Yantzey Alexander Garrett Feiring III, Esq., PhD ESc, Viscount of Varentillimar, Fellow of the Order of the Radiant Star, Distinguished Service to the People of Krerdiff medal recipient, etc., also known simply as Yantzey Feiring, is a Roner scholar, philanthropist, abolitionist, criminal, eccentric, and man of the world. For the last decade or so, Mr. Feiring has put his heart and soul into improving the lot of the unfortunates living in Navroya by whatever means he deems necessary, and for the decade before that, put his heart and soul into combating the slave trade on Lith.
Background
Yantzey is a man of widely varied skills and talents, unusual and strongly held morals, and several quirks who commands great respect among the people who work for him. Head of a large network of spies, informants, guerrillas, and criminals, as well as founder of a few far more visible charity efforts that he sometimes uses to launder money on the side, Yantzey is a man of great power and sway, especially in the city of Navroya. Among the crimes he's either involved in or has done himself are:
Political and corporate blackmail
Drug trafficking
Assassination and murder
Inciting riots
Inciting gang violence
Inciting rebellion
Theft (of objects, but also of slaves)
Fraud
Lots and lots of fraud
and a ton of bribery too
Despite the laundry list of crimes he's committed, he believes fully that the ends justify his means, even if he regrets resorting to some of them. Recently, he's become privy to a lot of very worrying information and has begun to see what he can do about stepping up his efforts and transforming what he's built into something that can make true change happen.
Personality
Yantzey's personality can come off as fastidious and academic; his method of speech in particular can give the impression of someone who got lost looking for a university's lecture hall. Spend a little longer speaking with him, and he will probably come off as a very polite and friendly person. However, despite his appearance and speech, Yantzey is a man of extremely strong moral values, which he tries to pass on to people when he can, and of great practicality to the point of callousness. There are some things for which he will not forgive a person. He is very caring to his allies and those he considers innocent or misguided, very unforgiving to his enemies, and tends to analyze everyone he meets as another possible asset. And sometimes, he's just a giant goofball.
Personal History
Yantzey was born in the small Acetic state of Krerdiff to a wealthy family. He enjoyed a comfortable and normal childhood as the only child of his parents and received a high-quality private education that lasted into his early adulthood. In the process of receiving his doctorate, he traveled to the Mire to obtain data that was in short supply. Though he ended up losing nearly all of his scientific equipment along with most of his clothing and very nearly his shoes, he did rescue a treasure lizard toddler for a laconic crab, and had the seed of 'maybe monsters are people too' planted in his mind. After receiving his doctorate, he took a job with a company that specialized in research and development of solutions to pollution, and thereafter moved to Navroya, one of the most heavily polluted cities on the planet. Though at first nervous about the city and its somewhat dangerous reputation, he soon found it wasn't as bad as he'd thought it would be (mostly because he lived in and spent most of his time on the surface tier and only forayed into the safer parts of the undercity). After a time spent in the city, measuring levels of toxicity in the air and the river and putting his education to use working on a way to help remove some of it, his path began to drift towards what he would become.
In a dockside area of the undercity, while taking readings of river water, the drone he was using returned to him with a cold, lifeless body caught on it. At first horrified at both the race and condition of the man he'd unwittingly rescued, he was unsure what to do -- but being grabbed by the freezing hand of the corpse he'd pulled out of the river was something he never expected. Now with a half-dead subhuman clinging to him, Yantzey decided not to call the police or go to a hospital as he expected they might just let the other man die, and instead took him to the apartment of a doctor friend of his to get treatment, and then to his own apartment, where he hid him from the landlord and let him recover. Over a period of a few months and while both learning and teaching sign language with the other man, Yantzey discovered many things about his mixed-race patient, including where he was from, what happened to him, and eventually a name -- Raoul. What he heard disheartened him sufficiently that he took a leave of absence from his job and returned to his family's manor in Krerdiff, where he spent a few months reading books out of the library, reading online conspiracy theories and alternative thinkings, and having one long continuous crisis of the soul over his life choices and the fates of people like Raoul.
Eventually, with Raoul's 'encouragement' and his own ruminations on what the half-breed said to him, Yantzey decided he needed to see more of the world, and specifically more of the world that didn't have anything to do with Navroya. So, with the now-nearly-fused-at-the-hip Raoul in tow, Yantzey booked passage to Lith and immediately left the area around the port considered safe for Acetic humans, wanting to experience both the land and also the sort of lifestyle Raoul had once had. Stopping only occasionally in civilized areas, for a while Yantzey had a hard time adjusting to a more primitive and simple lifestyle, but ended up learning a great deal from the experience and came to enjoy it.
It was not meant to last, however. During one of the sparse nights they would return to a semblance of civilization, in this case a roadside inn, a group of fine Acetic gentlemen invited Yantzey to gamble. After a streak of great luck, the upstanding gentlemen became angry with Yantzey, and accused him of cheating. Though he denied it, one pulled a knife, and a fight ensued in which Raoul broke several limbs and Yantzey bashed someone's head in with a mug, which he felt momentarily bad about until Raoul congratulated him for it. After leaving the inn in a rush for fresh air and also because the innkeeper was throwing him out, and a few days later noticing wanted posters nailed to a signpost with the faces of some of the men lying dead in the inn on them, he realized there was both revenge to be had and money to be made hunting men like the one in that inn. For the first time in a long time, when he spoke to Raoul about it, the other man seemed not only accepting of it but excited about the prospect of the new lifestyle. With a gun on his hip and a horse to ride, he and Raoul bravely set off to find truth, fun, and money by executing criminals and taking their corpses to the authorities.
The two spent several years patrolling the wilds of Lith, all the while Raoul teaching him what he'd learned in the fighting pits of Navroya's undercity and what he'd grown up knowing hunting on the tundra plains of his home. Aside from that, Yantzey found that he very much enjoyed using the loudest, strongest guns he could find to destroy his opposition while Raoul slipped in and out of the background to make short work of them. For the most part, they hunted wanted men and occasionally offered their services to townsfolk that needed them. After a short while, Yantzey realized that much more would be accomplished if he just had some other people to help him work -- and so, he began recruiting people, most often the victims of the men he hunted. Some he only asked to keep an eye out for suspicious looking characters; others he used to acquire resources; and others he used in the field, to do what he and Raoul did. Almost before he knew it, he and Raoul were in command of a veritable bounty-hunting organization, though it was far from official and lacked a name. It grew strong enough that it could take on many of the smaller outposts and patrols of Acetate-based mercenary and slaver companies on its own, but the lack of central organization and clear chain of command kept it from being able to destroy more heavily guarded outposts, and Yantzey did not want to create a private army. After a while of staying in about the same place in terms of what he was able to do, and now with enough trusted lieutenants to run the thing he'd ended up building without him, he made the decision to return to Acetate and specifically Navroya to see what more he could do to weaken the slave trade and the general exploitation of the world.
After so long away from Acetate, Yantzey was even more disgusted by Navroya than he was when he left, and spent a while lying low and gathering information about the major players in the Navroyan undercity before starting to make any moves. Using most of his personal savings (kept intact by his family in his absence) along with a few nudges here and there using Raoul's skills, he staked his own claim in Navroya in the form of a small soup kitchen and a lot of armed guards patrolling a few blocks around it. With skills he'd learned on Lith and which he quickly adapted to Navroya, Yantzey used a mixture of blackmail, murder, and coercion to cement his own place in the power network of the criminal underworld.
Through the years, he gained a reputation in the undercity as a dangerous man, but also one that really cared about the people living in his territory. During this time, he was forced to make several decisions for which there was no purely good outcome, and began to use less and less savory means to accomplish his goals. In the span of a few years, he had set himself up as one of a few major powers in Navroya, with his identity being something of an open secret. By then, his heart had become hardened by the enormous strain of what he'd done and planned to do, and by the present he has few qualms about taking responsibility for sinful acts in the name of the greater good.
Currently, he has begun to get involved in more direct sabotage of the Navroyan nation, as well as collaborating with the openly religious, and this has made the powers that be none too pleased.
Appearance
Yantzey is a tall man, standing over six feet tall, with an average build. In his youth, he had a thick head of black hair, and in his middle age, he has a slightly less thick head, and the hair on top of it is also shot through with more grey than most other men his age. Aside from his hair, he overall looks much older than his actual age and capabilities, as a result of the stress he's undergone.
Yantzey engages in a short exercise routine every morning, and on the rare occasions someone sees him sans sweater vest and overcoat and undershirt, he has an extremely lean physique devoid of fat. His eyes are bright and blue, with wrinkles at the corners that crease when he smiles, and in friendly settings he tends to look like a very amicable fellow. In contrast, in times of duress or danger, his friendly demeanor switches to one of focus, professionalism, and command.
Abilities and Powers
Yantzey is a human, and has all the usual abilities associated with one. Though he is well past the physical prime of his life, he takes care of his body very well, and is stronger and more fortitudinous than most men, even those younger than him. He is a highly educated man with a sharp mind and holds a doctorate to prove it, and though he tends to search for alternate problem solving methods in sticky situations, he is trained in combat both close quarters and not.
Yantzey's real strength lies in the connections he has with other people. With armies both figurative and literal and the organizational skill and charisma to lead them effectively, Yantzey's power includes the combined skills and resources of thousands of humans and People. Aside from the beings that follow his orders, he has very many streams of revenue to fund his operations (but never as many as he'd like, since he also spends a lot of money on charity work.) He is a well-respected man in many circles and especially in his homeland, though the flavor of respect he receives is quite different in Navroya as opposed to other places.
Relationships
Excerpts from Yantzey's little black book:
Adam Saraf
Have met in person once, talked over video and phone many times. Despicable man, if charismatic. Enormous lust for power, which he already has more of than anyone else. Have had a tenuous peace, but I fear it will not last much longer with the dragon's freedom. Not enough room in here to describe how dangerous he is, and little desire to expound on it. Relationship will likely end with one our deaths. Soon.
Aggie
Had been living in the undercity since before I arrived here, and was lucky to make her acquaintance. It is not easy to find someone who does not want to be found in Navroya, when they know what they're doing, and spiders have a knack for not being seen until it's too late. I am glad to say that I am friends with this one, however, especially since she is likely the same weight as I am. Her mastery over dreamweaving is enormously useful to both the collection and dissemination of information in a covert manner, but I try to ask for her help only in dire circumstances, or in situations involving other People. Asking more of her would feel like taking advantage of her, and I refuse to do so when there are other means available.
Akil
Mirmurk I met in a bathroom. Did not want to talk to me. Seemed to like talking with the front desk worker much more. Perhaps he just enjoys talking with pretty girls. Glad to have met a resident of the last forest, however, and very interested that he wanted to learn about human medicine. Quite odd, really, in my experience. The People tend to want to have little to do with anything human. Possible use as an acquaintance to make myself known as a friend should I visit the last forest.
Avis son of Avard
Featherfolk I once rescued from slavers. Have not spoken to him since, but his son has proven very useful.
Caylan Cade
Freed slave, former pit fighter. Largest man I have ever met. At first meeting appeared simple minded, but is not. Just has a speech impediment. Very careful and cautious outlook on life, and is a terrific asset for protection and intimidation in the Trifold area, despite his pacifist vow -- does not need to harm anyone to stop dangerous situations from becoming violent. Quite skilled at earth manipulation, far beyond most elementalists. Glad he is feeling useful and free in his everyday life using his god-given abilities.
Cecil Vance
Looked this man up once. Was in prison for manslaughter while drunk driving. Decided to not keep up with him after Sidney responded to the news with only one furious sentence. Too painful for him to be reminded. No use.
Chris
Survivor of the Forest of Shadows. Possibly the last remaining shadowkin on the planet, though not purebred. Has a very innocent and loving disposition which I fear will not last long if he sees much more of the world. It would be a tragedy to see that sort of purity destroyed, and for that reason I'm glad he's made it to Lith, where things are at least a little safer for him. Still I feel as if he needs someone guarding him at this time, as he seems to put far too much faith in the goodness of others, but I neither want to nor am able to coddle him like that. Calls me Uncle -- warms my heart. Hoping that he will not become further involved in dangerous matters and have decided to not approach him for help, but have a feeling he may have other ideas further down the line.
Daniel
Amnesiac that I was plucked out of Navroya to find. Has the remains of extremely intricate runic tattoos around his neck, but is from Acetate, and there are extremely few runewrights there with this level of skill. Obviously associated with someone very secretive and very dangerous, considering what that melting woman told us. Seems to be chronically guilty, which I cannot say is good or bad given how little information I have about him, so I will withhold further judgement, but my gut reaction to him is that he is not an entirely wholesome person. Must keep him under surveillance at all times; personal supervision preferred until the time we return to Acetate, where I will have more resources available to figure out who this man was. Looking forward very much to unraveling this mystery.
Dia
Sardonic mnemodi. Troubled past, as all of his kind have. Calls me bowtie, which I don't really understand. Seems to have taken a mild interest in the Lady, however, which is somewhat intriguing given her history. Sons are named exactly the same as the Lady's children, as well. Coincidence? Perhaps not. The Lady had a son and a daughter. Still. Little use for this one at this point, as he seems to have few interests except keeping his family safe, though that could be used should the opportunity arise.
Dick Naylor
Another fallen rival. A truly horrible man, and was glad to learn of his demise. Cleaning up after him was one of the more abhorrent experiences he's had in Navroya.
Dimethyl
Met a god. Incredible. Had very thick hair and odd eyes. Calming voice. Enormous help, and brought to my attention the matter of the dragon. The blow he helped me strike was enormously helpful in giving an opportunity to enact several plans I'd had on hold. Worried about the attention that will bring, but the dragon simply had to be freed, and that is all there is to it. It was an immense honor to be approached by him on this matter. Must see what I can do about getting more help from him.
Floyd Becker
Security guard who had no idea of what he was actually guarding. Has adjusted with moderate success to his new situation; trauma of losing both a limb and a wife and years of insomnia have worn down his will immensely such that he does not care that a large spider helps him sleep with magic. Not useful as anything for the time being, and is in fact a liability. Not certain what to do with him just yet, but will continue to shelter and monitor him.
Flynn Carson
Cursed child. As in, literal curses; is human, but appears as a small, spotted, large-eared panda bear creature. Very capable for a child. Junior Explorer with the Historic Society, which has made him rather useful. Glad to have met him, but disappointed that he was dragged into this matter, though I'm sure he feels different. Seems rather precocious in that he makes his own decisions about where he will travel and with who -- intended to pack him off to where he was supposed to be, but he seems to be set on traveling with that Dia and his odd family. Not worried about his safety with a tardigrade in tow, but worried about his safety concerning his own decisions. He's already been cursed at least once, after all, and shows no signs of stopping because of it. Very odd.
Genevieve Sauer
Head of the Historic Society on Lith. Hope very much to be able to meet her one day -- which may be a day very soon. Have sent her several letters over the years in my spare time. Not sure she's received them. Nevertheless, excited to meet her, out of academic interest. Should prove more useful if I meet her in person and arrange something. Has been too difficult so far, but now it will perhaps be easier.
Ghel Tidemann
Very helpful young woman. Sister of Gruoni Tidemann. Interesting coincidence that I met her. Seems very capable and hardworking. Should look into asking her to work for me.
Gruoni Tidemann
Escaped slave. Thought I'd never see him again, and to my shame, could not remember his name. Glad to see that he's bounced back from his trauma so well. Many don't, but I believe Sidney's companionship helped immensely. Involvement in search for artefacts means he may be usable at a later date in return for my help. Useful for convincing Sidney to do the same.
Harvey son of Avis
Acquaintance that turned into a good go-to man in Trifold. Excellent at reconnaissance. Colorful plumage, interesting heritage. Good to know his father is still well.
Jean-Luc Solomon
Hard worker. Has a kind heart and a strong arm, quite literally. Not very useful for intimidation despite it, but his bravado is somewhat endearing. Not sure about trusting with sensitive information just yet. Perhaps useful as a low-level and low-risk asset.
Kallis
Treasure lizard I once accidentally ended up working with, and pursued continued association with afterwards. Quite rude, and hates humans with a passion. Misguided. Cannot see that this is a fight against a concept rather than a species. Nevertheless, very useful for his skills in stealth and combat. Has no qualms about public sex. Cannot emphasize rudeness. Not very easy to use for my own purposes, but have kept him in mind.
Lila
Not entirely sure what this being is. Thought she might have been a creature of corruption at first, and was very relieved to learn otherwise. Claimed to be human, but looked to be melting, as if she was made of wax. Floated above the ground. Able to teleport people across the world. Most likely tied to the gods and specifically Space somehow. Doesn't have very good accuracy with those teleportation skills, and does not draw power from within to use them. I have no idea what her true nature is no matter how long I think about it. Was initially not pleased that she took me out of Navroya and interrupted some of my plans, but have decided to look at this as a new opportunity and not a setback.
Linford Graham
Have not met in person, but have worked together through various proxies. Very dangerous man and makes no secret of it. Refreshing. Given new opportunities and events must approach to seek alliance. Believe we will be in agreement and that we will make each other much stronger.
Raoul
Have known this man for nearly half my life and spent much of it with him at my side, and I still cannot understand him fully. He is utterly devoted and loyal to me, something he explained as a debt to me for saving his life. He will follow my orders to the letter, but underneath it, I feel as if he sometimes does not agree with my actions. I cannot quantify the sum of our relationship here or anywhere. What I know is that he will not reveal any part of himself to anyone except me. Though he is likely the last living member of his people, he considers both them and himself dead. It is disheartening, but at the same time, he reminds me of why I fight.
Impeccably reliable asset for assassination missions.Never once caught or even witnessed. Time on Lith taught both of us well.
Seraphina Asteraceae
Loyal girl. Like so many other of the lower-class Navroya natives, makes herself appear fearsome, possibly in an attempt to keep others at a distance. Name suggests more noble roots, which I am sure has not passed by her sharp mind unnoticed. Has a good heart. Excellent asset and devoted more deeply to my mission than most, even knowing as much as she does about it. Extremely discreet about her relationship to me; always a plus. Love her as a daughter, and trust her as one as well.
Sidney Vance
Former gang member who became caught up in one of my reformation efforts and turned out to become closer to me than I could have expected. Had a rough start, and a lot of anger about the things that happened to him, but managed to pull through it and work gainfully for a good while. Good person to rely on to shelter people in danger for short periods of time, and occasionally call on to perform work involving his former associates. Has accidentally called me 'dad' on more than one occasion, which warms my heart considerably. Eloped with a runaway slave a few years ago and wrote him off as having gotten out of everything, but has resurfaced. Wound on his nose healed well, and it was very pleasant to see he's finally accepting more about who he is. Also, seems to be working with non-humans somewhat comfortably. Told me he visited the last forest and about a mirmurk he had a good time with who is an excellent cook. Very proud of him in that respect, but less so on his interaction with gods. Thought he would go and live his own life after his exodus, but with his involvement in the release of demons and the search for artefacts of the destroyed rock kingdom he may once again be turned into a useful asset. Must keep that in mind.
Reina Solanaceae
Very strange. Old woman in a young woman's body, brought to life again by the Dark Lady herself, but seemingly stuck in the past. I understand it is difficult to adjust, but the Lady Solana is very stubborn. Her hatred of demons is caustic, dangerously so. Even upon being told the function demons have for the natural order, she resisted changing her mind. I have seen this kind of hatred before, putting roots into the very core of a person, digging deep. It is the kind of hate that someone builds their entire being around if no one manages to avert it. Still, she is by no means an illogical person, and has shown very recently that she is willing to put other matters in front of her own feelings about demons. I am still not sure she will ever stop hating demons as a whole, but I can understand working with someone you hate.
Aside from that, seems to live up to the legends about her. She is a fiery woman, that is sure. Robbed of her power, the impression is somewhat lessened, but she has an aura of command that I recognize. I was immensely surprised to learn from her that she did indeed have a non-human lover and even had children with him. I had considered it a trashy, fantastical rumor about the woman that founded the Navroyan state, but it does indeed appear that it is true. Seems to adore the listeners we met upon our arrival on Lith. Probably not a surprise.
Te'Keer
How lovely it was to meet this one. He is humble in position, but his importance is greater than what it appears to be from a single look, as he is an anchor for many of the lost People in and around Trifold. I will have to provide assistance to him in the future, and see how I can combine our efforts.
Tove
The dragon that had been used as a glorified battery for ages. I was told about how it was when they found him, and it saddened and angered me profoundly, but did not surprise me. I had little opportunity to speak with him while he was still in Navroya considering he was barely able to speak when we freed him, but on a second meeting I am amazed at how well he has recovered. Very hopeful that he will be able to live in a new world quite soon. Somewhat disappointed he does not call me uncle. Will not ask him for help under any circumstances; deserves to live life for himself at this time.
Zuzu
Lovely doctor in a town outside of Trifold. Very helpful in treating wounds of both humans and monsters. Had a lovely conversation, and have sent her a fruit basket and payment. Potential future contact should someone end up in need of a doctor's services in the area.