Unta

Unta was the capital city of the Malazan Empire,Gardens of the Moon, Prologue, UK MMPB p.4 located on the north-east coast of the continent of Quon Tali. Once the capital of the Kingdom of Unta, the city had been conquered by the Malazans and its ruling family eradicated. The city lay on a broad harbour which was overlooked by an ancient pre-Malazan castle.Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 1 Chapter 4, US HC p.170
According to Tattersail, Unta was about three thousand leagues from Pale.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 2, UK MMPB p.86 Its population was well over a hundred thousand.Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 2 Chapter 2, UK PB p.289 The city was defended by at least eight thousand Malazan soldiers and as many as ten thousand poorly trained and unorganized citizen militia members.Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 1 Chapter 5, UK PB p.197Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 2 Chapter 2, UK PB p.313 
In its wealthier districts, it was a city of painted spires and domes.Deadhouse Gates, Prologue, US HC p.24 Decorative columns were raised to celebrate the accomplishments of the Empire's Armies and list the names of noted soldiers.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 13, US HC p.344 
Carved into the Imperial Gate of Unta were the words of Emperor Kellanved: "Elemental forces in opposition."Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 21, UK MMPB p.848
The area around the city was well known for its rich vineyards and orchards.Dancer's Lament, Chapter 1, US HC p.11
It was fashionable for wealthy Untan households to employ emigrants and refugees of the Imperial conquests as servants in their households. After Pale's fall on Genabackis, its citizens could be found working in the Imperial capital in their traditional garb.Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 1 Chapter 2, UK MMPB p.115
Like the Grisians, Untans were characterised by their burly frames and wavy hair.Dancer's Lament, Chapter 1, US HC p.15
The basic design and manufacture of the Malazan Empire's envied longswords came from centuries old Untan techniques and were still produced in Untan foundries. Untan smiths used red iron that was commonly found in the Untan Hills but rarely found elsewhere, and they worked with the metal when it was not hot enough.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.690
==History==
Some of the noble families in Unta could trace their lineage back seven centuries to around 400-500 BS, to the tribal horsemen who came to the area from the east. They conquered the cousins of the Kanese who had built villages along the coast and their descendants gradually turned from warrior horsemen to horsebreeders to merchants.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.46
The history of the continent was dominated by two rival provinces, Unta in the east and Quon Tali in the west. Each sought to dominate trade and crush its rival while "lesser states, Itko Kan, Cawn, Gris, and Dal Hon, danced in a myriad of alliances, trade combines and Troikas marshalled against one or both poles." When the Malazans began their domination of the continent, Unta and Quon Tali were the first to fall.Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 1 Chapter 2, US HC p.30
==Features within the city==
*Avenue of SoulsDeadhouse Gates, Prologue
*Black Nacht tavernReturn of the Crimson Guard, Book 2 Chapter 2, UK PB p.306
*Collunus BourseReturn of the Crimson Guard, Book 2 Chapter 2, UK PB p.295
*Colonnade AvenueDeadhouse Gates, Prologue, US HC p.28
*Diviner's RowReturn of the Crimson Guard, Book 1 Chapter 2, UK Bantam Press PB p.63
*The Figurehead tavernReturn of the Crimson Guard, Book 1 Chapter 4, UK PB p.189
*Gemcutter's BourseReturn of the Crimson Guard, Book 2 Chapter 2, UK PB p.303
*God's RoundReturn of the Crimson Guard, Book 1 Chapter 2, UK Bantam Press PB p.65
**Grand Temple of the Queen of DreamsHouse of Chains, Chapter 8
*Imperial Arsenal
*Judgment's RoundDeadhouse Gates, Prologue
* The Malazan Imperial Palace
** Hall of the Throne
** West Tower
* The Noble District
** Marble Slope Road
*** House Paran
** Toll Ramp Gate
* Reacher's SquareReturn of the Crimson Guard, Book 1 Chapter 1, UK PB p.30-31Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 2 Chapter 2, UK PB p.289
* Untan castleReturn of the Crimson Guard, Book 1 Chapter 4, US HC p.170
* Way of OpalsReturn of the Crimson Guard, Book 1 Chapter 1, UK PB p.30-31Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 2 Chapter 2, UK PB p.289/302
==Features outside the city==
The Imperial quarries were located outside Unta, producing a grey-black glittering basalt.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.41
The East Road led from the city to a pier town called Luckless, where slave ships departed for the Empire's mines on Otataral Island.Deadhouse Gates, Prologue, US HC p.30
== Notable Untans ==
* Ganoes ParanGardens of the Moon, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.45-47
* GwynnForge of the High Mage, Chapter 2, UK HC p.31 
* Felisin ParanGardens of the Moon, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.49/50
* Tavore ParanGardens of the Moon, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.49
==In Gardens of the Moon==
After the Itko Kan Massacre, Topper brought Ganoes Paran directly into the Hall of the Throne via Warren. Paran briefly conversed with Laseen before the Empress commanded Topper to bring the young captain to Adjunct Lorn in her palace chambers.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.42-43
==In Deadhouse Gates==
Empress Laseen orchestrated The Cull in 1163 BS, arresting nobles, scholars, and other Untans thought insufficiently loyal to the Malazan Empire. Their goods and properties were confiscated, and those arrested were shipped off to the Otataral mines on Seven Cities. Among those suffering this fate were Felisin Paran, Heboric, and Baudin.Deadhouse Gates, Prologue
== In Reaper's Gale==
During the Malazan conquest of Unta, Dassem Ultor's troops had faced Untan knights east of Jurda. The First Sword and Kellanved had observed the knights riding their warhorses back and forth across the field attempting overly complex feints in an attempt to outmaneuver their opponents. Dassem Ultor let the nobles tire out their horses and cloud their own infantry with dust before crushing the entire Untan army and the once-feared knights.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 16, US HC p.454
==In Return of the Crimson Guard==
During the events of the Insurrection, the Malazan capital was invaded by the newly reunited Crimson Guard. The Guard seized the city's harbour before securing the routes to the Malazan Imperial Palace. The Guard's interim commander Skinner sought Empress Laseen, but was disappointed to find her absent. With no driving reason to stay, the Guard was soon repelled by a combination of directed Claw attacks and hordes of untrained civilian militia. Independently, the Imperial Arsenal was destroyed in a massive explosion that set off firestorms amongst the holdings of the city's great noble families.Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 2 Chapter 2Stonewielder, Chapter 3, US HC p.158
==In Stonewielder==
The new new Emperor began a campaign of rapid rebuilding of the Malazan capital.Stonewielder, Chapter 3, US HC p.158
==In Forge of the High Mage==
Surly remained encamped in the Malazan capital to keep it quiet while the Emperor was away with Dujek Onearm, Choss, and other members of the Old Guard pacifying the rest of Quon Tali under Kellanved's rule.Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 1, UK HC p.7 
In preparation for the Malazan invasion of Falar, Emperor Kellanved visited Unta and other ports aboard the Twisted with Admiral Cartheron Crust seeking to recruit a fleet of "sea-borne thieves, petty smugglers, coastal raiders and slavers" to serve as the navy's vanguard. There were so many promising candidates at Unta, they had to schedule two separate gatherings.Forge of the High Mage, Chapter 3, UK HC p.34-36 
==Notes and references==
Category:Cities
Category:Quon Tali
 
de:Unta
pl:Unta