Wess was a heavy in 17th Squad, 4th Company, 2nd Division of the Malazan Fourth Army. He was a grizzled, veteran soldier who was older than he appeared and found any excuse to sleep away the tedium of army life. He relied on a resin of d'bayang poppy and kaff leaves to deaden pain. Wess had a calm and methodical fighting style that appeared lazy, but actually conserved strength.