Ortus Nigenad

**Ortus Nigenad** *(ORT-us NIGH-ga-nad)*was the Cavalier Primary to the Heir to the House of the Ninth, Harrowhark Nonagesimus. Drawn more to poetic re-tellings of mythic duels than his own swordplay, he was quick to abdicate his position when asked to do more than slough bones around Ninth House. His position was assumed by Gideon Nav.

## **Biography**

### **Gideon the Ninth**

#### Act I

Following the secundarius bell's muster call ring, Ortus Nigenad and his mother, Sister Glaurica, go to the Ninth House Church. There, Reverend Daughter Harrowhark Nonagesimus announces that she and Ortus, her cavalier, have been summoned by The Emperor to travel to First House and compete for the position of Lyctor.

Immediately, Sister Glaurica panics and begs Harrow to spare her son from *"the things that befall cavaliers."*—a reference to her husband, Mortus the Ninth, who died in service to Reverend Father Priamhark Noniusvianus. Ortus does not protest, agreeing that he fears death, but still attempts to calm his mother. Harrow silences both of them, and the accompanying congregational commentary with a prayer.

When Glaurica fails to settle, Harrow has Marshal Crux escort both mother and son out of the church. At her behest, Crux takes them to a shuttle called by Gideon Nav in one of her many attempts to escape Ninth House. Sister Glaurica intends to return to her family on the Eighth House, but Harrow has bribed the pilot to return them 24 hours later in disgrace.

Incensed at Glaurica's betrayal, Crux plants a bomb on the shuttle. Ortus and his mother are both killed in the detonation. Glaurica goes on to become a revenant and seek out Silas Octakiseron. Ortus remains in The River for some time, before being called on—subconsciously—by Harrow.

### **Harrow the Ninth**

#### Fourteen Months Before the Emperor's Murder

Ortus is in Drearburh with his necromancer, Harrow, as he reads through the letter from the Emperor summoning the necromantic heir from each House and their cavalier primary to Canaan House to compete for the position of Lyctor. Ortus protests that he cannot accompany her, as he has no skill in swordsmanship, but Harrow dismisses his concerns. He asks her to consider Gideon Nav, but she hears this as "Ortus Nigenad" and ignores him. Harrow explains that she does not need him to be a great swordmaster, though he will train with Aiglamene before leaving, and that what she really needs is for him to hide her insanity.

#### Nine Months Before the Emperor's Murder

Harrow wakes violently to the to the sun of First House as she and Ortus arrive at Canaan House. Ortus is concerned about and perplexed by the presentation of her insanity, but she pushes away his pity. As their ship is vetted, Ortus recites poetry from his work, The Noniad, and attempts to start a philosophical conversation about the cost of becoming a Lyctor. Harrow loses her patience and goes to send a message to the men on the planet, but is caught by a note on the seats of the ship. She asks Ortus what he sees and is dismayed to learn that Ortus sees only a blank piece of flimsy.

Inside Canaan House, Harrow is asked by Teacher to lead a prayer and blanks, leaving Ortus to recite it alone, and he adds a heretofore unheard ancient blessing to the classic Ninth prayer. Teacher thanks him for his rare intercession, and offers a blessing. Ortus asks to be blessed to rest in the Anastasian monument, the burial place of warriors. Teacher hands out one key attached to a key ring to each cavalier. He follows this with a lesson on the history of Canaan House, the original Lyctors, and the laboratory Facility they built to study Lyctorhood. Finally, he introduces the Sleeper, but assures the postulants that they are safe upstairs. As the construct servants lead them to their rooms, Ortus again balks at his task and asks Harrow why she chose him. She responds that he was only option, leading him to realize she has forced herself to forget Gideon. As they leave, the servant asks her, *"Is this how it happens?"*

Ortus finds Abigail Pent and Magnus Quinn in the library, where he recites pieces of his Noniad for them. Upon finding them, Harrow immediately demands that he stop. The necromancers have a brief conversation about Lyctoral artifacts and their work, but Abigail's questions about ghost signatures on Harrow causes her to flee the library. Incensed, she bans Ortus from talking to Fifth House and begins to criticize his work and attitude. Ortus calmly responds that he will take criticism but that their bond gives her not right to dictate his emotions. Harrow takes the opportunity to study a scrap of paper Abigail has given, and is again dismayed when Ortus sees only an ancient, informal invitation to share a meal.

#### Six Months Before the Emperor's Murder

Following the death of Judith Deuteros, Ortus takes over the responsibility of properly washing and preparing the body with the help of Magnus. As they finish, they, and their necromancers, return to the hall outside the morgue and question Marta Dyas on the circumstances surrounding Judith's death. She recounts her story and Ortus shares a piece of his Noniad with her to ease her grief. Discussing the facts of the murder, they determine that the Sleeper can move, pass through necromantic wards, and isn't necessarily woken by noise.

Rain begins to fall at Canaan House, creating a cold fog around the base of the buildings unseasonable for the time of year. A second set of bodies is found, those of Camilla Hect and Palamedes Sextus, and are brought to the mortuary. Abigail brings Harrow and Ortus to the mortuary to see the bodies, and Ortus mourns for them.To identify the mutilated bodies, they bring in Dulcinea Septimus and her cavalier, Protesilaus Ebdoma. Fifth, Seventh, and Ninth decide that Sixth was most likely also killed by the Sleeper. Protesilaus recites a very stanzas of poetry, which Ortus loathes. They all attempt to rally, philosophically discussing their prospects, when Abigail asks Dulcinea to attempt to win over Silas Octakiseron, Magnus to get Marta Dyas, and Harrowhark to bring the Third House to their side.

As they wrap up, Harrow looks at the things found in Palamedes pockets and discovers another note about eggs. Ortus announces it to be a drawing of a calligraphic S, drawing Harrow's ire for speaking out of turn. To Harrow's surprise he reveals that he has always known that Harrow's parents asked his father, Mortus, to kill himself. The argument is broken by a gust of wind and water through the window, bringing a handful of pipette needles into the room.

#### Two Months Before the Emperor's Murder

The weather in Canaan House turns—rain becoming sleet becoming snow that blankets the House. Additionally, fleshy organs begin growing up through the cracks in the building. Ortus brings his sword to Abigail, hoping that she will be able to use her necromancy to tell him more about it's history, but the sword does not contain enough traces for her to read. Harrow returns from her mission of warding the halls and attempting to move the Sleeper's coffin, and Ortus is upset that she is taking risks that he should do himself. She points out his cowardice and avoidance of the Facility, and tells him not to complain. Harrow and Abigail are discussing strategy when Teacher interrupts with a seemingly drunken story about the original Lyctors. He claims that they are doomed, that the Sleeper is waking and coming for Harrow, that the Emperor will never know peace again, and many other doomsday claims before running off.

#### The Night of the Emperor's Murder

In a constructed River-world vision, an alternate version of Harrow, Harrow Nova, challenges an alternate version of Ortus Nigenad to a duel for the position of cavalier primary and the chance to serve the Reverend Daughter at First House. Ortus, a skull scarified onto his face, implores her to see reason. He readily admits that she is the greater swordsman and better cavalier, but claims that the Reverend Mother and Father would never allow Harrow to serve while he lives. Harrow readies herself to kill him when Crux rushes in. Crux berates Ortus for drawing his sword on sacred ground and bids him *"rush to [his] cuckoo's side,"* and Ortus flees. The scenario shifts and Ortus lurks at the edges of a formal event as part of a competition between Heirs of the House to win the hand of "Her Divine Highness". While the other Houses flaunt and flirt, Harrow keeps to herself. Aiglamene, her captain, tries to convince her to put herself out there and Ortus, her cavalier, continually writes poetry.

#### An Amount of Time Before the Emperor's Murder

The organs and viscera continue to grow in Canaan House, and a collection of pipettes, containers of fluid, broken skeletons, and pills have appeared in the snow. Magnus and Abigail lead her through the House, outside, and back in to the corridor with the Pool Room and into X-203, the Lyctor study of Gideon and Pyrrha. Marta, Dulcinea, and Protesilaus are already inside. Harrow comes to speak with Ortus. She tries to apologize for her role in his death at take responsibility, but he won't let her. He speaks of himself as cowardly and weak, and Harrow stops him. She states plainly that he owes her no loyalty and that if he wishes, she will instruct Abigail to release him into the River. He asks how Gideon died, and she tells him. When he attempts to comfort her, Harrow lashes out in her own guilt. Ortus apologizes for being cowardly and letting two children bare the fate that should have been his, and explains that that is why he is staying to fight now.

He invites her to come hear their plan, and as they go down she finds the same note Gideon Nav did back in the real Canaan House, and she realizes that the man she knows as Ortus the First is actually named Gideon the First. Beneath it, she finds another egg letter. Abigail interrupts to tell them it is time to move again. She explains that the plan is for her, as Speaker to the Dead, to exorcise the Sleeper.

Harrow, Ortus, Abigail, Magnus, Dulcinea, Protesilaus, and Marta all return to the Facility and the coffin of the Sleeper. Harrow sees a final egg letter on the whiteboard and Ortus confides in her that he does not believe she was ever insane, just young and stricken with grief. Abigail draws chalk diagrams and the rest of the them work on placing warded candles around the coffin in a circle. Ortus and the other dead receive a counter-wards from Abigail to ensure their ghostly existence is not affected by the summoning.

Abigail asks Harrow if she can pinpoint what the thanergetic link is, and Harrow realizes it is Gideon's sword.They finish the preparations and Abigail pairs them and places them around the candle circle. Abigail pours a libation over the foot of the coffin and begins the summoning. Abigail notes that spirit is tied to two places and that its banishing in the River will not necessarily banish it on the Mithraeum. A panel of the coffin shatters and they see it is empty. The Sleeper emerges from the corridor. She attacks Harrow, and Ortus drags her to safety.

Protesilaus attacks the Sleeper and is shot three times and left unmoving on the ground. The Sleeper demands that Harrow turn herself over and begins counting down from ten. Dulcinea, Magnus, and Marta each attack the Sleeper in turn and summarily shot without inflicting any lasting damage on the Sleeper. Protesilaus exerts his will not to die on the world and gets back up, strangling the Sleeper with his chain. She shoots him and knocks out Marta. Harrow launches an attack of bone, but the Sleeper shoots it out of the air and causes it to go inert. Harrow asks what the Sleeper wants, and she replies that she wants Harrow's death so she can take her body. As the Sleeper reaches one, Ortus begins to recite poetry.

Despite Abigail's protests, he continues and she begins to summon the ghost of Matthias Nonias. As he declaims from the Noniad, Harrow, in her weakened pre-Lyctoral state, struggles to cover them with bone shields. The Sleeper pushes her way through Harrow's shields, crumbling them to dust, and shoots Ortus. Harrow pushes the Sleeper back with a wall of bone and sends skeleton constructs after her which are also dissolved. Harrow takes over for Ortus, finishing the lines as Abigail summons. The Sleeper reaches Harrow and fires a shot into her head, but Matthias Nonias solidifies between them. The Sleeper attacks, but Nonias counters with superhuman speed and manages to wound her.

As Nonias fights the Sleeper, the postulants begin to regroup. Harrow stabilizes Ortus's wound, and all the pairs watch in awe of the fight. Harrow and Dulcinea make moves to bring their necromancy into play, but Ortus, noticing that the constraints of his poem have begun to influence the world, stops them. In the Noniad, Nonias fights alone and Ortus worries that if they joined in it would end their chances. As the battle picks up speed, Nonias drops his rapier, but manages to catch the Sleepers arm, disarm her, and drive her back into the wall. Protesilaus tosses Nonias his rapier, and he plunges it into the Sleeper's chest.

As they group, Ortus is in awe of Abigail Pent and her abilities. Magnus jokingly scolds Ortus for flirting with his wife, horrifying Ortus. Abigail cannot figure out she was able to summon him purely through Ortus's art, but Nonias accepts it and claims the victory is then owed to Ortus. Harrow tells Nonias she has to other enemies here, and Abigail confirms the invasive soul is gone. As she speaks, the "bubble" begins to rumble, falling apart as the scenario has concluded and in response to whatever is happening above.

Matthias Nonias shares his desire to go help the Lyctors battle the Resurrection Beast. Protesilaus, Ortus, and Marta decide to join him, despite protests from Harrow and Abigail. Ortus stubbornly explains to Harrow that he would like nothing more than to follow Nonias into battle. Harrow release Matthias, and Abigail sends the four of them to aid Gideon the First.

## **Appearance and Personality**

Gideon first describes Ortus as thus:

> *"Ortus hadn't changed either. He was still lumpy and sad. [...] In the Ninth everyone knew you were chosen for how many bones you could hump around. Ortus was basically a morbid donkey. [...] He was a sensitive, awful young man, and his mother was obsessed with him; each time he caught a cold he was swaddled and made to lie still until he got bedsores."*
>
>

As the Ninth House leadership is well aware, Ortus is a rather cowardly and pathetic cavalier. Obsessively parented and babied, he is not a particularly distinguished protector. Despite this, however, he manages to a thoughtful and deliberate person, inclined towards poetry and romance. Ortus is even tempered and balances Harrow's frenetic pace well, when given the chance. He is simply, unfortunately ill-suited to his House and the fate that befell him there.

He is described as having dark brown eyes and completely shorn hair, in the traditional style of a Ninth cavalier. For sacramental paint he favors the sacramental Jawless Skull and the Skull of the Anchorite Dying.

## **Powers & Abilities**

* **Poetry:** Ortus can write, recall, and recite large amounts of poetry.
* **Swordsman:** Though he had no true talent for it, Ortus was trained in the sword-and-buckler by first his father and then Aiglamene. Aiglamene wished to train him in the sword-and-powder, but his catarrh (excessive mucus) would not allow it. He did not have any great success.

## **Possessions**

* **The Noniad:** Ortus's prized possession, the Noniad is a eighteen-book-long epic chronicling the life of Matthias Nonius penned by Ortus himself.
* **Sword:** Ortus's sword is described as "a heavy oil amalgam" with a rubber tip. Aiglamene regards it as shameful and useless, particularly due to its lack of weight.
* **Buckler:** A buckler is a small shield, typically worn on the forearm.

## **Relationships**

### Sister Glaurica

> *"The sobbing of Ortus's mother hushed into silent, shuddering tears, buried in her son's chest as he put his doughy arm around her. He was crying soundlessly into her hair."*
>
>

Ortus and his mother have an unusually close relationship following the death of his father. A tragic wreck, she clings to him as her reason for existence. Ortus allows himself to be coddled, much to the dismay of Harrow and Crux, not so much out of necessity but rather familiarity and an unwillingness to push himself.

### Harrowhark Nonagesimus

> *"[Ortus's face] slid a second time into paint-splattered, hooded contempt. He looked at her as though she were tedious. He looked at her as though he did not know who she was. His contempt made the doors she heard in her ears slam in an orchestra of unfathomable sound. He looked at her as though she was a squalling infant; as though she had not spoken, but rather opened her mouth and vomited."*
>
>

Ortus's relationship to his necromancer is complicated. He is as well aware that his father died at the behest of her father as he is that she had no real part in it. He despises his lot in life to be a cavalier, and wishes he were free to live a cowardly life of poetry, but knows that this too is not Harrow's fault. He does not hate Harrow for thinking he is a poor cavalier, but he becomes angry when she thinks him an unimportant or stupid person generally. Despite his self-proclaimed cowardice, he refuses to let her walk all over him or treat him as if he is one of her constructs to control. In short, he wants to be treated with courtesy and as his own person.

## **Trivia**

* Ortus is a diminutive of Mortus, his father. It is also Latin for "rising."

## **References**

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Gideon the Ninth," Act I, Ch. 3
2. ↑ "Harrow the Ninth," Act I, Ch. 8
3. ↑ "Harrow the Ninth," Act V, Ch. 40
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Gideon the Ninth," Act I, Ch. 4
5. ↑ "Harrow the Ninth," Act II, Ch. 21
6. ↑ "Gideon the Ninth," A Little Explanation of Naming Systems