Toc the Younger

Toc the Younger [TOCK]Steven Erikson Conversation 3 - Memories of Ice - Ten Very Big Books podcast - As pronounced by Steven Erikson at 08:05 was a Claw, a soldier in the Malazan 2nd Army assigned to the Messenger Corps outrider class,Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 3, UK MMPB p.117 and a poet. Although a Claw, he had no training as an assassin or mage.Memories of Ice, Chapter 1, UK MMPB p.63
He had been badly injured during the Siege of Pale by falling debris from Moon's Spawn.Gardens of the Moon, Dramatis Personae, UK MMPB p.xii Half his face had been burned away, an eyepatch covered what used to be one eye and he held his head at an odd angle. He spoke with a rasping voice.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 3, UK MMPB p.113 Toc thought of the missing eye as being the left one. Presumably, Paran had named it the right one as seen from his own view. The loss of his eye left him with a lasting urge to scratch around the empty eye socket.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 9, UK MMPB p.268 
When riding, Toc was armed with a scimitar sheathed at his hip and a short bow stowed in a saddle holster. He used the bow right handed.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 9, UK MMPB p.270 He was a competent archer even after losing one eye.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 9, UK MMPB p.274
Toc was the son of famed Malazan commander Toc the Elder. Although he had heard the rumours that his father was dead, he tersely reminded others that his father had "disappeared" and was "not dead for sure."Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 9, US HC p.202
Toc was known to have used at least one alias, and in his capacity as a Claw, also went by the name of Render Kan.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 10
While a Claw, Toc developed a strong camaraderie with the soldiers of the 2nd Army, which sometimes resulted in divided loyalties when their interests conflicted with those of the Empire.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 9, US HC p.224Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 10, US HC p.234 Also unlike most Claw, he was warm and open with allies who did not pose a threat.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 3, US HC p.96
==In Gardens of the Moon==
Toc the Younger was the only active Claw left in the 2nd, 5th and 6th Armies after the Siege of Pale.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 3, UK MMPB p.115 Following the siege, he was assigned to escort Captain Ganoes Paran upon his approach to the city of Pale. He cheerfully offered Paran his assessment of the city's political situation and warned that the loyalty of High Fist Dujek Onearm's soldiers should not be tested.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 3, UK MMPB p.113-117
Sometime after a Hound of Shadow had attacked the camp, Toc went out to rendezvous with Adjunct Lorn. They were due to meet a day's ride outside Pale but Toc had ridden for three days before he came across evidence of her party having been ambushed by Ilgres Barghast on the Rhivi Plain north of Pale. He followed the trail of Lorn and her surviving Jakatakan Élite bodyguards. When he came upon them, his archery which killed two of the Barghast, and the timely arrival of the T'lan Imass Onos T'oolan saved Lorn. Toc had last seen a T'lan Imass eight years previously in Seven Cities, but only from a distance. Toc bound Lorn's injured arm whilst he updated her on the situation in Pale. He and Lorn then rode double on Toc's Wickan breed mare to Pale.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 9, US HC p.267-278
Once in Pale, he attended a meeting of the city's new Imperial leaders. Before Dujek, Lorn, and High Mage Tayschrenn, he chose to remain loyal to the 2nd Army and not inform the gathering of Tattersail's obfuscations regarding the recent attack of one of the Hounds of Shadow.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 9, US HC p.224
Later, he chose to put his trust in Captain Paran, disobeying orders so that he could help the captain save the lives of the Bridgeburners.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 10, US HC p.233-235 Enroute to Darujhistan, both were ambushed by Hairlock and Toc was thrown into the Warren of Chaos.Gardens of the Moon, Chapter 15, US HC p.326
==In Deadhouse Gates==
The Imperial Historian Duiker recalled how he had been plucked out of the ranks of the Malaz 1st Army by Emperor Kellanved and given over to the tutoring of Toc the Elder, whom Kellanved called a "soldier with a brain." Toc taught Duiker to read and write alongside his own young son, Toc the Younger, a "runt of a boy who always seemed to be suffering from a cold." Toc the Younger was a quick learner and Duiker's education soon fell to him. Duiker said the boy later "rejected a life amidst scrolls and books."Deadhouse Gates, Chapter 12, US HC p.314-315
==In Memories of Ice==
While Toc was unconscious in Chaos for two months, Togg came upon him and chose to inhabit his body in order to search for his mate, Fanderay. Shortly thereafter, Toc awoke at Morn, where he found Onos T'oolan, now calling himself Tool. They both joined Lady Envy and her entourage and travelled with them for a time.Memories of Ice, Chapter 1 During their travels, the pair became friends, and Tool gave Toc a new name Aral Fayle meaning 'touched by stone' for him having lost his eye to a chunk of Moon's Spawn.Memories of Ice, Chapter 7, UK MMPB p.311 - "Touched by stone, mortal - Chen're aral lich'fayle - there, on your brow. I give you a new name. Aral Fayle.
After reaching the town of Bastion, Toc left Lady Envy's entourage and joined the Pannion Seer's army as a means of getting back to Onearm's Host.
Later in Outlook, Toc was imprisoned by the Pannion Seer where he was endlessly tortured, broken and healed only for the punishment to begin anew at the hand of a mad K'Chain Che'Malle matron. Outlook fell to Lady Envy and her entourage, but the Seer was able to move both Toc and the matron to Coral.
When Toc's old companions finally converged on the city of Coral and attempted to rescue him, they inadvertently released Togg which had the unfortunate result of killing Toc.
To repay Toc for the use of his body, Togg helped Toc's soul inhabit the empty body of Anaster.
==In Reaper's Gale==
As Toc Anaster, he was made co-commander of the 700 Grey Swords of the Wolf's Reve and accompanied them to Lether following the prophecy of a final war at a place called the Battlefield of the Gods. In the Awl'dan, they were hired as mercenaries by the Awl in their fight against the invading Letherii Empire. But the Awl war leader, Hadralt, grew too fond of the coin he intended to use as payment and left the Grey Swords to die alone on the battlefield. When Toc pleaded for the fleeing war leader not to abandon his troops, Hadralt had him taken prisoner and kept him in chains in the filth of a drainage trench.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 1, US HC p.40Reaper's Gale, Chapter 6, US HC p.150-152Reaper's Gale, Chapter 8, US HC p.210 In the fighting, Toc had once again lost his eye, which was now only blistered scar tissue.
When Redmask overthrew Hadralt for control of the Awl, he was furious to learn of Toc's captivity and immediately freed him. A surprised Toc told Redmask the Grey Swords had been awaiting the First Sword of the K'Chain Che'Malle, but they had not expected him to be Human. As Toc Anaster's body recovered, Redmask kept him near as an advisor on military matters against the Letherii.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 8, US HC p.211-212 Factor Letur Anict of Drene soon launched the Awl Campaign, sending the Eastern Army commanded by Atri-Preda Bivatt and Overseer Brohl Handar against Redmask and his people. However Toc did not want to fight anymore so he took on his old role as an outrider, guarding the Awl army's flank as it marched.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 10, US HC p.266/271 Redmask eventually paired him with a brash youth named Torrent to train Awl children readying for the death night rituals that marked them as adults. Torrent was insulted by the assignment, seeing Toc as a broken man without courage and regularly taunted him.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 10, US HC p.271
Toc's presence was also deeply resented by the last remaining Elder of the Renfayar clan, who claimed Toc dreamt of running with wolves and advised Redmask to kill the man and be done with him. When Toc was dead, then the shame of Hadralt and the Awl would be erased as if it had never been.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 10, US HC p.267-268 On the night before the Battle of Bast Fulmar, the Elder approached Toc and informed him he did not trust him, accusing him of planning to betray the Awl for their mistreatment of him. He refused to believe Toc's stories of being reborn in a new body and suckling at the teat of a K'Chain Che'Malle Matron, claiming evil spoke in lies.The Elder let Toc know that Torrent expected him to break and run, and when he did, Torrent would chase him down and slay him. Toc said Torrent was welcome to try, but it was the Awl who would need the prove their courage at Bast Fulmar.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 12, US HC p.305-307 
Toc Anaster did not actually fight alongside the Awl at Bast Fulmar, which was a stunning Awl victory.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 12 At the Battle of Pradegar he tried to dissuade Masarch from leading a doomed cavalry charge against Letherii sorcerers. When the charge broke apart and panicked as he predicted, he raced his own horse into the fray to cover the retreat. A stone arrow he shot into the forehead of a Letherii mage caused a magical backlash that slew three linked mages in total,Reaper's Gale, Chapter 16, US HC p.474-477 eliminating all but two of Bivatt's five mages.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 22, US HC p.668-669 
By the time of the Awl's last stand at the Battle of Q'uson Tapi, Toc knew Redmask was competent, but no tactical genius.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 22, US HC p.681 While the two armies grappled in Q'uson Tapi's mud, Toc remained behind the lines with Torrent and a score of children. After Redmask was slain and his people essentially annihilated, a large group of Letherii Skirmishers descended on Toc and his charges to finish the massacre. The Grey Sword hastily handed over his satchel of poetry to Torrent and ordered him to lead the children to safety while he bought them time to escape. Torrent had not gone far before he noted the arrival of another unknown army approaching on the horizon. Thinking they were dead anyway, he turned to bear witness to Toc's final moments, and realised he had been wrong to doubt the man's courage. He was astonished when the Malazan managed to kill ten or more skirmishers before being cut down and his face mutilated.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 22, US HC p.700-703
Onos T'oolan and the newly arrived White Face Barghast came to Q'uson Tapi to slay both the Awl and the Letherii. They had seen the aftermath of the massacre of the Grey Swords and Tool had assumed his friend had been killed. When he found Torrent weeping, he would have slain him and the Awl children but for the revelation that Toc had died to protect them. Tool was consumed with grief at his friend's death, once again too late to save his life. Further, Tool had never revealed his true identity to Toc once the T'lan Imass had been restored to mortality. The game had long been a source of amusement for him awaiting the time for a revelation of the truth. Hetan worried her husband might never recover.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 22, US HC p.703-706/709
Hood, the King of Death, came to personally collect Toc's soul which had already evaded his grasp more than once. When Toc argued that his soul was sworn to the Wolves of Winter, Hood revealed Toc's soul had first been sworn to Hood long ago by his father, Toc the Elder. And much to Toc's surprise, the God of Death revealed his father still lived. But Hood could not answer why Toc still had only one eye in death, only muttering, "Damned wolves."Reaper's Gale, Chapter 22, US HC p.710-711
==In Toll the Hounds==
A Trygalle Trade Guild carriage led by Master Quell and accompanied by Gruntle attempted to pass through Hood's realm, but they were unexpectedly overwhelmed by a hostile army of the dead and forced to escape.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 13, US SFBC p.504-507 Quell and Gruntle returned later to learn the source of the problem and were threatened for trespassing by Hood's servant, the Seguleh Second. Before the Second could goad Gruntle into combat he was interrupted by the arrival of three more dead on horseback who he called his watchdogs: Toc the Younger, Whiskeyjack, and Brukhalian. Gruntle was startled to see his friend Toc Anaster among the dead and Toc sadly warned them that Hood's realm was now sealed to the living. Gruntle saw the warning as an anguished cry to a friend from one already doomed.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 14, US SFBC p.557-562 
After Hood was killed by Anomander Rake as planned and consigned to Dragnipur's prison, he summoned his armies to him under Whiskeyjack's command for the battle against Chaos. Toc attended him as the Herald of High House Death riding a Wickan horse.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 24, US SFBC p.955-956 Toc wanted to fight alongside the dead Bridgeburners, but Hood had other plans for him. Hood's servant, Cartographer, brought Master Quell's carriage to meet the god inside Dragnipur. This time Gruntle did not recognise his friend as Toc had apparently shed Anaster's body and reverted to his own. Hood sent Toc off to follow in the Guild carriage's wake with Cartographer as their guide to bring a message to all the gods of war. In the course of this duty he found Picker's wandering soul and helped her return to her body, asking her to deliver a message to Karsa Orlong that he must remain in Darujhistan if he wanted to fulfill his vow to kill a god. These were Toc's final acts as Hood's Herald before the King of Death released his soul to be claimed by another god that Hood did not name.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 24, US SFBC p.956-959/969-971/993-994
==In Dust of Dreams==
(Information needed)
== In The Crippled God==
Whiskeyjack granted a longstanding desire of Toc's and inducted him (posthumously) into the Bridgeburners where he joined them as guardians and arbiters of Hood's Gate.The Crippled God, Chapter 24, US HC p.888
==History==
Toc was born aboard a ship, quite possibly the Ragstopper. His mother was Cartheron Crust's sister and his father was Toc the Elder.Memories of Ice, Chapter 9, UK MMPB p.406 He, along with his two older siblings (probably half-siblings), Ingen and Leese, were subsequently raised among the Seti.Return of the Crimson Guard, Book 2 Chapter 6, US HC p.497 He was considered somewhat of a runt.
Later, at school he helped a veteran soldier, Duiker, learn to read.
== Creative works ==
He was the author of:
*The Bridgeburners
*Lay of the Bridgeburners
*Lay of Onos Toolan
Under the name Toc Anaster he also authored:
*Before Q'uson Tapi
*Untitled
==Fan art gallery==
<tabber>GotM (Spoiler free)=
Toc the younger by artsed-d8ub8us.jpg|Toc the Younger by Artsed|link=File:Toc the younger by artsed-d8ub8us.jpg
Toc the younger .jpg|Toc the Younger by Corporal Nobbs|link=File:Toc the younger .jpg
Stonearrow by Ylva Ljungqvist.jpg|Toc the Younger by Ylva Ljungqvist|link=File:Stonearrow by Ylva Ljungqvist.jpg
|-|Memories of Ice=
Tool and Toc by Dark.H.jpg|Tool and Toc by Dark.H|link=File:Tool and Toc by Dark.H.jpg
Toc the Younger and Togg by Matt Smith.jpg|Toc the Younger and Togg by Matt Smith|link=File:Toc the Younger and Togg by Matt Smith.jpg
Toc.jpg|Togg finds Toc unconscious in the warren of Chaos, by Toraneko|link=File:Toc.jpg
Toc and Baaljagg by Sarinjin.jpg|Toc and Baaljagg by Sarinjin
</tabber>
==Notes and references==
Category:Authors
Category:Bridgeburners
Category:Claw members
Category:Grey Swords
Category:High House Death
Category:Humans
Category:Malazans
Category:Males
Category:Mortal Sword
Category:Quon Talians
Category:Soldiers
de:Toc der Jüngere
pl:Toc Młodszy
it:Toc il Giovane