Fisher kel Tath

Fisher kel Tath, or simply "Fisher", was a poet and bard whose works were well-known. His poems were featured in many of the epigraphs preceding chapters in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. Perhaps his most famous work was the epic poem Anomandaris. He was a genius with the lyre and a dozen other obscure instruments and knew songs from a hundred cultures on dozens of worlds.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 15, US SFBC p.607-608 The 'Kel' part of his name was spelled with both lower- and upper-case 'K' throughout the Malazan books.
Fisher appeared old and gauntToll the Hounds, Chapter 13, US SFBC p.546 and spoke with a deep voice.Toll the Hounds, Prologue, US SFBC p.28 He wore his grey hair in a ponytail and had grey eyes that seemed to contain the grief of the world.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.273-274Toll the Hounds, Chapter 9, US SFBC p.363 He saw one of his tasks as remembering the rush of faces who would otherwise be lost in the great sweep of history. But as a bard, he sang the lies as well as the truths.
Fisher claimed to originally be from Korel where he witnessed Greymane lead the Malazan Empire's invasion.
==In Memories of Ice==
High Fist Dujek Onearm and Whiskeyjack referred to a Fisher poem on the Chaining as a source of information on the Crippled God. Dujek recalled hearing bits and pieces of it spoken by bards in taverns.Memories of Ice, Chapter 15
==In Toll the Hounds==
Fisher lived in a backroom at K'rul's Bar in Darujhistan where he became close to the retired Bridgeburners and Duiker while performing on their modest stage.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.273Toll the Hounds, Prologue, US SFBC p.27 He convinced the morose historian to tell the story of the Chain of Dogs as a collaborative poem instead of recording it as a historic account, something Duiker found himself incapable of doing well on his own.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.273-274 When he learned Scillara was had lived in Sha'ik's camp in Raraku, he plied her for details and sent her to speak to Duiker about the fate of his old friend Heboric.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 9, US SFBC p.363-364 While not performing, Fisher worked on creating additional verses for Anomandaris.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.273
Antsy believed Fisher had stolen the name of the famous bard, believing someone of his notoriety would not be playing in their bar. Blend was skeptical as well, claiming he was too young to have produced works that were known to be a hundred years old. Fisher admitted only that he was a prodigy.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 19, US SFBC p.779
Fisher was playing to a small crowd at K'rul's Bar when Seba Krafar's assassins attempted to eliminate the retired Bridgeburners as per Humble Measure's contract. Some fifteen assassins surprised the Bridgeburners, killing Mallet and Bluepearl. The bard escaped unscathed, killing at least four of the assailants on his own when they stormed the stage.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 11, US SFBC p.455 The bard was so infuriated by the attack, he headed straight to Lady Envy's estate to call in an old favour.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 13, US SFBC p.537-538/546-547 
After twelve pickled Seguleh were discovered stored in vats in the bar's cellar, Fisher, Duiker, and Baruk put their heads together to research the cause.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 15, US SFBC p.588-591
Fisher tracked down Seba Krafar to his tunnels beneath the city, surprising and overpowering the brawny master assassin. An iron grip around Seba's neck left his nerves paralysed and, with seemingly preternatural strength, Fisher held him in the air against a wall with one hand while holding a knife to the assassin's eye with the other. The bard forced Seba to accept a "buy out" to cancel the contract to kill the Bridgeburners for five councils. Fully aware of Humble Measure's involvement, the bard believed there was plenty of time to consider the means of the man's downfall.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.674-676 Following the exchange, the mystified Fisher was given a message by Iskaral Pust from Shadowthrone, advising "when all this is done...seek the Eel".Toll the Hounds, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.676-677 Returning to K'rul's Bar, Fisher's claims that the matter of the assassins' contract was settled was met with skepticism from the surviving Bridgeburners.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 19, US SFBC p.778-779
Fisher and Lady Envy became romantically involved. She found she could not mock or mistreat him the same way she played with other mortals. In fact, she was not entirely sure he was a mortal.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 15, US SFBC p.608-609 When she returned to her estate after visiting the new barrow outside the city, Fisher was waiting for her to ask what happened. She told him her father Draconus was back.Toll the Hounds, Epilogue, US SFBC p.1007
==In Orb Sceptre Throne==
He assisted Spindle in an attempt to break the magical circle protecting Majesty Hall in Darujhistan.Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 20
It transpired that Fisher knew Caladan Brood. When Brood asked him what he was doing in Darujhistan, Fisher responded "You know how I feel about witnessing things."Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 20
Fisher also met Iceblood mercenary Cull Heel, who told Fisher it was time to come home. He had been away too long.Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 20
==In Assail==
Fisher traveled to Assail where it became apparent he was a native and part Iceblood, and had grown up in the far north of the continent. Like many natives, this meant he carried Jaghut blood.
At Holly he joined a band of foreign treasure seekers, including Enguf the Broad, Malle of Gris, and Marshal Teal, who had come to the continent following rumours of newly discovered gold fields. He also found and helped the amnesiac Tiste Andii, Jethiss, to recover his true identity.Assail (novel), Chapter 2
Leaving the treasure hunters, Fisher discovered old friends Coots and Badlands in a cave deep in the chasm guarded by Yrkki, the bonewright. They said they had had a falling out with their brother/cousin, Stalker, and were in no hurry to go home. Fisher convinced them to escape with him and Jethiss and head north back to the Lost family holding.Assail (novel), Chapter 7
Fisher was later present when the four races (Forkrul Assail, T'lan Imass, Jaghut, and Tiste Andii) pledged a new founding of peace in the Salt Mountains.Assail (novel), Chapter 15 At the time, it was also revealed that Fisher had a familiar relationship with Kilava Onass.Assail (novel), Chapter 15 Afterwards, he and Jethiss planned to travel to Coral on Genabackis where the Tiste Andii hoped to meet an old friend.Assail (novel), Epilogue
== In The Kharkanas Trilogy==
Fisher appeared in the framing sequence of these prequel novels which recalled events that took place thousands of years before the events of the Malazan Book of the Fallen. In Forge of Darkness, he sat with the Tiste Andii poet, Blind Gallan, to hear the tale of Anomander Rake and the early history of Kurald Galain.Forge of Darkness, Prelude, UK HC p.xxi In Fall of Light the story continued. Presumably, Galan concluded the tale in the still to be published Walk in Shadow.
==History==
Fisher's mother was an Iceblood native of the fallen Fanyar Hold in northern Assail. She was taken in by the Iceblood clan at Myrni Hold where she raised Fisher. As a half-blood, Fisher found he was not welcome in either his adopted home or in the human lowlands. Disgusted by the blood-feuds and bigotry of his adopted home, he renounced the Myrni and swore never to return. Despite his oath, he returned from time to time, the last time after a gap of 30 years.Assail (novel), Chapter 10
== Poems ==
One of his better known works was the epic poem Anomandaris. Other poems included:
* Bard's Curse
* Bridge of the Sun
* Caged Bird
* Children Like Gods
* Coots of the Lost clan
* The Crown of Years
* The Delusion of Standing Alone
* Destriers (Sons to Fathers)
* Faces of Fear
* Forests in Retreat
* Fountain Gathering
* Frail Age
* Helpless Days
* House of Chains
* Immortal Fire
* In the Age of Simplicity
* In the Kingdom of Meaning Well
* Journey's Resolution
* Lament for the Warlord
* The Last Days of our Inheritance
* Lay of K'azz
* The Lay of Skinner
* Lay of the Ancient Holds
* The Lost Treasures of Indaros
* The Music Ends
* My Fill of Answers
* None but Strangers
* Poet's Night
* Poliel's Leave
* Rumours of the Sea
* Slaves Beneath
* Soldier Dying
* Stone Bowl
* Sword and Shield
* The Unwitnessed
* The Unwitnessed Dance
* You Will Take My Days
=== Poems published as simply "Fisher" ===
* Bedura’s Defence
* Broken Nail’s Lament
* Clothes Remain
* Come Find Me
* The Divided Heart
* Harbinger
* Jaghut
* Lay of Wounded Love
* The Lost Believers
* Rough Web
* Rumour Born
* Song of Dreaming
* (Song of) Old Friend
* Tales of the Drunken Bard
* Toll the Hounds
* Wickan Dirge
=== Anonymous poem attributed by some to Fisher Tel Kath ===
It is not known if the spelling "Tel Kath" vs. "kel Tath" was deliberately skewed or a printing error.
* Lament of the Lonely Traveller
== Quotes ==
==Trivia==
*Steven Erikson has written many poems for use as epigraphs in the series, giving him the opportunity to play with authorial voices, producing work for poets who sometimes may not be "as deft as others" and employing the use of "different rhyme sequences--or lack thereof--different meter, different everything." But Erikson says, "If I end up writing something that I really quite like, I'll probably attribute it to Fisher...That's a poem I like."A Conversation with Steven Erikson - Malazan Mid-Series Reflection - Green Team of the Legendarium - See 13:45
*Erikson says "there's enough hints from both Cam and I that Fisher could well be an Ascendant--the god of art, if you will, or the god of poetry."Steven Erikson Interview and Discussion of The Kharkanas Trilogy - Books with Banks - See 1:28:20 Ironically, Fisher himself weighs in on the topic, telling Duiker, "Did you know that there is no god or goddess in all the pantheon that claims to be the patron – or matron – of bards? It's as if we've been forgotten, left to our own devices. That used to bother me, for some reason, but now I see it for the true honour it represents. We have been made unique, in our freedom, in our responsibility."Toll the Hounds, Chapter 7
==Notes and references==
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Category:Iceblood