Convergence

Definition

Convergence is a fundamental principle of the Malazan world: power draws power. When ascendant forces gather in a location or around an event, other powers are inexorably pulled toward the same nexus. The result is a convergence — a cataclysmic collision of gods, ascendants, armies, and magical forces that reshapes the world. Convergences are not random; they are almost gravitational in nature, an inescapable law of the Malazan cosmology.

A convergence is both feared and anticipated. For mortals caught in the middle, it is often a death sentence — the clash of ascendant powers devastates everything in its vicinity. For the ascendants themselves, a convergence is an opportunity and a danger: alliances are forged and broken, positions within the Deck of Dragons shift, gods can be elevated or destroyed, and the balance of power in the world is rewritten.

The series itself is structured around a sequence of escalating convergences, each larger than the last, building toward the final, world-shaking convergence in The Crippled God. Steven Erikson uses convergences as the climactic mechanism of nearly every book — the point at which the disparate plot threads collide and the consequences of accumulated actions are realized.

Mechanics / Details

How Convergences Form

Convergences begin when a critical mass of ascendant power accumulates in a particular location or around a particular event. This can be triggered by:

• The presence of a powerful artifact or entity. Objects like Dragnipur or the Finnest of the Jaghut Tyrant draw attention and interest from ascendant beings.
• An unoccupied Throne of Power. When a Throne is empty, claimants are drawn to it, and their competition draws others.
• A Deck reading revealing instability. A Deck of Dragons reading that shows shifting power dynamics can alert ascendants to opportunities, accelerating their movement toward a flashpoint.
• The machinations of gods. When gods set plans in motion that require mortal agents, they draw other gods' attention, triggering a chain reaction.
• An Azath House weakening. When an Azath's power to imprison wanes, the entities it holds draw other powers.

The Gravitational Pull

Once a convergence begins forming, it becomes increasingly difficult for ascendant beings to resist. The pull is not purely physical — it operates through the warrens, through the Deck, through the very fabric of the magical world. Ascendants who have no stake in the immediate conflict may still find themselves drawn in, compelled by forces they cannot fully understand or resist.

This creates a snowball effect: as more powers gather, the convergence strengthens, drawing yet more. Minor convergences can be contained, but major ones become unstoppable cascades.

Mortal Consequences

For ordinary mortals, convergences are catastrophic. Entire armies can be annihilated as collateral damage when ascendants clash. Cities can be leveled. The Bridgeburners, the Bonehunters, and other mortal soldiers repeatedly find themselves at the epicenter of convergences not of their making, suffering terrible losses.

This is a central theme of the series: the cost to ordinary people when gods play their games. Erikson repeatedly shows the mortal toll of convergence through the soldiers and civilians caught in the crossfire.

Convergence and Narrative Structure

Each book in the main series builds toward at least one major convergence:

1. Gardens of the Moon — The convergence over Darujhistan, involving the Bridgeburners, Anomander Rake, the Jaghut Tyrant, and the gods' machinations

2. Deadhouse Gates — The Chain of Dogs convergence at Aren, and the convergence at the Azath in Tremorlor

3. Memories of Ice — The siege of Coral, where the Pannion Domin, the Bridgeburners, the T'lan Imass, Anomander Rake, and the Crippled God converge

4. House of Chains — The convergence in Raraku, where the Whirlwind, Sha'ik, and multiple ascendant forces collide

5. Midnight Tides — The Edur-Letherii war and the awakening of ancient powers

6. The Bonehunters — The convergence at Y'Ghatan and the subsequent events in Malaz City

7. Reaper's Gale — The convergence in Letheras as the Bonehunters arrive and the Edur Empire crumbles

8. Toll the Hounds — The convergence in Darujhistan, culminating in Anomander Rake's sacrifice

9. Dust of Dreams — The convergence on the Glass Desert, with the Bonehunters, K'Chain Che'Malle, and Forkrul Assail

10. The Crippled God — The final, ultimate convergence where all the series' threads come together

Key Practitioners / Examples

• Anomander Rake — His mere presence in a location guarantees a convergence will form around him
• Shadowthrone and Cotillion — Masterful manipulators who deliberately engineer convergences to serve their long-term plans
• The Crippled God — His presence in the world is itself a convergence trigger; his attempts to build power draw opposition from every corner
• Ganoes Paran — As Master of the Deck, he has unique insight into convergences and attempts to manage them
• Tavore Paran — Leads the Bonehunters into the heart of the final convergence, possibly the most consequential mortal decision in the series

Evolution Across the Series

Book 1: Gardens of the Moon

The concept of convergence is introduced through the events in Darujhistan, where an improbable number of powerful forces collide. The Bridgeburners, Anomander Rake, Vorcan, the Jaghut Tyrant, and various gods all converge on the city.

Book 3: Memories of Ice

The siege of Coral represents one of the most devastating convergences in the series, with armies of mortals, undead T'lan Imass, Tiste Andii, and the Pannion Domin all colliding while ascendant forces clash overhead.

Book 6: The Bonehunters

The term "convergence" is used more explicitly and frequently. The events at Y'Ghatan and Malaz City demonstrate how convergences can cascade. The principle that "power draws power" is articulated clearly.

Book 8: Toll the Hounds

The Darujhistan convergence is one of the most complex in the series, drawing together plots from multiple books. Anomander Rake's deliberate walk into the convergence — knowing he will die — shows that convergences can be shaped by willing sacrifice.

Book 10: The Crippled God

The entire series has been building toward this final convergence. Virtually every surviving ascendant, army, and power is drawn to the Glass Desert and the resolution of the Crippled God's imprisonment. The scale is unprecedented.

Related Concepts

• Ascendancy — Ascendants are the primary participants in convergences
• Deck of Dragons — Readings can reveal and trigger convergences
• Thrones of Power — Unoccupied thrones are frequent convergence triggers
• Azath Houses — Weakening Azath can trigger convergences as imprisoned entities stir
• Dragnipur — The sword and its realm are convergence magnets

Sources

• Gardens of the Moon (GotM) — First major convergence in Darujhistan
• Memories of Ice (MoI) — Devastating convergence at Coral
• The Bonehunters (BH) — Explicit discussion of convergence mechanics
• Toll the Hounds (TtH) — Complex convergence and Rake's sacrifice
• The Crippled God (TCG) — The final, series-ending convergence