Felix Harrowgate

Felix Harrowgate is a wizard initially of the Mirador and later of Corambis and is - along with his brother Mildmay - one of two primary first person narrators throughout The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
==Appearance==
Felix is a fair-skinned man with curly red hair and "skew" eyes: one is blue, while the other is gold or yellow. He is blind in the right eye. His appearance is striking in Marathat, where redheads are uncommon. His features are strongly Troian, though unfamiliarity with Troia leads the other members of the Mirador to accept his claim that his look is indicative of Caloxan blood.
Felix's hands are smooth and soft, and it's impossible to feel where his fingers have been broken multiple times as a result unless someone knows to look for it. However they were so badly broken that he cannot grip properly, clench his hands into tight fists, or shuffle cards properly.
He has notable tattoos on his hands (including his palms) and forearms which mark him as a sworn Cabaline and a member of the Mirador (and enemy to the Bastion and the Empire). These tattoos draw often dangerous attention outside of Mélusine, and mark him as something of a celebrity in Corambis. 
Felix felt he liked extremely similar to Methony Feucronne, even more than he looked like Mildmay,.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 2.” The Virtu, Ace Books, New York, 2007. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. In all ways he is like her except for a heavier bone structure, and having odd coloured eyes.
=== Fashion ===
Many people compare Felix to a peacock regarding his visible showiness, including Mildmay and Mavortian von Heber. Felix prefers fine clothing, specifically selecting showy clothing and coats that clash with his hair, his favourite coat is a red-violet coat. At times he wears gold earrings. During The Virtu his hair was a riotous mess of short red curls that were considered inappropriate in the Mirador. 
Felix's rings that enhance his magic are initially silver and set with moonstones. After The Virtu they are gold and set with garnets, a gift given to him in the Gardens of Nephele. 
== Personality ==
Felix Harrowgate is largely imperious, demanding, confident in his magical abilities, academic, anti-authoritarian, rebellious, proud, secretive and cryptic, neglectful, selfish and narcissistic, simultaneously deeply insecure while acting superior to those around him, and behaves in ways that protect him from his significant childhood and ongoing traumas. He is often self-destructive, and frequently destructive to others as a result of sabotaging himself. He will use shock tactics in dialogue to put people on the back foot and assume control of a situation. 
By Corambis, many of his worst qualities have been softened, and he is notably more compassionate, giving, loyal, sacrificial (sometimes to a fault) and communicative.
Felix enjoys being the center of attention, preferring when that attention is controversial and he can control it. He shies away significantly from being praised for his actions, which can be seen at length in Corambis when he defeats the Automaton of Corybant. He will attempt to avoid or dispel positive attention, being more accustomed to negative attention. 
Felix is prone to fidgeting, and when excited will gesture with his hands and speak too fast and too much. He speaks in a notably high and breathless voice. His diction is refined unless he is profoundly traumatized or having a flashback, at which point he reverts to his crude Simside accent. Otherwise, Malkar Gennadion trained him brutally out of his coarse accent and into an accent that makes him seem as though he is part of the Mirador's court, and both refined and academic in nature. 
Felix is gay. He has a tendency to neglect his partners (Gideon Thraxios) or be abused by them (Shannon Teverius), and also becomes attracted to those who are unattainable (Mildmay). 
==Life==
Felix was born to Methony Feucoronne in Troia. She fled Troia with him when he was four months old. His father is unknown. He lived for a few years in his mother's brothel, until she sold him to his Keeper when he was four. He did not know of Mildmay's birth. Methony died in a fire when Felix was 11.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 9.” Mélusine, Ace, New York, 2005. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
As a child, Felix had a friend named Joline, and they both nearly drowned multiple times.
Malkar took Felix from Pharaohlight to a country estate near Arabel, Caloxa, when Felix was 14,Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 12.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. where Felix stayed for three years.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 12.” Mélusine, Ace, New York, 2005. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
Because Felix would not be accepted by the Mirador if it was well-known that he was once a prostitute in the Lower City, Malkar provided him with a cover story. According to it, Felix was raised in Arabel until the age of 17.
===Mélusine===
Felix was 26 years old at the start of Mélusine. At a soiréeMonette, Sarah. “Chapter 13.” The Virtu, Ace Books, New York, 2007. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. in the Hall of the Chimeras in the Mirador, Robert of Hermione shares information about Felix's past as a prostitute in Pharaohlight. When Lord Stephen Teverius arrives and gets some of the truth out of Felix, this prompts Felix to return to Malkar Gennadion, kicking off most of the story.
Robert goes to visit Felix at St. Crellifer's.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 4.” Mélusine, Ace, New York, 2005. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. He tries to capture Felix, who runs away.
Later, Robert returns, and Brother Orphelin and Brother Lilburn take Felix to Robert, and they tie him down to torture him at Robert's behest, so Robert can take Felix's magic.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 6.” Mélusine, Ace, New York, 2005. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. This happens at least one more time. Afterward, Robert takes Felix to the Mirador in an attempt to mend the Virtu.
===The Virtu===
Robert catches up to Felix some time later and says that Felix looks unwell. He threatens Felix in order to get Felix to go to St. Crellifer's with him, in a gambit to try and get Felix confined there again. The visit triggers Felix's memories of Robert's experiments, though Robert denies them. Felix departs.
===The Mirador===
Robert reveals Mildmay murdered Cornell and Cerberus Cresset to discredit Felix while Stephen is within earshot.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 13.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. Felix threatens to talk about Robert's actions in St. Crellifer's.
===Corambis===
Does a lot of hooking.
== Skills ==
Felix is an incredibly strong wizard, and it's suggested throughout the series that he might be the most powerful wizard in the world and certainly the most powerful in the Mirador. He never meets another wizard stronger than him throughout the series. Malkar Gennadion, a semi-immortal evil sadist who trained him, recognized that Felix's raw power was stronger than his from the moment he met him in the Shining Tiger, which was why he swiftly asserted so much brutal physical, emotional, psychic and magical control over Felix. Felix likens his own magic to a coiled nest of half-sleeping dragons.
Lightning magic comes naturally to Felix, and he uses a version of it to destroy the Automaton of Corybant.
Felix Harrowgate is competent at any branch of magic he tries, whether he's new to it or practiced at it, or whether he's read a technique in a book and tries it. This includes, and isn't limited to: Architectural thaumaturgy and thaumaturgical architecture (labyrinths and their exorcism), hydromancy, blood magic, bindings/obligations, witchlights, casuistry, true-dreaming (clairvoyance), telepathy (when communicating with Gideon), divination (the Sibylline), oneiromancy (the Khloidanikos).
Despite being competent at the practical side of magic, and seeming like an academic, Gideon points out that he is 'shockingly ill-educated' due to Malkar's eclectic 'training' of Felix, and the fact that Felix has never attended any schools and was raised in poverty. 
Felix is also a consummate and experienced prostitute, as well as a trained martyr (submissive and masochist). 
Later, Felix demonstrates considerable ability and generosity of spirit while teaching magic. 
Felix has a poor sense of direction (being almost entirely dependent on Mildmay for this), doesn't travel well, and is not trained to defend himself against physical attack. 
==Relationships==
=== Diokletian ===
Felix theorized that Diokletian could be his father, but hoped he wasn't. Their relationship became fraught when Felix realized Diokletian's lust for Methony made him lust for Felix, and Felix refused to serve as her ghost.
=== Eric Ogygios ===
Felix liked Eric.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 2.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
=== Ferrand Carey ("Murtagh") ===
Parsifal Wyatt hires Felix on Murtagh's behalf.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 5.” Corambis, Ace Books, New York, 2009. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. Murtagh enjoys his night with Felix.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 6.” Corambis, Ace Books, New York, 2009. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. Felix is drawn to Murtagh.
=== Gartrett Corbie ===
=== Gideon Thraxios ===
=== Hestrand ===
=== Isaac Garamond ===
=== Joline ===
=== Malkar Gennadion - see Felix and Malkar - ===
=== Mavortian von Heber ===
=== Mehitabel Parr ===
=== Methony Feucoronne ===
Methony sang to Felix when he was young, and made him feel cherished.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 10.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. She sold him when he was four.
=== Mildmay the Foxe - see Felix and Mildmay ===
=== Robert of Hermione ===
Robert loathes Felix.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 9.” The Virtu, Ace Books, New York, 2007. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. He directly helps to get Felix committed into St. Crellifer's, where Robert rapes Felix's mind to try and repair the Virtu, and then attempts to get Felix re-committed during The Virtu. Felix loathes Robert in return. According to Simon Barrister and Rinaldo, Robert hates Felix because Robert is homophobic, and because Felix is inconvenient as Felix has ideals, doesn't compromise well, and his influence isn't dependent on anyone's good will, unlike Robert's.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 5.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
=== Sherbourne Foss ===
Sherbourne was Felix's friend.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 7.” Mélusine, Ace, New York, 2005. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
=== Thaddeus de Lalage ===
Thaddeus was one of Felix's first friends in the Mirador,Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 14.” The Virtu, Ace Books, New York, 2007. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. and they had a trusting relationship prior to Felix destroying the Virtu.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 1.” Mélusine, Ace, New York, 2005. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. They knew each other for around 7-8 years by the time of The Virtu.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 10.” The Virtu, Ace Books, New York, 2007. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. When Felix was mad, he thought of Thaddeus as a raven.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 5.” Mélusine, Ace, New York, 2005. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
=== Vincent Demabrien ===
Felix and Vincent are stablemates at the Shining Tiger. Felix is overjoyed that Vincent survived Lorenzo.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 11.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. He is hurt when Vincent turns down Felix's offer of help, and hurt worse when Felix realizes it's because of who Felix is, and what Felix will likely do.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 15.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. This leads Felix on a cycle of self-blame and hatred.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 16.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. Vincent notably does not believe that Felix would kill a lover in cold blood.
== Quotations ==
* ‘I consult no one’s comfort but my own.’ - The Virtu
* Felix's self description - ‘A badly trained, heretical prostitute whose greatest magical ability had proved to be as a pawn in betraying everything in which his school of magic believed.’ - The Virtu
==Trivia==
*Felix is a Latin name meaning "lucky."
*Harrowgate is an English surname whose origins are uncertain; it could possibly mean "grey hill road." 
*It is also possible that the choice of "Harrowgate" was intended as a compound word combining "harrow" and "gate."  In modern usage, "to harrow" generally refers to literal or metaphorical plowing, but an archaic meaning of the word is "to plunder" or "to pillage."  The Harrowing of Hell is a concept in Christian theology that reflects that older usage; it refers to Jesus Christ's descent into Hell for the three days between His death and resurrection.  During this time, He supposedly "plundered" Hell of the righteous figures of the Old Testament, freeing them from their captivity by Satan.  Gate, meanwhile, could be a reference to the repeating gate imagery within the series.
== References ==
Category:Characters
Category:Mélusine
Category:The Virtu
Category:The Mirador
Category:Corambis