Osh K'anos

In the heart of Sabellis City, amidst a growing sense of unease and suspicion, a figure emerged who would challenge the very foundations of Draksineon's power structures. His name was Osh K'anos, a man of notable presence with a carefully curated appearance of humble origins. His lighter complexion and faded orange hair gave him the appearance of a Bonneru, though he was, in truth, Drakoyan. This misperception was something Osh leveraged masterfully for political gain.
Osh hailed from the K'anos, a privileged Drakoyan family known for its wealth and influence. His family’s business connections had always propped up his endeavors, despite his general incompetence. Known as the "idiot cousin" within his family, Osh's bumbling ways were tolerated and supported due to familial loyalty. However, he was deeply critical of the current political system, especially the direction taken by Niandrann Davinet, Duchess of Sabellis. He viewed her philanthropic efforts as a façade for hoarding power, and his opinions often bordered on conspiracy theories, seeing Niandrann’s actions as pretentious and manipulative.

by midjourney

The political landscape was already tense, with murmurs and buzz about mysterious activities within The Council of Landezon and the local Berythian Tradition. Though the exact nature of these activities remained unknown, they were enough to stir suspicion and fear among the mundane populace. This gap in knowledge fueled wild imaginations and stoked the fires of change. Osh K'anos saw this as an opportunity to build a myth of his own, crafting a narrative that resonated with the disillusioned masses.
For generations, mages, known as the Reshai or "Blessed Ones," were considered semi-divine by the religious populace. This deeply ingrained belief had shielded them from widespread dissent. However, underlying tensions existed, particularly regarding the forbidden use of healing magic. Rumors abounded that mages used healing magic to keep themselves immortal, and the constant presence of The Black Mercies, a sub-order of the Council responsible for tracking down and confiscating illegal arcane contraband, reminded people of the strict ban on healing magic. Despite its usefulness, healing was said to be cursed due to its complex and dangerous nature, creating a desperate black market for cures.
Osh K'anos capitalized on this growing discontent. His speeches were a clarion call to "take back our country!" He painted a picture of mages scheming to overthrow the mundane human population, using legitimate signs of Berythian and Council activities as evidence while wildly exaggerating and fabricating other instances. He accused rank-and-file members of the Berythian Tradition and others sympathetic to their cause of plotting against the common people. While some of his claims had merit, many were baseless, designed to stoke fear and rally support. The Berythians, in turn, made movements in self-defense, aiming to safeguard their Tradition against potential angry mobs. Osh used the fear generated by these actions as leverage to rise to power, portraying himself as the protector of the common people against the supposed mage threat.
K'anos' rise put him in direct conflict with the House of Davinet, which represented progressive and inclusive policies. Their ideological clash became a focal point of the political turmoil in Sabellis City. The Council of Landezon and the Noble Houses were forced to navigate this new landscape, balancing the need to maintain order with the rising tide of populism and the fundamentalist resurgence within the Berythian Tradition.