Nashchokin

Nashchokin (Russian: Нащокин Nashchokin) is a historical character who lived in Snezhnaya at some point in the last 500 years.^{[Note 1]}

Profile

Nashchokin was a fae lord who moonlighted as the "Vagabond," an infamous thief.^[1] He was also known as the "Escape Artist."^[2] He was charismatic and exceedingly clever, being able to manage his double life almost flawlessly and even fake his own death. He shared a life-long rivalry with fellow thief Schanzkowska, and eventually chose to follow Reed Miller's ideals as she did. It is implied that he later became the original "Bulle Fruit" of the Fruity Order.^[3]

Appearance

Being a fae, Nashchokin was likely beautiful in appearance.

Story

Nashchokin was born into an influential family of fae nobles,^[1] but he had longed since childhood to escape the aristocratic lifestyle. He found it tedious and hollow, preferring to stay out of their schemes and avoid personal harm.^[3] At some point, he began stealing treasure from other nobles' vaults, breaking in and escaping with ease. He became infamous, earning the title of "Vagabond" and later, "Escape Artist." No one suspected his true identity, even as he robbed the very lords he had socialized with perhaps moments before.

Nashchokin seemed content to live like this, until he met a fellow thief masquerading as an aristocrat at a banquet — Schanzkowska, the "Bladebreaker." Each quickly saw through the other's facade. Schanzkowska then issued a challenge: A race to steal a certain Grand Duke's treasure. Nashchokin accepted, fascinated by her bold and honest personality, so unlike the superficial court life he was accustomed to. He reached the treasure first but chose not to take it, instead leaving a taunting message to remind Schanzkowska that while she had the "prize," he had won the "race." Humiliated, she challenged him countless more times, but while she was skilled, Nashchokin simply could not be defeated.^[2]

At some point, the Godfather, a powerful figure in the Northlands' underworld, revealed the location of his "secret treasure" as an open challenge to all in Nod-Krai. Nashchokin reached the vault first, but could not best it. Neither could Schanzkowska, who arrived next, nor an unnamed hunter, who arrived last. In truth, the Godfather had lured in the most skillful challengers to turn them to Reed Miller's philosophy — that only a thief could balance the scales in such an unjust world. Having lived among the aristocracy and their ill-gotten gains, Nashchokin agreed to abide by this "thief's code," as did the other two. This is implied to be the origin of the Fruity Order, with Nashchokin as the original "Bulle Fruit."^[3]

Sometime later, Schanzkowska stole a noble's most prized treasure and gave it to the poor. Unbeknownst to her, Nashchokin placed a ragged toy in the noble's display case instead, surprising both her and the noble. However, the nobility had finally tired of the thieves' provocations, and had "laid a trap from which there could be no escape." Nashchokin chose to take the blame for both crimes, possibly to spare his rival. He was able to avoid a public execution due to his family's status, but seemed to have died by his own means.^[1] Word spread that he had been executed, but Schanzkowska soon discovered that his coffin was empty, save for the message: "My dearest friend, I hope you never unravel this mystery in your lifetime." She dedicated her remaining life to investigating his faked death, but to no avail, and died in his empty coffin, still cursing his name.^[2]

Nashchokin's real death did occur sometime later, as is stated that he "could not ultimately escape the dark shadow of death."^[1]

Notes

Trivia

• Afanasy Ordin-Nashchokin (Russian: Афанасий Ордин-Нащокин Afanasiy Ordin-Nashchokin) was a Russian statesman. He was a diak of the posolsky prikaz (foreign ministry).

Other Languages

Language	Official Name
English	Nashchokin
Chinese (Simplified)	纳肖金 Nàxiàojīn
Chinese (Traditional)	納肖金 Nàxiàojīn
Korean	나쇼킨 Nasyokin
Spanish	Nashchokin
French	Nashokin
Russian	Нашокин Nashokin
Thai	Nashchokin
Vietnamese	Nashchokin
German	Nashchokin
Indonesian	Nashchokin
Portuguese	Nashchokin
Turkish	Nashchokin
Italian	Nashchokin

Change History

References