Sormo E'nath

Summary

Sormo E'nath is a young Wickan warlock of extraordinary power who serves alongside Coltaine during the Chain of Dogs. Despite his youth — he is barely more than a boy — Sormo commands spirit magic of devastating potency, acting as the primary magical defense for Coltaine's beleaguered army during its fighting retreat across Seven Cities.

Sormo represents one of the series' most powerful expressions of the theme of childhood — a child bearing the weight of ancient spirits and the fate of an army. His story is also deeply connected to Wickan shamanic traditions and the concept of reincarnation: Sormo is the latest incarnation of a line of powerful Wickan warlocks, carrying the memories and power of his predecessors.

Arc by Book

Book 2: Deadhouse Gates

Sormo E'nath is introduced as part of Coltaine's Wickan forces when the 7th Army takes command in Hissar. Though young, he is recognized as the most powerful of the Wickan warlocks, surpassing even Nil and Nether in raw ability. His power stems from his connection to the Wickan spirit world — he can summon ancestor spirits, commune with the land, and wield magic that operates outside the traditional warren system.

During the Chain of Dogs, Sormo becomes indispensable. As Coltaine's army, burdened with tens of thousands of Malazan refugees, fights its way across the continent toward Aren, Sormo's magic counters the sorcerous attacks of the rebellion's mages, particularly Kamist Reloe. He engages in titanic magical duels that leave the landscape scarred and the armies awed.

Sormo's most significant contributions include calling down Wickan spirits to turn the tide of battles, creating magical barriers to protect the retreating column, and conducting rituals that strengthen the army's morale. His power is so great that the enemy prioritizes his destruction above almost all other targets.

Sormo E'nath is killed during the Chain of Dogs, murdered by treachery rather than defeated in magical combat. His death is orchestrated through the betrayal of the Semk allies and the overwhelming coordination of enemy forces. The loss of Sormo severely weakens the army's magical capabilities and marks a turning point in the increasingly desperate retreat.

His death deeply affects the remaining Wickan warlocks, Nil and Nether, who carry on his legacy but lack his extraordinary power. Sormo's sacrifice is remembered as one of the Chain of Dogs' most devastating losses — a child who bore the weight of an army's survival and was consumed by it.

Key Relationships

• Coltaine — the Fist he serves and protects with his magic
• Nil — fellow Wickan warlock, younger and less powerful
• Nether — fellow Wickan warlock
• Bult — Coltaine's uncle and veteran commander
• Duiker — the Imperial Historian who witnesses and records Sormo's deeds
• Kamist Reloe — the enemy High Mage he duels

Notable Quotes

"The spirits remember what the living forget." — DG

Appearances

See Also

• Chain of Dogs — the military retreat Sormo defends
• Childhood — the burden of power on the young
• Sacrifice and Redemption — Sormo's fate
• Magic — Wickan spirit magic operates outside the warren system