The Knife of Many Hands is an Atrocity Tale published by R. Scott Bakker in Grimdark magazine issues #2 & #3. The issues were released in December 31, 2014 and March 24, 2015.
Fan Summary[]
The Holca Champion, Thurror Eryelk, the newest champion in the Sranc Pits , survives on the streets of Carythusal by spreading blood. In one of his unfortunate bloody encounters he meets an Schoolman of the Scarlet Spires, and this encounter could prove fatal.
Plot summary[]
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The following section contains significant plot details about The Knife of Many Hands |
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The story is set in Carythusal, some three hundred years before the events described in The Darkness That Comes Before. It follows Thurror Eryelk, a roving Holca barbarian and current champion of the Sranc Pits, who becomes embroiled in a Scarlet Spires coup. Breaking the main plotline are flashbacks to Eryelk's early life, glimpses of his ongoing attempts to cling to his savage heritage as his world gradually expands.
Part One
After a recent triumph in the Sranc Pits, Eryelk has been declared Sacred Hewer and invited to visit Blessed Queen Sumilaom in her pleasure garden. Seemingly disinterested in the prospect, he spends his time drinking in the Worm, the slum district of Carythusal. When approached by a Scarlet Spires sorcerer called Nagamezer in the Third Sun tavern, Eryelk refuses to deal with the man and gives in to the violent urges of his Incarnal, entering a trance-like state of frenzy that typically seizes him during battle. He kills the sorcerer, but somehow ends up paralyzed by poison. It becomes obvious that Eryelk does not fully recall the events that occur while his Incarnal manifests - he thinks of his raging self as a separate entity.
Delivered into the custody of the Scarlet Spires, Eryelk is interrogated by Grandmaster Shinurta, a sorcerer feared and loathed in Carythusal for his experiments with the Daimos. The old man needles the barbarian, claiming that he is a traitor to the Holca people, a man of intellect born to a warrior race. Once the captive Eryelk is provoked to frenzy, his Incarnal manifesting and demanding to be killed, Shinurta resorts to Sorcery and the barbarian loses consciousness once more.
Part Two
Awakening in an alleyway and plagued by infernal dreams, Eryelk wonders in vain why the Scarlet Spires would release him after he'd slain one of their own. He is seized by a sudden desire in perusing the invitation of Queen Sumiloam and moves toward the Palaparrais royal complex where she resides. Before being granted access, he is questioned by the Shrial Emissary Ȗsulares who suspects him being a pawn of the Scarlet Spires. Ultimately, since the Collegian priest does not discern a sorcerous Mark on the barbarian, he is allowed through.
In the palatial pleasure gardens, Eryelk meets Queen Sumiloam and her young stepson, Crown-Prince Horziah, both of whom appear interested in his gladiator's prowess. The prince has even had Eryelk's sword, Vampire, delivered to the gardens for this encounter. Ultimately Horziah is sent away, leaving his stepmother alone in the company of Eryelk and several slaves. As the queen seduces the barbarian, he notices that one of the slaves is her husband in disguise, King Sarothesser IX, a willing cuckold. As he copulates with Queen Sumiloam, Eryelk gradually gives in to his Incarnal once more, this time experiencing what look like memories of Grandmaster Shinurta, screaming at someone to, "Ravish him! Sack his flesh! Blast him with shame! Rape! Rape!"
Eryelk awakens on the riverbank as Carythusal burns, clothed in filth and blood, sword in hand. Realizing that he has been become a knife in another's hand, he departs High Ainon, intent on returning to wreak his vengeance when the time is right.
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Here ends the section of Spoilers |
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Trivia[]
The artist of the covers are:
- Cover GdM #2: Pit Fighter by Julian De Lio
- Cover GdM #3: Despondency – Part III by Austen Mengler
Notes and References[]