Aza Macot

Aza or full name “Azazel” was raised as an orphan at one of the churches in a small town, never knowing his parents and left at the front steps as a baby. Given that name for his tiefling nature and the only one of his kind from the others in the orphanage, as a small town filled with mostly humans, he never knew another tiefling. Aza grew up timid and shy, bullied by the other kids and beaten by the nuns who scolded him for his fiendish blood. When he was 8, he was chased by a group of boys. He tripped, falling onto the streets and surrounded, but just as one of the boys was about to punch him, a violin bow came in between Aza and flicking the boy's face. A human woman had stopped the boys from hurting Aza, commanding them to go back. She helped Aza up, telling him he should learn to stick up for himself before continuing her song. Aza was completely entranced by the instrument and how strong she looked, from her tattoos and personality, to her physique. He begged her to teach him how to play. She seemed pretty surprised by his outburst and laughed. But she accepted, on the condition she’d get to teach him to fight too. The two introduced themselves properly to one another, now knowing her name as Nana. Aza trained under her for 5 years, becoming his mentor. They would go out into the near forest for days, weeks, sneaking away from the church for times. The two hunted and made Aza endure his strength and will, building him up. He learned how to handle well with a bow. It was tough, but even after her teachings she would reward him and praise his efforts along with his violin lessons. She practically became a mother figure to him. It was until his 13th birthday that he was given his own violin, specially crafted for him, ornate with details. She asked him to play for her. It was the first time he’d been given anything special. The next day when he went to see her, she had been gone. Aza asked all around, only to be told they had seen the woman travel along the path towards the next town. Again he was abandoned. Alone. He decided to run away from the orphanage to find his own path and to hopefully, find his old teacher again.

Aza had learned to steal, trick, and lie. He performed for his pay, playing the violin. Now growing up on the streets he had to fend for himself. His only friends seemed to be the animals that roamed the streets. When he was 14, a circus had come into the city he was in, and entranced by the flyers, he wanted to see the performances. He snuck in through the back where the animals were held. He had caught one of the tamers whipping at a tigers cage and yelling. Something about seeing the animals kept in cages made him angry, enraged, he knew the feeling of being treated in such a way. Though, for a young boy he knew he couldn’t free all the animals… so he had to settle for one. When the coast was clear he ran over to the tiger’s cage to free it, trying his best to show he was no threat. Talking to the creature to calm it, “I won’t hurt you… I know what you’re feeling." But one of the performers caught him just as he opened the cage. The tamer grabbed Aza by his shirt, pulling him up and raised a hand, but before he could strike the tiger pounced on the performer and clawed him, making him release Aza. Aza ran, making his way off, but stopping just out of the circus tent and motioning for the animal to run… and it did, towards him. The two ran together, but even though the animal could outrun him, it kept pace with Aza. The tiger kept a small distance from Aza, not fully trusting him, but not leaving him either. They’d sleep in alleyways and under bridges, keeping the tiger out of sight. Aza played his violin for coin, helping to feed the two of them. It wasn’t till the tiger was asleep that Aza was able to get the chains off the tiger, but doing so woke her up and pinned Aza down and growling. Aza motioned for the chains beside them to tell her that she was no longer captive and she was free. The tiger released him and went back to her spot in the alleyway, looking back at Aza and by the time he had fallen asleep, she had curled up next to him to keep him warm as it began to rain. Thus, where she got her name. For another time in his life, he felt safe with someone.

At the age of 21, Aza fell in love. Once. With a guard. In the city he lived in for some time now, Aza had made quite the name for himself as a thief, avoiding the crownsguard all the time. They met when the guards captain commanded they search for him after he stole a sack of coins from the captain. Aza thought he had made it home free and while looking through his loot, he found himself aiming an arrow at a man who snuck up on him. (insert comic i got done up to here) The tiefling looked up, surprised and scared by how fast the man was. Though, he caught an idea. He gave praise to the soldier who caught him. Aza tried to talk his way out and distract the guard. It’s what was all he needed to make the half elf drop his guard enough. It was just what he needed for Aza to reverse the hold, kick him down and grab his sword. Aza pointed it to the man's chest, obviously proud. “Looks like you were the only guard that was let down.” The man smirked, “Fair enough. You win this round.” Aza raised a brow, sword still prodded at the half elfs chest. The man looked back at Aza, giving him a good look, “Can I have my sword back please?” Aza examined the man, he was good looking… but he was a city dog. Dogs and cats dont play well with one another. “Maybe next time if we meet again~” Aza smirked, running off. Aza had plenty of run-ins with the soldier and it wasn’t till their 3rd meeting where the half elf was pinning Aza down on the ground that he got his name and Aza got his. Belanor Macot. The two seemed to like the chase. A game of cat and mouse. A soldier and a thief. Between Belanor’s shifts he would sneak off to meet with Aza. He would often bring food and gifts for him and Rain, in attempts to help Aza away from trouble. Kisses and long embraces were all that they needed. Belanor took Aza and Rain into his home. For once, a place Aza could call something that. The two were in love. Truly. Belanor had proposed to Aza only 3 months before things turned against them. Belanor took responsibility for a crime that was blamed on Aza. A murder upon an important individual in the city. Aza, furious and scared, didn't know what to do, telling Belanor he hadn’t done anything that could jeopardize him, let alone be a murderer. Belanor believed him. The night before Belanor turned himself in, he told Aza that he would settle this and clear Aza’s name, not telling him what he intended to do. The last thing he told him the night before was that nothing would come between them and that they would find each other once again. Though Aza didn’t know the true meaning of his words, spent their final night together embraced. The next day Aza got word of the sudden trial of Belanor for the murder of a man Aza didn’t know. He ran to the town square where on the stage was, cloaked to keep hidden. He wasn't able to get close, but had sight of his beloved. Belanor had a sword pointed at his throat, the captain of the guard asking Belanor to confess the truth. Aza knew what Belanor had done, hating every little thing about it and cursing at his lover for it, but knew what he wanted Aza to do. What it meant for him. He had left before hearing the verdict of whether Belanor lived or heard of his punishment. The last he saw of Belanor was him in shackles and blood smeared. It took everything in him for Aza to grab what he could and run away yet again to a new city. Aza still doesn’t know who truly did frame him and committed the crime, but he has a goal to find out and get his revenge. Deep in his heart he still believes that Belanor is alive and intends to find him once again.