Keluger was a member of the mage cadre of one of the Holy Protectors in Seven Cities. He was a Septime Priest of D'riss. During a rebellion which had originated in Aren, the unnamed city had been besieged by Malazan forces. After the Protector was struck down by Dassem Ultor, the mage cabal fled into the Pan'potsun Waste and on into the Holy Desert, Raraku. They were pursued by a cobbled together collection of Malazan forces under the command of Whiskeyjack and guided by a local new recruit of the Claw named Kalam Mekhar. This chase became the event which forged Whiskeyjack's soldiers into the elite Bridgeburner company, so called, because the holy desert was said to have burned the bridges to their pasts.