Vorcan Radok

Vorcan Radok [VOR-kin]^[1] was the Mistress of the Assassins' Guild in Darujhistan (also known as Master of Assassins),^[2] and a High Mage.^[3] She had long hair, described either as brown^[4] or black.

In Gardens of the Moon

The Bridgeburners infiltrated Darujhistan and on orders of Empress Laseen made multiple attempts to contact Vorcan and her Guild. They eventually found an audience with the guild master at Lady Simtal's Gedderone Fête. The Malazan Empire offered Vorcan one hundred thousand gold jakatas and a position as High Fist of Darujhistan in return for the deaths of the T'orrud Cabal, the city's true leaders.^[5]

Vorcan accepted the contract and Cabal members Parald, Tholis, and Travale were soon dead.^[6][7] Baruk and Derudan went to ground at Baruk's Estate. Vorcan's attempt on their lives was stopped by the Tiste Andii Serrat and the young thief Crokus, but Serrat was killed. The gravely wounded Vorcan escaped back to Simtal's estate with several vengeful Tiste Andii on her heels. Guild assassin Rallick Nom carried her to an unknown fate inside the newly formed the Finnest House.^[8]

In Memories of Ice

Two months after the Gedderone Fête, Ganoes Paran unwillingly found himself visiting the Finnest House in spirit form. He discovered two people, seemingly peacefully asleep despite the woman's fresh wounds, just inside the House's front door. Paran recognised them as Rallick and Vorcan. Raest, the House's new guardian, said he found them in their current state and had made no attempt to wake them. He told Paran that the two had been chosen by the House to be servants of the Master of the Deck.^[9]

In House of Chains

When Cutter spoke of Rallick as if he had passed, Cotillion said he suspected there was no need for the use of past tense in Rallick or Vorcan's case. He did not go into further detail.^[10]

In The Bonehunters

Ganoes Paran obliquely referred to Vorcan when he described once living in the Finnest House with two eternally sleeping houseguests and a Jaghut manservant.^[11]

In Toll the Hounds

After a long time spent recovering within the Finnest House, Vorcan quietly awoke and escaped leaving Rallick Nom behind.^[12] Her exit was witnessed by Chillbais, who quickly reported it to his master, Baruk.^[13] Shortly thereafter, Raest kicked Rallick Nom awake. Unfamiliar with the Jaghut race, he called Raest a demon, but Raest assured him that label more accurately applied to the one who now called herself Vorcan. Raest named her "a demon in truth."^[12]

Vorcan quickly made her way to Baruk's estate. She refused to apologise for her decimation of the T'orrud Cabal and warned the Cabal could not stop the coming of the Tyrant. But they could position themselves for survival and comfort. She planned to lay low and abandoned her position with the Assassins' Guild now that it no longer served her purposes. Baruk asked if this same strategy explained why she had sent her daughter away, but Vorcan retorted that her reasons for that were none of his concern. Baruk feared any one of their cabal would betray the others merely to survive. Vorcan asked the High Alchemist to inform Derudan of their discussion.^[14]

Vorcan established herself as a noblewoman in Darujhistan under the pseudonym of "Lady Varada". She hired a team of workers to revive a neglected estate while her castellan, Studlock, recruited the estate's new guards. Scorch and Leff heard of the opportunity and were hired immediately as gate guards. Studlock sent Scorch off to recruit any other friends he thought reliable. Scorch returned with only Torvald Nom, who Studlock hired to serve as guard captain.^[15] The castellan later also hired his past associates Lazan Door and Madrun.^[16] Torvald was horrified to recognise the trio as three notorious Seguleh. But when he went to Lady Varada to report that she had sadists and mass murderers on her staff, she displayed no concern and thanked him for his loyalty.^[17] Torvald was further unsettled when Lady Varada went to the Noble Council to claim her place and it was granted without argument. No members of the Council came to her estate in an attempt to buy her alliance or recruit her support.^[18]

On the last night of the Gedderone Fête, Master Seba Krafar of the Assassins' Guild led a force of thirty-one assassins against the Varada estate in an attempt to slay Lady Varada.^[19] He was under contract from Humble Measure who wished to open a position for himself on the Council.^[20] When the assassins were defeated, Lady Varada was revealed as Vorcan Radok. Not only had she anticipated the attack, but she had baited the Guild to draw them out and eliminate them once and for all. Scorch, Leff, and Torvald had been hired as expendables and it proved to be a surprise they all survived.^[21] Vorcan was pleased that Rallick Nom had come to her defence when the estate was attacked and was noticeably relaxed by his presence.^[22] Torvald Nom concluded his cousin was in a relationship with the most dangerous woman alive.^[23]

Caladan Brood brought Dragnipur to Baruk's Estate where Vorcan Radok and Derudan joined Baruk and Crone to witness him shatter it with his hammer. Neither woman trusted the High Alchemist to be in close proximity to the sword until it was destroyed.^[24]

In Orb Sceptre Throne

In the basement of her villa, Vorcan chained herself to the floor with otataral chains to escape being used by the Legate who had taken over control of the city. She made Torvald Nom take her position as head of House Nom and a council member.^[25] Her daughter Taya Radok, whom she had sent away, returned and allied herself with the enemy.^[26] Taya tried to destroy Vorcan, but failed.^[27] In the end, Vorcan chained her daughter to the floor, telling Rallick Nom with whom she was in a relationship, that she had sent her daughter to her room to think things over.^[28]

Notes and references