trigger earthquakes and eruptions that would destroy every civilisation on the planet.Memories of Ice, Chapter 4, US SFBC p.125-126 Afterwards, the indifferent goddess would simply begin again and life would start over. On the other hand, if the Crippled God's infection was left unchecked and allowed to spread, Burn would die, and all life that dwelt upon her would die with her. Brood bided his time to make a decision.Memories of Ice, Chapter 20, US SFBC p.718-719 
The Chained One also sponsored the creation of High House Chains within the pantheon and the Deck of Dragons.Memories of Ice, Chapter 13, UK MMPB p.520Memories of Ice, Chapter 2 This altered the Warrens making them poison to those not of the new House. He had been struck down by sorcery and so sought to destroy that weapon of his enemies.Memories of Ice, Chapter 11 He first attempted to secure the services of Quick Ben, but was rebuffed. He then recruited Gethol as the HeraldMemories of Ice, Chapter 8 and Kallor as the High King of the new House. 
In response to the formation of the new House, Ganoes Paran found himself chosen as the Master of the Deck. His role was to bless or deny the addition of the House of Chains to the Deck of Dragons. Many were pushing for denial, including Anomander Rake, Trake, and Hood, but a voice inside Paran demanded the opposite. Gruntle pointed out that the new House currently operated as it pleased outside the rules, but a sanctioned House would be bounded to the same rules as everyone else.Memories of Ice, Chapter 18, US SFBC p.631/655/658-662
In exchange for accepting the position as High King, the Crippled God created an opportunity for Kallor to slay Silverfox. The attempt was thwarted by Whiskeyjack, and Kallor was extracted from the situation into the Crippled God's Warren.Memories of Ice, Chapter 24, UK MMPB p.1059 
The Pannion Seer was halted by the combined forces of Dujek's Host, the Tiste Andii of Moon's Spawn, Caladan Brood's forces, the Grey Swords, and Gruntle's ragtag army of civilians.
==In House of Chains==
The Crippled God had a number of schemes running simultaneously. Over four hundred years before the events of the main series, he approached the broken T'lan Imass known as The Seven Faces in the Rock. In return for their fealty and the breaking of their Vow, he offered them enough of his power to grant them limited freedom to leave their tomb.House of Chains, Chapter 1, US SFBC p.31-35 Afterwards, they were known as The Unbound.
Trull Sengar described how some unknown power had corrupted his people, the Tiste Edur, and directed them to gather the disparate fragments of Kurald Emurlahn in order to make the shattered warren whole once more. Part of this scheme required taking control of the Throne of Shadow to become master of that realm and control the Hounds of Shadow.House of Chains, Chapter 9, US SFBC p.371-372
Within Shadow, Cotillion noted that the Hounds were agitated, and there were signs that his and Shadowthrone's claim to the warren was threatened by an unknown enemy. He enlisted Cutter, Apsalar, and Kalam Mekhar to run a number of errands to help protect his claim and identify their opponent.House of Chains, Chapter 6, US SFBC p.262-268
The Tiste Edur, indirectly commanded by the Crippled God, attacked Drift Avalii where the Throne of Shadow was hidden. Their attacks were held back by the island's guardian, Darist, as well as a group of stray Malazans (amongst whom was Hawl) as well as Cutter, Apsalar, and Traveller. Cotillion himself battled the Edur to prevent the Throne's defenders from being overrun.House of Chains, Chapter 12
In an attempt to better understand the Jade giants, Heboric made an important discovery regarding the origin of the Crippled God. Using Hen'bara tea, the historian found himself amidst a sea of stars in The Abyss observing scores of the giants tumbling towards an enormous wound in space. Heboric soon awoke, certain that the Crippled God had been drawn through the same wound into the Malazan world and followed by the army of statues, either under his command or in his pursuit.House of Chains, Chapter 13, US SFBC p.491-496
The Crippled God chose Karsa Orlong as his Knight of Chains, or Mortal Sword, within the House of Chains.House of Chains, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.708 The Teblor denied the position, despite the knowledge that the Seven had shaped him for the role for his whole life. It was unclear if this was his choice to make. A number of characters, including Silgar,House of Chains, Chapter 25, US SFBC p.786 'Siballe the Unfound, and L'oric,House of Chains, Chapter 25, US SFBC p.811 referred to his title as fact even after his denial.House of Chains, Chapter 9, US SFBC p.656-658 Karsa offered to break the god's own chains and then kill him.
Denied the Throne of Shadow, the Crippled God sought instead the First Throne and control of the T'lann Imass. The Throne's location on Quon Tali was known by his servants, the Unbound, and Onrack the Broken deduced that the renegades would lead the god to it. Importantly, the Throne could only be held by a mortal, a position ideally suited for the god's Tiste Edur servants. Control of the Throne also meant control of the mortal Bonecaster, Silverfox, dashing the T'lan Imass' hopes to be delivered from their existence.House of Chains, Chapter 9, US SFBC p.656-658 Onrack, Trull, Monok Ochem, and Ibra Gholan travelled to the Throne to serve as its guardians only to find Shadowthrone's servant Minala and her Company of Shadow already protecting it.House of Chains, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.748-749House of Chains, Epilogue, US SFBC p.851
The Crippled God sought control of the fragment of the Kurald Emurlahn warren that formed Raraku, which was controlled by the Whirlwind Goddess. He seduced Sha'ik Reborn's High Mage, Bidithal, to his side to help seize the warren and make it the heart of the new House of Chains.House of Chains, Chapter 25, US SFBC p.783 Bidithal admitted all of this to Kalam, as well as his hope to call the Deragoth into his new patron's service. This allowed Kalam to confirm the source of the threat to Shadow.House of Chains, Chapter 25, US SFBC p.784/787
By the eve of the Battle of Raraku, the Master of the Deck made his choice and sanctioned the House of Chains. The Crippled God was now bound to the same rules as the others.House of Chains, Chapter 25, US SFBC p.811
==In Midnight Tides==
The Crippled God's tent could be found on the plain of a small island on an empty sea, barren but for occasional tufts of long, razor-sharp grass.Midnight Tides, Prologue, US SFBC p.26-28Midnight Tides, Chapter 16, US SFBC p.506 The sky was a milky white and the island was populated by Lizard-rats and Lizard gulls.Midnight Tides, Chapter 19, US SFBC p.586 The island never saw a sunrise or sunset.Midnight Tides, Chapter 16, US SFBC p.507 It was a fragment prone to wander and conjured from memories of the god's home.Midnight Tides, Chapter 19, US SFBC p.586
The god destroyed the Third Meckros city and rescued only the weaponsmith, Withal, to serve as his slave. Giving the man three Nacht servants, Mape, Pule, and Rind, he ordered him to create a particular sword of the god's own devising.
Two years later, it was revealed that the Crippled God was behind Hannan Mosag's rise to power within the Tiste Edur. The Warlock King had discovered the Edur's god, Father Shadow, was long dead and sought another source of power to make his people unassailable.Midnight Tides, Chapter 18, US SFBC p.563-564Midnight Tides, Chapter 9, US SFBC p.274 Their pact gave the Warlock King access to Chaos magic, and he brought the six Edur tribes under his rule during the War of Unification. The Crippled God also gave Mosag the service of an enslaved Demon spirit-god and sent him a dream with the location of a gift in the ice fields of Lether.Midnight Tides, Chapter 1, US SFBC p.54-55Midnight Tides, Chapter 3, US SFBC p.94-97 Some of the Edur, including Uruth Sengar, were suspicious of the source of Mosag's new power, which did not resemble Kurald Emurlahn.Midnight Tides, Chapter 3, US SFBC p.101/117-119
Hannan sent the four brothers of House Sengar to retrieve the gift from the ice with a warning that none should touch it.Midnight Tides, Chapter 1, US SFBC p.55 The four discovered the gift was a sword before they were ambushed by a large force of Jheck. Rhulad Sengar, the youngest of the four, took the sword in order to defend himself, but was slain and the sword refused to leave his hands.Midnight Tides, Chapter 8 Rhulad's spirit awoke on the island where the Crippled God offered to restore him to a life of immortality with ever increasing power in return for his service. Rhulad accepted and awoke back in his village where he declared himself emperor of the Tiste Edur in Hannan Mosag's stead. He accused the Warlock King of weakness and treachery for refusing to seek out conquest as their mutual patron had demanded. Rhulad forced the Warlock King to kneel and serve him and then declared war on the Kingdom of Lether.Midnight Tides, Chapter 9, US SFBC p.270-275/290Midnight Tides, Chapter 11, US SFBC p.342-346
The Crippled God reneged on his promise to release Withal after the sword was completed, instead pressuring the Meckros to worship him.Midnight Tides, Chapter 16, US SFBC p.506-507 During this time, the god became concerned for Withal's loneliness. To combat this, he resurrected the Tiste Andii, Sandalath Drukorlat, as a female companion. Withal was angered by the god's presumption and the god was disappointed in Withal's lack of gratitude. Despite his hatred for the gods in general, Withal began to pray to Mael, Elder God of the sea.Midnight Tides, Chapter 16, US SFBC p.519-520 
The Crippled God continued to whisper advice into Rhulad's ear as he led his armies to victory in Lether.Midnight Tides, Chapter 13, US SFBC p.421 After Rhulad and his Edur conquered Letheras and Rhulad proclaimed himself emperor of Lether, a storm appeared off the coast of the Crippled God's island. Withal had an epiphany regarding the daily performances of the Nachts, realising they had been trying to send him a message. He toppled the Crippled God's tent, the centre of the god's power, upon its shrieking occupant and a boat bearing Mael arrived on shore. The god offered the boat for Withal, Sandalath, and the Nachts to escape. Then Mael went to beat the Crippled God senseless.Midnight Tides, Epilogue, US SFBC p.769-771
==In The Bonehunters==
Cotillion sought information about the Crippled God from Ampelas, Eloth, and Kalse, three Eleint chained within Shadow. He asked the Eleint whether the God was an Elder God and how such a being could be killed, but the Eleint refused to answer. Cotillion noted that the God's fall had shattered the balance with his power torn apart into miniscule, virtually lifeless Warrens. Now the Crippled God was poisoning the Warrens and Cotillion sought allies amongst the Eleint and Edgewalker for the war to come.The Bonehunters, Chapter 2, US SFBC p.79-80
The Crippled God made an attempt to take the First Throne, which would give him command over the T'lan Imass. Since only a mortal might take the Throne, the Tiste Edur were sent to attack together with their Letherii soldiers and the champion Icarium, who had yet to prove himself worthy of their Emperor. Their attacks were stopped by several allies, amongst them Quick Ben, Trull and the Eres'al.
==In Reaper's Gale==
The Crippled God was not yet ready for open war with the gods, so he continued to work through his servants who often had their own conflicting agenda. Hannan Mosag's K'risnan herded the party of Silchas Ruin and Fear Sengar away from the east of Lether, where secrets waited, and towards the Finnest of Scabandari Bloodeye.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 2, US HC p.71 Those K'risnan who tried to directly challenge Ruin found they could no longer access the god's magic despite the Warlock King's desire to capture him for his own schemes. The Crippled God was not ready to openly challenge the White Crow. Rather than killing the powerless Ventrala, Ruin sent him back to Letheras with a message for Mosag: "A god in pain is not the same as a god obsessed with evil...perhaps it is the likes of you who have in turn shaped the Crippled God. Perhaps, without his broken, malformed worshippers, he would have healed long ago."Reaper's Gale, Chapter 4, US HC p.106-107
Meanwhile, the Warlock King made a bargain with Sukul Ankhadu and Sheltatha Lore promising to lead them to their enemy, Silchas Ruin, in return for granting the Crippled God access to the power of Scabandari's Finnest. He claimed the god was not willing to face Ruin alone, but would stand against him with allies. The god's use of the Finnest would lead to its destruction, satisfying another of the two Soletaken's desires.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 5, US HC p.135-136
Janall Diskanar, former Queen of Lether whose body and mind had been twisted by acting as a conduit for the Crippled God's magic, became the god's newest follower. He spoke to her in her mind, telling her "when the pain at last ends, then you shall see the truth of me. Dear Queen, my power was once the sweetest kiss. A love that broke nothing." He complained that humanity made his every breath agony and his every convulsion ecstasy. He was what his worshippers made of him. In response to her demands for the return of her throne, the god promised to answer her prayers but said, "Just do not ever say I didn't warn you." Janall also claimed Turudal Brizad no longer visited her as the "Master sees through my eyes."Reaper's Gale, Chapter 5, US HC p.130-131 
Emroth, one of the Crippled God's Unbound, passed through Omtose Phellack towards the Refugium. She was joined on the journey by the ghost of Hedge, who suspected she might be attempting to turn the thousands of Imass that lived there to the worship of the Crippled God. But when he realised she was more likely interested in the realm's gate to Starvald Demelain where anything was possible, including the destruction of the warrens, he killed her with a cusser.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 17, US HC p.506-508
Emperor Rhulad Sengar brought champions from all across the world to face him in never-ending battle. Each time the immortal emperor would return to life through the power of the Crippled God's cursed sword. Samar Dev surmised that the point of this exercise was for the Fallen One to demonstrate that "Grandness and potential and promise, they all break in the end." Legions of the world's most extraordinary warriors would fall and just become another name on the list of the slain. Even Rhulad, his tortured and insane champion, would succeed and return each time as visibly less than what he was before. A "broken wielder broken by his power."Reaper's Gale, Chapter 24, US HC p.773 
After Mael had rescued Withal, he sent the swordsmith to wait for Adjunct Tavore Paran in Malaz City. Withal joined the Bonehunters as they crossed the ocean to invade the Letherii Empire and the Adjunct regularly met with him in secret consultations about the sword he had forged for the Crippled God.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 13, US HC p.364/370-372
The god's plans for Scabandari's Finnest failed as both Sukul Ankhadu and Sheltatha Lore were killed in the Refugium before they could face Silchas Ruin. Ruin found the Finnest and destroyed it to imprison Scabandari within a newly created Azath House.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 23, US HC p.728-729/730-732/737-741 Ruin knew little of the god who opposed him, but what little he knew, he did not like. Veering into his Soletaken form, he flew to Letheras to have his vengeance.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 23, US HC p.741-742 Whatever plans Ruin had in mind were thwarted by Quick Ben, Fiddler, and Hedge, who drove him away from the city with magic and Moranth munitions.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 24, US HC p.804-805/809-810
As the Bonehunters invaded Letheras, Rhulad faced off against Karsa Orlong in the arena. The emperor ineffectively hacked and slashed at the Teblor, while Karsa coolly defended himself. It was only when Rhulad's sword lunged of its own accord and speared Karsa through the leg that the Teblor went on the offense, severing Rhulad's sword arm at the shoulder. Once the sword was out of Rhulad's hands, Samar Dev released the spirits from her knife to envelop the sword and create a portal through Chaos into the warren of the Crippled God. The spirits' sacrifice was joined by the legion of the slain chained to Karsa as well as centuries of Tarthenal ghosts released by Old Hunch Arbat. Rhulad's body collapsed and died on the floor of the arena.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 24, US HC p.801-802/805-808
On the island of the Crippled God, Karsa dropped the cursed sword onto the sand and pulled down the god's tent. Rhulad's spirit joined them and the Crippled God called for the Edur to take up the sword again. He promised Rhulad he could finally correct his mistakes and make things right with his brother Trull. Karsa warned Rhulad to leave the sword, or else face oblivion if the Teblor was forced to kill his spirit. Rhulad reached for the sword and Karsa regretfully decapitated him. The Crippled God then tried to tempt Karsa into taking up the sword, saying the sword had been for him all along. With the sword, Karsa could be the immortal emperor of the Teblor, delivering his people to freedom and conquering their enemies. The god opened a portal of fire back to Karsa's homeland for the Teblor's journey, but Karsa merely sneered.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 24, US HC p.819-821 
Withal returned to the island of the Crippled God with the three Nachts, telling Karsa he had come to destroy the weapon on the forge where it had been created. The Crippled God hissed with anger that Withal had lied to him when he said the sword was unbreakable, but began bawling to the sky when Withal began his work.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 24, US HC p.756/821-822
==In Toll the Hounds==
Talk of war involving the Crippled God simmered in the background of the novel. Kruppe and K'rul discussed a war in which K'rul did not participate but in which he was the prize.Toll the Hounds, Prologue, US SFBC p.28Baruk complained to Crone that while Shadowthrone made plans, the other gods and goddesses cringed every time the Crippled God cleared his throat. They were eager for war, so long as someone else did the fighting.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 5, US SFBC p.183 Kallor noted that the gods were assembling to crush the Crippled God once and for all.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 20, US SFBC p.813
Baruk used his powers to summon and bind the soul of a jade-eyed demon. He told Crone it was a human from the world of the Crippled God's birthplace seeking its missing god. Before releasing the soul, Baruk used its presence to broach the topic of war with the Crippled God. He said the gods and goddesses feared the Fallen One but were eager for the war to start so long as others did the fighting. He admitted Shadowthrone had visited his chambers without going into detail of their conversation.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 5, US SFBC p.182-184
A Temple of Chains arose in Darujhistan under the leadership of Munug, now going by the name of Prophet Seech.Toll the Hounds, Dramatis PersonaeToll the Hounds, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.667-668/677 It took over the space of the abandoned Temple of FenerToll the Hounds, Chapter 15, US SFBC p.603 and attracted mobs of trembling alcoholics, the pock-scarred, the lame, and the deformed seeking the God's blessing. The prophet delivered the god's peace by smothering those in pain, preaching that death at his hands was the only way to end their lives and be sure their souls would find a home with a loving god. On the other side of life, the lame would walk again.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.677-679/708 While browsing through the wares of a store selling headstones and crypt facades in Darujhistan, Cutter came across an array of stylised deities, not yet temple-sanctioned, which would be used to beseech blessings upon the future dead. Among them was a depiction of the Fallen One.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 11, US SFBC p.456 
Kallor walked to Darujhistan sensing a new throne taking shape there--the'Broken Throne' of the Crippled God. As someone who best personified the misery of the Fallen One, he felt no one else better deserved to claim it than himself. He vowed to use its power to pull down all of civilisation and defeat the curse placed on him by the gods.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.498-499 On the road, he encountered Tulas Shorn who had escaped Hood's realm and told him he dreamt of a Throne and sought to offer his broken body in service to a new master--the Crippled God.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 16, US SFBC p.628-632 
Shadowthrone and Cotillion interrupted Karsa Orlong's own journey to Darujhistan, warning him against going to the Crippled God's temple to take the crown and throne awaiting him there. The Teblor's dismissive response to the Crippled God's offer proved reassuring.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 14, US SFBC p.576-579
Tiserra performed a Deck reading that centred on Darujhistan. One of the first cards drawn was The Rope of High House Shadow, followed by three cards (Obelisk, Soldier of Death, and Crown) drawn together as a tightly woven nest with the Knight of Darkness serving as their frame. Another nest followed with King of High House Death, King in Chains, and Dessembrae, Lord of Tragedy. The Knight of Darkness served as the second nest's inside frame. The Rope and Knight of Darkness were in opposition and the final card was The Tyrant.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 15, US SFBC p.610-611
==In Dust of Dreams==
Quick Ben explained to Adjunct Tavore Paran and others during a high command meeting that the Crippled God fell in pieces from the sky, and that most of it fell on Korel, although other pieces were scattered throughout the world, fired from his body, the heart of the Crippled God fell in Kolanse.Dust of Dreams, Chapter 6
Adjunct Paran hinted that she would lead the Bonehunters to the far-off land of Kolanse to free the Crippled God,Dust of Dreams, Chapter 19 despite the intentions of the immortal pantheon.
==In The Crippled God==
The heart of the Crippled God lay in Kolanse inside the Spire atop the Altar of Judgement, where it dripped rivers of blood.The Crippled God, Chapter 1 It was described as a "blackened, rotted abomination" in mottled form, on the outside it did not show any sign of life, but if it was touched it conveyed a certain sense of life within. It was unclear if the heart was inside of a rock or just hardened like rock.The Crippled God, Chapter 5 
As the Bonehunters made their stand against the northern Assail army on a hill guarded by D'rek, the Great Ravens arrived and sacrificed themselves to manifest the body of the Crippled God. Not long after, the Shi'Gal Assassin of Acyl nest returned his recently freed heart to his body. Though still chained to the world and powerless, Kaminsod seemed to be no longer capricious and vengeful, astounded as he was by the willingness of the mortal soldiers to defy their rulers and gods to protect him. As the Assail legion closed in battle with his defenders, Kaminsod worried that the sacrifice of his defenders would be forgotten by history. If by some happenstance they should protect him long enough, he pledged to write a Book of the Fallen, truthfully recording all of their deeds and his own throughout the long and bloody conflict.
After the battle ended, Kaminsod gave up his chains in order to bind the Otataral Dragon, saving magic and stopping the Eleint from running loose in the Malazan world. He was subsequently stabbed in the back by Cotillion. It is unclear whether this act freed him to return to his own world, or slew him on the spot, but most probably the former as Kaminsod's new body was described as unsuitable for his journey home.
==In Return of the Crimson Guard==
The Crippled God appeared in the dreams of the Crimson Guard deserter Kyle. He offered to save the life of Kyle's companion Traveller in return for Kyle's sword Tcharka, which, unknown to Kyle, contained the spirit of his god, Father Wind. Before Kyle could complete the agreement, a great blast of wind flattened the Crippled God's tent and the Queen of Dreams guided Kyle back to consciousness.Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 2 Chapter 5, UK PB p.430-432
Later, when Traveller faced Kallor at the Dolmens of Tien, the Crippled God rescued his Reaver of High House Chains before Traveller could gain his vengeance for the murder of Ereko.Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 2 Chapter 5, UK PB p.440
At a climactic moment of the Battle of the Plains, the Crippled God rescued the sorely wounded Crimson Guard traitor Skinner before Dassem Ultor could finish him. The god informed the now healed Skinner that he had been assisting him from behind the scenes. Skinner then claimed his position as King of High House Chains, offering up the service of his forty Disavowed, to the god's grudging approval.Return of the Crimson Guard, Epilogue, UK PB p.688-689
==In Stonewielder==
The night the Crippled God fell from the sky was experienced by Uli, a fisherman of the Many Isles, near the modern day Lands of Fist. It began with a blue-green smudge lighting up the eastern sky just before dawn which quickly grew as the morning went on. When it filled the sky it split into pieces, causing deafening sound and blinding light. One piece crashed onto the big island in the east while the others fell to the west. The impact of the shards caused an enormous tidal wave which likely killed Uli and everyone in his village.Stonewielder, Prologue, UK TPB p.17-22
Three fragments manifested themselves as the goddess that came to be known as the Lady. 
:See Our Lady the Blessed Saviour
Two of these fragments were ultimately destroyed, but the last was claimed by the Crippled God's servant Skinner.Stonewielder, Chapter 12, US HC p.617-619
==In Blood and Bone==
Spite and a group of Malazan mercenaries retrieved a fragment of the Crippled God from the Dolmens of Tien entrapping Spite in the process.Blood and Bone, Chapter 3 In the hands of the mages Murken Warrow and Sour the fragment took on the persona of a young girl named Celeste.Blood and Bone, Chapter 4
==In Kellanved's Reach==
After confronting Jadeen for control of the First Throne, Kellanved and Dancer prepared to return to Malaz City via warren. But as the pair attempted to step through Shadow they were instead violently pulled away by grey Chaos magic. A sickened Dancer awoke on an ocean beach where Kellanved pointed to a nearby tent as the source of their predicament.Kellanved's Reach, Chapter 15, US HC p.229-230
Within the tent a ragged shape hunched over burning coals apologised for their unexpected arrival citing his inability to travel beyond his sanctuary. He told Kellanved he had watched him for some time and thought the mage had much in common with himself--both sought power and dominion. The Crippled God offered to partner with the mage, making Kellanved his worldly representative while secretly supplying him with magical might. Kellanved rejected the offer claiming he was doing well enough on his own. The god warned that only his power could shield Kellanved from the world's greater powers, but Kellanved closed the negotiation by feigning clumsiness and toppling the god's brazier. As his tent caught fire, the screaming god called Kellanved an idiot and promised to cast the mage and Dancer away to a place where he claimed they would never be seen again.Kellanved's Reach, Chapter 15, US HC p.230-231
Dancer pulled Kellanved from the tent as it was consumed by fire with the wailing god inside. Then Kellanved made the difficult attempt to return them home as Chaos magic swirled around them. It did not go well.Kellanved's Reach, Chapter 15, US HC p.231-232
==History==
In 119,739 before Burn's Sleep, the being that came to be known as the Crippled God was lured into the Malazan world by a group of eight rebel mages seeking to oppose High King Kallor, tyrant of Jacuruku.Memories of Ice, Chapter 13, UK MMPB p.519 He was pulled from his own world where he was already locked in a war with rival gods.Midnight Tides, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.382 In the process he was torn to pieces while still somehow remaining alive. As he fell from the sky, the pieces scattered over seven continents,Dust of Dreams, Chapter 16 shattering the continents of Korel (Korelri) and Jacuruku.Memories of Ice, PrologueDust of Dreams, Chapter 5 Many of the torn pieces that fell to the earth birthed the Great Ravens. Other pieces manifested themselves as the deity known as the Lady and the child Celeste. The process left him a twisted being, knowing only suffering and wanting to make everyone else feel the same. 
To prevent him from achieving his goal, numerous gods, goddesses, and other Ascendants rallied together to chain him, thus forestalling the implementation of his plans. In the process, the Tiste Andii had destroyed his nascent realm and left it "a lifeless fragment of a long-dead warren".Memories of Ice, Chapter 13 Afterwards, the only manifestation of his realm he was capable of achieving was the tent he lived in.Steven Erikson Answers your Midnight Tides Questions (see questions 18 and 20) The location of the tent was not tied to any one place and both the tent and the gates that led to it were known to wander. Dujek Onearm described it as a "pocket-warren" that always wandered the Malazan world with the god ready to take opportunity of whatever location he found himself in.Memories of Ice, Chapter 21 The Chainings were repeated at numerous points throughout history by the ever changing pantheon in order to ensure the Crippled God did not escape.
==Speculations==
*It has been suggested that the Crippled God came to the Malazan world from our world and may in fact be a real life historical or religious figure. When asked, author Steven Erikson would only say that "there are pretty strong hints in the series and you're welcome to go find them."Not A TSACast: Fireside Conversations with Steven Erikson Ep#3 podcast - See 1:30:00 But commenting on a later fan-made analysis video, Erikson said, "One could even say that the Crippled God is our stand-in (certainly MY stand-in), also foreign, also a stranger in a strange world, who is ultimately driven to feel (see with the heart)."Historicity, metafiction and the Malazan Book of the Fallen - Niflrog's Folly - See Steven Erikson's response (as Steve Lundin) in the comments Perhaps the real life Crippled God is Erikson himself. (See also Trivia below). 
*When Heboric finds, but does not recognise, the crucified corpse of Duiker on Aren Way, he hears the laughter of a god.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 24 Some fans believe that it is the Crippled God that Heboric is hearing.
==Trivia==
*Per Steven Erikson, Kaminsod's name is a wink by the authors and refers to Erikson and Ian C. Esslemont (Cam) as the authors of the Malazan books. "Kam-in-sod" is "Cam-and-Steve".Narrators and The Malazan Book of the Fallen (Spoilers for Whole Series) - A Critical Dragon - See Steven Erikson's response (as Steve Lundin) in the comments
==Notes and references==
Category:Ascendants
Category:Gods
Category:High House Chains
Category:Males
de:Kaminsod
es:Dios Tullido