Edward Dziekonski

**Edward Dziekonski** (b. 24 March 1990) is a mid-level member of Subrosa. He is a former child-soldier associated with the Scholars of the First Sin, but following the end of the Grey War, he was placed as a ward of House Roche.

## History

Dziekonski was born on 24 March 1990 to Matthew and Lindsay Dziekonski. He was the oldest child of the couple, followed by twin sisters and a younger brother. All of the members of the family were known as decent magicians. He enjoyed helping raise his younger siblings and was known to be a caring older brother. He was taught how to fire a rifle by his father, showing a high level of skill despite his young age. His mother focused on the children's magical education, imparting many of the basic skills of a magician to her children.

The family was attacked by the Scholars, and the parents of the Dziekonski children were murdered. The children were taken away, but they were soon separated. After the Scholars discovered his skill with the rifle, he was forced to become a child-soldier, partnered with the magically weak Daniel Salvatori and kept loyal with a promise of safety for his younger siblings. The pair became a fearsome sniping team, racking up a confirmed 48 kills and another suspected 32 kills. The unit moved across the Menominee River into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan following a pullback by the Scholars in the early fall of 1999.

The pair survived the initial events of the Michigan Disaster. They sustained minor injuries and trekked nearly 30 miles to the border between Wisconsin and Michigan, where they were taken into custody by the Guild forces.

Both Dziekonski and Salvatori were turned over to the REST organization, associated with House Roche, where they underwent physical and psychological treatment. There Dziekonski learned that his siblings had died a couple of months before the end of the war, casualties of the heinous human experimentation done by the Scholars, and attempts to find other surviving family members failed, leaving Dziekonski the last member of his family. The staff at the REST facility noted that he had become rather dependent on Salvatori's presence; any attempt to separate the two resulted in violence from both Salvatori and Dziekonski.

Following his release from the REST organization, Dziekonski became a sworn magician of the Guild as a ward of House Roche. There he met Pierce Roche and his children, and the leadership of House Roche made a positive impression on him. Such was his respect that, following Pierce's execution and the schism within House Roche, he joined the children of Pierce in exile and became one of the founding members of Subrosa.

Despite being one of the founding members of Subrosa, he abstains from a management position. Neither Salvatori nor Dziekonski care much for leading people, preferring to be given missions that they can accomplish on their own terms, but the pair have good relations with many of their fellow members, regardless of their position or seniority.

## Education

Dziekonski learned the basics of magic from his mother.

During his training as a child-soldier, Dziekonski learned more combat-related magic, including first-aid and physical enhancement spells.

Dziekonski received most of his mundane education as well as some magical education during his time with REST. Receiving an equivalent level of education to that of an average person of the same age was a prerequisite for graduating from REST's DDR program, and he excelled at his education. He earned good grades at the REST facility, receiving the equivalent of a 5th grade education before leaving the facility.

Both Dziekonski and Salvatori continued their education as wards of House Roche.

## Personal Life

Dziekonski was born into what would become a large immediate family, with many members of his extended family living within 10 miles. He had three younger siblings: a set of fraternal twin sisters and a brother.

Following the end of the Grey War, Dziekonski had only one person he would consider a friend: Daniel Salvatori. The pair had survived the bloodshed of the Grey War by working together, and they passed through the REST facility at each other's side. Even during their time as wards of House Roche, the pair were rarely apart. They left the Guild at the same time, becoming Independent magicians.

However many people around them noted the dangerously high amounts of co-dependence between the two, especially during their time with REST. Salvatori served as Dziekonski's emotional support, and any attempt to separate the pair was met with violence. Even short periods of voluntary separation would result in Dziekonski becoming unhinged and dangerous. This tendency was noted even during their time in the REST facility, and it would continue to be present after they left the Guild and joined Subrosa.

This dependence on Salvatori's presence has resulted in a reduced tendency to make friends. Dziekonski will be cordial with those around him, but there have been reports of him becoming hostile towards people who he believes are dangers to his relationship with Salvatori.

## Focus

Dziekonski has 2 focuses. He mainly uses a bracelet-style generalized focus. The bracelet is made of a thin gold-clad steel band approximately 1/4 inch in width. It has three arrays etched into the metal and painted with a blue paint.

His other focus is a plain silver ring.

## Magic Items

Dziekonski has 1 magic item. It is a Remington 700 rifle enhanced with a number of arrays and spells to increase the operation of the weapon. The arrays increase the range and accuracy of the rifle while reducing the sound of shots fired from the weapon. It was purchased by Dziekonski after his 21st birthday, and he personally altered the weapon for personal use. The weapon is licensed to him and is for personal use, including hunting.