Before you follow...

mun Mars ( he / him , 30+ )
plotting restricted
discord available to mutuals upon request
anon off indefinitely
timezone PST / PDT
affiliates @feilien / @alreadybrcken
other blog(s) @huyaoxiaozi

Minors and non-roleplay blogs, dni. Please read the rules before interacting.

  001.   Hi, my name is MARS!!  My pronouns are he / him, and I'm a little over 30. I’ve been roleplaying on tumblr since 2011 ( 14+ years!! ), so these rules have accumulated from all that time and experience here. They may seem a bit strict, but I'm very chill and easy-going usually. I keep trying my best to NOT make these crazy long lmao.This is a PRIVATE and HIGHLY SELECTIVE roleplay blog for my own fandomless, crime-based original character. I also write Kaz Brekker over @thiefofcrows, but my focus is mainly here atm. I work 40 hours a week, but I tend to travel a lot. I've also got bad chronic allergy issues, so activity can be sporadic.  002.   I WILL NOT WRITE WITH ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 21. As I said, I'm a bit over 30 and that age gap is uncomfortable tbh. Minors will be soft blocked. If you keep trying to follow / interact after that, you're getting hard blocked. If I find out you lied about your age, instant hard block. There will be no exceptions.  003.   This blog contains POTENTIALLY TRIGGERING AND MATURE CONTENT, so interact AT YOUR OWN RISK — gang violence,  torture,  cult-like brainwashing / manipulation,  &  mentions of human trafficking. In the PB verse, there's heavy implications of forced underage sex work, rape/sexual assault and dubious consent. I don't tag any of my content currently, but you're more than welcome to ask me to tag something for you.I firmly believe that fiction =/= reality and that people can write literally whatever they want as long as they are not actively causing harm and everyone involved is a consenting adult.
If people give warning and/or tag their shit, it is 1000% YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to curate your own experience and keep yourself safe. It is not my job, nor is it the job of strangers on the internet, to do any of that for you.  004.   I do not do one liners, short-para or text message threads. If you can't handle AT LEAST 3-4 PARAGRAPHS, this likely isn't the blog for you.I'm a multi-para / novella focused writer. DEPTH is what I'm interested in, NOT two, maybe three para threads. I am here for complex, nuanced stories and dynamics and you just can't get things like that with shorter threads. That being said, I'm not trying to write with tons of people at once, nor have tons of threads at once, either. FIVE OR SIX WRITING PARTNERS AT A TIME is usually my limit. I'm unlikely to start another thread with you until we finish the one we're working on tbh. Also, despite how Zane's bio is written, I ONLY write in 3rd person past tense. Lastly, English is my native language and I ONLY write in English.I DO NOT ROLEPLAY OVER DISCORD.  NOTE:   ABOUT DIALOGUE; I strive to write it to emulate real life conversations, which means my muse very well may not respond to everything yours says. I usually shoot for having my character ANSWER THE LAST CHUNK OF DIALOGUE FIRST.
THEN, depending on the character and the conversation, I'll have them work their way back to any previous things they feel the need to acknowledge. Sometimes my muse won't directly respond to pieces of dialogue, but we can always come back to it and shoehorn him into responding if we want or need to.  005.   I WILL NOT put up with TERFS/RADFEMS/TRANSMEDS, transphobia, homophobia, passive aggressive behavior, gaslighting, vague blogging, callout / purity culture, mob mentality, harassment / suicide baiting, ect. I also have absolutely zero tolerance for Trump supporters, NO EXCEPTIONS. I will not reblog callouts, PERIOD. I don't reblog political posts here either and I actively filter out related tags. This is an ESCAPE from The Horrors of real life in order to maintain my sanity. I will not apologize for that.

  006.   DO NOT GOD MOD OR METAGAME. I control my character, you control yours. The only exception is ofc if we've DISCUSSED something where one of us has to move things along for the plot.
Zane is not an open book, regardless of how warm and charming he may appear. He is intentionally SECRETIVE AND ELUSIVE about himself. Your muse will not know things about him unless it's been plotted and/or he reveals them himself eventually.

  007.   I use 540x100 icons ( 100x100 icon with blockquotes and other fancy stuff, which I designed myself ), banners, separators and small text, that’s pretty much it, aside from some bold and italics for flare. It doesn't bother me at all if you don't use icons, I will follow suit in our threads if you want. All I ask is folks use small text when writing with me.My icons and graphics are all made by me, although the coloring PSD I use for my icons comes from @poohsources. I just make some slight adjustments here and there. I've made matching icons / banners / theme graphics ect. for my partner ( @feilien / @alreadybrcken ) but otherwise, my graphics are for MY USE ONLY.  008.   This blog is PRIVATE, HIGHLY SELECTIVE AND MUTUALS ONLY, which is just an extensive way of saying that 1. I'm very picky and 2. I only write with those who are in a mutual follow with me. I only allow mutuals to send me messages and reply to my posts as well. This is for my own comfort and peace of mind.If I follow you / follow you back, it's because I think you / your blog / your muses, ect. seem cool and our muses could have fun / interesting dynamics. I want to attempt to cultivate a no-pressure, easy-going environment for myself and others, so there's no pressure to reach out to me super fast, there's no time limit for it really either and I expect the same courtesy in return. I'm not at all shy about it these days so it's likely I'll reach out quick. I just don't think there should be high pressure for a rp hobby.Some reasons I might not follow or unfollow: if you post more ooc than writing and/ or if I have to scroll for miles to even find any writing at all, if 90% of your writing is one liners, single or otherwise short paras, reblogging memes over and over to the point of it being EXCESSIVE AF, frequent negativity towards source material, CONSTANT, IMPULSIVE BLOG HOPPING/INCONSISTENCY!!!, no rules and/or no muse info, you write with an ungodly amount of people at a time, ect. I am also very wary of multi-muse blogs and most of the previous mentions tend to be why.ANON IS OFF AND IT WILL STAY OFF. Sorry for any shy beans, but my trust and good will has been broken in that regard.  009.   Any and all mains are listed here. EXCLUSIVES aren't all that common for me, but sometimes it happens, usually in verses and aus. This character is partnered with J ( @feilien ) and I'm generally heavily affiliated / exclusive with their other blog, @alreadybrcken, as well.
Mains and/or affiliates get PRIORITIZED. That's because of a few reasons — in the case of J, they're my partner irl and our chemistry is Off The Charts™, they are and always will be first and foremost. Anyone else I consider a main, we're very good friends and we / our muses have really good chemistry as well. My prioritizing them has nothing to do with how I feel about other folks I'm writing / roleplaying with.  010.   First and foremost, I want to preface this with saying that my ship with Matt ( @feilien ) is Canon.™  If I have a ship with you in ANY verse, even if Zane and Matt aren't Together, ideally, they're DEEPLY important to one another nonetheless. Both Zane and Matt will have to work through some complicated feelings and if possible, they will be best friends if they're not romantically involved.

I SHIP CHEMISTRY — although I write Zane as DEMISEXUAL. This means he doesn't really experience sexual attraction unless he's formed a bond with someone ( but a bond doesn't guarantee those feelings either ). However, assuming we've discussed things at length and we're both comfortable, I love shipping!! Zane is also BIROMANTIC, so muses of ALL GENDERS are welcome, as long as there is chemistry. Poly ships ARE NOT my cup of tea though ( and honestly it isn't Zane's either ), so I don't write them, but I support those who do, of course.I AM AN ACE PERSON MYSELF and ace-centric characters are just far more natural for me to write and connect with tbh. If sex is a necessity / priority for your muse to be in a romantic relationship, shipping with me is probably not going to work tbh.  011.   I strive to be an HONEST AND OPEN person about things, even when doing so is difficult or a little scary. Honesty, open communication and compassion is what I strive for and I expect the same courtesy in return. If you have any issues, come talk to me.I LOVE making friends with my writing partners, so that's the angle I'm coming from. I tend to be a warm and affectionate person and I do my best to be mindful of the feelings of others as well as their boundaries.  012.   We all have our spelling and/or grammar mistakes every now and then, but if this happens FREQUENTLY in your writing, that's something I can't deal with. If your flow, grammar and sentence structure is wonky to me, I very likely WILL NOT follow you. This happens sometimes with people who write English as their second language and, if this is the case, I am genuinely sorry — but I'm here to HAVE FUN and Working With That is not at all fun for me. I wish you the best nonetheless.  013:   Genuinely CANNOT believe this is something I have to put in my rules, but — if you're using AI to write your replies, obviously you are beyond not welcome here. If I find out that's what you're doing, instant hard block, no exceptions.  014:   Lastly, I am indeed a white person writing a Chinese character. I've done, and continue to do, EXTENSIVE research on Chinese culture and history, including the history of Chinese immigration to Chinatown in San Francisco. I have been there several times with my partner and we're ALWAYS seeking history and information to further contextualize our story. It's very important to me to be culturally accurate / sensitive and I strive to do the best I can, as I have a deep love and respect for the Chinese culture and history I have learned.But ultimately I am not a poc, which means I LACK the nuance of lived experience. So, if I make ANY mistakes, I'm always open to criticism. All I ask for is patience and kindness.And obviously, we DO NOT TOLERATE fetishizing, whitewashing, stereotyping, and / or infatizing Asian people in this house, it's weird and it's racist af. I refuse to write or associate with those who do those things or condone it.

Thanks for reading! :)

 
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION / FIRST IMPRESSION
At seventeen, Kaz is known for his ruthlessness and cunning and has gained the name DIRTYHANDS, as he is willing to commit any sin for the right price.He dresses in tailored black to TAUNT the rich Merchers of the city. While it's clear by the limp he sustains in his left leg that he does indeed use it for its intended purpose as well, he walks with a crows head cane that is weighted to break bones.DISTINGUISHING FEATURES
Facial scars, dark, ancient-looking eyes, dark circles, long, angular brows.PHYSICAL BUILD
Lean muscled.DOMINANT HAND
Right.

  NAME   
Kaz Rietveld.  NICKNAME/ALIAS   
Kaz Brekker.  TITLES   
dirtyhands, bastard of the barrel, demjin.  AGE   
9-20, timeline dependent.  DATE OF BIRTH   
Unknown.  GENDER & PRONOUNS   
Cis male, he / him / his.  ORIENTATION   
Demisexual / demiromantic.  RACE / ETHNICITY   
Kerch.

  PARENTS   

  SIBLINGS   

  SIGNIFICANT OTHER   

  NATIONALITY   
Kerch.  CURRENT RESIDENCE   
The city of Ketterdam, in Kerch.  OCCUPATION   
gang leader, professional thief, smuggler, club owner.  LANGUAGES   
Kerch, Ravkan, some Suli, some Shu ( verse dependent ).

PHYSICAL DISABILITIES & MENTAL / CHRONIC ILLNESS(ES)
- Chronic pain and limp caused by left leg injury. Requires walking aid.
- Severe haphephobia. Causes extreme panic response, fainting spells, sickness / nausea, hyperventilating, ect.
- Severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

  FACE CLAIM   
Freddy Carter.  HEIGHT   
6'0".  HAIR   
Nearly black, long and combed back at the top, shaved short at the sides.  EYES   
Dark brown or blue / verse dependent.

  ASTROLOGY   
Capricorn.  MBTI   
INTJ-A – Architect.THEME SONG
Deep End – I Prevail
Monster In Me – From Ashes To New  SCARS / TATTOOS / MARKINGS    Kaz has a lot of scars, but as for the ones that are the most likely to be visible - he has one on his right brow, the right side of his mouth, across the upper bridge of his nose ( that one is very faint, however ), across his neck just under his jawline and he also has a scar on his right knuckle. Dregs Tattoo on his left forearm, black capital R on his right bicep.
Otherwise, he has a handful of beauty marks on his face.

introverted

cold

selfish

skeptical

serious

logical

disciplined

suspicious

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extroverted

warm

generous

openminded

playful

emotional

hedonistic

trusting

  SKILLS & ABILITIES  

Kaz Rietveld had been nine years old when his father was crushed to death beneath a plow,

       leaving him and his thirteen year old brother JORDIE to fend for themselves. Jordie made the decision to sell their farm and take Kaz to the capital of Kerch, KETTERDAM, where he'd intended to enroll Kaz in school. They stayed in a boarding house while Jordie searched for a job, but consistently came up empty handed. It wasn't until they met a boy named Fillip selling wind-up dogs that Jordie was finally able to find work as a runner for a mercher named JAKOB HERTZOON.       He owned a coffee shop where Kaz would stay while Jordie worked; he had a particular fascination with MAGIC TRICKS and he spent his time there practicing. Jakob later urged the boys to invest in SUGAR STOCKS, which resulted in a large payout. They believed things were looking up for them, their days now filled with hope and comfort. However, it was this naive outlook that brought their RUIN shortly afterward.

       Hertzoon lured Jordie into investing ALL the money they had from selling the farm in the Jurda crop. Although they lived in the haze of comfort for a week, it was short lived; when it was time to RECONVENE at Hertzoon's coffee shop, they found it EMPTY AND DESERTED. It was as if nothing had existed there in the first place. They realized that Jakob Hertzoon had been running A CON—the house he'd lived in with his family too was empty, he and those who'd lived there seemingly having VANISHED into thin air.       He'd TRICKED them into giving him all of their money and in turn left them COMPLETELY PENNILESS.       Kaz and Jordie were soon EVICTED from their boarding house and were forced to live on the streets of Ketterdam. They had no knowledge of the city's inner workings, of the gangs that PROWLED their terfs and were left completely vulnerable.       THE RAZORGULLS in particular came after the boys for having slept in an alley behind a tavern the night before, claiming they were trespassing on their terf.

       Jordie received a beating and, after taking his boots, they pushed Kaz into the canal.       Then, when THE QUEENS PLAGUE swept through Ketterdam, Jordie developed a fever from the FIREPOX and Kaz followed suit two days later. It was apparent shortly afterward that firepox had taken Jordie's life sometime in the night—Kaz had been curled against his older brother's side and realized that Jordie felt wrong already, his body COLD AND HARD. Don't leave me, he'd wanted to say, but sickness and hunger rendered him too tired even for that.       Presumed to be among the dead, Kaz and Jordie were loaded into the SICKBOAT and Kaz's fever left him struggling to ground himself in reality. He felt himself falling and then he was caught entangled in bodies. Kaz had tried to scream, but he was too weak. CORPSES enveloped him in various states of DECAY and Kaz drifted in and out of unconsciousness, unable to tell what was real and what was a fever dream as the boat moved out to sea.

When he tumbled into the shallows of REAPERS BARGE, Kaz somehow found the strength to cry out.

       ❝I'm alive,❞ he shouted, putting as much force behind it as he could. However, Kaz was so small, so weak and the boat was already drifting back to the harbor. He tried to pull Jordie from the water; his body was covered in the sores that gave firepox its name and his skin was so pale, save for the various blooming bruises. Kaz lost himself in the memories they shared together, of those days spent in comfort, feeling happy and hopeful.
KAZ WAITED TO DIE, as that was better than the fever tainted nightmare he was currently living.       When Kaz awoke, he was surrounded by corpses, including Jordie's body, which now was nearly UNRECOGNIZABLE with rot. His fever had broken and the rash had receded, but he was TRAPPED on Reapers Barge, weak and dehydrated and if he waited for the body men to return, Kaz would surely be dead by then. Vengeance drove him onward from there and, while he would've been too weak to swim to shore alone, he was able to use Jordie's body to float when night came, when the tide shifted in his favor.

Kaz tried not to think of Jordie, of the TIGHT, BLOATED feeling of his brother's flesh beneath his hands. Instead, he did everything in his power to focus on kicking his legs, of moving through the water and reaching the coast.       It was the drive for VENGEANCE along with his RAGE and, once he'd caught sight of land, HOPE that finally brought him to shore.       Kaz adopted the surname BREKKER, relinquishing his family name, and completely reinvented himself as a ruthless fighter. He worked at gambling dens on East Stave, learned to steal, to pick pockets and was sent to jail twice, joined NUMEROUS gangs in the barrel and he earned the nickname DIRTYHANDS, a name that was borne from Kaz's unflinching willingness to accept ANY JOB that needed to be done. The experience at Reapers Barge left Kaz unable to bear skin on skin contact and, after a severe panic attack, he purchased a pair of gloves that he wore at all times, only taking them off in the privacy of his own company.       Eventually, he saw Jakob Hertzoon for the first time since the con and realized his real name was PEKKA ROLLINS, leader of THE DIME LIONS. The next day, Kaz joined THE DREGS and rose through the ranks rapidly, becoming an official member at twelve and a lieutenant several years later, known for his RUTHLESS precision.

       After his sixth arrest, Kaz was never caught by the stadwatch ever again. He put together a crew to rob the bank that had helped Pekka Rollins con him and Jordie—but he BROKE HIS LEG dropping down from the bank rooftop. The injury healed wrong and left him with chronic pain and a limp. However, he then had a cane crafted by a Fabrikator with a CROW SKULL that was specifically weighted to break bones. It became a declaration; that no part of him was not broken, that had not healed WRONG. That there too was no part of him that wasn't STRONGER for having been broken. His cane became apart of the myth be built around himself to SURVIVE.       Kaz built THE CROW CLUB from nothing and established it as the main income for the Dregs.       While Kaz Brekker technically has to answer to PER HASKILL, the Dregs are loyal to him and view Kaz as the TRUE LEADER of the gang.

GRISHAVERSE / SIX OF CROWS DUOLOGY

status canon
fandom grishaverse
availability open
affiliated with @feilien
time period industrial

       KETTERDAM: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy KAZ BREKKER. He's the highest ranking lieutenant of THE DREGS, a gang he joined at the age of twelve. Once nothing but a laughing stock, he turned them into a gang to be reckoned with, to be feared. He also runs THE CROW CLUB, a gambling den that lures tourists and sailors alike from the docks of 5th harbor, seeking a good time.       At seventeen, Kaz is known for his ruthlessness and cunning and has gained the name DIRTYHANDS; willing to commit any sin for the right price, no matter how dirty. He dresses in tailored black to taunt the rich Merchers of the city and walks with a crows head cane that is weighted to break bones. He's not the official leader of the Dregs, but ... he might as well be. He has to answer to PER HASKELL for now, who in his old age, has interest in building model ships, telling tales of his exploits in his younger days, drinking room temperature lager and playing cards, but little else.       Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. With his share of the haul, it'd be enough to finally put into motion the dream he'd had since he'd first crawled out of a cold harbor with REVENGE burning a hole in his heart. His debt to Jordie would be paid at last. He could start his own operation. But he'll need a very specialized team, a desperate team that wouldn't balk at the very real possibility that THEY VERY WELL MAY NOT MAKE IT OUT ALIVE.

• TAG

NETFLIX'S SHADOW & BONE

status show universe
fandom grishaverse
availability open
affiliated with @feilien
time period industrial

       This verse follows the events of Netflix's Shadow & Bone, in which Kaz does not join the Dregs, but still builds the Crow Club from the ground up. He's made aware of A JOB that requires they cross the fold to apprehend ALINA STARKOV, the Sun Summoner and bring her back to Ketterdam — however, they soon realize that PEKKA ROLLINS had initially been planning to take the job, so Kaz snatches it out from under him. In order for Inej to leave with him and Jesper to complete the job, Kaz offers Tante Heleen the DEED TO THE CROW CLUB, in which she accepts. While they manage to cross the fold and break into the Little Palace, ultimately their plans go awry and they're unwillingly dragged into a fight against the Darkling.       They fail in apprehending Alina, but make a tentative ALLIANCE with her instead. She makes a deal with Kaz by giving him crowned jewels that cost a fortune for his and his companions' silence. However, when they return to Ketterdam, Tante Heleen has been killed and PEKKA ROLLINS has taken the deed to the Crow Club, which he turns into the Kaelish Prince. They team up with Wylan Van Eck and Nina Zenik in order to defeat Pekka Rollins, take back the Crow Club and, for Kaz,_ enact his REVENGE by taking everything from him ... including his power over the Barrel.

• TAG

PEAKY BLINDERS

status alternate universe
fandom BBC's peaky blinders
availability closed
exclusive with @alreadybrcken
time period 1919-1929.
content warnings implications of forced underage sex work, rape, human trafficking and general sexual violence. This is a much darker verse that suits the source material.

       An AU in which Kaz and Jordie still sell their farm after their father's death and they seek a new life in London. CONNED out of the money they got from selling the farm and, in order to ensure his little brother is taken care of, Jordie enlists in the war. However, he gets killed when Kaz is seventeen and, in a vengeance filled rage, he enlists afterwards as well, lying about his age to do so. He becomes a TUNNELER in world war I where he's in the same unit as Thomas Shelby. They both find COMFORT and camaraderie in one another, as Tommy realizes quickly that is not the age he was said to be. He takes Kaz under his wing and they become incredibly close.       However, shortly before the war ends, Kaz gets pulled out of the tunnels and reassigned to the TRENCHES instead and loses contact with Tommy. While in the trenches, Kaz gets shot in the leg — badly wounded, he drags himself into one of the mortar holes in order to survive. He has no choice but to stay there, surrounded by decomposing corpses until he's eventually found and pulled off the front.       After the war, Kaz is severely traumatized by his experiences, ESPECIALLY his experiences in the trenches. So much so that he can't handle skin on skin contact without a severe array of responses, depending; sickness, panic attacks, fainting spells, shaking, hallucinations ... on top of that, he now walks with a limp. He's back living in London where he's living a life of crime, slowly building a gang of his own. Due to his severe trauma and without any knowledge of how to navigate it, Kaz is struggling. However, when the Peaky Blinders expand their reach into London, Tommy and Kaz reconnect. Tommy then offers Kaz a job as an accountant in Birmingham, which he does accept.       While reunited, they are considerably different people than they were when they were in the same unit and they have to re-adjust and re-build the connection they'd formed ... but gradually, something MORE begins to bloom between them and they must navigate such feelings in 1920's England while waist deep in criminal activity.

• TAG

SHADY DEALS ( S&B AU )

status alternate universe
fandom grishaverse
availability open
affiliated with @therooftopsofketterdam
time period industral

( plotted with therooftopsofketterdam )
This AU is just a slightly different take on season 2 of Shadow & Bone where Heleen is still alive when the crows return to Ketterdam. Kaz is FORCED to make a deal with her in order to gain control of the Crow Club as well as keep Inej OUT of the Menagerie. The ultimate plan is to regain all of their freedom from underneath Tante Heleen's thumb and, to do so, they'll need more than just the three of them.

• TAG

MONSTER UNDER THE BED AU

status AU
fandom grishaverse
availability open
affiliated with none

Wherein Kaz DID perish on the streets of Ketterdam after escaping Reapers Barge and he becomes the MONSTER of children's nightmares that claims to live in their closets and under beds— however, due to his own traumatic and tragic end, he PUNISHES those who try to hurt or exploit children.His ULTIMATE GOAL is to prepare children for such people so that they no longer need protecting from anyone else but themselves — but the only way he believes he can successfully do either is to be the monster.

• MORE INFO
• TAG

MODERN AU

status AU
fandom fandomless
availability open
affiliated with none

I have two options for this one and it's just whether Kaz is still a teenager / in high school or not. His backstory is essentially the same, but obviously with some modern alterations.HOWEVER, I am always open for going in various other directions and storylines for this verse!!!

• MORE INFO
• TAG

LIU "MATT" LONG ZHI

@feilien ── heavily affiliated

right-hand man, love interest.
 

interactions. | canon ship tag. | AU ship tag.

Thomas "Tommy" Shelby

@alreadybrcken ── heavily affiliated / exclusive

Peaky Blinders AU.
superior, love interest.
 

interactions. | ship tag. | AU ship tag.

Inej Ghafa

@therooftopsofketterdam ── main

right-hand woman, best friend, canon love interest.
 

interactions. | tag. | tag.

Firstname Lastname

@partnerurl ── ship exclusive

Short description of relationship.
 

interactions. | tag. | tag.

Firstname Lastname

@partnerurl ── main

Short description of relationship.
 

interactions. | tag. | tag.

Firstname Lastname

@partnerurl ── main

Short description of relationship.
 

interactions. | tag. | tag.

Firstname Lastname

@partnerurl ── main

Short description of relationship.
 

interactions. | tag. | tag.

Firstname Lastname

@partnerurl ── main

Short description of relationship.
 

interactions. | tag. | tag.

INEJ GHAFA.

INEJ is a former Suli acrobat that Kaz first cross paths with in The Menagerie, a popular brothel on West Stave known for catering to people with more ... EXOTIC TASTES. Kaz, of course, doesn't partake — he simply pays the woman who runs it, TANTE HALEEN, for information. Inej was able to approach Kaz without making a sound, despite the bells on her ankles. She offered him her help, hoping to offer information in exchange for contacting her parents ... but Kaz's response came the next day, after convincing PER HASKELL to pay off Inej's indenture.When she was FOURTEEN, Inej was with her family off the west coast of Os Kervo performing in a summer carnival. She was kidnapped from her family's caravan early one morning and sold to Tante Heleen where she was forced to work in the Menagerie as an indenture.Now, Inej works for THE DREGS as a spider, gradually gaining the title THE WRAITH. She gathers information on everyone and everything for Kaz and is considered the best in the barrel at what she does. She and Kaz have become incredibly close, as she is his most trusted companion and right-hand woman ... and subsequently, they've developed feelings for one another. Which, in their line of work, is DANGEROUS. And yet ...

• MORE INFO
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JESPER FEHEY

Before coming to Ketterdam, JESPER lived and worked on a jurda farm in Novyi Zem with only his father, after his mother passed. His mother was GRISHA ... or, as said by the Zemeni, BLESSED. She was what the Ravkan's call a Fabrikator, someone who can manipulate composite minerals such as metal, glass, textiles, chemicals and glass.However, when Jesper was young, his mother used her abilities to draw POISON out of a child and incidentally drew too much of the poison into herself, which lead to her death.Since then, Jesper's father has DISCOURAGED him from using his own abilities, the same abilities his mother had — insisting that they are what KILLED Jesper's mother and thus, they are a curse rather than a blessing.Eventually, Jesper left the farm and came to Ketterdam to go to school at Ketterdam University. However, after going out with his friends from school, he got himself tangled up in GAMBLING and lost all of his money. He stopped going to college and instead picked up work for the various gangs in the barrel, in hopes of getting enough money to pay off his debts ... but the vicious cycle of using the money for gambling instead began.Now, Jesper solely works for the Dregs as their SHARP SHOOTER. He is always in motion, flirtatious and seemingly light-hearted. Kaz wouldn't admit to it out loud per-se, Jesper is one of his closest friends and like a brother to him.

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NINA ZENIK.

NINA spent a small portion of her life in an orphanage. She has always been a bright. cheery girl, incredibly friendly and charming — but after getting continuously BULLIED by another boy, she discovered that she was GRISHA. A Corporalnik, one who's abilities is focused on manipulating the human body. She was then taken to THE LITTLE PALACE to train, which is where she spent the rest of her childhood.She was trained to be A SOLDIER and discovered she had a gift for learning languages. She fought in the Ravkan civil war and, on one mission, she was CAPTURED by Drüskelle witch hunters. She was transported on a boat, caged, starved and tied up, where she met MATHEIUS HELVAR. She was able to sway him into bringing her water to drink and, when a storm hit, with the help of another Grisha fabrikator, she was able to use the cup he'd brought her to free them of their binds.Nina SAVED Mattheius, despite his people's vile treatment of her and her kind and they spent weeks traversing the wilderness together, seeking civilization. Over the weeks, they gradually came to connect and developed feelings for one another — but, when they reached a town in Fjerda, they crossed paths with RAVKAN SOLDIERS ... and Nina knew without a doubt the two would no doubt seek to KILL one another.So, she accused him of being a slaver to escape her former comrades' attempts at ARRESTING Mattheius ... however, that only resulted in him getting locked away in HELLGATE in Ketterdam, awaiting trial for who knows how long, despite Nina's attempts to recant her accusation.Now, Nina works out of THE WHITE ROSE where she soothes people's emotions ... and she works for the Dregs on the side as well has a healer and sometimes as a foot soldier when needed.

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WYLAN VAN ECK

WYLAN was the sole heir of the Van Eck family line, as he was the son of JAN VAN ECK. However, over time, it became apparent that Wylan could not read, no matter how hard he tried. His father did everything he could think of to FORCE the matter, but ultimately it only made things worse. After his mother's alleged death, Jan Van Eck's care for his son simply became nearly nonexistent entirely. Wylan was gifted with music and art, but as he was intended to be a MERCHER like his father, those talents simply weren't enough.One day, Jan informed Wylan that he would be attending a music school far from home and, on the travel by boat, it was revealed that Jan Van Eck ORCHESTRATED for his son to be killed in transit. After a strangulation attempt was interrupted, Wylan jumped overboard and found his way to Ketterdam.He ended up in THE BARREL, where he rented a room at a boarding house and hid for several days before venturing out to find work at a tannery, barely able to make enough money to scrape by. Here, he discovered his gift in chemistry ... but he knew if he stayed, he would slowly poison himself to death.LUCKILY, one day Jesper arrived with an offer from Kaz and the Dregs to make bombs for them. Wylan refused ... however, after returning to the boarding house to find a letter from his father, he reconsidered.Now, Wylan reluctantly does DEMO WORK for the Dregs whilst his father continues to send letters that he knows Wylan can't read.

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PER HASKELL

PER HASKELL is the technical leader of the Dregs, the one Kaz has to answer to — but ultimately, he knows EXACTLY how to manipulate Per Haskell in order to get him to agree to his ideas. Per Haskell is easily persuaded by RESPECT, PRAISE AND GREED ... and he has no interest in getting his own hands dirty, not anymore. Instead, he takes on Kaz's success and victories, even if he initially doubted him, as if they were his own.These days, he much prefers to build model ships, drink luke warm lager and rattle off about his exploits in his youth to ANYONE who will listen.He still believes in THE OLD RULES of a time long-since passed, where the gangs operated under rules of engagement. Now, however ... the streets have become far more unpredictable and ruthless, long past the time for RULES ... nonetheless, Kaz is forced to indulge him whenever he insists on doing things by the old rules.Someday, Kaz INTENDS to be rid of Per Haskell for good, but for now he must remain in his good graces if he wants to succeed.

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TANTE HELEEN

HELEEN owns and operates the Menagerie, a popular brothel on West Stave. It's known for catering to those with "EXOTIC TASTES". On first glance, Heleen is exceptionally beautiful and it's obvious by the way she dresses and presents herself that she values luxury and extravagance. However, her brothel DEPENDS on slavery, disguised as those simply working off a debt via an indenture.Despite the fact that she SEEKS OUT AND PURCHASES the people who work out of the Menagerie, she charges them for room and board, grooming and provided sustenance, adding it to the owed amount on their indentures.It ENSURES that they can never pay off their debt and it is maliciously intentional. She has many judges in her pocket to make sure the contracts aren't seen for the SCAM they really are.On top of it all, Tante Haleen is known for inflicting BEATINGS on those she deems deserving of it — and sometimes, her beatings can KILL, depending on the "severity" of the offense and it's obvious that she enjoys inflicting her POWER over those she enslaves. They are essentially merchandise to be bought and sold, nothing more.

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Kerch & Ketterdam

KERCH is an island nation whose government is essentially an oligarchy with an undercurrent of theocracy. The country worships the God GHAZEN, who is a God of Industry, trade and commerce and he is referenced frequently in government affairs and laws. Kerch is ruled collectively by THE MERCHANT COUNCIL, which consists of thirteen of the most prestigious and powerful families in the country. They make decisions on matters of business, state and religion and they aim to stay neutral regarding the conflicts of their surrounding neighbors. Otherwise, Kerch is known for its wealth and ruthless businessmen and is considered the financial capital of the world. Their currency is called KRUGE ( pronounced "kroo-guh" with a rolled r ) and KERCH is the language usually spoken, but many of the Kerch also speak RAVKAN.Because they consist of four islands, Kerch is very vulnerable to fire and disease. They've had a few bouts of plague in their capital city of KETETRDAM, one of which was about a century ago ( from the events of Six of Crows / Crooked Kingdom ). It was the largest and it resulted in the Merchant Council banning the burial of the dead within the city limits. Instead, they burn the dead on the Reaper's Barge out at sea — however, if one has enough money and power, them and/or their family members can be buried in a cemetery in the country.

KETTERDAM, as fore mentioned, is the capital of Kerch and it's a bustling hub for industry and trade — but it's also home to multiple criminal organizations. It's built on low land and the canals, in addition to streets, are used to travel throughout the city. There are six harbors, all numbered from East to West. Space is precious in Ketterdam, as the buildings are often crowded together, crookedly leaning against one another. Thus, abandoned or destroyed buildings don't remain abandoned for long before they're either rebuilt or repurposed into something new. The city is separated into several districts ( financial, university, government, pleasure, ect. ) and as a whole, it has a constant smell of coal smoke in the air.THE COUNCIL OF TIDES consists of tide makers ( Grisha with the power to control water ) who control entry to Ketterdam harbors. No one has ever seen them, knows their identities, nor their true loyalties.

The barrel

THE BARREL is the entertainment and pleasure district of Ketterdam and it's bracketed by two major canals; EAST STAVE and WEST STAVE. Unlike in the rest of the city, buildings on the staves are bigger, wider, and painted in garish colors in an attempt to capture the attention from passersby. The Barrel is noisy, chaotic, and crowded with people; it smells of rotting vegetable stink, old urine, clams, and wet stone.

The area between the staves is a tangle of narrow streets, minor waterways, and tilting buildings. Most of the buildings in the Barrel were built without foundations, on swampy land where the canals were haphazardly dug. These buildings are often falling apart—cold and damp, with plaster sliding from the walls and gaps in the windows wide enough to let in rain and snow. They have gabled peaks and off-kilter chimneys. Sometimes the fireplaces are too clogged with debris to function.THE LID is the section of the Barrel that's closest to the harbors. The best and most expensive betting halls, pleasure and opera houses reside in the lid. It's explicitly catered to appeal to tourists and sailors coming into port.EAST STAVE is the home of the Barrel's gambling houses. Both sides of the canal are lined with betting halls, both grand and poor, meant to entice tourists looking for fun. Most gambling halls employ barkers to shout from the doorways, promising the biggest pots and the liveliest play. The stave is also lined with street vendors selling food, street magicians doing tricks, and people dressed in bare scraps of silk to lure clients across the bridges to the brothels of West Stave.WEST STAVE is famous for themed brothels, each with decor and employees catering to specific tastes. However, behind the facade of fun, human trafficking provides workers who are tricked or forced to sign contracts, many of which are foreigners who can't even read Kerch. These workers are referred to as indentures who are supposed to be working off an "owed debt" — but, just like being coerced into the contracts, these debts are forced upon them against their will. Both foreigners and natives often face abuse in the unsafe working conditions enabled by the lack of regulation in Ketterdam

Tourists and locals alike often visit the staves dressed in the costumes of the KOMEDIE BRUTE to disguise their identities. Thanks to this, the Barrel also draws tourists who simply wish to crowd-watch. The Barrel is highly active at night—many shops are open at all hours, and music can be heard from run-down cafés. The crooked alleys and dark corners are often occupied by couples taking their pleasure. Wealthy merchants disparage the Barrel as a place of filth, vice, and violence. Every so often, some merchants will try to clean up the Barrel and drive its denizens into "honest work".

gangs

Grisha

GRISHA are historically considered witches. They practice something called the Small Science and are born with inherent abilities. They have been and continue to be HUNTED by DRÜSKELLE, Fjerdan's trained to eradicate all Grisha, as they believe they're a perversion of nature. Along with the risk of witch hunters, Grisha are also in danger of Slavers ( human traffickers ) and the Khergud, biologically engineered soldiers from Shu Han designed to capture Grisha.Most Grisha require the use of their hands to use their power. Some can wield their power one handed, but it requires special training and, in some cases, specific circumstances to do so. They also need their target to be within their line of sight.Traditionally, Grisha are divided into three orders;

CORPORALKI: The order of the living and the dead. Their powers are focused on manipulating the human body. Different types of abilities within this order consists of;
heartrenders— manipulation and control of organs and living tissue.
healers— the ability to heal wounds and injuries.
tailors— the ability to alter a person's appearance, usually temporarily ( considered to be a rare ability ).ETHEREALKI: Order of summoners. Their powers are focused on summoning and manipulating natural elements. Different types of abilities in this order consists of;
squallers— manipulation of air and weather.
tide makers— water manipulation.
Inferni— fire manipulation.
Extremely rare types;
sun summoner— light manipulation.
shadow summoner— shadow manipulation.

MATERIALKI: Order of the fabrikators. Their power focuses on composite minerals such as metal, glass, textiles, chemicals and glass. Different types of abilities within this order consists of;
durasts— manipulation of grisha steel, textiles and glass.
alkemi— specialize in poisons, blasting powders and other chemicals.While for the most part Grisha choose one area of expertise, it is possible to learn multiple types within their order. It's uncommon for someone to be highly skilled in more than one, but it's definitely a possibility.

jurda parem

Jurda Parem is a drug that was inadvertently invented by Bo Yul-Bayur in his search for a drug that would suppress Grisha powers and prevent them from being detected. It's a powder that tastes sweeter than the ordinary stimulant ( just Jurda ), and is lethal to non-Grisha. To a Grisha, the drug modifies their power by changing and heightening their perception of the world to the extreme. Enhanced powers are as follows:CORPORALKI:
Enhanced healing— able to instantly heal themselves and others without contact or trace of injury.
Enhanced tailoring— the ability to alter any part of a person's appearance permanently with little more than a bare brush of their fingers.
Mind Control— can control and manipulate one person or large groups of people against their will in an instant.
Heightened senses— enhanced vision that allows them to see through tailored disguises and view minute details from farther away and enhanced hearing, allowing them to hear the tiniest details of a person ( breathing, heartbeat, bloodflow, ect. ) within the area.

ETHEREALKI:
Matter state manipulation— Tide makers can change the state of matter of their surroundings and themselves ( i.e. transform their bodies into a gas or liquid form and back again ).
Weather manipulation— Squallers can create and control the weather and air around them, enabling them consistent flight with ease.MATERIALKI:
Periotic element manipulation— the ability to change an element down to its molecular structure, i.e. turning lead into gold. Able to interconnect material matter to flesh and muscle.It is extremely addictive to Grisha, and rapidly weakens the body of the user. Those who are able to overcome the drug addiction and withdrawal syndrome, their innate abilities are permanently changed. The only known survivor's ability to control and manipulate living tissue was permanently changed into the ability to control and manipulate corpses, the spirits of the undead and bone matter.POST THE EVENTS OF CROOKED KINGDOM & KING OF SCARS there is a working antidote and it is assumed that if a Grisha on parem were to take it, their powers would not be altered, and that they would retain their original powers.

Grishaverse World Map

Map Of Ketterdam

NOTE:  click the maps for full view.