Fagus

Biography

Bargain with the Giant Serpent Church

Fagus Bane heads both the Bane Family and the Neon Merchant Group, a northern business publicly centred on leather and medicine but connected to nobles, hidden strongholds, and clandestine trade with the orc empire. When the Giant Serpent Church answers the family's request for protection, Fagus rebukes his daughter Anya for offending its legendary agents and declares the family and company completely loyal. He understands that their medium-sized business cannot bargain with a true god's church as an equal. (Chapters 1136, 1138–1139)

Fagus explains the surrender as an investment rather than a simple loss. The church needs northern channels and contacts, while the Bane Family gains protection and a place among a newly ascended god's earliest followers. He assigns Anya as communications officer to Saintess Barbara and plans for younger sons to receive church training. His religious caution is practical: he warns Anya that speaking a true god's name can attract divine notice and refuses to imagine that the family can successfully deceive an immortal institution. (Chapters 1139–1140)

When the Blackmoon Merchant Guild and its noble allies threaten the family, Fagus supplies political context rather than boasting of a military solution. He identifies the legendary power behind their enemy and accounts for New Silverymoon's stronger protectors. The Giant Serpent Church destroys that opposition, validating his alliance while making the family's dependence on the church even clearer. (Chapters 1143, 1147)

Northern blood trade

Fagus then leads a caravan toward orc territory to trade with the Blackblood Tribe. The goods requested—arms, magic artifacts, scrolls, and ceremonial supplies—tell him that war preparations are underway, but the profit and church protection make the route viable. He completes the concealed exchange with Shaman Gara using elaborate flattery and receives valuable blood-related cargo in return. (Chapters 1147–1148)

After the church's legendary devil hunter reveals that it has supervised the mission, Fagus voluntarily donates half the profit. When warned that war will soon reach the region, he abandons the carts and orders the caravan to carry only food and gold so it can leave immediately. The decision captures his governing priority: profit matters, but preserving people and the family network matters more than sunk assets. (Chapter 1148)

Appearance and personality

Fagus is an experienced older merchant; the supplied chapters do not establish a detailed physical portrait. He is calm when Anya resents the church's demands, flattering when negotiating upward, and solemn when divine or legendary power enters the calculation. He can appear servile, but the behaviour is deliberate risk management. Profit motivates him, while continuity of the Bane Family and survival of its people take priority. (Chapters 1138–1148)

Magic, bloodline, and abilities

Merchant and political intelligence

Fagus tracks merchant rivalries, noble patrons, legendary defenders, church incentives, and signs of military preparation in trade orders. This lets him judge which conflicts the Bane Family cannot survive alone and which alliance can change the balance. It is accumulated commercial intelligence rather than supernatural foresight, and he still relies on the church for decisive action. (Chapters 1136–1147)

Negotiation and public relations

He adapts his language to the audience: apologetic loyalty before legendary church agents, sober strategic questions in planning, and extravagant praise when bargaining with Shaman Gara. The approach secures transactions and keeps stronger parties engaged without claiming equality with them. His donation of half the orc-trade profit also turns a windfall into continued institutional goodwill. (Chapters 1138, 1143, 1148)

Caravan and network management

Fagus controls northern safe houses, servants, trade channels, and long-distance caravans, including a covert route into orc territory. He can pack up a compromised operation quickly and prioritise portable necessities during evacuation. No personal spellcasting rank, combat technique, bloodline, or divine spell is demonstrated; armed escorts and church agents provide the supernatural protection around his work. (Chapters 1136, 1140, 1147–1148)

Relationships

• Anya: His daughter and capable family representative. Fagus overrules her resentment toward the church and assigns her to Barbara as a communications officer. (Chapters 1138–1140)
• Barbara: The saintess through whom he anchors the family to the Giant Serpent Church and discusses threats to their northern position. (Chapters 1140, 1143)
• Shaman Gara: The orc shaman with whom he completes a covert exchange of strategic goods and blood-related cargo. (Chapter 1148)
• Giant Serpent Church: The divine institution he chooses to serve because its protection and long-term prospects exceed anything the Bane Family can secure alone. (Chapters 1138–1148)

Items

• Trade caravan: Carries weapons, magic artifacts, scrolls, and ceremonial goods into orc territory. Fagus abandons the carts when warned of war. (Chapters 1147–1148)
• Blood-related cargo: Valuable material received through the clandestine orc exchange and handled under church supervision. It is merchandise, not a personal power source. (Chapter 1148)
• White handkerchief: A minor prop used during the negotiations, with no magical function established. (Chapter 1148)