Malaz City

Malaz City was an island city and the home of Kellanved,Gardens of the Moon, Glossary, UK MMPB p.710/711 the birthplace of his Malazan Empire. The city was located on the small Malaz Island which was found southeast of Quon Tali. It was split into northern and southern halves by the confluence of the North and South Malaz Rivers which flowed from the Firstsight Mountains into Malaz Bay.
Along the northern edge of the city ran the 500 foot tall Mock's Cliff, upon which sat Mock's Hold, former pirate stronghold and now Imperial Garrison. The fortress was reached by a switchback of wide stone steps known as Rampart Way leading from the city below.Gardens of the Moon, Prologue, UK MMPB p.4Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 23, US HC p.576 To the south the city was bounded by the Ridger Wall which ran in parallel to the Ridger hill.
Front Street in the harbour district was largely ancient warehouses interspersed with ramshackle taverns, inns, and tenement houses, all facing the piers. From there, a maze of dark and twisting narrow streets and alleys led further into the city. The city's larger estates butted up against the cliff wall below Mock's Hold. Also below the fortress was the Imperial Pier.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 20, US HC p.536-537Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 22, US HC p.551Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 23, US HC p.573
Ships docking in the harbour were subject to inspection by the city's Harbourmaster. The waters surrounding the piers were notorious for sharks and small leech-like eels.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 20, US HC p.537-53Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 22, US HC p.550
According to Felisin Paran, the temple to Fener was located in (on the) Dockfront.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 3, UK MMPB p.159 There was also a temple to D'rek in the city.The Bonehunters, Chapter 17, UK MMPB p.828
Several blocks from the harbour was the Deadhouse, a seemingly abandoned stone structure amidst an overgrown yard, which was studiously avoided by the local residents.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 20, US HC p.537
Outside the city, the Jakata road was lined with slums.
As the Empire increased in size, Malaz City lost all tactical and strategic value and began a downward slide into irrelevance. Many of the city's influential residents relocated to the Imperial capital at Unta leaving many of the city's homes deserted. Trade declined, warehouses decayed, and piers eroded. Its primary value was as a military transit point.Night of Knives, Chapter 1, US TPB p.31Night of Knives, Chapter 2, US TPB p.50 
With only one short cold season, the city tended to get hot and stinking.The God is Not Willing, Chapter 18, US HC p.324
==Natives==
* Agayla
* Brendan
* Clena
* Coop
* Durard
* Geffen
* Gravin
* Jeregal
* Jull Solman
* Keren
* Kiska
* Lorn	
* Lubben
* Mock
* MonkratToll the Hounds, Chapter 18, US TPB p.603
* MoselHouse of Chains, Chapter 22, UK MMPB p.848
* Obo
* Orthan
* Renn
* Saygen Maral
* Sobelone
* Tak
* Toben
* Tugg
* Viv
== Places of interest ==
* Agayla's Shop
* Centre District
* Centre DocksThe Bonehunters, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.874
* Docks Quarter
* Deadhouse
* Hanged Man Inn
* E'Karial Manor
* Golden Gyrfalcon
* Lightings District
* Malaz City School of Waifs and UrchinsThe Bonehunters, Chapter 2
* Mock Barrow
* Mock's Cliff
* Mock's Hold
* Mossy Tors Park	
* Mouse Quarter
* Oar and Anchor Inn
* Obo's Tower
* Old City WallThe Bonehunters, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.920 
* Old Lookout Island
* Old Point Keep
* Old Upper Estates
* Raven Hill Park
* Ridger Wall
* Smiley's
* Southern Crescent Inn
* Tak's shopThe Bonehunters, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.874
* Vines
* Well of PlentyThe Bonehunters, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.917
==Streets==
*Admiral BridgeThe Bonehunters, Chapter 23
*Back Street
*Coral Way
*Cormorant RoadNight of Knives, Chapter 1, US TPB p.36-37
*Cutter Strait
*Dreth StreetToll the Hounds, Chapter 10, US SFBC p.413
*Fourth BridgeThe Bonehunters, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.878
*Front StreetDeadhouse Gates, Chapter 22, US HC p.551
*Front Way
*Grinner's March	
*Jakani SquareNight of Knives, Chapter 3
*Rampart Way
*Raven Hill Road
*Reacher's Way
*Reach Lane
*Riverwalk (North and South)
*Stone Bridge
*Stone Lane
*Toc Way
*Way of the Eel
==Population==
The city's residents were a mixed breed of human races as was common on the island.House of Chains, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.713
== Religions ==
Chem, an ancient sea deity, was the object of an old sea cult in Malaz City.Night of Knives, Chapter 2, US MMPB p.52 Before the existence of the Malazan Empire, Malaz City regularly celebrated a number of festivals devoted solely to Chem.Deadhouse Landing, Chapter 19, US TPB p.373 
==City Watch==
Law and order was maintained by the City Watch, which had a barracks near the Centre DocksThe Bonehunters, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.863 and a heavily fortified armoury at the base of Rampart Way.The Bonehunters, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.912 The Watch was armed with pikes and used alarms to signal each other.The Bonehunters, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.861The Bonehunters, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.886 
== Animals == 
The city was known for a breed of dog called the Malazan ratter, which was bred for its fearless insanity.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 23, US HC p.571
==In Gardens of the Moon==
In the 1154th year of Burn's Sleep Surly, the Imperial Regent,Night of Knives, Chapter 1, US PB p.14 leader of the Claw, and soon to be Empress, created laws prohibiting the use of unsanctioned sorcery in Malaz City.Gardens of the Moon, Prologue, UK MMPB p.7/8 Elements of the 3rd Army rendezvoused with recruits and were sent to enforce the Imperial Regent's edict. The riots that followed engulfed a quarter of the town in flames.Night of Knives, Chapter 1, UK HB p.14 The mage cadre that was sent in, all new and untested, lost control. Whiskeyjack sent Dujek and some sappers to control the fires.Gardens of the Moon, Prologue, UK MMPB p.6-8
==In Deadhouse Gates==
The Claw assassin Pearl maneuvered Kalam Mekhar to the city aboard the Ragstopper for a confrontation with Empress Laseen. Not intending to make it easy, Pearl stabbed Kalam in the side and tossed him overboard. The Bridgeburner made his way to shore were he was pursued by multiple Hands of the Claw.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 20, US HC p.536-538Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 22 Kalam ultimately made his way to Mock's Hold where he and the Empress settled their differences.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 23
That same night, Fiddler, Apsalar, Crokus, and Rellock passed through the Azath warren from Seven Cities and exited through the Deadhouse.Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 21, US HC p.573-575
==In The Bonehunters==
Banaschar returned to Malaz City and frequented Coop's Hanged Man Inn after learning the fate of D'rek's priesthood around the world. He drank regularly with Braven Tooth, Temper, and Foreigner. His goal was to speak to High Mage Tayschrenn, who was holed up in Mock's Hold, but so far had been unsuccessful.The Bonehunters, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.676-682
Empress Laseen and her retinue of Untan Imperial Guards and as many as six hundred Claws travelled to Malaz City aboard four ships to await the return of the fleet carrying Adjunct Tavore Paran and the 14th Army back from Seven Cities.The Bonehunters, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.828The Bonehunters, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.865The Bonehunters, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.904 Mallick Rel and Korbolo Dom were both imprisoned in Mock's Hold,The Bonehunters, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.711 but the Jhistal priest used his time to undermine the Imperial power structure and secure his own rise to power. He convinced an unknown number of Laseen's Claws to secretly changed loyalties to himself as the Jhistal Master of his Black Glove cult.The Bonehunters, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.863 He also isolated Tayschrenn's outside communication.The Bonehunters, Chapter 19, US SFBC p.756 Korbolo Dom was elevated to High Fist while Mallick became one of Laseen's advisors.The Bonehunters, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.897
By the time the Adjunct's fleet arrived in the harbour, the citizens of Malaz City had been inflamed by rumour and Mockra magic to seek the slaughter of the "treacherous" Wickans and Khundryl among the Adjunct's troops.The Bonehunters, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.861-863The Bonehunters, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.887 Mallick had made certain the City Watch was undermanned and its officers carefully selected for incompetence.The Bonehunters, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.863 At the same, his agents used well-timed shouts and exhortations to make the crowd gathering to confront the Adjunct's ships at the waterfront even more angry and belligerent.The Bonehunters, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.863 
Tavore kept her fleet anchored in the harbour, only allowing the Froth Wolf and the Silanda to moor at the city pier.The Bonehunters, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.843/852 While she travelled to Mock's Hold to meet with the Empress, the squads of Balm, Fiddler, and Gesler guarded the two ships. The mob soon engaged the Marines in a desperate battle to destroy their ships.The Bonehunters, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.865-868/883-884The Bonehunters, Chapter 23
Meanwhile, several members of the 14th Army entered the city on their own business.
Fiddler sought out the armourer, Tak, to purchase more munitions-tossing crossbows.The Bonehunters, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.874-879 Then he, Gesler, and Stormy met their old Master Sergeant, Braventooth, to drink and remember fallen friends.The Bonehunters, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.894-895 Bottle entered the city to retrieve Foreigner at the Adjunct's request. Agayla advised him the find the man at Coop's.The Bonehunters, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.887-888/922-923 Hellian fell overboard in the harbour and climbed onto the docks in search of a drink.The Bonehunters, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.851-853/871 She stumbled upon the Black Glove's attempt to assassinate Banaschar, dispatching Saygen Maral and arresting the priest of D'rek before dragging him to Smiley's.The Bonehunters, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.872-874/879-883
Tavore refused Laseen and Mallick's efforts to deliver up the Wickans and Khundryl as scapegoats.The Bonehunters, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.897-907 She fled back to her ships, alongside Kalam Mekhar and T'amber, pursued by hundreds of Pearl's Claws. Their running battles took them all across Malaz City before Tavore alone safely reached the Froth Wolf.The Bonehunters, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.951 Pearl managed to fatally poison Kalam before Apsalar returned the favour.The Bonehunters, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.936-937/943-944 Shadowthrone brought the dying Kalam to an uncertain fate at the Deadhouse.The Bonehunters, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.954-956
Before dawn, at least a thousand Malazans lay dead on the docks and Tavore's now renegade fleet left Malaz City. But before they could clear the harbour, Cartharon Crust's vessel, the Drowned Rat, pulled alongside her flagship to deliver Withal, Sandalath Drukorlat, Nimander Golit, Phaed, Bottle, Grub, and Lostara Yil, among others.The Bonehunters, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.950/952-954
==In Night of Knives==
Later in 1154, after the Mouse Quarter riots and on the night of the Shadow Moon, the fortress of Mock's Hold was the site of Emperor Kellanved and Dancer's apparent assassination.Night of Knives, Chapter 5, US TPB p.203-208 The streets also saw battles involving the Shadow cult, the Hounds of Shadow, and a renegade band of Bridgeburners.
==In Deadhouse Landing==
(Information needed)
==In Kellanved's Reach==
(Information needed)
==Trivia==
*A hand-drawn map of the city by authors Steven Erikson and Ian C. Esslemont was included in the PS Publishing edition of Night of Knives.
*Esslemont describes the city as "an amalgam of various seedy ports and rundown waterfront dive towns that we'd been to", and both authors say Malaz City was somewhat inspired by Belize City of the early 1980s.Chat with Ian C. Esslemont and Steven Erikson - A Critical Dragon - See 26:10
==Notes and references==
de:Malaz (Stadt)
Category:Malaz City
Category:Cities
Category:Malaz Island