Ublala Pung

Summary

Ublala Pung is a half-Tarthenal criminal in the city of Letheras — a massive, dim-witted but extraordinarily strong and surprisingly gentle man who becomes one of the series' most endearing comic characters. Despite his limited intelligence, Ublala possesses a kind heart, formidable physical prowess, and an earnest desire to do right, even if he rarely understands the situations he finds himself in.

The Tarthenal are a Toblakai-descended indigenous people of Lether who have been culturally and economically destroyed by the Letherii. Ublala's mixed heritage — part Tarthenal, part unknown — makes him an outsider in both cultures, though his enormous size clearly marks his non-human ancestry.

Arc by Book

Book 5: Midnight Tides

Ublala is introduced as a petty criminal in Letheras whose main assets are his enormous size and prodigious physical endowments. He becomes involved with Shurq Elalle, the undead thief, and through her is drawn into Tehol Beddict's wider schemes.

Ublala's role in Midnight Tides is primarily comic — he stumbles through the complex political and economic machinations of Letheras with cheerful incomprehension. His romantic relationship with Shurq (a dead woman) is played for absurdist humor, though beneath the comedy there is genuine affection between the two.

Through the Rat Catchers' Guild, Ublala is tasked with watching over Kettle, the child guardian of the local Azath House. Despite his limited understanding of the magical forces involved, Ublala proves a surprisingly effective protector.

Book 7: Reaper's Gale

Ublala continues in Letheras under Edur occupation. He is drawn into wider events as the various resistance movements against Rhulad's empire gather strength.

Books 9-10: Dust of Dreams / The Crippled God

Ublala's arc takes an unexpected turn when he becomes connected to the Toblakai legacy. He joins the march toward Kolanse and plays a role in the final confrontation, his Tarthenal heritage connecting him to the ancient Toblakai/Thelomen lineage that Karsa Orlong also represents.

Key Relationships

• Shurq Elalle — his lover, the undead thief
• Tehol Beddict — the schemer who involves him in larger plans
• Kettle — the child he is tasked with protecting
• Karsa Orlong — fellow Toblakai-descended warrior (connected thematically)
• The Rat Catchers' Guild — the criminal organization he interacts with

Appearances

See Also

• Toblakai — the ancestral race Ublala descends from
• Lether — the kingdom where Ublala lives
• Colonialism and Cultural Erasure — the destruction of the Tarthenal people