Aren

Aren [AIR-enSteven Erikson Deadhouse Gates Interview - Ten Very Big Books podcast - As pronounced by Steven Erikson at 04:50 or ar-EN]Not A TSACast: Fireside Conversations with Steven Erikson and Ian C. Esslemont Ep#4 podcast - As pronounced by Ian C. Esslemont at 44:30 was a port-city on the southern coast of the Seven Cities continent and one of its seven Holy Cities. After the continent's conquest by the Malazan Empire, the city was the headquarters of the Imperial High Command.Deadhouse Gates, Glossary, UK MMPB p.937
==Topography==
The city was built on the north shore of the Menykh River where it reached Aren Bay.House of Chains, Chapter 5, US SFBC p.226 Its high walls were impregnated with otataral as proof against sorcery.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 22, US HC p.566 Its north gate was flanked by two solid towers sporting T-shaped arrow slits midway up their heights and topped by broad observation platforms surrounded by stone merlons. The entrance was approximately twenty feet high and the gate could be raised to a height of at least fifteen feet. Inside the gate was a wide concourse that was used as a caravan staging area.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 20, US HC p.533Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 21, US HC p.544/559 Outside the north gate was the Aren Way, a broad cedar-lined Imperial road commissioned by Dassem Ultor, which ran three leagues north to the village of Balahn.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 20, US HC p.529-530
The other side of the city facing the river leading to the Dojal Hading Sea was home to the harbour district and the Imperial Yard where Malazan naval vessels docked. Towing vessels maneuvered ships from the inner yard further out into the harbour where the ships were allowed to stretch their sails.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 15, US HC p.395 The harbour was normally filled with ships and the bay swirled with currents carrying the city's sewage out to sea. The city's enormous defensive Seawall of Aren was a wonder of the world formed by curving barrier after rising curving barrier. It had stood against attack for over a thousand years before the arrival of the Malazans.Forge of the High Mage, Epilogue, UK HC p.459
Near the riverfront was Dregs, a district of Malazan expatriate hovels, containing colourfully named cobble streets such as No Help Alley. This may also have been the location of a city necropolis surrounded by high brick tenements and mourners' taverns such as the Squall Inn.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 12, US HC p.332Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 13, US HC p.363-364
Within the city was a vast parade ground capable of holding six thousand fully armoured soldiers assembled in ranks. The parade ground's cobbles were so thick with dust that the ground appeared to be hard-packed earth almost white in colour. Nearby was a cemetery whose grounds had been blown clear exposing the bones of those interred.House of Chains, Chapter 8, US SFBC p.312/314-315/320
Broad limestone steps led up from the harbour to the city's palace gate.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 24, US HC p.589
Within the city was a column at least twenty man-heights tall carved in a spiral from top to bottom.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 7, US HC p.179
A pall of smoke hung over the city at all times.
==Climate==
The city was hot and dry with sand blowing down its streets and alleys.The God is Not Willing, Chapter 18, US HC p.325
==Government==
The city was nominally ruled by High Fist Pormqual, although decisions on taxation and trade were made behind the scenes by a host of merchants largely for their own benefit. Pormqual's edicts were all delivered through the priest Mallick Rel.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 2, US HC p.56 
The Aren Guard, led by Commander Blistig, maintained order in Aren from the City Garrison.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 15, US HC p.395 The city was also home to approximately ten thousand Malazan soldiers.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 21, US HC p.546
Trell were not welcome within the city.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 24, US HC p.592
==Customs==
It was fashionable among men in the city's court to dust their cheeks with light blue powder.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 15, US HC p.391
==Aren steel==
The city was known for the quality of its tempered steel weapons.Reaper's Gale,Chapter 13Memories of Ice,Chapter 20 Aren steel possessed a silver colourThe Bonehunters,Prologue and was difficult to break.House of Chains,Chapter 2 When held in the light, the metal's watermark played on the blade like ripples on a pond.The God is Not Willing, Chapter 6, US HC p.122 Such steel was meant for fighting weapons and not mundane activities like whittling, cutting up vegetables, or butchering meat.The God is Not Willing, Chapter 6, US HC p.122 Aren steel was very rare and very expensive.The God is Not Willing, Chapter 13, US HC p.229
== Places of interest ==
*Dancer's TavernHouse of Chains, Chapter 5
*DregsDeadhouse Gates, Chapter 12, US HC p.332
*Prelid QuarterThe Bonehunters, Chapter 15
*Pugroot's BarHouse of Chains, Chapter 8, US SFBC p.330
*Squall InnDeadhouse Gates, Chapter 13
==Streets==
*No Help Alley
==Notable residents==
*Enezgura, late Falah'd
*Faels Ebal, historianThe God is Not Willing, Chapter 17, Epigraph
*Hethra, poetThe Crippled God, Chapter 10, Epigraph
*Siban, poetToll the Hounds, Book 3, Epigraph
==History==
The city's former Falah'd, Enezgura, had conducted a series of westward conquests. During one such campaign he had largely eliminated the area's Mekhar tribe, scattering its few survivors far and wide.The Bonehunters, Chapter 14, US SFBC p.564
===Aren Rebellion===
In around 1152/1153 BSDeadhouse Gates, Chapter 2, UK MMPB p.94/95 calculation is based on the timeframe given for the surrender of Karakarang and the known beginning of the Genabackan Campaign when Kellanved was still Emperor of the Malazan Empire, a revolt in Aren was put down by the Logros T'lan Imass and led to a slaughter of its citizens. The attack appeared to have been instigated by Surly although no written orders were ever found. After the slaughter was over Dancer was sent to investigate resulting in an argument between the two.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 5, US HC p.129 The victims of the slaughter were buried in great barrow mounds running parallel to the eastern side of Aren Way.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 20, US HC p.531
The rebellion was instigated by the murder of the Fist of Aren by a Red Blade officer. The officer was arrested and scheduled for crucifixion on the Aren Way. However, the people rose up in his name to slay the Malazan Garrison and drive the Red Blades out of the city. When the T'lan Imass arrived to put down the rebellion, the Red Blade officer threw open the north gate and escaped. The T'lan Imass swept into the city killing thousands and the Red Blade officer's name was cursed to infamy.The Bonehunters, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.502The Bonehunters, Chapter 14, US SFBC p.565-566
==In Deadhouse Gates==
During the Whirlwind rebellion of 1164 BS, Aren was the last city held by the Malazans after all the others on Seven Cities had fallen Sha'ik's armies.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 20, US HC p. Pormqual cowered within the city walls ordering Blistig's Guard to arrest anyone he feared of treason. The city's jails were crowded with monks, priests, soldiers, and Red Blades, including Orto Setral.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 15, US HC p.395Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 22, US HC p.561 Pormqual also ordered Admiral Nok arrested to force the Malazan fleet to remain in the city's harbour.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 20, US HC p. Meanwhile, the High Fist evacuated his household and the city's treasury.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 15, US HC p.395
Just outside Aren's north gate was where Fist Coltaine's Chain of Dogs came to an end. While the thirty thousand refugees he protected safely entered the city's gates, he and his men were massacred in full view of the city's soldiers watching from the walls. Pormqual refused to intervene fearing his troops were outnumbered by Korbolo Dom's hordes. The next morning, the High Fist was tricked by Mallick Rel into taking the field and then surrendering to the army of the Apocalypse. All were taken captive and crucified by Dom's forces. Only Blistig's act of disobedience in withholding two to three hundred members of his Guard from the excursion prevented the city from falling.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 21Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 22
==In House of Chains==
After Coltaine's fall, the Aren markets thrived with the sale of relics from the Chain of Dogs. Everything from broken long-knives and scraps of feathered capes to pieces of withered flesh were plentiful.House of Chains, Chapter 11, US SFBC p.413
Adjunct Tavore Paran brought the Malaz 14th Army to Aren making it the army's staging area for the punitive expedition against the Whirlwind rebels.House of Chains, Chapter 5
==In The Bonehunters==
It was the birthplace of the name 'Bonehunters'.
== In Blood and Bone ==
The Queen of Dreams informed Captain Yusen that he and his squad had been exonerated for their involvement in the slaying of the Fist who had been appointed governor in Aren. Apparently, the Fist had been about to declare independence from the Malazan Empire, and had started killing everyone opposed to him. Knowing he had no choice if he refused, Yusen killed the Fist, while Burastan, Yusen's aide killed the Fist's aides.Blood and Bone, Chapter 15
==In Forge of the High Mage==
At the time of the Malazan invasion of Falar, Aren was ruled by the aging Queen and High Priestess Ismara. Her son, Imanaj D'Shren was the city's Holy Champion until rejecting his duty and fleeing by ship. After being marooned at War Isle in the Falari Isles, he was eventually able to return even as the Malazans defeated Falar's rulers. His mother welcomed him hone and asked for his view of the southern invaders. The Holy Champion dismissed the Malazans as no threat to Aren.Forge of the High Mage, Epilogue, UK HC p.458-460Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 6, UK HC p.96Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 9, UK HC p.143
==Notes and references==
 
Category:Cities
Category:Seven Cities
de:Aren
pl:Aren