Erasmas

Overview

Erasmas is a Decenarian avout from the Concent of Saunt Edhar traveling extramuros with a small company to seek Fraa Orolo. Guided initially by Fraa Jad and prompted by evidence saved from Orolo’s cell, he helps steer the party toward the far north after recognizing that the excavation in those images aligns with Orithena on Ecba; a route over the pole is judged the practical way to reach that region without documents.

Appearance and Traits

Observant, reflective, and pragmatic, he often takes on planning and coordination while acknowledging limits in hands‑on mechanics. He learns quickly (including basic driving) and shows self‑awareness about how avout appear in Sæcular spaces. He is frequently addressed as “Raz,” especially by Cord, and balances respect for Discipline with situational flexibility.

Roles and Actions

• Refueling‑station analysis: Over food in a northern truck stop, reviews phototypes taken from Orolo’s cell; with a companion’s terminal, matches them to a live feed of a walled excavation on Ecba and notes features (such as an analemma floor) that tie it to Orithena. Treats this as a key to Orolo’s intentions.
• Northbound decision: Accepts the inference that Orolo is likely headed over the pole and pivots the search accordingly toward a sledge port at extreme latitude.
• Outfitting and logistics: Helps acquire suitsacks, winter tires, and deep‑cold coolants/lubricants; repacks loads and learns to drive during low‑traffic stretches. Mails a brief letter to Ala via a city post office despite addressing hurdles.
• New ally and city errands: Spends a day riding with Yulassetar Crade (a guide and cousin of a companion) to source gear cheaply; adopts practical advice for cold‑weather travel and vehicle maintenance.
• Sledge‑port staging: Reaches the high‑latitude port, secures space for both vehicles on a flatbed, and stocks a rented housing module on the locomotive before the train departs across the ice.
• Launch speely review: With Sammann, examines a short, low‑quality clip of eight white‑suited people boarding a coach before a large rocket launch; observes a rope‑garbed cleric associated with the Warden of Heaven and recognizes the tall rearmost walker, by gait, as Jesry. Reacts with a mix of pride and frustration at being elsewhere.

Relationships

• Fraa Orolo: Mentor and present objective; Erasmas treats the Ecba dig identification as a clue to Orolo’s path and commits to pursuing him via the over‑pole route.
• Fraa Jad: Senior guide whose quiet direction and resources set the northbound pursuit in motion; Erasmas credits him with anticipating the over‑the‑pole approach.
• Cord: Sib and close traveling companion; they coordinate driving and repairs. She reasons early that a sledge route over the pole is the likely way forward and later begins traveling with Yulassetar Crade.
• Sammann: Ita partner in research and navigation; supplies Reticulum lookups, route logs, and the launch speely that prompts Erasmas’s identification of Jesry.
• Ganelial Crade: Extramuros driver and organizer; works with him on outfitting, convoy movement, and sledge‑port loading.
• Yulassetar Crade: A wilderness guide who joins the group, helps with provisioning, and quickly appears to be in a relationship with Cord; Erasmas alternates between reliance on Yul’s expertise and mild jealousy of their rapport.
• Jesry: Peer and friend; identified by Erasmas in a speely as part of an eight‑person launch party with Warden of Heaven clergy. Erasmas expresses strong feelings about Jesry being tapped for that role.
• Ala: A recent romantic tie; he sends her a letter via the concent at Tredegarh despite uncertainty about delivery.

Current Status

Aboard a sledge train departing a high‑latitude port, with vehicles loaded for deep‑cold travel. He is traveling north with Cord, Sammann, and the Crades to cross over the pole and continue toward Ecba, intent on finding Orolo.