Arteloth

In the world of Malazan, the House of the Dead is one of the Azath. These are ancient, half-living magical entities that isolate and contain dangerous phenomena to maintain balance in the world. They are cold, indifferent, and deaf to human suffering. The second book in the Malazan cycle is titled “Deadhouse Gates”. Coltain, a truly great commander, and his army of heroes who walked this entire sacrificial path - the path to the liberation of refugees whose liberators had lost all hope of their own salvation. Just as the House of the Dead indifferently draws souls into itself, so too the citizens of Aren, along with the garrison, watched the destruction of the Seventh Army from the city walls. Aren, having locked its gates to Coltain, itself became a Deadhouse - a crypt for the cowards buried alive who buried their honor alive for the illusion of security.