General Rast

General Rast is a general of the Empire.

## Biography

Rast was born in Aura Novan slums, as were his ancestors. He was protege of the commander Marcellan.

He tried to get the Phoenix Riders on Pheronia's side. The apprentices wouldn't, but he captured the ones with politically relevant families and held them hostage so he could get their families to go with what he wanted in exchange for not killing their kids.

When Marcellan died, Rast was voted into being general with how he was able to gain the loyalty of important families; it made him look competent. This got him the position over many more competent and experienced candidates. He even gained ownership of the Strongwings' old manor on Marble Row in Aura Nova (that house in particular because of the underground tunnels it has, he used them to store the phoenixes)

Postwar, he was the main driving force behind the animage registry and magetax. He rounded up hundreds a week, it was said, by using his hostage animages to root out other animages. It wasn't necessarily willingly, because he'd execute their bondmates if they didn't. If the families didn't keep their loyalty to Rast, he'd kill the child. He also build an addition to his house to surveil the prisoners, and had Registry offices in his house.

### Wings of Shadow

Rast, after Rolan's death, leads an attack on Cassian's forces, using Sidra's attack on the Grand Council as a scapegoat. He signed an initial response alongside Council members like Elliot's father that came into Beryk's posession.

Veronyka, Riella, and Elliot went to negotiate with Rast, and he handled the negotiations like dealing with a threat--military forces around him. William of Stel, also there to negotiate, recognized his children, and Rast said that Riella was fine, but Elliot would have to surrender like the other Riders. Tristan stated their intentions not to surrender, and Veronyka said their actual intentions: proposing an alliance. Rast responded that animages had attacked North Arboria, Ferro, and the Council meeting. Veronyka retorted that Arboria was attacked by Rolan, and the other attacks were renagade Riders. Rast says that Rolan was killed by Riders and can't defend himself, and Beryk mentions that William of Stel can attest to Rolan's guilt. William then says that Rolan used blackmail to get Rast to let Rolan's army move through Pyra whenever he wanted, but gets cut off by Rast saying that he has no evidence. William says that he had Riella and his word. Rast comments that William has animage-sympathizer tendencies and he should have said something while it was happening, and that if Veronyka and her flock surrender, they'll get lighter sentencing. Veronyka says that a war is going to occur, surrender or not, because of a common enemy (not the rebel Riders, but the strixes), which Rast disbelieves. When Veronyka says that she has seen them, Rast, unconvinced, asks who exactly she is, and she says that she is Veronyka *Ashfire*. He doesn't believe her, and threatens to lock her up, and Tristan warns him not to make threats.

Val appears, and tells him to bow to her, so she'll spare the Riders currently surrounded by crossbowmen. He denies knowing who she is, and Avalkyra uses her title as the Black Horde flies overhead. Rast tells his soldiers to fire on her, but they don't and instead turn on him. He surrenders to Val, and she tells him she wants to see his army decimated. Val tells Veronyka to bow to her, and she refuses. Veronyka asks if Rast is going to be an ally or enemy. He officially allies with Veronyka

Unbeknownst to Rast, his house is invaded by Sev and his friends to free the phoenixes and hostages, and recruits them to Veronyka's side.

During the first battle with Rast as an ally, he asks Tristan what he's doing. They argue, as Tristan is rebuilding a bridge to make battle easier, and Rast wants to retreat. Daniel, second-in-command of Rast, agrees with Tristan. As Rex and a strix fight, Rast complains that they should be fighting instead of arguing on strategy. Rast tries taking Tristan prisoner as leverage, but ends up needing to fight Tristan himself as his soldiers are busy fighting.

The attempt is met with the Riders and phoenixes attacking Rast, and capturing him. He stands trial, a very attended trial. His trial ended with his imprisonment and the end of the magetax and registry. He lost his wealth, as it was mainly contained by bribery and coercion, and it was used for the animage reintegration.

## Personality

Rast is a coward, but also greedy and ambitious. He is willing to use bribery and hostages to get what he wants, and nothing is too unethical to be used to his favor.