Farago

Farago
Race	Altierran
Born	501
Age in “Snow”	55
Occupation/rank	Iniciador
Family

Farago was the Iniciador at Sometria when Meg Maddison was there. His attempt to molest her resulted in her striking him, thus resulting in her being pilloried.

Appearance

Farago is a stocky, middle-aged man with a heavy build and a sweaty, coarse appearance. He is balding on top, with thinning hair, and his face is fleshy rather than refined, giving him an unpleasant, grasping look. Overall, he comes across as physically imposing in a blunt, ungainly way rather than handsome or elegant.

Fat and dirty through too much food and too little exercise.

Character

Farago is cruel, arrogant and predatory. He is the Iniciador at Sometria, responsible for teaching novices the mechanics of “pleasuring” their future superiors, and he uses that role as an excuse for intimidation and abuse. He clearly enjoys the power imbalance between himself and the girls, especially Meg, whom he singles out after she resists him.

He is not subtle, and he is certainly not respectable. He is opportunistic, vindictive and petty, quick to threaten punishment when his authority is challenged. The novel makes it clear that he has a history of misconduct and that even within Altierra he is regarded as dangerous and morally compromised. His behaviour toward Meg is especially abusive: he invades her space, humiliates her, and uses his position to exert sexualised control.

Farago also seems cowardly in his own way. When Meg physically strikes him, he storms out in outrage rather than dealing with the situation properly, and later he tries to use the machinery of punishment to get revenge. He is the kind of character who hides behind official authority while behaving like a bully.

Very subservient towards the tutors and takes this out on the pupils, with unnecessary orders and subtle touching.

Speech

Farago speaks in a smug, authoritative, and threatening manner. He uses the title Maestro and insists on being addressed properly, always reminding others of rank and obedience. His speech is intrusive and patronising, often turning immediately to physical or sexualised remarks when he speaks to Meg.

He tends to talk at people rather than with them. His language is blunt, controlling and self-satisfied, and he often uses short commands or taunting remarks to dominate the conversation. When challenged, he becomes vulgar, angry and vindictive, with his speech growing more insulting and aggressive.

He also has the habit of justifying himself in a cold, bureaucratic way, as though his behaviour is merely part of the institution’s normal function. That makes him more unsettling: he does not sound like a manic villain, but like someone who believes his abuse is acceptable because it is sanctioned

Timeline

Year	Age	Event
501	-	Born
534	33	Became Iniciador
556	55	Maddisons enter Altierra. Meets Meg.

Farago was made Iniciador at Sometria at the age of 33 (year 534). An Iniciador is only meant to instruct novices and physical contact is limited to touching after the age of twelve (Touch Conditioning). However he sometimes had sex with the older girls and a blind eye was turned. Then he raped a girl under twelve and was disciplined, nearly being sacked. At the time of Meg's period at Sometria, he was much more cautious.

While Meg was at Sometria, his Touch Conditioning went too far and she hit him in the nose with her elbow. As a result she was pilloried and she hair shorn.

He is tolerated by the tutors at Sometria because he prepares novices for future situations, bearing in mind that they might need to pleasure an unpleasant master. If he was too respectful, they would not be prepared for all eventualities.

Images

Farago the Iniciador