Castradazi

> "*Castradazi means coin dancer, in case you're so thick you haven't figured that out yet.*"
> ― Durral
>
>

***Castradazi*** is an archaic Gitabrian title to refer to 'coin-dancers' - people that have the knack to use magic based on *castragenzia*, so-called 'beautiful coins'. Although originally considered folk heroes in Gitabria, several years before Kellen's visit to Gitabria, the lords mercantile outlawed them and sent the secret police after them, accusing them of being tricksters. Due to this purge very few trained castradazi, and even fewer coins, remain. Only a few coin-dancers possess even one or two coins.

Although practice is required in order to effectively use the *castragenzia*, it is impossible to teach someone the knack to use them, a central reason for the decline in the castradazi. When someone with the knack tosses a *castragenzé*, it hangs in the air for longer than it should, making a few rotations before starting to fall. By placing their hand under the coin, the castradazi can cause it to hang in mid-air.

Kellen is introduced to the concept of the castradazi when Enna, an Argosi wanderer, leaves him a *sotocastra*. He later meets an old Gitabrian Castradazi called Savire on the Bridge of Dice, who teaches him how to use a sotocastra, before giving him his own five castradazi coins.

## Castragenzia coins

Although originally there were twenty-one different types of castradazi coins, only a couple have been described in the books.

### Sotocastra

Sotocastra - also known as "warden coins" - are the first type of castradazi coin Kellen discovers, being gifted one by Enna. It is the smallest of the coins Kellen is given, and is described as silver on one side, with an engraving of a lock, and black on the other, with an engraving of a key. Castradazi can use sotocastra to open locks by linking the coin to the internal mechanisms of the lock and manipulating the coin. Sotocastra can also be used to detect lies - when gripping another person's hand (as in a handshake) with the coin between the two hands, it will begin to heat up if the other person tells a lie.

### Volocastra

Named the "fugitive coin" by Kellen, the volocastra are able to make a connection with another metallic object, which causes the object to 'pursue' the coin. It is one of the larger coins Kellen was given, has eight sides, and is described as "a blue so deep it was as if someone had found a way to mix steel and sapphire together".

### Orocastra

Orocasta are apparently used for dowsing, allowing a castradazi to locate water or gold.

### Unknown Copper Coin

A coin made out of a glittering orange copper, with unknown abilities.

### Brass Coin

A coin that vibrates at the same rate as the walls of the Brass Passageway in Notia Veras. When held between the teeth, it cancels out the negative effects of the passageway.

### Lomocastra Coin

Also known a the luminary coin, the lomocastra coin is said to be the easiest coin to use. When flipped fast enough, the coin reflects light many times what it was initially. It also absorbs light to be used as a light source.

### Shalla's Coin

A castradazi coin given to Kellen by Shalla after he breaks her out of Notia Veras, used to direct Kellen towards the volcano workshop. It is also used by the red mage in order to track Kellen down

## Known Castradazi

So far, the only known Castradazi are Savire and Kellen.