Rusco
The Bargainborn
The Rusco are mysterious, fox-like humanoids born of a spoken bargain with an unknown force. A pact sealed not with parchment but with intent. Each Rusco arrives in the world fully grown, driven by an innate compulsion to fulfill a singular, enigmatic purpose tied to their existence. Until this purpose is achieved, they are haunted by a growing void, a gnawing emptiness that whispers from within. When the purpose is fulfilled, the burden lifts, and the Rusco may choose a mortal life free from divine strings or risk being lost in the silence forever. Wily, charming, and often misunderstood, Rusco walk the line between destiny and freedom with a flick of their tail and a clever grin.
All Rusco, whether they acknowledge it or not, are bound by a quiet force known only as the Unseen Listener, an entity who hears mortal desires whispered in desperation, rage, or grief. It is not a god. It has no temple. No clergy recite prayers in its name. But when a bargain is made, not through ink or blood, but by words spoken from the soul, the Listener hears and answers in kind.
Some believe the Listener is a forgotten archdevil cast from the Below. Others claim it is a fragment of a dead god’s will, a last breath given shape. A few whisper that the Listener is neither good nor evil but simply a force of cosmic balance, weaving promises into living threads through the creation of the Rusco. The truth is maddeningly elusive, for the Unseen Listener has never appeared, never spoken aloud, never demanded worship, yet its bargains always find a way to manifest.
Those who have studied Rusco creation theorize that the Listener dwells in the silence between heartbeats, the hush before a broken vow, or the final breath of a dying oath. Wherever it hides, it does not forget. And when a mortal pleads for something desperately enough to give anything in return, the Listener creates a Rusco to help fulfill it.
Bargains That Create a Rusco
Not all wishes echo loud enough to shape reality, but some do. A Rusco is born when a bargain, spoken with sincerity and desperation, is heard by the Unseen Listener and bound into being. The Rusco takes shape with no memory of the speaker, only the intent behind the words, and is drawn to fulfill it.
While rare and mysterious, most Rusco trace their origin to one of four distinct types of bargains, known collectively as The Four Threads:
The Protection Thread
A whispered plea to keep someone safe.These bargains are the most common source of Rusco. The speaker may be a dying parent, a hunted exile, or a desperate lover. Protection Rusco often appear near the one they’re meant to shield, drawn to danger like a moth to flame. They are fiercely loyal, sometimes to a fault, and may interpret their role as guardian in unexpected ways.
"If anything happens to me, let someone protect her."
The Vengeance Thread
A cry for justice or retribution.Born of fury or grief, these Rusco carry an edge. Whether it’s to avenge a death, expose a betrayal, or destroy a great evil, vengeance threads are often tangled and dangerous. Many Rusco of this thread struggle with control, haunted by whether fulfilling their purpose will truly bring peace or simply more blood.
"They will pay for what they did. I swear it."
The Guiding Thread
A wish to see another succeed.These Rusco appear as mentors, companions, or traveling strangers that offer the right advice at the right time. Their thread is not to interfere, but to guide. Often cryptic and wise beyond their years, Guiding Thread Rusco are drawn to crossroads, literal and metaphorical, and take pride in nudging fate without ever seizing the reins.
"Please… let them find their way."
The Finality Thread
A plea for remembrance, forgiveness, or closure.These are the rarest Rusco, born not of action, but of feeling. The Final Thread is often tied to unresolved emotional truths. Rusco of this kind may be musicians, letter-bearers, or soft-spoken storytellers with a need they don’t fully understand until the moment is right. Their journey is often poetic and bittersweet.
"Tell her I’m sorry."
Basic Information
Anatomy
Rusco resemble bipedal foxes with lithe frames built for agility and clever movement. Their fur is soft and dense, ranging in color from earthy reds and silvers to uncommon shades of violet, ash white, and obsidian black which is often marked by symmetrical patterns along the face or hands. Their eyes are especially striking, large and expressive with luminous irises in hues of gold, silver, or emerald green. When a Rusco is emotional or experiencing something connected to their Drawn Thread, the color intensifies, becoming almost unnatural in its glow.
Though naturally sleek and elegant, each Rusco bears faint elements of their origin, a quirk that hints at the bargain they were born from. A Protection Thread Rusco may have a streak of white fur across the chest, like a knight’s emblem. A Vengeance Thread Rusco might bear long scars that never fully heal, even if they were never wounded. Their clothing tends to be layered, fluid, and ceremonial, symbols of identity more than fashion. Some Rusco instinctively wear masks when first emerging into the world, as if remembering a moment they’ve never lived.
Do Rusco Have Purpose?
Yes, but not in a mortal sense of divine destiny. Their purpose is an emotional resonance to manifest a promise’s weight into the world. They are not servants of fate, but of intention. Their lives are the ripple of a stone thrown into the well of reality. The purpose isn't always heroic. It may be vengeance. It may be healing. It may be simply to exist as proof that words have power.
When Purpose is Fulfilled
When a Rusco fulfills the Drawn Thread that first pulled them into existence, they do not vanish or dissolve into dust. Instead, they awaken to something rare: the chance to live a life of their own choosing. The pull within them fades, replaced by a quiet clarity. Some describe it as the first breath of true freedom. They are no longer a creation of intent, but a person with the right to dream.
These Rusco often settle into lives among mortals, taking up trades, forming bonds, and exploring the unfamiliar sensation of self-direction. Others remain wanderers but now chase purpose of their own design, unbound by the past. Though memories of the Drawn Thread remain, it becomes a chapter instead of a definition. It is in these Rusco that creativity flourishes. Freed from their role, they often become poets, woodcarvers, or lorekeepers, blending instinct with expression in ways that surprise even themselves.
But not every Rusco is granted this peace.
When Purpose Is Denied
When a Drawn Thread is broken, whether through failure, tragedy, or impossible circumstance, the Rusco is left untethered. The internal compass that once guided every step turns to static. This loss is not merely emotional, it is existential. Rusco in this state feel a constant pressure beneath the skin, like a song they can’t remember stuck in the back of their mind.
Many describe it as a hollow ache, one that deepens with each passing year. They struggle to enjoy food, to sleep, or to form meaningful bonds. Some lash out, blaming the world. Others turn inward, becoming silent observers of life they feel no longer belongs to them.
While a few Rusco find ways to redirect their lives, through deep friendship, a new cause, or sheer force of will, most remain shadows of what they could have been, always wondering if the bargain that created them was ever meant to be answered.
Lifespan
Around 150 years
Average Height
Medium (about 4-7 feet tall) or Small (about 2-4 feet tall), chosen when you select this species
by Vagelio
Recognized and Remembered
When a Rusco walks into a settlement unnoticed, they are often welcomed for their disarming presence and quick wit. Many enjoy a reputation as talented musicians, cunning tradesfolk, or well read philosophers but once word spreads that a Rusco has an active Drawn Thread, reactions change. Whispers follow. Doors close early. Some stare with wonder. Others with fear. Among common folk, a Rusco is a living omen, an answer to a whispered prayer, or a consequence made flesh. The deeply religious may treat a Rusco with reverence or suspicion, believing they are agents of unseen forces and best left alone. Nobles and city officials view them cautiously. A Rusco’s presence is rarely coincidental, and in politically charged regions, it can be seen as a threat or a warning. Rumors persist of noble houses being undone not by war, but by a single Rusco arriving with a glimmer in their eye and a purpose still unfulfilled.
Vizeran De'vaj
Betrayer of Light and Law
In the wake of the Great Sacrifice, when the universe shattered and three new planes clawed their way into existence, the very essence of the three deities of light spilled into the world. The divine remains of Rezmir, of Light and Law , were the first to be unearthed. The remains should have gone to the faithful, safeguarded and sanctified. Instead, fate delivered them into the cunning hands of Vizeran De’vaj, a brilliant and power hungry Rusco wizard. Known for his unparalleled knowledge of planar bindings, Vizeran recognized the remains as priceless leverage. Without hesitation, he struck a deal with the Scarlet Walker, exchanging Rezmir’s divine remains for wealth. The Scarlet Walker, amused and eager, passed the remains to Vyse Tyranal, the Fallen Elf, who would twist the gift into a weapon against the gods themselves. Now reviled as a traitor among the faithful and whispered about in fearful tones across communities, Vizeran vanished from the world stage. Some say he walks the edges of The Below, a shadow wrapped in illusions. Others believe he serves the Scarlet Walker, forever bound to a greater game he cannot escape. To this day, his name is invoked in cautionary tales. A Rusco who fulfilled his purpose, but at what cost?
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