" Urko, Crust, Nok, all of them. Quick to fanaticism, willing to do anything and everything to advance the Empire.’ ‘The Empire, or Surly?’ asked Karsa Orlong. ‘Does it not seem just as likely that they were simply using Kellanved?’ ‘A fair suspicion, except that only Nok remained once Laseen became Empress. The others each…drowned.’ ‘Drowned?’ ‘Officially. That cause of death quickly became euphemistic. Put it this way. They disappeared. "

― Steven Erikson , The Complete Malazan Book of the Fallen