Warrens, Holds and Realms
Warrens can be both an access point to power and a physical realm, though some do not appear to have a linked realm. The Warrens that exist as physical worlds come with complete geography, history, and ecosystems of non-sentient and sentient races different from the Malazan world. As well, some Warrens manifest with variations in different parts of the human realm, resulting in a certain duplication of purpose (i.e., Meanas and Rashan, both essentially being Warrens of Shadow). Warrens may also in some ways mirror or reflect the circumstances and physical properties of the Malazan world. Warrens also exist as the realms of Gods only accessible to priests instead of mages, though the distinctions between the two types of Warrens have not been clarified. Warrens link to each other, and mages can move between them given sufficient knowledge and mastery of magic.
| Formal name | Other names | Other names and attributes |
|---|---|---|
| Starvald Demelain | Elder Warren of Tiam The Dragon Hold |
Open to the Eleint (dragons); the First Warren. Has a linked realm. |
| Ahkrast Korvalain | Elder Warren | Open to the Forkrul Assail. |
| Kurald Galain | Elder Warren of Darkness | Open to the Tiste Andii. Has a linked realm, which was the original homeland of the Tiste races. The Capital city is Kharkanas. |
| Kurald Emurlahn | Elder Warren of Shadow The Shattered Warren The Empty Hold |
Open to the Tiste Edur. Has a linked realm, which is currently sundered. The human warren of shadow is a fragment of it. Manipulated in its Hold aspect by The Crippled God and The Errant. |
| Kurald Thyrllan | Elder Warren of Light | Open to the Tiste Liosan; in most cases sealed off from access by other races or Warrens. Has a linked realm. |
| Kurald Liosan | Elder Warren of unknown aspect, presumably light | Open to the Tiste Liosan; mentioned only in passing as sourced from a being posing as a Liosan god. Is another name for Kurald Thyrllan. |
| Omtose Phellack | Warren of Ice The Ice Hold |
Open to the Jaghut; exerts an influence of preservation or stasis, not only on the physical world but also on the evolution of magic. Manifests in the form of giant glaciers. Has a linked realm, which contains the abandoned city of the Jaghut. |
| Tellann | Warren of Fire | Open to the T'lan Imass; created from Kurald Thryrllan by the Imass Bonecasters to grant immortality through intelligent undeath while the Tiste Liosan believed their Warren sealed. Has a linked realm, which is depicted as being filled with flame. |
| Denaeth Rusen | Elder Warren of the Sea | Possibly open only to Mael; where life first originated. |
| Kaschan | Elder Warren (aspect unclear) | Open to the K'Chain Che'Malle. Appears to be a form of Gravity / Ultrasound magic, as evidenced by the K'Chain SkyKeeps. Described as "Born of sounds our ears cannot hear, formed into words that loosen the bindings that hold all matter together." |
| Aral Gamelon | Path of Demons | Open to humans; allows the summoning and control of demons; related to Hood's Path |
| Denul | Path of Healing | Open to humans, although first used by the Azathanai healers. Allows treatment of injuries and diseases. More accomplished healers can access High Denul, which can be used to perform more complex healing procedures like regrowing limbs, and rituals that can slow or stop aging. Long term recipients of Denul healing also have their lifespans extended, eg. Dujek Onearm. |
| D'riss | Path of Stone | Open to humans; allows petrification of wood and passage through solid stone, the flesh of Burn, the Sleeping Goddess. May be descended from an unnamed Thel Akai hold. |
| Hood's Path | Path of Death | Open to humans; allows animation of corpses, communication with spirits and control over demons; also the Warren of the God of Death. Holds the souls of the dead. |
| Imperial | Imperial Warren (aspect unknown) | Open to humans; formerly Kallor's Empire on Jacuruku, made into a warren by the Elder god K'rul to contain the destruction of a continent. |
| Meanas | Path of Shadow and Illusion | Open to humans; allows the manipulation of color and sound, also Shadow. Said to be a fragment of Kurald Emurlahn. |
| Mockra | Path of the Mind | Open to humans; allows manipulation of thoughts and emotions of individuals and groups. Interestingly it is the only warren to be given a consciousness, as of Reaper's Gale, when it reveals itself to a natural talent. Whether this is unique due to it being a warren influencing the mind is not yet clear. |
| Rashan | Path of Darkness | Open to humans; allows concealment through shadow/darkness. Derived from Kurald Galain. |
| Ruse | Path of the Sea | Open to humans; priestly warren of the Elder God of the Seas, Mael; allows manipulation of currents, tides and pressure; and summoning of underwater creatures. It is the only human warren not deadened by Otataral. |
| Serc | Path of the Sky | Open to humans; allows travel through the air and the perception of and movement through the temperature and layers of gases in the air. Associated with Osserc, who is referred to as "Father Wind." |
| Telas | Path of Fire | Open to humans, allows powerful blasts of fire. Descended from Tellann. |
| Tennes | Path of the Land | Open to humans; Burn's warren, allows the reshaping of the earth, as seen in Toll the Hounds. May be descended from an unnamed Thel Akai hold. |
| Thyr | Path of Light | Open to humans; actions uncertain, can create magic shields. |
Read more about this topic: Magic In The Malazan Book Of The Fallen
Famous quotes containing the words holds and/or realms:
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—William Hazlitt (1778–1830)
“The whole fauna of human fantasies, their marine vegetation, drifts and luxuriates in the dimly lit zones of human activity, as though plaiting thick tresses of darkness. Here, too, appear the lighthouses of the mind, with their outward resemblance to less pure symbols. The gateway to mystery swings open at the touch of human weakness and we have entered the realms of darkness. One false step, one slurred syllable together reveal a man’s thoughts.”
—Louis Aragon (1897–1982)