Perish Grey Helms

The Perish Grey Helms were a group of warrior priests dedicated to the Wolves of Winter, Togg and Fanderay. They were a religious warrior order from the nation of Perish, famous for their use of Thrones of War.
Their flag was a wolf's head on a black field bordered in grey.The Bonehunters, Chapter 20, US SFBC p.802 They favoured wolf symbols as decorative elements such as on the carved prows of their ships, on their sword pommels, or etched into their blades.The Bonehunters, Chapter 20, US SFBC p.801-804
The Grey Helms wore surcoats of blackened chain mail glistening with oil. Their iron helms were camailed at the back, with visors and sweeping cheek-guards. They also wore grey cloaks and leather gloves.
== Notable members of the Grey Helms ==
* Mortal Sword Krughava
* Shield Anvil Tanakalian
* Destriant Run'Thurvian
==In The Bonehunters==
After the Last Siege of Y'Ghatan, Adjunct Tavore Paran's Bonehunters embarked on Admiral Nok's Malazan Imperial Fleet to return to Quon Tali. On the western coast of the Catal Sea they encountered thirty-one Perish Thrones of War. A war-canoe bearing Mortal Sword Krughava, Destriant Run'Thurvian, and Shield Anvil Tanakalian crossed from the Perish fleet's flagship to the Froth Wolf, where Adjunct Tavore commanded. The Perish introduced themselves and related how they had repelled a fleet of Tiste Edur, destroying twenty ships at a cost of four of their own.
Run'Thurvian announced that they had been waiting for the Malazan fleet. Then Krughava drew her sword and held it horizontally against her own chest as she spoke before the Adjunct:
To speed the combined fleet's journey back to Quon Tali and avoid dangers such as The Three of Shal-Morzinn, Run'thurvian and the Perish opened a passage through the Warren of Togg and Fanderay. They had been preparing the ritual for the gate for two years in advance of their meeting with the 14th Army and reduced a trip of months to three days.The Bonehunters, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.818-819The Bonehunters, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.831 After a less than cordial encounter with the Jakatakan Fleet, the Perish Destriant hoped that the relationship between the Adjunct and Empress Laseen was not as strained as it appeared because the 14th Army alone would not be enough for the task at hand.The Bonehunters, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.829-833/836
The Adunct's fleet travelled to Malaz City where the Empress awaited Tavore in Mock's Hold. The Froth Wolf and the Silanda moored at the city pier while the rest of the fleet, including the Perish, remained anchored in the harbour. The entire city seethed with magically induced anger against the 14th Army and the soldiers of the Silanda prepared to defend both ships from the mob after the Adjunct was escorted away. Captain Rynag of the Empress' guard attempted to order the Perish fleet to anchor outside the bay, but Fist Keneb stalled, claiming the Perish were not under his control.The Bonehunters, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.867-868
In her meeting with the Empress, Tavore was cagy regarding to whom the Perish were loyal. She downplayed their strength, calling them barbarians. The rest of the meeting did not go well, and the Adjunct left Mock's hold to return to her fleet.The Bonehunters, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.901-907 
When the attacks at the pier began, Run'Thurvian was aboard the Adjunct's flagship. He used his magic to extinguish the burning arrows that sought to set it ablaze and maintained a barrier against magical assaults. As the Malazan shield wall began to fail, Perish reinforcements took their place with swordsmen and archers. In the final stages of the battle, the Perish rescued the Adjunct from where she had fallen while fighting her way back to the docks.The Bonehunters, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.889-890/893/911/932/940
When Keneb declared that the 14th Army now belonged the Adjunct and damned the empire, Run'thurvian's eyes widened, then he bowed with a faint smile.The Bonehunters, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.893 The Perish followed the Adjunct's now renegade army out of Malaz Bay.
 
==In Reaper's Gale==
After Adjunct Tavore's clash with the Empress at Malaz City she took the Bonehunters rogue, following the Tiste Edur fleet that had ravaged Sepik back to Lether. The Perish Thrones of War sailed on the fleet's flanks.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 13, US HC p.354/356 Once the fleet reached Lether, a few Thrones of War remained near the Adjunct's headquarters on Second Maiden Fort, but the majority of the Perish Grey Helms did not take part in the invasion of the Letherii Empire. One Perish ship blockaded Second Maiden Fort's harbour,Reaper's Gale, Chapter 13, US HC p.358 while two Thrones of War rescued Yan Tovis, Yedan Derryg, and their people from their ferry sinking off Third Maiden Fort. The Perish brought Yan Tovis to Second Maiden Fort where she proclaimed herself Queen of the Shake and ruler of the island.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 16, US HC p.463-465Reaper's Gale, Chapter 17, US HC p.521 Two Thrones of War escorted the Adjunct's fleet up the Lether River when it came time to invade Letheras.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 24, US HC p.799
The rest of the fleet, like the Khundryl Burned Tears, was "for the moment, far away" in Fist Keneb's words.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 17, US HC p.501 Even Adjunct Tavore's aide Lostara Yil was unaware of their role. Tavore would only say the Bonehunters would be joining the Perish and the Khundryl in the east after Letheras was conquered.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 24, US HC p.755
== In Dust of Dreams ==
The Grey Helms found themselves on the opposite side of the continent of Lether from the Bonehunters. When Run'Thurvian died, it left the order without a Destriant. Before his death, Run'Thurvian denied Tanakalian's offer of a last embrace, and claimed that the Perish would betray either Tavore or their own gods, leaving Tanakalian troubled. Tanakalian chose to hide Run'Thurvian's refusal from Krughava, whilst also suspecting her of seeking personal glory through her oath to Tavore. The Perish did not reach the Bonehunters in time to aid them in the battle against the K'Chain Nah'ruk.
== In The Crippled God ==
Shield Anvil Tanakalian resented that the Grey Helms had played no role in the battle against the Nah'ruk.The Crippled God, Chapter 3, UK HC p.82 He ousted Mortal Krughava in a split which saw the Grey Helms abandon the Bonehunters. En route to Kolanse to aid the Forkrul Assail in the war, the Grey Helms were joined by Setoc, whom the Wolves proclaimed to be their new Destriant. During the Battle of the Spire, Krughava returned to the Grey Helms and challenged the Wolves themselves, claiming that humans would always be the better hunters. This angered the Wolves to the point where they took control of Setoc's body, ripping it to shreds in the process, and attempted to attack Krughava. Tanakalian lunged in with a knife, stabbing the body in the chest and killing one of the Wolves, before stabbing Krughava in the throat, screaming that it was unfair that he would not be the hero he desired to be. Krughava survived long enough to kill Tanakalian before succumbing to her injuries.  
== See also ==
* Grey Swords
==Notes and references==
de:Graue Helme der Verender
Category:Perish Grey Helms