Pishta Taltos

From the Lyorn Records of the Dragaeran Empire

Baronet Pishta Taltos was an Easterner, originally from Fenario, father of Vlad Taltos, son of Noish-pa and his wife, Ibronka. His given name is Pishta, according to Jhegaala, although this is likely a nickname.

He had one brother, and one sister, both deceased.

[edit] History

Born in Fenario (probably sometime around the year 200 PI), Vlad's father emigrated with his family to Adrilankha, presumably at a young age. It is certain that the family had been living in the city for a while by the time of the Revolt of 221.

Vlad's father participated in the Revolt, going so far as to kill a member of the Phoenix Guard with a butcher knife.

It is not known how he originally made his living, but it is known that at some point he opened a restaurant catering to Dragaerans.

At some point (likely around 220 PI), he married Marishka Merss, and had a son, Vlad. His wife died three or four years later, leaving him somewhat bitter about the whole experience. He would often refer to his former spouse as "that witch", which was at least partially in reference to the fact that Marishka was a practitioner of witchcraft, although the bluntness of the phrase no doubt also implied that their marriage was somewhat strained.

With Vlad's help, he continued running his restaurant, and became enchanted with Dragaeran society, developing a deep disdain for all things "Eastern".

After many years, he spent his entire life savings to purchase a baronetcy in the Jhereg (see Joining Houses), in order to provide what he perceived as a "better life" for his son.

To his father's dismay, Vlad's grandfather Noish-pa taught him witchcraft and Eastern-style fencing. However, Vlad's father had sufficient love and respect for his own father that he did not forbid or interfere with these lessons, but rather tried to counter them with lessons from Dragaeran tutors in sorcery and Dragaeran saber-and-dagger-style fencing (which last failed miserably because the practice sword was far too heavy for Vlad).

Vlad was fourteen when his father died after wasting away, perhaps from one of the many plagues that were common in Dragaera during the Interregnum. Vlad's father refused to allow his disease to be healed by witchcraft, due to his disdain for all things Eastern. The family could not afford the services of a Sorcerer, having spent so much money purchasing a title in the Jhereg, and hiring tutors to teach Vlad Dragaeran subjects; and Vlad was insufficiently skilled in sorcery to effect the cure himself.

[edit] Additional Notes

Vlad's father is a very enigmatic character. An Easterner himself, his fondness for all things Dragaeran led, tragically, to his demise. It is clear that while he loved his son, and respected his own father, he was, himself, a less-than-ideal parent.

Vlad notes at one point that his father had a disdain for "half-prepared food", feeling that if a guest felt the need to add anything to one of his meals, then either something was wrong with the food, or with the guest.