Cherghem

Cherghem was a prisoner within the lowest dungeons below Fortress Paliss, Rool's capital city. His presence had been discovered by the Malazan 6th Army invaders when they took the city from the ruling Roolian dynasty. None knew who he was nor how long he had been there.

He was held within a great iron sarcophagus three paces in length and enshrouded within a metal framework. A tall iron wheel next to the frame was used to force long iron spikes though holes in the sarcophagus' sides, front, and head. When the spikes were retracted the holes oozed a thick black fluid that resembled blood.

Cherghem spoke with a voice no more substantial than a breath and was somehow aware of events far beyond his tomb-like surroundings.^[1]

In Stonewielder

Cherghem called for the Overlord Fist from his cell and Yeull 'ul Taith and his entourage reluctantly came. Saying he had information, he first demanded food and water. High Mage Ussü contemptuously splashed water onto the holes of the sarcophagus' face. Then Cherghem accurately revealed that the Malazan Empire had not forgotten the renegade 6th Army and was sending a punitive force under Stonewielder to reclaim Fist and hang the usurper. In response a snarling Yeull spun the wheel sending the iron spikes deep into the laughing Cherghem's flesh.^[2]

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