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Brimstone is a chimaera and Karou's father figure, having raised her from infancy. He lives in his workshop where he collects teeth for a mysterious purpose.
Appearance[]
Brimstone is a massive, muscular, and heavily scarred chimaera of unknown race. "His arms and massive torso are the only human parts of him, though the flesh that covers them is more hide than skin."[1] His square pectorals are riven with ancient scar tissue. His shoulders and back are etched in more scars, a network of puckered white cross-hatchings. Below the waist he has the haunches that are covered in faded, off-gold fur that ripples with leonine muscle. They taper to wicked, clawed feet that could be raptor or lizard. He has huge, clawed hands.
His head is roughly that of a ram, fleshed in the same tough brown hide as the rest of him. It gives way to scales around his flat ovine nose and reptilian eyes of a crocodile. His eyes are gold tinged with green and brown with vertical slit pupils. Giant, yellowed ram horns spiral on either side of his face.
The only ornament on his person is a set of jeweler's lenses on a chain and a plain wishbone that no one is allowed to touch but himself. He also carries a pocket watch.
Personality[]
Brimstone is a hermit and is rarely seen outside his domain in Loramendi's west tower. Brimstone is very quiet and does not waste his words. His voice is very deep, "like the shadow of sound." Akiva describes Brimstone's voice as "deep as the beat of a stormhunter's wings, it seemed to lodge in the base of his skull and live there."[2] He was Madrigal's wise mentor and a father figure for Karou, and he offered protection and advice to both. He is highly secretive, not giving up any of his secrets, such as the use of teeth or how he was able to glean Madrigal's soul. He has a pure soul and wants peace just like Karou. He rarely shows even a hint of emotion, and almost never shows weakness or weariness. His job as resurrectionist requires patience and composure. Brimstone notices everything. He always seems to know what Karou spends her wishes on. He doesn't like questions. A grunt is about as close as he comes to praise.
Background[]
Brimstone Madrigal's mentor and The Warlord's left hand. He was involved in the first slave revolt against the seraphim that allowed the chimaera to take back their lands. He was also used during the time when Seraph Magi were strong as a way of cheating the pain tithe. The seraphim used the chimera slaves by pulling their pain from them, and convinced themselves they were just animals; hence the reason Brimstone has scars covering his body. His scars are from the whips of seraphim. Brimstone resurrects bodies of fallen chimaera by placing their souls in new bodies created by teeth, and this allows them to keep up in the war against the seraphim.
When Madrigal was executed, she managed to push her way into Chiro's body, and later on Brimstone managed to glean her soul and place it into the body of a human infant that he made himself. He also took her memories as Madrigal and placed them inside a wishbone. That infant was taken to the human world so she could grow up and live in a peaceful world. She was raised by Brimstone, and has lived in his shop with Issa, Yasri, Kishmish, and Twiga for as long as she can remember in her human life. From a young age, Brimstone has seen to it that Karou was trained in martial arts. He has also trained Karou in the art of identifying teeth since she was small.
Plot[]
Daughter of Smoke & Bone[]
In an uncharacteristic moment of emotion, Brimstone tells Karou that he knows "that one day the path of her life will unroll and carry her away from them. As it should, as it must. But he is glad that day is not today."[3] Karou is shocked, as she had never even connsidered that there would be a day when she would leave her chimaera family.
When Karou entered Eretz, Brimstone threw her out in order to save her, but the seraphim's attacks on his doors to the human world cut her off from her family. Akiva reveals that Brimstone and the rest of her family are probably dead. He is killed by Joram.
Days of Blood & Starlight[]
Akiva's memories of the fall of Loramendi reveal how Brimstone met his demise. Brimstone’s final words were to Joram where he said, “Dead souls dream only of death. Small dreams for small men. It is life that expands to fill worlds. Life is your master, or death is. Look at you. You are a lord of ashes, a lord of char. You are filthy with your victory. Enjoy it, Joram, for you will never know another. You are lord of a country of ghosts, and that is all that you will ever be.”[2]
Relationships[]
Karou[]
Brimstone and Karou have a father-daughter relationship, as he is essentially her foster father and guardian. He is a chimaera, as Karou once was, and has raised her since her resurrection. He cares for her particularly because of all she had gone through as Madrigal. Karou wants more freedom and wants Brimstone to explain things to her, which he consistently doesn't. He counsels Karou to save herself until she finds her soulmate. Like many parents, Brimstone doesn't approve of Karou's tattoos. They love each other. As Karou becomes older, their relationship is also that of a boss and employee. Brimstone is not stingy with scuppers for Karou. He lets her refresh her necklace with them as often as she likes. He pays her in bronze shings for the errands she runs for him. Karou often forgets who and what Brimstone really is because she has grown up with him as her parent. She doesn't see a beast, but a creature who raised her with tenderness. Brimstone has always allowed her to go anywhere in the world where there wasn’t a war. For example, when she had a craving for mangoes, he opened the door to India on the condition that she bring some back for him too. However, even Karou is dependent on the whim of Brimstone to admit her. Sometimes he doesn’t, but he’s never yet stranded her during an errand. Karou is devastated by Brimstone's death, and feels indebted to him. She begins working with Thiago as the new resurrectionist because she feels she owes it to Brimstone to continue his work.
Memorable Quotes[]
Daughter of Smoke & Bone[]
- "I don't know many rules to live by [...] But here's one. It's simple. Don't put anything unnecessary into yourself. No poisons or chemicals, no fumes or smoke or alcohol, no sharp objects, no inessential needles - drugs or tattoo - and... no inessential penises, either. [...] Stop squandering yourself, child. Wait for love."[4] - Brimstone to Karou
- “Wishes are false. Hope is true. Hope makes its own magic.”
- "Magic isn't a tool of peace. The price is too high. The only way I can keep using it, cycling souls through death after death, is by believing that we are keeping alive until...until the world can be remade." - Chapter 59, pg. 405
- "You were true to her, even if she was not to you. Never repent of your own goodness, child. To stay true in the face of evil is a feat of great strength.” - Chapter 59, p. 407
Days of Blood & Starlight[]
- "Dead souls dream only of death [...] Small dreams for small men. It is life that expands to fill worlds. Life is your master, or death is." - Chapter 20, pg. 81
- "I've had better dreams [...] That the cathedral was for blessings and weddings, instead of resurrection. I never dreamed it a tomb." - Chapter 65, pg. 388
Trivia[]
- "Brimstone" is archaic for sulfur. The association of sulfur with divine retribution is common in the Bible.[5]
- Brimstone has a sweet tooth and takes his tea with four sugars.
- He has utter contempt for all religion in the human world.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Daughter of Smoke & Bone: Chapter 5
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Days of Blood & Starlight: Chapter 20
- ↑ Daughter of Smoke & Bone: Chapter 11, pg. 90
- ↑ Daughter of Smoke & Bone: Chapter 3, pg. 22
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_and_brimstone