Eaters

“	Shickel: The gifts are different for each of us, but the curse is the same. Glokta: You can’t stop eating.	”
	— Shickel and Glokta

An Eater is a person with the ability to absorb magical power by eating human flesh. It was forbidden by Euz, the God-like vanquisher of Demons, in his Second Law: "It is forbidden to eat the flesh of men". However, Glustrod his own youngest son first secretly broke this law. And now Khalul, the apprentice of Euz' eldest son Juvens, openly breaks it.

Origin

At the dawn of the Old Time, after Euz had vanquished the Demons, he placed just two strictures on his sons, the second of which was "It is forbidden to eat the flesh of men". However, Glustrod, the youngest son of Euz, studied forbidden sciences and he made contact with Demons on The Other Side. The Demons urged him to eat the flesh of men, and steal their power, in his fight with his brother Juvens.

Later, the death of Juvens caused a schism amongst his twelve apprentices, the Order of Magi. Bayaz and most of the Magi blamed Kanedias for their masters death, and made war on the Master Maker. However, Khalul held Bayaz himself responsible and swore vengeance, but he stood alone against many. So he made his great sacrifice, and with his first apprentice Mamun broke The Second Law and ate the flesh of men; thus becoming Eaters.

Now, Khalul scours the South for those with any promise. Faster and faster he makes more Eaters; Yulwei believes that he may have as many as two hundred. Bayaz himself is not above his apprentices being "partial to a bite or two".

Description

Details are sparse surrounding Eaters. First, it is implied that innate abilities are required to become one, similar to the abilities to become a Magi. Yulwei informs Bayaz, that "The priesthood scour the South for those with any promise. Faster and faster now he makes them, but most are young, and weak."^[1] At least two apprentices of Bayaz, Yoru Sulfur and Casamir Shenkt, are both Magi and Eaters. Next, they must eat their first victim leading to irreversible changes. They become dependent on consuming human flesh to survive, similar to a drug addiction. Initially, Eaters possess weak magical abilities, but consuming flesh enhances those powers. Some Eaters have been noted to consume an entire corpse in one sitting. Though they feel blessed with power, many feel cursed by the need to eat flesh and look forward to death to end their suffering.

Powers

The gifts are different for each Eater. Some have strength, speed, and endurance beyond the limits of the human while others can shapeshift, some can create illusions, and others can use High Art like the Order of the Magi.^[2]

Known Eaters

Name	Master	Activity at start of series
Khalul	Khalul	Openly dominates the Gurkish Empire
Mamun	Khalul	Khalul's first apprentice and trusted ally
Shickel	Khalul	Khalul's ally sent to Dagoska to spy on The Union
Ishri/zuri	Khalul	Khalul's ally, works widely in Styria and The North
The Twins	Khalul	Khalul's trusted allies
Hundred Words	Khalul	Khalul has over over 100 Eaters
Yoru Sulfur	Bayaz	Bayaz' trusted ally and an Eater
Shenkt	Shenkt	An assassin in Styria and an Eater
Tolomei	Kanedias	The daughter of Kanedias and seemingly an Eater

Theories

• Is Bayaz an Eater himself? He is seen eating some quite raw meat in his encounter with Calder near the end of The Heroes. At least two of his apprentices are Eaters, and Bayaz demonstrated by using the Seed that he will do anything to achieve victory, even using Mamun's own quote against him: "God smiles on results."

References