Rossum is a Chimera accidentally uprooted from the Tumult and trapped within an Automaton body during Treyst’s failed experiment to revive his friend Paju. Rossum serves as Treyst’s Alter Ego, bonded to him through the Musubi.
Origin
Rossum came into being during Treyst’s experimental attempt to pair the Eidolon of his deceased friend Paju with an Automaton body. Treyst had worked for many months alongside Ordis scholars and Yzmir sorcerers to fashion a machine powerful enough to perform this pairing, using an abandoned prototype from Sierra’s workshop.
When the machine activated, it did not work as expected. The machine roared to life while Kelon exhaled terrible emanations of Mana, and reality pulsed and twisted. A Tumult Singularity germinated within the workshop. When Treyst managed to shut down the machine and the singularity dissipated, the Automaton contained not Paju’s Eidolon, but a Chimera that had been uprooted from the Tumult and trapped in the metal shell.
Early Behavior
When the Automaton first activated, it flailed about disorderly, falling over and clumsily trying to get back up. The consciousness within was clearly trying to move a body that was not its own. Panicked, the creature retreated to a corner of the room.
Development
Treyst spent many weeks understanding what had happened and discovering that a Chimera had taken possession of the Automaton. Every day, Treyst came to spend time with the creature, talking about Asgartha and seeking to reassure it. Gradually, complicity dawned between the engineer and the Chimera, and this connivance turned into friendship.
Treyst named the hybrid being Rossum. Far from being ferocious, Rossum proved curious about everything, eager to discover everything Treyst showed him. Like a child, Rossum loved to play and marveled at everything - trees, buildings, toys, and picture books.
Personality
Rossum’s presence became a ray of sunshine in Treyst’s life. Treyst could spend whole afternoons by Rossum’s side, watching him apprehend the world around him. However, Treyst could also feel an inconsolable nostalgia growing within Rossum - the nostalgia of having been torn from his home.
Bond with Treyst
When faced with Rossum’s dejected demeanor one day, Treyst made himself a promise to move heaven and earth to bring Rossum back home, wherever that might be. This purpose gave Treyst renewed motivation to tame his torn body and what he had become despite himself.
Through Rossum, Treyst found a new reason to live and a new reason to fight. In a corner of the room, Paju’s Eidolon smiled at this development - though the experiment had failed in its original purpose, it had given Treyst something precious.
The two are bonded through the Musubi as Alter Ego companions.
Physical Characteristics
Rossum’s metal Automaton body is vulnerable to moisture, which causes mechanical glitches in the joints. During the Storvhit expedition, Rossum initially loved walking in snow but learned to cling to Treyst’s vehicle to avoid getting joints wet. Fen gave Rossum a scarf and taught him how to put on mittens, and he also wears sheepskin earmuffs in cold conditions.
Expedition Activities
393 AC - Relic Extraction at Storvhit
Rossum guided cables and chains securing mysterious machine during extraction from ice at Cobalt Gorge, assisting Treyst with positioning relic onto raised platform for examination.
~393 AC - Cliff Ascent at Storvhit
Rossum accompanied Treyst during cliff ascent using mechanical spider, wearing scarf and mittens given by Fen along with sheepskin earmuffs, and placed hand on Treyst’s shoulder sensing his grief when remembering Paju.
~393 AC - Frozen Delivery at Storvhit
Rossum clung to Treyst’s mechanical spider vehicle during supply drop retrieval to avoid moisture causing mechanical glitches, and examined supply crates dropped from zeppelin.
393 AC - Dredger Drone Observation
Rossum accompanied Treyst to a dig site carrying research gear, following closely as Treyst observed Dredger Drone operations.
393 AC - Meeting Aberdeen
Rossum’s protective reflexes prevented Aberdeen from colliding with Treyst on her unicycle, and he showed interest in the vehicle while she delivered Sap samples.
393 AC - Refinery Conversion
Rossum accompanied Treyst through The Refinery’s narrow walkways to the control room, where Marmo greeted them and playfully nibbled on Rossum’s ankle.
393 AC - Rescue During City of Scholars Singularity
When a Tumult Singularity began forming in the City of Scholars excavation site, Rossum rushed from the lab and tackled Treyst to the ground, saving him from being crushed by a falling block of black stone, then helped Treyst escape during the emergency evacuation.
Relationships
- Treyst: Bonded partner through Musubi, creator of Automaton body that trapped Rossum
- Paju: Eidolon whose intended revival led to Rossum’s accidental creation
- Sierra: Original creator of the abandoned Automaton prototype used for Rossum’s body
- Fen: Lyra Alterer who gave Rossum scarf and mittens and taught him to wear them (~393 AC)
- Aberdeen: Sap courier whose unicycle interested Rossum (393 AC)
- Marmo: Subhash Kadis’s Chimera who playfully nibbled Rossum’s ankle at The Refinery (393 AC)
- Dredger Drone: Excavation machines Rossum observed with Treyst (393 AC)