Silchas Ruin

Silchas Ruin was a Tiste Andii AscendantReaper's Gale, Dramatis Personae and Soletaken.Midnight Tides, Dramatis Personae He was the son of Mother Dark and the brother of Anomander Rake and Andarist.Midnight Tides, Prologue, UK MMPB p.24-25 Among the Tiste Edur he was known as the Betrayer.Midnight Tides, Chapter 3, UK MMPB p.129/130
Silchas was albino, with characteristic red eyes that appeared reptilian in the right light.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 2, US HC p.70 He was tall and terribly gaunt, with smooth, almost translucent skin through which could be seen networks of blue-green veins and arteries. He had a hairless chest, long fingers, and thick, long white hair. He was a head or more taller than Scabandari. In the right light, his eyes assumed a reptilian cast.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 2, US HC p.70 His voice was rough and he spoke modern tongues with an archaic accent. 
Ruin seemed to contain an immense amount of suffering within him and his voice carried the weight of barrowstones. He held himself perfectly still and the movement of his chest was barely discernible when he breathed. He was also a thorough and dispassionate killer, moved by an unassailable certainty.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 2, US HC p.70-71
His Soletaken form was that of a giant bone-white dragon.Midnight Tides, Prologue, UK MMPB p.21
Silchas preferred to fight with two swords, one in each hand.Midnight Tides, Prologue, UK MMPB p.21/22 The swords hung from two baldrics criss-crossing his chest and he wore a hooded black sealskin cloak.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 1, US HC p.41 
== In Midnight Tides==
===Prologue===
In the time of the Elder Gods shortly after the sundering of Kurald Emurlahn, Silchas Ruin led the Tiste Andii contingent of a joint invasion of Tiste Andii and Tiste Edur legions through a rent into the Malazan world. Ruin and his four hundred thousand Andii fled the civil wars plaguing Kurald Galain while fellow commander Scabandari and his two hundred thousand Edur fled the rivening of Kurald Emurlahn. 
This led to a conflict between the Tiste and the new world's K'Chain Che'Malle on the plains of northern Lether. Ruin and Scabandari successfully brought down four K'Chain Nah'ruk Skykeeps using the Warrens of Starvald Demelain, Kurald Galain, and Kurald Emurlahn. Ruin was also blooded as he fought beside his legion against sixty thousand K'ell Hunters. The battle ended with the Tiste victorious, but Scabandari quietly held his own troops back and the Andii were ravaged by the K'Chain Che'Malle. Only a thousand survived.
After the battle, Ruin named Scabandari "Bloodeye" for the blood that stained his vision. It was at this point that Scabandari betrayed the Andii, stabbing Ruin in the back and slaying the Andii survivors. Silchas was not killed outright, but was instead left to the mercy of an Azath House who kept him captive for an untold amount of time. Scabandari planned to track down and slay the other Andii already present on the world, but first was himself slain by the Elder Goddess, Kilmandaros.Midnight Tides, Prologue, UK MMPB p.19-25 In Tiste Edur oral tradition, Ruin and Scabandari's actions were reversed, with Ruin having "sought to murder Father Shadow at their very moment of triumph." As a result, he was known as the Betrayer and was greatly hated and feared by Scabandari's people.
===Main Story===
Silchas appeared to Trull Sengar as a wraith. Trull called him 'Betrayer'.Midnight Tides, Chapter 3, UK MMPB p.129-131 He also appeared as a wraith in front of Seren Pedac and her travelling companions, Buruk the Pale and Hull Beddict.Midnight Tides, Chapter 5, UK MMPB p.196-199
thumb|140px|Silchas rising by [https://www.instagram.com/shadaan_studios/?hl=de Shadaan]The Edur believed that Silchas had betrayed Scabandari rather than the other way round. Udinaas found out the truth from the wraith Wither.Midnight Tides, Chapter 5, UK MMPB p.189/190/208
It was revealed that the Azath House that held Silchas captive was located in the modern, human city of Letheras. This same house had been decaying for a number of years and was close to death at the start of the novel. The undead child Kettle communicated with the imprisoned Silchas and eventually freed him. This was part of a bargain that Silchas had made with the House, the other part being that Silchas would kill some of the more dangerous inhabitants that would wrestle free of the House as it approached death.
Before being freed from the Azath House, Silchas requested that Brys Beddict supply him with two swords. Kuru Qan choose the two Letherii swords Sarat Wept and Glory Goat from his own private collection for Brys to give to Silchas.Midnight Tides, Chapter 12, UK MMPB p.465/475-478Midnight Tides, Chapter 14, UK MMPB p.518
Using the name Selekis, Silchas Ruin joined Seren Pedac, Fear Sengar, Kettle, and Wither to escape Letheras during the Tiste Edur invasion.Midnight Tides, Chapter 25, US SFBC p.761-766
==In The Bonehunters==
The Tiste Andii of Bluerose possessed an ancient tapestry depicting Mother Dark and the three brothers born in Darkness who were her most cherished children: Andarist, Anomandaris Purake, and Silchas Ruin. But all three had eventually been cast out by her. Andarist was the first, after Mother Dark made an accusation of betrayal that all knew to be mistaken. Filled with unbearable grief, he accepted his banishment by Mother Dark, but vowed to continue his guardianship of her from exile. Anomander and Silchas saw Mother Dark's turning away from her son as a crime and Anomander confronted her. Afterwards, he too walked away, denying the Darkness in his blood and seeking out Chaos. 
Ruin was considered the most enigmatic of the brothers and riven by indecision. His failed efforts to forge an impossible reconciliation led to the greatest betrayal of all—an alliance with Shadow. War had broken out amongst the Tiste and Ruin allied with Scabandari to flee through the gates to the Malazan world. After Scabandari's betrayal, Ruin's surviving Andii fled and found sanctuary in the caves deep below the Bluerose Mountains where they founded the Bluerose Kingdom.The Bonehunters, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.683-684
== In Reaper's Gale==
Shortly after Ruin's imprisonment in the Azath Tower, Kilmandaros slew Scabandari. Then she encountered Anomandaris Purake waiting for her at the rent leading back to Kurald Emurlahn. She was surprised to learn Rake had no interest in avenging his brother. Rake explained that Scabandari's price for betrayal (death and imprisonment in a Finnest) proved high and Ruin's Azath prison would not last forever. He claimed he almost envied the millennia of peace awaiting his brother. Kilmandaros warned Rake that Ruin would not be inclined to forgive his indifference when he was finally freed.Reaper's Gale, Prologue, US HC p.23-24
After the fall of Letheras, Silchas Ruin travelled eastward with Seren Pedac, Fear Sengar, Udinaas, Kettle, and Wither for months with Edur and Letherii hunters in pursuit, although Fear kept their ultimate destination to himself. The Acquitor attributed their survival to Ruin and his swords, but the Tiste Andii also guided them past beguiling traps laid by Emperor Rhulad Sengar's K'risnan. Udinaas and Kettle were briefly captured by Edur and Letherii slave-trackers near the Bluerose Mountains when trying to steal food from a farm. But Ruin confronted their captors, quickly slaying six Edur and two Letherii before the others fled. When he learned the Letherii had raped Kettle for their own amusement, he veered into his Soletaken form to track down and slay the survivors.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 1, US HC p.40-46
Silchas became known as The White Crow.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 2, BCA edition p.52
He travelled with Clip, Fear Sengar, Seren Pedac, Udinaas, and Kettle to the Refugium. There, he avenged himself and his people by using Scabandari's Finnest to seed an Azath House, sealing the gate to Starvald Demelain and fulfilling his vow to the Azath. 
Afterwards he flew to Letheras and attempted to attack the city to destroy the Letherii Empire, but was routed by Quick Ben, Fiddler, and Hedge.
==In Toll the Hounds==
Endest Silann recalled the days of civil war among the Tiste Andii when the High Priestess of Kharkanas sent him to Suruth Common Forest to witness a meeting between Anomander Rake and his brothers, Silchas Ruin and Andarist. Endest's modest rank had been a sign of the High Priestess' contempt for the participants, but the three were among the few not trying to kill each other. The brothers cryptically discussed a strategy for ending the conflict that brought the parties together to form a pact. Andarist, who claimed not to have the same courage or cruel madness to follow his brothers' path, would turn away and do nothing. Ruin, his eyes wet with despair, would be required to betray Andarist.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.459-462 
The next time Endest saw Rake was at the Citadel of Kharkanas, which was strewn with bodies from the various factions, including those of the three brothers. Endest had guided Rake, now a Soletaken with the blood of T'iam, to the chamber of Mother Dark. Rake reported that he would unite the Tiste Andii and resistance from Andarist, Drethdenan, and Vanut Degalla was ending, while Silchas Ruin, Hish Tulla, and Manalle had fled. The goddess scolded her son for his shortsighted tactic that had ended the war, before forsaking him and turning away from her children.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 4, US SFBC p.131-135
He also recalled Silchas Ruin's knowing half-smile on the day he walked to stand by Scabandari as legions of Tiste Liosan marched upon them. It was as if Ruin knew what was to come and undertook it to spare his followers a more immediate death than the one that shortly followed with the Tiste Edur betrayal.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 16, US SFBC p.634
==In Dust of Dreams==
He led Rud Elalle away from the Refugium and the impending arrival of the Eleint.
==In The Crippled God==
thumb|200x200px|Silchas and Tulas by [https://www.instagram.com/shadaan_studios/ Shadaan]
Shadowthrone gifted him with a Hust sword carrying the chains of Ampelas, Kalse and Eloth. Along with Kagamandra Tulas, Telorast and Curdle, he fought to defend Korabas from the attacking Eleint in the 'War of Awakening'. He later met up with Nimander Golit and his people.
==In Forge of Darkness==
Silchas and his two brothers were given the title 'Son of Darkness' by Mother Dark, who was not their true mother.Forge of Darkness, Chapter 3 His father was Nimander. Silchas Ruin's skin did not take on the ebon hue of the Tiste Andii like his brothers when exposed to Mother Dark. He was good friends with Scara Bandaris who arrived in Kharkanas with twenty-five Jheleck child Hostages. Silchas recommended the 'hounds' be given to Kagamandra Tulas to raise.Forge of Darkness, Chapter 15, UK HC p.450
==In Fall of Light==
(Information needed)
==Quotes==
==Fan art gallery==
<tabber>Spoiler free images=
Ruin by slaine69.jpg|link=File:Ruin by slaine69.jpg|Interpretation of Silchas Ruin by slaine69
Silchas by slaine69.jpg|link=File:Silchas by slaine69.jpg|Silchas by Slaine69 
Silchas ruin by slaine69.jpg|link=File:Silchas ruin by slaine69.jpg|Silchas by slaine69
Silchas Ruin on horse by Puck.jpg|link=File:Silchas Ruin on horse by Puck.jpg|Interpretation of Silchas Ruin on horse by Puck 
Silchas Ruin by Puck.jpg|link=File:Silchas Ruin by Puck.jpg|Interpretation of Silchas Ruin by Puck 
The White Crow by Ylva Ljungqvist.jpg|link=File:The White Crow by Ylva Ljungqvist.jpg|Silchas Ruin by Ylva Ljungqvist
Silchas ruin by deathris.jpg|Silchas Ruin by DeathriS
Silchas Ruin by Dejan Delic.jpg|Silchas Ruin by Dejan Delic
Silchas ruin by Dark.H.jpg|Silchas Ruin by Dark.H
File:Silchas Ruin by Niva.jpg|Interpretation of Silchas Ruin by Niva
|-|Spoiler images=
The betrayer returns by Autumn Tavern.jpg|Silchas Ruin by Autumn Tavern|link=File:The betrayer returns by Autumn Tavern.jpg
Silchas Ruin by Tommy Arnold.jpg|Silchas veering into his dragon form by Tommy Arnold (Official image)
2018 Autumn Tavern 1.png|Silchas meets Tulas by Autumn Tavern
Tulas and Silchas by Autumn Tavern.jpg|Tulas and Silchas by Autumn Tavern
</tabber>
==Notes and references==
de:Silchas Ruin
es:Silchas Ruina
Category:Tiste Andii
Category:Ascendants
Category:Males
Category:Soletaken Eleint
Category:House Purake