Rasan
Rasan Vésezhi
The only known person to escape the clutches of the Hosque Inquisition.
As a member of the Light Bringers, he was targeted by the Inquisition for publishing seditious material. Upon his arrest, his family and friends mourned his death, and set about moving to new locations in case he cracked under torture and revealed their locations.
Then, to everyone's surprise, he showed up at a Light Bringer safe house, ragged and bloody. Against all the odds, he'd escaped from right under the Inquisitors' noses. How? He tells a different story every time you ask.
- Someone forgot to lock his cell, he snuck out, hid in a refuse pile, and got carted out to a rubbish heap.
- He seduced a guard who freed him after falling in love
- He seduced a guard and knocked him out mid-kiss.
- He put on the act of being an illiterate simpleton so thoroughly that it convinced the Inquisitors he couldn't actually be the criminal scholar they'd been looking for.
- He found out a dark secret about the lead Inquisitor's past and negotiated his release to keep it under wraps
Inspiration or Spy?
His friends and allies are divided into two camps. Rasan is a spy. Yes, he was arrested by the Inquisition, but he sold out his friends in exchange for freedom. Those new scars on his face are a nice dedication to the act. The fact that he refuses to talk about what happened during his imprisonment is proof that he's hiding something, and the different stories he gives are a cover for the fact that it was a bargain to give information that got him out. He cannot be trusted. Rasan is a inspiration. He's proof that the Inquisition isn't as all-powerful as they seem. Escape is possible and they can be defeated. His refusal to talk about what happened is easy to understand; three months of torture isn't something anyone would want to dwell on or open up about. Anyone who saw the layers of injuries he bore when staggering into the safe house would be convinced they weren't part of the act. As for the multiple escape stories... well, it's clear that whatever happened, he doesn't want to talk about, but who's to say it's incrimination? Perhaps he just finds that story particularly traumatic or humiliating.Mental characteristics
Personal history
Street Rat
Rasan was born in a slum in Migul. He spent most of his childhood on the streets, only showing up at home to sleep at night.
When he was 11, he attempted to rob an Illuminator from the Migul Publishing Company. He rifled through the woman's bag while she wasn't looking and made off with her coin purse, a piece of jewellery, and a knife. He made a run for it, but the woman caught him.
To his surprise, she took one look at his grungy face and bought him some food instead of turning him over to the city watch. Then, she berated him for not stealing the decaying old book in the bag because it was actually worth more than anything else in the bag combined and people ought to appreciate books more. Rasan explained that he couldn't read and didn't care about books much, and she took this as a personal offence.
When he was 11, he attempted to rob an Illuminator from the Migul Publishing Company. He rifled through the woman's bag while she wasn't looking and made off with her coin purse, a piece of jewellery, and a knife. He made a run for it, but the woman caught him.
To his surprise, she took one look at his grungy face and bought him some food instead of turning him over to the city watch. Then, she berated him for not stealing the decaying old book in the bag because it was actually worth more than anything else in the bag combined and people ought to appreciate books more. Rasan explained that he couldn't read and didn't care about books much, and she took this as a personal offence.
Student and Apprentice
In exchange for not turning him in, she subjected him to lessons. She dragged him to the publishing company and forced him to learn to read, then forced him to learn about history and math. After a few months, it was no longer by force.
Rasan began spending his days at the publishing company, learning as much as he could. The other Illuminators enjoyed his presence and were happy to share their knowledge with the curious kid. He learned to read from books on astronomy and medicine, and became obsessed with history and math.
His family didn't understand where he was all day, until he was 16, officially joined the guilt, and just stopped going home altogether. His parents took a few days to notice.
Rasan began spending his days at the publishing company, learning as much as he could. The other Illuminators enjoyed his presence and were happy to share their knowledge with the curious kid. He learned to read from books on astronomy and medicine, and became obsessed with history and math.
His family didn't understand where he was all day, until he was 16, officially joined the guilt, and just stopped going home altogether. His parents took a few days to notice.
Book Finder
When he was 18, he decided he wanted to become a book finder. The career was more profitable in the early years of the guild, when ruined libraries were still scattered across the country. In Rasan's time, most of those had been rebuilt, their books salvaged long ago. But, the unspoken motto of the guild was that there is always knowledge to be discovered if you look hard enough.
He set out away from Migul. Getting out of town and seeing the rest of the world was part of his motivation for this career in the first place. Wherever he went, he searched for old ruins, abandoned libraries, or estate sales - anywhere that might produce old books.
His most notable ventures were when he left Hosquerre to find books in Jausai or Kalitria, sometimes going as far north as the desert provinces of the Kingdom of Tanish. These were always risky endeavours, as Hosquerre closed its borders decades ago and he had to sneak through the mountain foothills away from the roads to make it in and out.
Whatever the sources, he always brought his books back to Migul where the engravers at the guild would painstakingly copy their contents onto wooden blocks so that the books could be mass produced. Rasan never mastered the artistic side of the guild and focused on the discover and translation of books, though he wasn't bad with painting illustrations.
He set out away from Migul. Getting out of town and seeing the rest of the world was part of his motivation for this career in the first place. Wherever he went, he searched for old ruins, abandoned libraries, or estate sales - anywhere that might produce old books.
His most notable ventures were when he left Hosquerre to find books in Jausai or Kalitria, sometimes going as far north as the desert provinces of the Kingdom of Tanish. These were always risky endeavours, as Hosquerre closed its borders decades ago and he had to sneak through the mountain foothills away from the roads to make it in and out.
Whatever the sources, he always brought his books back to Migul where the engravers at the guild would painstakingly copy their contents onto wooden blocks so that the books could be mass produced. Rasan never mastered the artistic side of the guild and focused on the discover and translation of books, though he wasn't bad with painting illustrations.
Renegade
Everything changed after the establishment of the Inquisition. The company was shut down and the guild disbanded. Members scattered and lost contact. Publishing books the Inquisition didn't approve of being a capital offence.
But still, the dedicated book lovers of the guild persevered. Rasan flourished in his new role in an underground information network. He still looked for books, but he also began writing his own. His years of immersion in academia had left him with quite a lot of things to say about the direction of Hosquerre's government and the tyranny of the Inquisition. His engraver friends and the network of the Light Bringers helped spread his writings across the country.
But still, the dedicated book lovers of the guild persevered. Rasan flourished in his new role in an underground information network. He still looked for books, but he also began writing his own. His years of immersion in academia had left him with quite a lot of things to say about the direction of Hosquerre's government and the tyranny of the Inquisition. His engraver friends and the network of the Light Bringers helped spread his writings across the country.
Prisoner
Rasan managed to evade the Inquisition for any years, but eventually his luck failed. A person he'd sold a book to was captured, and gave up Rasan's name and location during interrogation. Inquisitor's arrived at his house in the middle of the night and transported him to their headquarters in Churanu.
Rasan spent five long months imprisoned in Churanu. Very little is known about this part of his life. It's assumed he endured torture and interrogation, and he certainly came back from the experience with fresh scars, but he never talks about it.
Rasan spent five long months imprisoned in Churanu. Very little is known about this part of his life. It's assumed he endured torture and interrogation, and he certainly came back from the experience with fresh scars, but he never talks about it.
Enigma
Since his miraculous escape from the Inquisition, Rasan has been a divisive figure in the Light Bringers. Some want him kicked out and don't trust him with anything, while others find his escape inspiring and his refusal to cave to torture proof that he's one of the most dedicated members.
Rasan continues his work for the Light Bringers. His passion for books has not faded and he claims his brush with the Inquisition left him more determined than ever to do his part in bringing them down. Among those who trust him, he's one of the most respected scholars in the organization.
Rasan continues his work for the Light Bringers. His passion for books has not faded and he claims his brush with the Inquisition left him more determined than ever to do his part in bringing them down. Among those who trust him, he's one of the most respected scholars in the organization.
Sexuality
Gay
