Difference between revisions of "Waxillium Ladrian"

|image=Waxillium Ladrian.jpg

|family=[[House Ladrian]]

|relatives=[[Edwarn Ladrian|Edwarn]], [[Hinston]]

|siblings=[[Telsin Ladrian|Telsin]]

|born={{date|299|FA}}

|ethnicity=Terris

|residence=Elendel

|world=Scadrial

|universe=[[Cosmere]]

}}

{{quote

|The definition of a lawman, Uncle, is easy... He's the man who takes the bullet so nobody else has to.

|Wax{{book ref|mb6|29}}

}}

 

== Appearance and Personality ==

{{for|/Gallery|more images}}

{{quote

|Wax{{book ref|mb4|15}}

}}

 

 

{{sidequote

|side=right|size=300px

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When on patrol, Wax adds a shotgun to the pocket of his tasseled mistcloak and straps on a gunbelt fully stocked with spent bullet casings and whiskey-filled metal vials, to compliment the dual pistols holstered on his hips.{{book ref|mb4|1}}

 

== Attributes and Abilities ==

=== Metallic Arts ===

Waxillium is a Crasher; a [[steel|Coinshot]] and [[iron|Skimmer]] Twinborn.{{book ref|mb4|1}} The combination of these abilities makes Waxillium a particularly dangerous individual since the strength of a Steelpush is largely dependent on the mass of the Allomancer.

Waxillium is an extremely skilled Coinshot.{{book ref|mba1|1}} Perhaps the biggest mark of his mastery is his ability to regulate the strength of his Steelpushes. Generally, Allomancers find it too hard to maintain a fine control over their Steelpushes, so instead most opt to regulate the length of the time of them. Levitating without bobbing up and down, for example, requires extreme discipline that few Allomancers can achieve; most use short bursts of Steelpushes, fall down, then Push again.{{book ref|mb2|17}} Waxillium is able to apply enough pressure on a small metal rod to make it stick to the side of a table without moving the table itself with ease.{{book ref|mba1|5}}

 

 

==== Feruchemy ====

 

==== Hemalurgy ====

 

=== Law Enforcement ===

|Marasi on Wax's notable cases{{book ref|mb4|4}}

}}

* [[Pars the Deadman]], a butcher turned murderer. Wax needed Miles Hundredlives to bring him in.

* [[Bloody Tan]], an unhinged mortician who created grisly scenes with his victims bodies.

* [[Paalm]], an insane kandra.

* [[Edwarn Ladrian]], Wax's long lost uncle and member of the Set.

 

=== Other Skills ===

Wax is a talented marksman, preferring to use two guns at once. Miles Hundredlives stated that Wax was the finest marksman he had ever seen, and had seen him make shots that he would have thought impossible. He has been shown to shoot a bullet that was put off course by the speed bubble of a [[bendalloy|Slider]], scoring a lethal shot as a result.{{book ref|mb4|19}} However, due to a traumatic misfire that resulted in the death of a loved one, [[Lessie]], Wax tends to act nervously when faced with hostage situations.

 

 

== History ==

=== Early Life ===

 

=== The Village ===

In his early years in the [[Roughs]], Wax developed an image of himself as a "Gentleman Bounty Hunter"; although initially incompetent and unfamiliar with his Twinborn abilities, he would eventually hone them. At one point, he had a deputy named [[Paclo]].{{book ref|mb4|15}} He pro-actively worked with other law enforcers in the area, eventually working with [[Jon Deadfinger]] and finding a 17 year old [[Wayne]] who he would ultimately spare from execution and turn his life around to become a lawman.{{book ref|mb5|prologue}}

 

 

After the reported death of his uncle, Wax was implored to return to Elendel to begin managing the ledgers of his house. Initially ignoring this request, Wax chose instead to hunt the murderous [[Bloody Tan]] as his final bounty. In a horrifying turn of events, Waxillium mistakenly shot Lessie in the forehead when he attempted to free her from Bloody Tan's clutches. With nothing left for him in the Roughs, Wax returned to his family mansion in Elendel.{{book ref|mb4|Prologue}}

After the wedding was interrupted by the arrival of bandits from the Vanishers gang, who proceeded to rob the lords and ladies in attendance at gunpoint, Wax initially refused Wayne's insistence that he take up a pistol--having convinced himself that the Elendel constabulary would be able to handle the disturbance with far less bloodshed. When the gang went too far, killing a man and taking Steris as a hostage, Wax admitted that he could not stand idly by, and attacked the gang with his backup pistols and the full fury of his Steelpushing.{{book ref|mb4|5}} In the ensuing gunfight, Wax, Wayne, and Steris' cousin [[Marasi]] worked together to subdue the majority of the attackers, while successfully minimizing civilian casualties. When Marasi was suddenly held at gunpoint by one of the gang, in the same fashion as Lessie a year ago, Wax nearly froze up again. Marasi struggled, successfully stunning the Vanisher holding her, momentarily opening up the shot for Wax--forcing him to make a choice to overcome his fear to pull the trigger and save her. As the robbers retreated, Waxillium was surprised to discover the identity of the Vanishers' leader, [[Miles Dagouter|Miles "Hundredlives" Dagouter]]--another former lawman from the Roughs.{{book ref|mb4|6}}

 

 

Eventually discovering the location of the Vanishers' hideout and confirming Hundredlives' involvement, Wax began forming a plan to take down the unbeatable, former lawman.{{book ref|mb4|10}} Focusing his attention on puzzling out the Vanishers' peculiar robbery methods, Wax was taken by surprise when the Vanishers attacked his train en route back to Elendel.{{book ref|mb4|12}} Wounded in the attack and shaken by Hundredlives' claim that the real evil in the world is the corruption of Elendel itself{{book ref|mb4|13}}, Waxillium escaped to [[Ranette]]'s house, where he obtained [[Hazekiller]] bullets and a new prototype revolver, [[Vindication]].{{book ref|mb4|14}}

Newly rescued, Steris suggested to Wax that their shared ordeal afforded the two of them an opportunity to speed up their marriage contract and announce their engagement much sooner then previously planned. Initially hesitant, Wax agreed that the couple should move forward with Steris' suggestion, endeavoring to push away any potentially romantic thoughts of Marasi and bury his painful memories of Lessie.{{book ref|mb4|20}}

 

 

====Tormented by the Past====

His pursuit of Bleeder waylaid by a dozen armed men, Wax was convinced that she must be aligned with the Set. Wax listened closely as Bleeder spoke in his mind of her plans to kill the governor and free the city from Harmony's influence, but first she claimed she would need to murder Wax's father. Guessing that she must have been threatening Lord Harms' life, Wax raced across the city, spiriting the old man and Steris to separate, secret locations. Finally believing he had moved one step ahead of Bleeder, Wax reported to Governor Innate to warn him of the dire threat to his life, only to discover that during his absence Bleeder had brutally killed [[Father Bin]], the [[Survivorist]] priest who was to perform his marriage ceremony to Steris.{{book ref|mb5|12}}

 

 

{{sidequote

Seeking more information on Bleeder, Wax entered the museum in the [[Field of Rebirth]]. Locating the secret path through the historical [[atium]] mines, Wax entered the cavern leading to the Homeland, and encountered [[TenSoon]], legendary wolfhound of the [[Ascendant Warrior]]. TenSoon told Wax much of Bleeder's history and showed him a torn up and desecrated copy of the [[Words of Founding]]--the product of one of her last acts before leaving the Homeland and evidence of her descent into madness.{{book ref|mb5|20}} Wax and TenSoon found themselves chased from the Homeland by the sudden appearance of [[Hemalurgic chimera]]s--deformed humans under Bleeder's control--but not before Wax came to realize the full scope of her plan. She didn't want to simply kill the governor; she wanted to incite a city-wide riot.{{book ref|mb5|21}} Wax immediately returned to Innate's mansion, intent on saving his life once and for all. After entering the governor's study, Wax noticed a carefully placed gumball, which he recognized to be a sign of trouble, left for him by Wayne. Immediately realizing the truth--that Bleeder had been secretly impersonating the governor the entire time--Wax pulled out his gun. Bleeder opened fire first, killing Innate's guards as she escaped out the window.{{book ref|mb5|22}}

 

 

====Confronting a Memory====

Joined on the train to New Seran by Steris, who was becoming increasingly familiar and useful company, Wax soon found it difficult to interrupt her intense reading of a book. He needed to mine her keen knowledge of local politics and slake his curiosity after he noticed increased protests of Elendel's tariffs, visible out the windows as they passed through the outer cities. Distracting her further, Wax was delighted to finally catch a glimpse of what had earlier held Steris' attention so doggedly--she had been reading a book on basic human reproduction. Mortified, Steris attempted to change the subject, but the discovery only added to Wax's growing affection for the woman.{{book ref|mb6|5}}

 

 

After securing the train and allowing a doctor to tend to his wounds at [[Ironstand]] station, Wax began to worry that the still missing Wayne might have been seriously hurt or incapacitated in the battle. Wax's concern soon melted to annoyance when his long search of the train turned up both Wayne and MeLaan who were holed up together in a private compartment, groggy from a tussle of their own.{{book ref|mb6|9}}

 

Eventually arriving in New Seran, Wax and Steris agreed that the best way to begin their investigation was to attend a ball at the home of Lady [[Kelesina Shores]], where they would be sure to scrape as much information as possible from the city's upper crust. As they approached the mansion, Wax gave a bank note to a well spoken [[Hoid|beggar]]{{book ref|mb6|11}}, who insisted he take in exchange a strange coin, made of two different metals, branded with the face of a man spiked through one eye, and covered in symbols that Wax could not read. Separating, the two mingled among the elite and gathered what rumors they could, including some regarding a hushed building project that may have involved Allomancers, north east of the city. Gruff around the edges as ever, and surrounded by as practiced liars and thieves as he had ever faced before, Wax knew he still had a lot to learn about politics. Still, he gained more information than he expected, even detecting that there was more going on with Lady Kelesina than she let on. Interrupted just as he was about to extend an invitation to Lady [[Felise Demoux]], Wax instead shared a dance with [[Khriss]], who was excited to question Wax extensively about his particular pairing of Feruchemical and Allomantic abilities. Pushing for more information than seemed proper, and displaying an uncomfortably high level of knowledge of his powers, Khriss increased Wax's already heavy suspicions, as he returned to asking other guests of the party questions of his own.{{book ref|mb6|12}}

 

Sensing that Lady Kelesina was making a quick escape from the party, Wax scrambled to find a way to exit in pursuit, without alerting anyone that he was following. Ever prepared, Steris armed Wax with a pistol she had snuck into the dance and then produced the requisite distraction, from the bottom of a vial of ipecac.{{book ref|mb6|13}} Following as carefully as possible, Wax caught up to Kelesina deep in her mansion, where he overheard the unmistakable voice of his uncle through the door to her bedroom. Wax listened as Edwarn detailed his involvement in both the train robbery from the day before as well as further plans to stymie Wax and keep him off his trail.{{book ref|mb6|15}} Bursting through the door without any hesitation, Wax was immediately disarmed by Kelesina's [[pewter]]-burning steward. Beckoned by Edwarn, whose words were actually emitted from an odd voice projector sitting in the room, the steward turned and murdered Kelesina with Wax's gun, tidily implicating him, a visiting noble from Elendel, in the assassination of one of New Seran's political elite.

 

With the timely arrival of MeLaan, Wax fought his way out of the mansion and escaped with Steris, who he found waiting for him behind a shrub outside. Taking her close, Wax Steelpushed their way straight up into the sky and through the evening mists, which gave way to the breathtaking view of [[Vin#Post-Catacendre Myths and Culture|The Ascendant's Field]], where they shared a quiet moment of mutual respect and kissed above the clouds.{{book ref|mb6|16}}

 

Halted by a door which was inscribed with writing that none of them could decipher, Wax returned to the entrance of the temple, where Steris, Marasi, and Wayne held Edwarn at gunpoint; his expedition had arrived at the temple just before Wax's return. Edwarn claimed to know the secret to opening the temple's final door and threatened Wax that he had an overwhelming force of Allomancers and goons surrounding the temple who would not hesitate to kill every member of Wax's pitiful group, unless he was allowed to join them in collecting the Bands.{{book ref|mb6|25}} When the temple's last chamber proved to be missing the Bands, Wax suddenly found himself in an armed standoff with Telsin, who he had rightly suspected to be a mole for the Set. Both siblings fired at once; Wax's bullet went wild and missed, but Telsin's shot hit Wax just below the neck. A number of bullets later, Wax fell into a pit below the Bands' supposed resting chamber.{{book ref|mb6|26}} Trailing blood and weakening by the moment, Wax was soon tracked down by Edwarn, now fully revealed as an Allomancer, by way Hemalurgic spikes. Edwarn cruelly triggered another of the temple's traps, which collapsed the roof and crushed Wax's already wounded body under a punishing avalanche of rubble. In a daze, Wax was forced to watch helplessly as his uncle approached, unholstering his pistol and intent on finishing him off. When Wayne arrived to attempt his rescue and broke down at the sight of him, Wax used his remaining breath to tell his friend to go on living and keep fighting. No longer able to hold on, Waxillium Ladrian died.{{book ref|mb6|27}}

 

 

====Return====

|Wax clenched his jaw, but couldn't force down the trembling that took him. He lived it again, holding her as she died. Knowing he'd killed her. That hatred seethed inside of him. Hatred for Harmony. Hatred for the world. And yes. Hatred for himself.

|Wax reflects on Lessie's death.{{book ref|mb6|28}}

}}

 

 

Wax finally returned to Elendel, where he gave over the spearhead into the hands of the kandra. No longer willing to put it off, and ready to move on with his life, Wax convinced Steris to marry him in a quiet ceremony, highlighted by their newly blossomed love for each other.{{book ref|mb6|31}} On their honeymoon, Wax was suddenly awakened by the sound of an explosion in the distance. Wandering their suite, Wax found himself absently handling the dual metal coin that the beggar had given him, before the party in New Seran. Looking closely at the coin for what seemed like the first time, Wax hesitantly tested tapping it like a metalmind, which sprang to life a copper-stored memory, seemingly belonging to the mysterious [[Sovereign]].{{book ref|mb6|epilogue}}

 

== Relationships ==

{{image|Wax and Wayne by GisAlmeida.jpg|side=right|width=200px|Wax with Wayne}}

 

After returning to Elendel, Wax reluctantly enters into a marriage contract with [[Steris Harms]], in order to benefit both their houses. It is here that Wax meets [[Marasi]], Steris' illegitimate half-sister. It seemed like Wax and Marasi would develop a romantic relationship, however, this does not come to pass. Eventually, he becomes fascinated by the idiosyncrasies of [[Steris]], leading them to fall in love and marry for emotional reasons.

 

== Quotes ==

 

* Wax has drawn upon the mists at some point.{{wob ref|5172}}

 

== Notes ==

{{Mistborn|Era 2}}

[[category: viewpoint characters]]