Cyril

Biodata

Background / History

Cyril spent years working for Baron Percival, handing over the gang’s earnings every month. The baron promised that he could eventually grant Cyril the title of Lord. Beyond collecting money, Percival ordered him to expand the Pickpocket Organization and submit performance records and written information about its members every six months 29.

Lorry’s predecessor belonged to Cyril’s organization and became one of its best pickpockets. Cyril rewarded successful work with visits to Sanson Bar, but punished disobedience or missed quotas by breaking pickpockets’ hands and feet. This conditioning left the original owner deeply afraid of him even after becoming an elite member 23 28.

On Percival’s instructions, Cyril forced Lorry’s predecessor to drink a blue-black liquid presented as a reward for the best pickpocket. He did not know that it was a potion or understand the baron’s purpose. The original owner lost consciousness afterward, and Lorry awakened in his body with incomplete Marauder abilities 1 18 29.

After Old Jack reported Lorry’s disappearance, Percival ordered him brought back. Cyril sent Glowa after him at the baron’s direction; Percival also supplied Glowa with a supernatural tracking treasure, which Lorry later identified as the Bird’s Beak. The pursuit led to the killing of the retired policeman who had sheltered Lorry in Koyar Village 29 30.

Appearance

• Build: Tall and powerfully muscular, with sharply defined features and an intimidating presence compared to a lion surveying its domain 23.
• Hair: Short, untidy blond hair 23.
• Right eye: Grayish-white, with a cold expression 23.
• Left eye: Covered by a black patch, with a conspicuous knife scar below the eyelid 23.

Personality

Cyril ruled through fear and demanded absolute obedience. He did not explain his decisions to subordinates, and his punishments created a lasting belief among the pickpockets that defying him would bring extreme suffering. When Lorry confronted him, he still described his former subordinate as a lowly pickpocket and a sewer rat 28 29 30.

He was cautious about threats to his position, but misjudged Lorry’s motives. Although warned that Lorry might return to Backlund, he assumed someone who had escaped danger would keep running. He also failed to understand why Lorry would risk his life to avenge an old man unrelated to him 29 30.

Under torture, Cyril pleaded for his life, offered money, and tried to recast his exploitation of Lorry as generosity. He emphasized having taken him in, rewarded his work, and merely followed the baron’s orders when administering the potion 28 30.

Abilities & Skills

Gang Leadership

• Directed enforcers, bodyguards, and trusted lieutenants across several businesses 23 27.
• Maintained private dealings with multiple police sergeants and received information from an informant at the police station 24 29.
• Recognized the danger of challenging Sivellaus Yard, warning Ben not to provoke the police while the gang remained in Backlund 27.

Ambushes and Security

• Used his apparent residence in Room 604 as bait while men waited in neighboring rooms; he emerged from Room 603 during the ambush 26.
• Avoided Calvin’s gunfire by immediately retreating into Room 603 when fighting began 26.
• Employed two visible bodyguards who checked his rooms for danger. When returning to his Cherwood Borough house, he doubled back before entering 23 27.
• Saul later stated that he had instructed Cyril how to set the trap; its design was not solely Cyril’s work 35.

Limitations

• Possessed no documented Beyonder abilities despite commanding Glowa, a Sequence 9 Sailor 15.
• Knew little about mysticism: he did not recognize the term “potion” and could not explain Percival’s intentions 29.
• Was unable to resist after Lorry anesthetized his household and broke all four of his limbs 27 28.

Businesses, Residences & Wealth

Relationships

• Lorry — Former subordinate and eventual killer. Lorry pursued him both for the forced potion administration and to avenge the retired policeman murdered during Glowa’s pursuit 18 30.
• Baron Percival — Patron and superior. Cyril remitted gang earnings, carried out his orders, and hoped to receive a noble title 29.
• Glowa — Subordinate responsible for the dock business and the pursuit of Lorry. His death weakened Cyril’s position against the Bloodhand Gang 23 29.
• Calvin — Rival gang leader seeking Cyril’s businesses and death. Cyril trapped his raiding party at Neeson Street 25 26.
• Ben — Trusted subordinate assigned to monitor Calvin’s men and arrange contact with Cyril’s patron after the clash 27.
• Ban — Trusted subordinate assigned to handle the battle’s aftermath, using bar takings if necessary 27.
• Saul — Percival’s Beyonder bodyguard, who taught Cyril how to set a trap and later disparaged his failure to stop Lorry 35 36.
• Unnamed female companion — Shared Cyril’s bedroom at Kingster Street. Lorry could not establish whether she was his wife or mistress 27 28.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Investigation and the Neeson Street Trap

• Lorry hired Detective Stuart to trace Cyril’s movements. Stuart abandoned the commission after surveillance indicated noble backing, then prepared to leave Backlund with his family 12 17.
• Continuing alone, Lorry observed Cyril’s daily movements but suspected that his easily discovered residence was bait 23.
• Lorry passed the address to Calvin, using the Bloodhand Gang’s raid to test that suspicion. Cyril’s men surrounded the attackers, confirming the trap 25 26.
• Ward’s intervention allowed Calvin’s party to leave. Cyril ordered continued surveillance of his rivals and returned to Cherwood Borough, unknowingly followed by Lorry 26 27.

Interrogation and Death

• Lorry pumped anesthetic gas into the Kingster Street house, incapacitated its occupants, performed a Soundproofing ritual, and confronted Cyril with his limbs broken 27 28.
• Torture forced Cyril to identify Percival as his patron and explain the potion, pursuit, and warning about Lorry’s possible return 29.
• After extracting his banking information, Lorry rendered him unconscious, copied his appearance with False Face, and sent the bodyguards away while impersonating him 30.
• Lorry concealed Cyril in a suitcase and drowned him beside the Tussock River. Removing him from the house was intended to avoid a murder investigation involving the Mandated Punishers and spirit channeling 30.

Aftermath

• Lorry withdrew the £300 in Cyril’s anonymous account and turned his investigation toward Percival 30 31.
• Gana later mentioned Cyril’s disappearance as a police case; Lorry openly admitted responsibility 33.
• Percival’s men nevertheless connected the disappearance to Lorry’s revenge. Saul captured him, and the baron used Cyril’s death as one of the offenses Lorry would have to “atone” for by completing a task 35 37.

Notable Quotes

“Ben, unless we decide one day that we’re leaving Backlund for good, never provoke Sivellaus Yard lightly.” 27

“That old policeman? He wasn’t even related to you! You didn’t know each other before!” 30