Anthony al-Osman

Anthony al-Osman, proprietor of the establishment as of 1712 AN.

Known in certain circles as "Fat Tony", Anthony al-Osman is the current Lord Proprietor and Captain-General of the Regiment of the Blackfriars', landlord of the Blackfriars' Redux, and is of noble Raspurid stock.

Born in 1652 AN to Ardashir Malik Mirza Khan al-Osman (1622-1712) and an unknown native woman of Tiegang, Anthony al-Osman was one of the Babkhan disaspora whose ancestors had come to south-eastern Apollonia in the aftermath of the 1598 Babkhan Holocaust.

Noted for his corpulence, Anthony al-Osman was of scant notoriety on any other account prior to his acquaintance with the Society for Benevolent Investment, a relationship only uncovered after the leaking of the Iron Harbour Papers. The society was believed to be the silent partners behind the pub management company operating the Blackfriars' Redux, where Anthony had inherited the position of landlord from his father in 1712 AN.

Biography

Anthony al-Osman was born in Tiegang and grew up in a small village on the outskirts of the city. His father, Ardashir Malik Mirza Khan al-Osman, was a noble Raspurid who had been exiled from Babkhan following the 1598 Holocaust.

Education and early life

As a child, Anthony was educated by tutors who were hired by his father to teach him the ways of the Raspurid nobility. He learned the history and culture of his people, as well as the martial arts and other skills necessary for a member of the ruling class.

Despite his privileged upbringing, Anthony was not a particularly accomplished student. He struggled with subjects like mathematics and science, and preferred to spend his time playing with his friends or indulging in his love of food.

As he grew older, Anthony's father became increasingly disappointed with his lack of progress. He began to fear that Anthony would not be able to take over the family business and maintain their status in Tiegang society.

In an effort to toughen him up, Anthony's father enrolled him in a military academy in Tiegang. But Anthony's lack of discipline and tendency towards laziness made him a poor candidate for military service, and he was eventually expelled from the academy.

Feeling like a failure, Anthony returned home and began to work in his father's pub, the Blackfriars' Redux.

In the family trade

After his expulsion from military academy, Anthony al-Osman returned to Tiegang and began working at the Blackfriars' Redux, the pub owned by his father. At first, he was assigned menial tasks like cleaning and serving customers, but as he grew more comfortable with the work, he began to take on more responsibilities.

Over the years, Anthony learned the ins and outs of running a successful pub. He learned how to keep the place clean and well-stocked, how to handle difficult customers, and how to keep the books. He even developed a knack for cooking, and would often prepare meals for the customers himself.

Despite his growing competency, Anthony's father remained skeptical of his abilities. He was afraid that Anthony would not be able to take over the pub and maintain their family's standing in Tiegang society.

His father's fears were not wholly without foundation. Anthony, who was known for his love of food and drink, comtinued to indulge in his vices a little too much. He would often drink to excess and eat too much, and this began to take a toll on his health.

As he grew more and more overweight, Anthony's father became concerned about his son's well-being. He tried to intervene and get Anthony to take better care of himself, but Anthony rebelled and continued to indulge his cravings.

One night in 1687, after drinking too much, Anthony stumbled into the wrong part of town and ended up in a seedy tavern. There, he met a young woman named Yuan Mei, who was known for her beauty and her scandalous reputation.

Mei, who quickly sized up the elephantine bulk of Anthony as an easy mark, began to seduce him. She flirted with him, flattered him, and eventually convinced him to go back to her room.

The next morning, by his own subsequent account, Anthony woke up in Mei's bed, naked and with a terrible hangover. He quickly realised the gravity of the situation, and tried to leave without being seen.

But it was too late. Someone had seen him coming out of Mei's room, and word quickly spread throughout Tiegang. Soon, everyone was talking about the scandal, and Anthony's reputation was in tatters.

His father was furious, and threatened to disown him if he didn't clean up his act. Anthony, who was ashamed and humiliated, vowed to change his ways. He stopped drinking, and worked harder than ever to prove himself to his father and to regain his lost respect.

But as time went on, Anthony began to prove his worth. He worked hard and showed a keen understanding of the business, and gradually won his father's respect and trust.

Landlord of the Blackfriars' Redux

Despite his early struggles, Anthony eventually learned to manage the pub effectively, and inherited the position of landlord from his father in 1712 AN. Today, he continues to run the Blackfriars' Redux and is known in certain circles as "Fat Tony".