Izmaylov

Nikolay "Pakhan" Izmaylov (Russian: Николай «Пахан» Измайлов),^[1] commomly known as Izmaylov is a historical character from Snezhnaya. He was a Domovoy who initially acted as a member of Hvergelmir and later became the President of the Royal Energy Commission of Snezhnaya.^[2]

Profile

Izmaylov initially hoped to join the Royal Energy Commission, but Grand Duke Alvis had him posted at Hvergelmir to spy on those there.^[3] However, the kindness showed to him by Aksinya turned him into a genuine believer of her cause.^[4] When she went missing and was declared dead by Alvis, Izmaylov suspected foul play and turned against the Grand Duke, swiping the Presidency of the Energy Commission from beneath Alvis' small feet,^[2] leading to a bitter rivalry between the two.^[5]

Quests and Events

World Quests

• On One Side a Palace, On the Other a Tomb
  • To Gaze Upon the Dreaming Pale Crown (flashback)

Story

Born in Kitezhgrad during the reign of the Belyi Tsar, Izmaylov acquired numerous skills that he believed would serve him well as an employee of the Royal Energy Commission. With a recommendation from an important Domovoy in hand, Izmaylov left his home, but when in attendance of a banquet hosted by Alvis, Grand Duke of the Domovoy, he was given a different job. Alvis resented the Tsar's adopted daughter, Aksinya,^[6] and wanted to have Izmaylov's skills put to work as a spy at Hvergelmir, Aksinya's research institute.^[3]

Izmaylov joined the institute, but proved largely ineffective as a spy. Aksinya was well aware of his true loyalties, and he had difficulty keeping up with her. As time went on, she went from his mark to his mentor, guiding him and helping him grow.^[4] During an expedition into Hyperborean ruins within the Shadow Realm, Aksinya helped anchor him and gifted him a pen.^[7] This act finally instilled true loyalty within him, and he became an active member of Hvergelmir's ambitions.^[4]

Following the Cataclysm, Aksinya disappeared and was declared dead by Alvis, having perished within the Shadow Realm. While his Hvergelmir colleagues departed, Izmaylov knew Alvis wasn't telling the truth, and swore to hunt for Aksinya, or at least her corpse. Due to Kitezhgrad's destruction during the Cataclysm, and the newly crowned Tsaritsa's dislike of the old guard, Alvis left to construct Novokitezhgrad in order to curry her favor. Seizing the opportunity, Izmaylov appeared before the Tsaritsa and made an unknown deal with her, securing himself both the Presidency of the Royal Energy Commission of Snezhnaya, and Grand Duke Alvis as a rival.^[2]

One of their disputes revolved around who would become Director of the Transport Bureau. Alvis hoped to put forward a Fae Grand Duke for the role, while Izmaylov nominated several human candidates, knowing the latter would appeal to the Tsaritsa the most. Sensing the growing aggression of the Burner of Cities and wary of doing anything that would upset the Tsaritsa, Alvis withdrew, hoping the Burner would prevail against the Transport Bureau and humiliate Izmaylov, giving him the moment to strike. However, the heroes Izmaylov supported, called the heroes of Luchkins, were able to quell the rebellion before it escalated, which the President got the credit for, foiling Alvis' plot. He and the surviving heroes established the High Table, consisting of the gangs' leaders.^[5]

Throughout the years, he adopted many children, both human and fae. He raised them, gave them surnames, with the intention that they would all inherit the gangs under the High Table. The Izmaylov gang would be under the lead of his adopted son Vasiliy Nikolayevich Izmaylov, and the Luchkin gang would be under another adopted son and daughter Zmei Luchkin and Iryna Nikolayevna Voronina.^[8]

Over the years, Izmaylov and, by extension, the Energy Commission, would receive commissions regarding the Shadow Realm in the hope of finding his teacher. This inflicted a heavy toll on his body, but eventually, Aksinya was rescued after five centuries. She came to a now elderly Izmaylov to catch up on all she had missed. His greatest wishes fulfilled, the elder Domovoy bowed to her and returned the pen she had gifted to him, all those years ago.^[9]

After fulfilling his wish, Izmaylov was content with redirecting the Energy Commission from the Shadow Realm matters, as well as leaving the Speaker of the High Table position to Zmei. Dissatisfied with his father and obsessed with political matters, Vasiliy confronted him while he was having an illness. Izmaylov was killed by his son in a fit of rage.^[1]

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References