Rosto the Piper, originally from Scanra, comes to Tortall in 246 HE. Aniki Forfrysning and Koramin Ingensra accompany him. Not even two months after his arrival, Rosto is already the new Rogue in Corus. Tamora Pierce based Rosto on Spike from Buffy^[1].

BiographyEdit

Life in ScanraEdit

Presumably he was born around 225 HE^[2]. Not much is known about Rosto's social background, although it is rumoured that his family were merchants or even nobility in Scanra^[3]. However, this is contradicted by the fact that his mother was a Player known as the "Dancing Dove". She was considered beautiful and it's unknown when she died or how. Rosto later named an inn after her.^[4] But no one can be sure as he doesn't use his surname anymore and is only called "the piper" because he plays the pipes well. Nothing is known about how he came to be a criminal or how he met Aniki Forfrysning and Koramin Ingensra, either.

Life in TortallEdit

Rising in the Court of the RogueEdit

Together with Aniki and Kora he comes to Corus in late March of 246 HE. They quickly form ties with the Court of the Rogue and Rosto is hired on by Ulsa^[5], the Rogue's chief of Prettybone District. Rosto even saves the Rogue, Kayfer Deerborn, from being stabbed by Crookshank^[6]. But Rosto doesn't only make friends with criminals. He and his two female friends move into the same lodgings as Rebakah Cooper, a member of the Provost's Guard. Rosto even shows a romantic interest in Beka, although he has had both Aniki and Kora as girlfriends until Kora found a new lover in Ersken Westover. However, Beka doesn't reciprocate his feelings, which doesn't discourage Rosto in the least.

Rosto not only befriends Beka, but also her fellow Dogs Ersken Westover and Phelan Rapp. The latter subsequently becomes a member of the Court of the Rogue, too, after he quits the Provost's Guard. Phelan's decision to not only leave the Dogs but even changing his attitude towards the law might have been greatly influenced by Rosto, who talked to him the day preceding his decision.

Rosto is attacked by two brothers, who were hired by Ulsa, in the end of April of 246 HE. He manages to stay alive and kill them instead and has a new scar as a result.^[7] When she learns that Rosto is still alive Ulsa gives him the position of gang-chief, showing her favour for him and trying to discourage rumours that she had a hand in the assault.^[8] In early May of 246 HE he spent a night in the cages after he started a tavern fight by insulting the current Rogue and some Dogs took offence by his opponent's landing in their supper^[9].

The Rogue of CorusEdit

Rosto challenges the current Rogue, Kayfer Deerborn, on May 11 of 246 HE and kills him thus becoming the new Rogue of Corus.^[10]

Rosto bought a lodging house from Mistress Trout and rebuilt it into an inn in 246 and 247 HE. In September of 247 HE the place became his new court and he named it the Dancing Dove, after his dead mother.^[4] Earlier that year, in the summer, the red flux was a common disease in Corus. Rosto was one of the sick^[11], although he, unlike others, survived. By autumn of 247 HE Rosto has developed a habit in leaving gillyflowers on Beka's doorstep whenever something particularly good or bad happens to her.^[12]

In autumn of 247 HE the harvest wasn't going very well and there were additional rumors of mold in the crop. Rosto, following the Law of the Rogue, has been buying grain from the Copper and Yamani Islands to ensure his people are properly fed, should things get to the worst.^[13]

In 247 HE he was going "through mots like ducks through water", probably to distract himself from Beka's absence and her being with another man^[14].

Physical descriptionEdit

Rosto is five feet ten inches (5'10") tall and muscled, although slender built. He has dark eyes, although his hair and skin are quite pale, nearly white. He has sharp bones, high cheekbones and quite a few blade scars originating from former fights. On his left eyebrow he has a Y-shaped scar. Rosto's nose is long. He has a full lower lip and a thin upper lip. In his left ear he carries an earring in the form of a silver skull and he normally has several knives on him.^[2] In the time that Beka knows him Rosto acquires further scars after fights he won. One of them is the result of two brothers attacking him on Ulsa's orders^[7]. Another comes from his fight against Kayfer Deerborn; a long one down one cheek.

Beka refers to him as "Scanran pretty boy" quite a few times.

In an interview/book signing, Pierce added that Rosto's appearance was based on that of the character "Spike" (James Marsters) from the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" TV series.

Personality and traitsEdit

Rosto is polyamorous, having an affair both with Aniki and Kora in the beginning. He also likes to flirt and Beka seems to be the first woman who doesn't return his advances. In addition to this Rosto is vain, particularly in concern to his very fair hair^[15].

As the Rogue he watches after his people and ensures their well-being in bad times. Even though he is greedy like most crooked people, he also knows that turning out false coins is contra-productive and wouldn't dare producing false silver. He's also quite clever for a Rogue and has "some kind of book-learning to go with it".^[16] As opposed to Pearl Skinner he also doesn't make his help or even listening to the needs of his people dependant of their bringing him gifts first, but only takes bribes in private and when people want to thank him, they just need to thank him, without any material presents.^[17]

SkillsEdit

Rosto is highly adept at fighting with knives, which is not only shown by his many scars, but also by the fact that he always carries half a dozen with him.

He can also play the flute quite well, which got him his name "the Piper".^[18]

AppearancesEdit

• Terrier
• Bloodhound (only beginning and end)

ReferencesEdit

See alsoEdit

v · d · eProvost's Dog Books Terrier • Bloodhound • Mastiff (2011) Places Corus Barrel's Bottom • Cesspool • Dancing Dove • Flash District • Glassman Square • Jane Street kennel • Lower City • Mantel and Pullet • Market of Sorrows • Mutt Piddle Lane • Naxen's Fancy • Nightmarket • Nipcopper Close • Olorun River • Sheepmire Tavern • Waterfront District Port Caynn Waterlily • Eagle Street Court • Guards House • Ladyshearth Lodgings • Merman's Cave • Rattery Prison Events Opal Murders • Dead Men's Riots • Bread Riot • Counterfeiting of 247 HE v · d · e Characters v · d · eResidents of Corus Nobles King Roger • Queen Jessamine • Lady Sabine • Sir Tullus • Acton of Fenrigh • Lord Gershom • Lady Teodorie Guards Kebibi Ahuda • Wulfric Birch • Rebakah Cooper • Fulk • Clara Goodwin • Ercole Hempstead • Hilyard • Jakorn • Nyler Jewel • Otelia • Phelan Rapp • Rollo • Silsbee • Matthias Tunstall • Verene • Ersken Westover • Osgyth Yoav Rogues Kayfer Deerborn • Dawull • Ulsa • Rosto the Piper • Aniki Forfrysning • Koramin Ingensra • Bold Brian • Fiddlelad • Lady May • Reed Katie Commoners Jack Ashmiller • Orva Ashmiller • Ashmiller children • Jungen Berryman • Diona Cooper • Fern Cooper • Ilony Cooper • Lorine Cooper • Nilo Cooper • Philben Cooper • Willes Cooper • Tomlan Goodwin • Vrinday Kayu • Ammon Lofts • Annis Lofts • Herun Lofts • Rolond Lofts • Tansy Lofts • Uta Norwood • Inman Poundridge • Deirdry Noll • Gemma Noll • Yates Noll • Gunnar Espeksra • Amaya Painter • Mother Cantwell • Myaral Fane • Ulfrec Fane • Master Sholto • Otho Urtiz • Ashmari • Garnett • Geraint Pell • Madon Pell v · d · eResidents of Port Caynn Guards Lionel of Trebond • Nestor Haryse • Terart Axman • Enno • Ives • Anglesea • Shales Rogues Pearl Skinner • Hansevor Remy • Zolaika • Jurji • Steen Bolter • Torcall Jupp • Fair Flory Others Isanz Finer • Wenna Finer • Meraud Finer • Okha Soyan • Truda • Haden • Dale Rowan • Durant Elkes • Serenity Animals Pigeons Ashes • Fog • Inky • Mumper • Pinky • Slapper • Spangle • White Spice Others Achoo • Fuzzball • Laddybuck • Pounce