Altered Lore

Afanas Korovinovich

10 min read

Afanas Korovinovich

Overview

Afanas Korovinovich, born 318 AC, is a Yzmir Exalt and Battle Mage specializing in Kinemancy, with additional proficiency in Phonomancy, Eidomancy, Horomancy, and Gephyromancy. He is bonded with Senka, a night bird Chimera, through The Musubi ceremony. Afanas joined the Rediscovery Endeavor to find the Chrysanthemum Cloaked Warlock who killed his family, and has since allied with The Qorgan to hunt The Perjurers conspiracy.

Background

Early Life

Korovin, Afanas’s father, was a Bravos veteran who had faced many Leviathans. He trained his eldest son in martial arts with early rises, endurance runs, and demanding katas. When Bravos announced an expedition beyond Asgartha’s walls, Korovin volunteered to emigrate with his family to Cebir, a fortress in lands subject to The Tumult.

The Kraken Attack and Rescue (~327 AC)

The family embarked from Arkaster toward Caer Oorun. During the night voyage, the Kraken attacked their frigate. Korovin pierced the Kraken’s arm with a harpoon but was struck down. The ship split in two; a splinter struck Afanas’s eye. While struggling in icy waters, Afanas saw a mage floating with the Kraken standing behind without attacking—the figure wore an alabaster mask and a cloak covered with golden chrysanthemums. Afanas pulled on a metal coffin which split open, releasing a shadow that sank talons into his arms and lifted him. His entire family perished.

Qaasin, a Yzmir mage, routed the Kraken and retrieved Afanas’s unconscious body. The night bird Afanas had freed from the steel prison remained at his bedside—both Afanas and the bird had lost an eye. Afanas named the bird Senka and cared for it. Qaasin taught him meditations and mantras during convalescence. When conditions at Cebir proved too dangerous, Qaasin brought his young protégé (age 10) to The Kadigir for initiation. Afanas specialized in Kinemancy as a combat mage.

Quest for the Chrysanthemum Cloaked Warlock

Afanas investigated the warlock who caused his family’s death, gathering clues over years. When a Bravos expedition failed approximately 23 years later (~350 AC), he began suspecting the sorcerer had established a lair within the abandoned Cebir. He studied statements of the lone survivor, investigating experiments conducted there—the mage was engaged in esoteric research outside Faction restrictions.

When Muna recreated The Musubi ceremony, Afanas volunteered to bond with Senka to traverse The Tumult searching for the warlock. Through their bond, he looked through Senka’s eyes as the bird flew over altered lands and visited Cebir. During one exploration, Senka came face-to-face with the warlock—the masked figure turned toward the bird, spreading arms in greeting, then addressed Afanas directly through Senka, urging him to join in The Tumult.

Timeline

~327 AC - Kraken Attack

During the voyage to Cebir, the Kraken attacked the family’s frigate. Afanas’s entire family perished. Qaasin routed the Kraken and rescued Afanas, who bonded with Senka during the disaster.

356 AC - Qaasin’s Death

Senka wrapped night feathers around Afanas, leaping through a vortex traveling a thousand cable lengths to an estuary where they found Qaasin’s lifeless body.

366 AC - Training Sewati

Afanas trained Sewati in Sign choreography, observing student summon water idea from Empyrean, create whirlpool, then solidify into glass spiral.

386 AC - Nimue Summoning

Afanas summoned Nimue holding Excalibur to seal trembling Megalith by plunging sword into Aether mass.

386 AC - Flamel Initiation Ceremony

Afanas observed Flamel preside over Disciples’ initiation ceremony at The Well of Tears, encouraging Matera as she collected Megalith fragment.

386 AC - Matera’s Aether Shard

Matera struck Megalith with hammer causing fragment to fall, but Megalith trembled, requiring Afanas to summon guardian.

389 AC - Hecate Conjuring Seal

Afanas and Ilinka maintained Hecate’s Strophalos Conjuring Seal, plunging hand through crack to pull ideas from Empyrean while arm was ravaged.

392 AC, September - Battle of Madan Bay

Afanas commanded from a promontory during the Battle of Madan Bay, coordinating with Sigismar Synd. He opened a dimensional portal enabling Kojo Oduro to strike the Kraken from above, delivering the blow that vaporized the Leviathan.

392 AC - Informing Fasano

Afanas found Fasano carrying books in occult library at The Kadigir; without speaking, young Disciple understood elder sister would not return.

392 AC - Tooth Fairy Treatment

Afanas placed tooth on summoning circle; Tooth Fairy planted barb in forearm, venom purging Remanence’s parasitic ideas while poisoning flesh.

392 AC - Standing Stone Circle

Afanas created circle of standing stones anchored by Mana from Senka’s Tumult journeys, with amethyst glow and organic stone texture.

392 AC - Bureaucratic Obstruction

Waru Toowoom confiscated esoteric works requested by Afanas and Lindiwe.

392 AC - Basira Encounter at Cebir

When Expeditionary Corps reclaimed Cebir, Afanas approached Basira al-Arshad to share information about the Chrysanthemum Cloaked Warlock. He summoned chrysanthemum scent which triggered Kaizaimon to attack, confirming the warlock’s connection to the oni’s torture.

393 AC, February - Belisenki Battle at Storhvit

Afanas led Yzmir expedition at Storhvit with objective of pulling a device from The Aether to detect ideas in the region. When Belisenki swarm attacked, Afanas performed complex katas while spectral arms appeared tracing patterns, accumulating Mana pressure. He rose into the air with arms spread, eyes pulsing, violet flames dancing as skin took ghostly translucent appearance. The maelstrom unleashed a shockwave that scattered the Belisenki, though the display created collateral damage catching Sunisa and a rescued scout.

393 AC, February - Belisenki Tracking Techniques

Afanas trained Irises to track Belisenki furtive movements and see through camouflage, then observed Akesha Adhikari manifesting Mana Moths and deconstructed the technique for reproduction.

393 AC, February - Storm Manifestation

Parasitic ideas made Afanas a channel for an entity’s rage, merging with a storm. Aroro Niski’s Eidolon appeared unsummoned, stringing Gestures and covering him in Sigils to contain his attacks until the storm ebbed.

393 AC, February - Ice Magic Analysis

At a frozen clearing, Afanas used Kinemancy and Horomancy to analyze a spell mechanism, successfully reproducing the ice phenomenon by infusing a green branch.

393 AC, February - Icebound Pass Incident

Afanas explored Icebound Pass with giant ice walls imprisoning past life. He spotted a semi-transparent Glyph in the ice wall and used Gephyromancy to absorb ideas, but triggered an earthquake causing walls to split.

393 AC, May - Liberation of Kuraokami at The Nilam

During the coordinated Exalt assault on The Nilam, Afanas landed beside Sigismar Synd showing signs of exhaustion with residual electricity crackling across skin and purple blotches from Remanence effects. He transferred his remaining untainted Aether to Sigismar through clasped hands, warning: “Don’t waste it, and don’t expect this to become habit.”

393 AC, May - Conversation with Kuraokami and Wanjiru

After Kuraokami’s liberation, Afanas summoned the dragon as Eidolon to learn the truth. Kuraokami revealed the Chrysanthemum Cloaked Warlock imprisoned him using “unholy artifice” at a dead world-tree, siphoned his essence to forge the 305 AC tsunami that devastated Arkaster, and explained the triple-walled prison. After the dragon departed, Wanjiru approached offering alliance, revealing The Qorgan had investigated The Perjurers conspiracy for 150 years. Wanjiru offered Afanas the role of “bloodhound, judge, and executioner” against the warlock.

393 AC - Qorgan Informant at Axiom Warehouse

Afanas followed a magical trail to a building near The Refinery where Chinam, a Qorgan Initiate, revealed an Axiom stockpile of Sap-filled artifacts.

393 AC - Training Fasano

Afanas observed Fasano’s visible growth spurts and increasing self-confidence during training. Whatever punishment Afanas handed out, Fasano accepted without complaint—reminding Afanas of himself at that age under Korovin and Qaasin. Afanas caught Fasano with tears placing flowers on an improvised altar, and gave him space for bereavement. Afanas prepared Sap-enriched tea using techniques learned from Qaasin, training Fasano in the ritual before they traveled to the City of Scholars.

393 AC - Combat with Moyo Chibuye

Afanas drew Mana from Senka for combat casting while Moyo Chibuye, an exobiologist Scholar Mage, prepared to incarnate Alelo. Afanas shattered an Effigy to summon Sakarabru, guardian of The Well of Tears, whose roar swept across islets and sent Bravos skiffs flying.

393 AC - Nilam Spires Laboratory Visit

Afanas visited Nilam Spires dimensional pocket laboratory with Fasano, where researchers studied a maggot specimen from frozen world-tree bark.

393 AC - Scholars’ Vault Investigation

Afanas investigated the Scholars’ Vault through Senka’s mind, discovering Axiom’s Sap veinstones hidden among fossilized memory monoliths.

393 AC - Perjurer Hunt with Suha

Afanas partnered with Suha, a Qorgan Initiate, to continue the hunt for The Perjurers. Suha briefed him on the codenames assigned to suspected Perjurer operatives: the Anathema (operating among Yzmir), the Censor (within Ordis), the Sicarius (linked to unsolved murders), the Eugenist (Saskia Averina), and the Iconoclast (Amahle Kalu). Afanas stated his conviction that the Eugenist was among the expedition.

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