Flashwit

Flashwit was a mean-looking heavy of the 9th Company, 8th Legion of the Malaz 14th Army in Sergeant Mosel's squad. She was a burly, round-faced Napan described as having arm muscles larger than Fiddler's thighs. She had cut all her hair off, and sported a bronze nose-ring. Her eyes were said to be a startlingly beautiful, emerald green.House of Chains, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.712 The ground seemed to tremble when she walked. Gesler thought she could probably out-pull an ox and that her green eyes came from somewhere other than Napan.The Bonehunters, BH/10, US SFBC p.430
She sometimes wished she was smart enough to "talk about things and all that other stuff" like Bottle, Gesler, and Deadsmell.
==In House of Chains==
Flashwit's squad was part of Adjunct Tavore Paran's punitive expedition against the Army of the Apocalypse. On the road from Aren to Raraku, the heavies had no chance to wet their swords, but Fiddler was impressed with their discipline nonetheless.House of Chains, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.711
When Sergeants Fiddler and Moak asked her if she had heard of the legendary heavy, Nefarias Bredd, she claimed she heard he had killed fifty raiders.House of Chains, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.712-713
==In The Bonehunters==
After the Battle of Raraku, Leoman led the Army of the Apocalypse westward to Y'Ghatan and the 14th Army followed. Once the 14th Army reached the city's outskirts, Mosel and his squad decided to take revenge on the wagon whose dust they had eaten over many long miles. They bound and gagged the wagoner and the load crew in the long grass before proceeding to pry the wagon apart. Under Mosel's watchful eye, Flashwit and Mayfly pried the nails, studs, and fittings from the wagon's boards while Taffo and Uru Hela struggled with an axle.The Bonehunters, Chapter 6, US SFBC p.240-241 While they worked, they discussed Nefarias Bredd sightings with Bottle. Earlier, Flashwit told Smiles she had seen Bredd carry a dead horse into his squad's camp to roast it for meals.The Bonehunters, Chapter 3, US SFBC p.139
Adjunct Tavore launched the Last Siege of Y'Ghatan by sending the army's sappers to breach the city's wall under the cover of night. First into the city were the Malazan marines, followed quickly by the heavy and medium infantry. Once inside the city, the Malazans immediately came under attack from swordsmen on the ground and archers in the buildings above them. Mosel's squad of heavies waded into the swordsmen just as Fiddler launched a cusser from his Crossbow into the windows of the building above them. The resulting explosion killed Harbyn and Taffo, leaving only Flashwit, Mayfly, and Uru Hela. An angry Mosel descended on Fiddler before the continued fighting pulled him and his squad away.The Bonehunters, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.291-292
When enough Malazans were engaged in street fighting inside the city, Leoman sprung his trap. The city's olive oil-soaked buildings were set alight and the streets quickly became an inferno. At some point, Mosel was killedThe Bonehunters, Chapter 13, US SFBC p.525 and his three heavies joined a mixed group of survivors from Cord's, Fiddler's, and Borduke's squads. They fled the flames while Flashwit, Mayfly, Uru Hela, and Shortnose — armed only with knives and fists — defended the group against a score of fanatics.The Bonehunters, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.295-296/318 
Flashwit was among the small group of soldiers who survived Y'Ghatan by tunneling their way out from under the city. They spent three days crawling on their hands and knees through the dark led by Bottle and his rat.The Bonehunters, Chapter 7, UK MMPB p.447 Unlike most of the other survivors, she had not found the fires or the tunnels much to fear—instead finding the experience mostly boring.The Bonehunters, Chapter 8, US SFBC p.390
Unaware that any had survived, the 14th Army made haste for the Kokakal Sea to embark on Admiral Nok's ships and escape the Bluetongue Plague ravaging Seven Cities. Faradan Sort and Sinn remained behind and discovered the survivors as they crawled from the wreckage.The Bonehunters, Chapter 7 Captain Sort reorganised the shattered soldiers, placing Flashwit into Gesler's Fifth squad.The Bonehunters, Chapter 10, US SFBC p.429-430
After the survivors rejoined the 14th Army on the coast of the Kokakal Sea, Gesler and Stormy were given back command of the Silanda. Flashwit served aboard the vessel along with Balm and Fiddler's squads on the return voyage to Quon Tali.The Bonehunters, Chapter 18, US SFBC p.716 Some festering argument between Flashwit and Shortnose led to the two wrestling on the deck, growling and biting like a pair of dogs.The Bonehunters, Chapter 19, US SFBC p.765
The Adunct's fleet travelled to Malaz City where Empress Laseen awaited Tavore in Mock's Hold. The Silanda joined Tavore's flagship, the Froth Wolf, to moor at the city pier while the rest of the fleet remained anchored in the harbour. The entire city seethed with magically induced anger against the 14th Army and the soldiers of the Silanda prepared to defend their ship from the mob after the Adjunct was escorted away. Flashwit, Shortnose, Uru Hela, Tarr, Corabb Bhilan Thenu'alas, and Mayfly formed a shield wall that took the brunt of the mob's attack.The Bonehunters, Chapter 22, US SFBC p.884The Bonehunters, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.889
==In Reaper's Gale==
Adjunct Tavore clashed with Empress Laseen at Malaz City and took the Bonehunters rogue, following the Tiste Edur fleet that had ravaged Sepik back to Lether.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 13, US HC p.356 Tavore invaded the Letherii Empire, burning her transport vessels on the shoreline and spreading the marines in isolated pairs of squads across thirty leagues of coast. The marines moved forward into the Letherii countryside with orders to kill Edur by night and stir the occupied Letherii into rebellion. Each squad had a mage responsible for hiding their presence and confusing their enemies.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 13, US HC p.361-365 By this time, Flashwit was reassigned to Gesler and Stormy's squad.Reaper's Gale, Dramatis Personae, BCA edition p.xv Stormy happily came to think of his three female heavies as the "dread ladies", who could "stare down a rutting bhederin bull and beat it into a pulp".Reaper's Gale, Chapter 17, US HC p.489
Gesler and Fiddler's squads remained together and at first had no problem remaining hidden from enemy soldiers.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 13, US HC p.359 But the Letherii soon became aware of the enemy operating in their territory. Only Corabb's impossible luck saved them from a clever ambush in the forest when he accidentally flushed out a deer that immediately fell with twenty arrows in it. Flashwit joined Stormy and the other heavies in breaking one side of the ambush, while the other Malazans fired crossbows and sharpers at the enemy. The Malazans quickly turned the attack until the Letherii unveiled their sorcery of grey chaotic fire, killing Sands. Fiddler fired a cusser into the trees above the Letherii mage killing him and shredding a score of enemy soldiers before the Malazans were forced to retreat.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 17, US HC p.487-489
Gesler and Fiddler stopped their squads at an isolated farmhouse to lay a trap for a troop of mounted pursuers. While Fiddler and Cuttle assembled The Drum out of munitions, Gesler sent Uru Hela to investigate the occupants of the nearby farmhouse. When the heavy was only fifteen paces from the front door, an enormous Kenryll'ah demon prince burst out of the house to kill her with a two-handed wood-axe. Flashwit and the other heavies flanked Stormy as they charged the demon, chopping it with their swords before Gesler called the retreat.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 17, US HC p.490-491/495-499 Ironically, the demon and its fellow prince had taken up residence in the farmhouse to retire in peace. They had just wanted to be left alone and the encounter was a tragic accident.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 17, US HC p.499-500
Contrary to the Adjunct's expectations, the Letherii soldiers did not use the Malazan invasion to turn against their Edur occupiers.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 14, US HC p.410Reaper's Gale, Chapter 17, US HC p.481/486 As the marines neared Letheras fighting became more desperate and Gesler and Fiddler's squads became separated.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 21, US HC p.628 A day's travel from the capital, Gesler's squad stumbled upon a village occupied by Hellian's squad and a number of others. Gesler and Fiddler's squad reunited at the local tavern just in time for a force of hundreds of Edur to envelop the village.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 21, US HC p.631-636/641/650 During the fighting, Flashwit had her helm knocked off and her head laid open, while Bowl was killed beside her. She was trampled by the inrushing Edur but then stood up in their midst, brandishing a Kethra knife in each hand.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 21, UK BCA edition p.698/699
The Edur were repelled by the arrival of Badan Gruk, Sinter, and Primly's fresh squads.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 21, US HC p.642-643/648-652 The new arrivals deferred to Fiddler's seniority, and the former Bridgeburner ordered the marines to hold their position in hopes they would be reinforced by Fist Keneb.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 21, US HC p.652-653 By the time Keneb's forces arrived, thousands of Edur followed in their wake, pushing the gathered Malazans towards the city where the Imperial Brigade awaited.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 22, US HC p.673-674
Caught between the two armies near Kravos Hill, the 800 remaining MalazansReaper's Gale, Chapter 24, US HC p.745 were forced to huddle under Beak's protective spell when the Letherii mages cast a deadly ritual of Chaos upon them and the Edur. The spell was broken, but the hair of all those under Beak's protection turned white. The Edur abandoned the field after their allies' betrayal, and the shaken Imperial Brigade withdrew to meet Adjunct Tavore's more threatening main force as it disembarked from the Lether River.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 22, US HC p.679/686-695
Keneb marched on Letheras thinking the marines deserved to be the first to enter the capital.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 24, US HC p.778 After the marines found a hidden entrance beneath the wall, Gesler, Fiddler, Urb, and Hellian's squads were sent into the city to cause trouble while the remaining marines opened the city's west gate to Tavore's infantry. Gesler's squad soon became separated from Fiddler's after the two squads teamed to ambush an assembly of the city's Main Garrison.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 24, US HC p.779/792-794/808 After the main force of Malazans entered the city, the City Garrison surrendered and the city fell.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 24, US HC p.779/800/812
==In Dust of Dreams==
She was the object of Shoaly's affections.Dust of Dreams, Chapter 11
(Information needed)
==In The Crippled God==
She became a member of Gaunt-Eye's 18th squad.The Crippled God, Chapter 4, US PB p.104
==Notes and references==
Category:Bonehunters
Category:Females
Category:Heavies
Category:Napans
Category:Soldiers
Category:Y'Ghatan survivor (underground)