Otataral

Otataral [oh-TAT-uh-rahl]Steven Erikson Gardens of the Moon 20th Anniversary Interview - Ten Very Big Books podcast - As pronounced by Steven Erikson at 01:17:17 was a rare, reddish ore which negated magic.Gardens of the Moon, Glossary, UK MMPB p.709 
It also prevented mages from accessing or opening their Warrens and prolonged exposure to refined ore could drive them insane. It is not clear if this was due to the Otataral itself or to the lack of access to their Warren. Even after long exposure, mages might be able to regain their powers as long as they were removed from the Otataral source, especially if the Otataral was of low quality.Return of the Crimson Guard, Chapter 3, lg PB p.117Return of the Crimson Guard, Chapter 6, lg PB p.243Return of the Crimson Guard, Chapter 12, lg PB p.556
The attempt to access a Warren or use magic on an individual holding Otataral caused the magic to fail in a gust of chilly air.
The effects of Otataral could be circumscribed somewhat through encasing the metal in a dense material (such as a basalt box)House of Chains, Chapter 11, UK MMPB p.499 or a weapon's sheath. Iron and bronze were favoured materials for the scabbards of otataral swords as they negated the ore's effect.The Bonehunters, Chapter 10, US SFBC p.435
Elder racial Warrens such as Kurald Galain and Tellann were immune to the effects of Otataral.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 9, UK MMPB p.277
Some non-mage individuals who were in the presence of the ore for a long enough period, such as by carrying an otataral weapon or inhaling or absorbing otataral dust through skin, might experience unpredictable side effects, one of which appeared to be a transfer of the magic-deadening properties.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 18, UK MMPB p.529/530
Another side effect seemed to be an increased rate of healing. This was rather beneficial as it helped make up for the fact that a person thus affected by Otataral might be immune to the magic-based healing ministrations of a Denul healer.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 9, US HC p.209Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 19, US HC p.395The Bonehunters, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.951
Otataral ore was not forged directly into weapons. Instead, most weapons were forged as normal, then quenched in Otataral dust at a late stage after their iron had lost its glow. Blacksmiths had quickly learned not to expose otataral to direct heat. The effect of Moranth munitions, particularly burners and flamers, on otataral was a closely guarded secret among the Malazans who survived its use. Attempting to counter magic with hot Otataral could cause catastrophic explosions.House of Chains, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.744 If not for its magic-deadening properties, Otataral was also not an ideal metal for weapons. Otataral blades were slightly rough and made ragged cuts. They needed constant sharpening even when not in use, and grew brittle over time.
The Imperial Adjunct traditionally wielded an Otataral sword.House of Chains, Chapter 5, UK MMPB p.279 
The characteristics of Otataral were well known in Seven Cities but less so elsewhere.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 9, UK MMPB p.277
== Mining and control ==
The Malazan Empire tightly controlled the mining and sale of Otataral.House of Chains, Chapter 4, US SFBC p.206 It was usually found in powder form in layers, like sandstone. The most prominent source was the mine at Dosin Pali, at the edge of the Otataral Desert just off the coast of the Seven Cities. The mining of Otataral there resulted in contact with several giant jade figures. Such contacting shafts were immediately closed as spending time in the jade figures' presence inevitably caused death.House of Chains, Chapter 10, US SFBC p.402
Otataral was mined from the Tanno Hills on Seven Cities.
Other sources of Otataral were speculative, including the Teblor's mountain range in northern Genabackis. The Teblor used a red-rust powder scraped from cliffsides in their Blood-oil.House of Chains, Chapter 4, US SFBC p.205 Had the Malazan Empire discovered these sources, it would have probably immediately moved to control them.
Before the Malazan conquest, otataral supplies had been tightly regulated by the highborn of Seven Cities, who had mostly used the ore in their armour. Otataral availability became even more restrictive under imperial rule.House of Chains, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.743
== Origins ==
Otataral could be formed due to the passage (or the portal) of the giant jade statues that periodically impacted the Malazan world. The ore appeared to act as a scab, isolating or minimizing the effects of these statues.
In Memories of Ice, it was indicated that the ritual at the end of the First Empire to create Soletaken went out of control, tearing a Warren to pieces and turning the eastlands into molten stone that cooled and became something that defied sorcery.Memories of Ice, Chapter 7
In The Crippled God, Ruthan Gudd revealed that Otataral was aspected and not merely an ore that devours magic. The dragon to which Otataral was aspected was named Korabas.The Crippled God, Chapter 17
In a conversation with Kalam, Quick Ben said that the Otataral was created "pouring as much magic into one place at one time as you possibly can, and if you’re lucky a threshold is crossed – a firestorm that burns everything out, making... otataral", in the same way the otataral dragon was created: "what happens when ten thousand dragons and a few hundred Elder Gods decide to get together and do the same thing?". The same that happened with the Otataral Island as well.The Crippled God, Chapter 22
Otataral was created when the magnitude of sorcery unleashed devoured all the energy it required, the resulting substance defying non-Elder sorcery in its surrounding area.House of Chains, Chapter 10, US SFBC p.402-403
Author Steven Erikson has said the creation of otataral "relates to extreme amounts of magic, if the magic gets strong enough it will actually devour itself and produce otataral...That's why you've got mines, because you've got huge areas that have been subjected to sorcery in the deep past and those areas are permanently damaged, and that's what otataral is. It's the residue of that damage."Gardens of the Moon - Chatting with Steven Erikson, part 2 - See 1:50:40
==In The Bonehunters==
Mappo Runt and Icarium explored a K'Chain Che'Malle Skykeep that had been trapped underground. Inside they found Sorrit impaled to a Blackwood cruciform by an iron spike streaked with otataral. They theorised that the Eleint had been killed by the Tiste Edur.The Bonehunters, Chapter 6
Ganoes Paran gave Adjunct Lorn's otataral sword to Karpolan Demesand as payment for the Trygalle Trade Guild accompanying him to the Nascent. The sorcerer shattered the sword and allowed Paran to keep a finger-sized shard.The Bonehunters, Chapter 13 Paran used the shard to pin the goddess Poliel to the world to keep her from fleeing before the Deragoth could tear her apart.The Bonehunters, Chapter 15
==In Dust of Dreams==
Sag'Churok told Kalyth: "Otataral is the opposite of magic. Negation to creation, absence to presence. If life is your god, then otataral is the other god, and that god is death. But, please understand, it is not an enemy. It is the necessary manifestation of a force in opposition."Dust of Dreams, Chapter 8
==Trivia==
*To capitalise or not to capitalise? Steven Erikson capitalised Otataral in Gardens of the Moon and Deadhouse Gates, but switched to the lowercase usage thereafter. Ian C. Esslemont used the uppercase Otataral in most of his books.
==Author comments==
Steven Erikson was coy when asked by an interviewer regarding the connection between otataral and magic. "I don't know how much of that I should even give away. There is a relationship between otataral and magic...they're not mutually exclusive and they're not the opposites. Now, Cam and I explored that in our gaming, but for some reason I don't think either of us has taken the storylines that we write in that direction, where we have somebody actually examining those aspects of otataral...I guess we both held that secret close to our chest and neither of us has revealed the relationship between otataral and magic. And my instincts tell me to hold on to that--as a secret, as a mystery."Deadhouse Gates: A Chat with Steven Erikson, Part 3 - Claudia Iovanovici - See 43:15
==Notes and references==
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