Malazan Book of the Fallen · Character
Korbolo Dom
- Supporting
- First seen · Book 2 · Ch. 13
Korbolo Dom is a squat, powerfully built half-Napan man whose entire body is shaved bare, exposing a chaotic web of scars etched into his skin. His expression often shows cool disdain, though he frequently smiles with a knowing air. Standing before officers, he projects an aura of seasoned authority and quiet menace.
- Gender
- male
- First appears
- Book 2 · Ch. 13
- Books
- 1 of 2 read
Korbolo Dom first appears in Deadhouse Gates as a renegade Fist of the Malazan Empire, a half-Napan warlord whose shaved, scar-laced body and cool disdain mark him as a dangerous rival to Empress Laseen. Across the series he evolves from a regional insurrectionist into a high-ranking commander within the Whirlwind rebellion, then into a feared general whose ambitions stretch beyond mere rebellion. His arc traces a steady ascent through betrayal, massacre, and political maneuvering, culminating in a chilling transformation from battlefield commander to one of the most reviled figures in the empire’s civil strife.
Description · as of Book 2
Korbolo Dom is a squat, powerfully built half-Napan man whose entire body is shaved bare, exposing a chaotic web of scars etched into his skin. His expression often shows cool disdain, though he frequently smiles with a knowing air. Standing before officers, he projects an aura of seasoned authority and quiet menace.
Connections
Family & partnersFriends & mentorsRivals
- L
Laseenrival
Begins as a subordinate Fist who turns renegade, actively seeking to topple Laseen’s rule; their enmity deepens as Korbolo’s victories threaten the very heart of the empire.
Story so far
BOOK 2Deadhouse Gates
- Defects from Laseen’s command and rallies renegade Malazan legions in Seven Cities.
- Positions himself as military leader of the Whirlwind uprising alongside Sha’ik.
- Orders the slaughter of loyalist garrisons, most infamously at the Chain of Dogs’ periphery.
- Clashes with both Coltaine’s refugee column and Kalam’s assassination mission.
Key events
- Book 2
Ch. 19Vathar Crossing MassacreKorbolo Dom's forces massacre refugees at the River Vathar crossing while Sormo E'nath is killed defending with sorcery, his soul claimed by a swarm of butterflies. - Book 2
Ch. 24Coltaine's CrucifixionHigh Fist Pormqual refuses to send aid as Korbolo Dom's forces nail the living Coltaine to a cross outside Aren. Squint is ordered to end his torment with a single arrow.
Appearances
Meet Korbolo Dom in Bookworm
Meet Korbolo Dom in your EPUB — spoiler-safe to Book 2.