A Fist was a Malazan Imperial title denoting a commander, military or administrative, in the army. Whereas a High Fist was in command of the operations on an entire continent, a Fist controlled a section of the operation, for example the command of an Army or the administration of a city. The rank was indicated by the addition of a carved, 'shining' ring (torc) around the arm. A military governor in the Malazan Empire carried the rank of a Fist.