Baruk

Baruk [bah-ROOK]An Evening With Steven Erikson - Nerdaí Irish Nerds - As pronounced by Steven Erikson at 18:30 was a High Alchemist and leader of the T'orrud CabalGardens of the Moon, Dramatis Personae, UK MMPB p.xiv in Darujhistan. The Cabal was an organization of nine mages who were the true rulers of the city. Making his home within the city's Estate District,Map of Darujhistan as published in Gardens of the Moon he considered it his duty to assure the city's survival and independence from the Malazan Empire. 
Baruk employed many men, women, and familiars in a spy network. Amongst his long standing agents were Kruppe, Murillio, Rallick Nom and Coll.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 7, UK MMPB p.251 Baruk also made use of the familiars Irp and Rudd and the demon Chillbais.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 24, US HC p.594Toll the Hounds, Chapter 1, UK HB p.36 His human servant was Roald.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 6, UK MMPB p.197 
He was described as bulky with plump hands, but still able to move with alacrity despite his girth.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 6, UK MMPB p.197/198 Lady Simtal described him as a 'fat old man smelling of sulphur and brimstone'.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 6, UK MMPB p.202 
Baruk was in the habit of working at night and because of that normally did not drink after sunset.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 6, UK MMPB p.198 He despised chance operating in his affairs.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 7, UK MMPB p.252 
==In Gardens of the Moon==
For a year, Baruk had been the recipient of messages from Circle Breaker about secret meetings held by councilman Turban Orr at Despot's Barbican. The spy's reports were sent to him on behalf of the mysterious Eel whose true identity Baruk was unaware of.
In the wake of the Malazan victory over the nearby city of Pale, Orr tried to push a proclamation of Darujhistan's neutrality towards the Malazan Empire through the council. Two days before the vote, he visited Baruk to persuade the alchemist to give his support to the motion. Baruk declined to back Orr and the councilman told him that the proclamation would nevertheless go ahead as a majority support had been reached just that night.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 6, UK MMPB p.203-205
Anomander Rake, aware that Baruk and his fellow Cabal members were the true powers in Darujhistan, contacted the mage through Crone to form an alliance.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 6, UK MMPB p.210-214 Upon hearing of two traitorous Pale wizards hiding in the city, he demanded their heads. The alternative being killed by Dragnipur, Baruk promised Rake he would have them.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 6, UK MMPB p.213/214
Kruppe came to Baruk with information about the ongoing assassin war and the situation amongst the thieves. He also told Baruk about Oponn's coin and was charged to protect the coinbearer, however, if it should transpire that the Lord rather than the Lady claimed the coinbearer, Baruk ordered Kruppe to engage Rallick (i.e. to have the coinbearer killed).Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 7, UK MMPB p.248-252
When Rake commented that Baruk was addressing him as equal, Baruk replied that there were many paths to Ascendancy implying that he himself might be an Ascendant or on the path to it.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 13, UK MMPB p.439
Vorcan Radok, leader of the city's Assassins' Guild, accepted a contract from the Malazan Empire to slay the members of the T'orrud Cabal as part of their plan to conquer Darujhistan.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 22, US HC p.450-451 Cabal members Parald, Tholis, and Travale were soon dead,Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 23, US HC p.466Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 24, US HC p.476 while Baruk and Derudan went to ground at Baruk's Estate. Vorcan's attempt on their lives was stopped by the Tiste Andii Serrat and the young thief Crokus, but Serrat was killed. The gravely wounded Vorcan escaped back to Simtal's estate with several vengeful Tiste Andii on her heels. Guild assassin Rallick Nom carried her to an unknown fate inside the newly formed the Finnest House.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 24, US HC p.482
==In Deadhouse Gates==
Baruk and the T'orrud Cabal helped sponsor an expedition of the Trygalle Trade Guild along with Dujek Onearm to provide Fist Coltaine and his Chain of Dogs with food and water after their crossing of the Nenoth Odhan. Additionally, Coltaine was presented with a bottle of smoky glass on a chain which he was instructed to wear at all times.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 19, US HC p.507
After Coltaine and his army were massacred and crucified by Korbolo Dom's army of the Apocalypse, Baruk sent his familiars Rudd and Irp to collect the Fist's body. Rudd was able to find the corpse because Baruk had linked the familiar to the ensorcelled bottle. Unfortunately for the Malazan Empire, the bottle which had been designed to save Coltaine's soul had been given away by the Fist to Duiker. So it was ultimately the Imperial Historian's body and soul recovered by Baruk's agents.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 24, US HC p.594-595Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 19, US HC p.510
==In Memories of Ice==
In the lead up to the Pannion War, Kruppe used Baruk's name to insert himself into the alliance between Caladan Brood, renegade Malazan High Fist Dujek Onearm, and the city of Darujhistan. When challenged by Councillor Coll, Kruppe admitted that Baruk had never broached the topic of sending him, but they were such close friends that words had been unnecessary. Kruppe also claimed that Baruk supported his recommendation that the armies make use of the Trygalle Trade Guild to maintain their supply lines.Memories of Ice, Chapter 5, US SFBC p.172/176-177
The allies lifted the Pannion Domin's Siege of Capustan and then marched on the Pannion Seer's forces at Coral. During the march, Baruk entrusted Kruppe with a glass ball containing one of his Bhokaral servants. Kruppe broke the ball before Quick Ben and Ganoes Paran releasing the Bhokaral. Speaking in single word exclamations, it declared Baruk's wish to help regarding the Whirlwind rebellion in Seven Cities. It shouted out references to Coltaine, Icarium, Raraku, and the Azath Quick Ben pulled it aside to discuss details in privacy.Memories of Ice, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.776-777 
The former Imperial Historian Duiker's mostly destroyed and dessicated body was recovered by Baruk's servants and brought to Darujhistan. Using the glass bottle containing Duiker's soul and stretching his talents to the limits, Baruk was able to resurrect him.Memories of Ice, Epilogue, US SFBC p.999
After the Battle of Black Coral, several Bridgeburners retired to Darujhistan and converted the reputedly haunted K'rul's Temple into K'rul's Bar. The only locals who attended the opening were Baruk, Coll, Murillio, and Kruppe. Baruk interrupted Kruppe before the oily thief could retell the story of how he and the bar's namesake had together fashioned a new world. Then Duiker captured the group's attention with his narration of the tale of the Chain of Dogs and Coltaine.Memories of Ice, Epilogue, US SFBC p.999-1000
==In House of Chains==
Cutter used Baruk's name when inventing a plausible excuse for his appearance on Drift Avalii. The young thief told the island's guardian, Darist, that he had been sent by Baruk, a mage and scholar from Darujhistan. Baruk had learned that the island was in danger and sought to determine the nature of the threat. Darist quickly saw through Cutter's lie.House of Chains, Chapter 9, US SFBC p.367
==In The Bonehunters==
The Seguleh Second met Cutter in a monastery in Seven Cities. Recognising the thief as a Daru, the Second asked if the Tyrant's children still ruled Darujhistan. When a confused Cutter stated that the city was ruled by a Noble Council, their conversation soon turned to the T'orrud Cabal. The Second described them as undying, secretive, paranoid mages steeling themselves for the Tyrant's inevitable return. He named them as Barukanal, Derudanith, Travalegrah, and Mammoltenan. Cutter got the sense that he should return home as soon as possible.The Bonehunters, Chapter 4, US SFBC p.161
== In Toll the Hounds ==
Crone met with Baruk as envoy for Anomander Rake and brought him a tome by Dillat as a gift from her master for the High Alchemist's collection.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 1, UK HB p.34 The two discussed the potential for an event happening and Rake's offer of help should it be needed. Chillbais who, for several months, had been watching the Finnest House in Darujhistan for Baruk,Toll the Hounds, Chapter 1, UK HB p.18 appeared towards the end of their meeting with news that Vorcan Radok had escaped. Baruk then told Crone that 'it (the event)' had begun.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 1, UK HB p.36
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. Sensing Vorcan entering Baruk's estate, Crone departed and Baruk hurriedly sent Chillbais to return with Derudan--the only other remaining member of the T'orrud Cabal besides himself. The High Alchemist wondered whether he should have accepted Rake's offer of aid.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 5, US SFBC p.182-184
== In Orb Sceptre Throne ==
Baruk tried to protect himself from being forcefully summoned by the Legate (the last Darujhistani Tyrant), however he failed. He was forcefully dragged away from his estate and transformed into a clawed creature, now called Barukanal, who was under the control of the Tyrant, a constant punishment for the mage.Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 3
He was forced to serve as a servant of the Tyrant, and approached Caladan Brood outside Darujhistan warning him to keep away from the Tyrant's activities in Genabackis. Unfazed, Caladan Brood in turn, threatened to destroy the entire city should the Tyrant become too brazen. Baruk then left without having accomplished anything.Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 6
Baruk with Hinter, Aman and Taya attacked the residents of "K'rul's Bar". Whilst attacking, he was at the same time trying to avoid hurting them as much as his controlled mind would allow. K'rul appeared and ended the fight. Baruk tried to convey a hint about how to attack the Tyrant before also being told to leave by K'rul.Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 11, UK PB p.452-455
Baruk interrupted Rallick Nom's attempt to assassinate the Tyrant. Pretending he did not know Nom's purpose, Baruk instead made another attempt to give a message on how to thwart the Tyrant.Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 13, UK PB p.527/528
Baruk along with Aman, were the two mages who were instrumental in overseeing the re-creation of the ancient Orb of the Tyrants. The "Orb" was a huge, protective dome which - when formed - covered the entire Majesty Hill of Darujhistan.Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 8, US TPB p.257-258Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 9, US TPB p.283-284
In the process of finishing the construction of the Circle (of stones) which anchored the "Orb", Baruk slashed Barathol Mekhar's wrist so that some of the blacksmith's blood would strengthen it. Baruk told him to be grateful that it was Baruk who did this, given that had Aman been in his place, Aman would have slashed Barathol's throat instead.Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 13, US TPB p.384-386
After the fall of the Tyrant, a battered Baruk returned to his estate where he was greeted by Chillbais.Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 21, UK PB p.822/821
== Other ==
He was the creator of an antidote to the deadly white paralt poison used by assassins. He also created the pendant originally meant for Coltaine but given to Duiker which allowed him to resurrect the historian after he was crucified on Aren Way.
Baruk used a simple cantrip to make a note disappear which then joined others in a safe place.
==Notes and references==
Category:Daru
Category:High Mages
Category:Males
de:Baruk