Oswin Fasthey
Oswin Fasthey (pronounced Fass-thee) was born in 1672 in The Green, in a town that was later recognised to be that of Mountainview Bay in the Dark Berry Islands to Maxwell and Angelina Fasthey, two well respected farmers. Fasthey is considered somewhat of a prophet in the Dark Berry Islands, where he has gathered a cult following.
Childhood and Murder
Fasthey grew up in the nearby village of Peaks-of-the-Gods on his father's farm as the fifth of six children. His older siblings, Cara (born 1661), James (born 1663) and twins Nathaniel and Irving (born 1668) took care of him before his younger sister, Sofia was born in 1678, during which is mother died during childbirth. Each morning he would rise before the sun and walk to the plot of land holding the sheep, and from a young age Fasthey was trusted to sheer his father's sheep. His father owned over 200 sheep, though the Fasthey farm held much more land for growing crops. After tending to the sheep in the morning, Fasthey would walk for several miles to school, after which he would return to the farmland to play with the other children of the village. His family was well respected by the other villagers, as the Fastheys would often donate spare produce to the village, as well as providing work for the unemployed on the farm and hosting village social events in their barn.
At the age of six, Oswin's mother died whilst giving birth to his sister Sofia. As a result, Oswin came to resent his younger sister, who he viewed as being the cause of his mother's death, whilst his older siblings, who had previously enamoured him with attention, switched to caring for their younger sibling. Consequently, Oswin became increasingly estranged from his siblings.
Oswin did continue to live at the family home though, as he maintained a positive relationship with his father Maxwell. As Oswin entered his teenage years, he began to travel with his dad to the farmer markets in Mountainview Bay. During this time, he became increasingly fascinated by the DBI independence movement, that often demonstrated near the farmers market. He eventually joined the DBI Youth in 1685 at the age of 13, and began travelling independently to rallies and meetings, hitching rides with other young independence activists.
Though Oswin's father also supported the independence movement, Maxwell was increasingly concerned that Oswin's activism would cause problems for the family, as some in the community were cautious about having to deal with the major world powers and the effects that international trade would have upon them. Furthermore, Oswin's activities distracted him from his role on the farm, and Maxwell, who had begun to develop arthritis, was in need of increasing assistance. Additionally, Oswin's social life that had been brought about through his activism had become the envy of his older siblings, who remained at home and working on the farm.
During the winter of 1686, things came to ahead. Oswin missed the wedding of his sister Cara to Michael Frenton, who came from a well respected family in Mountainview Bay, to attend a demonstration, his father banned him from leaving the house, and forced him to help his sister learn, as girls at this time in the Dark Berry Islands did not attend school. Oswin's resentment of Sofia led to him regularly beating her, causing the young girl bruises on her limbs. Sofia, however, was fearful of telling anyone, being so young and knowing that Oswin was well liked by both her father, the community and by the political rings of Mountainview Bay, tried to cover up her abuse. However, when James found the bruises on Sofia a few months later, he suspected that Oswin was behind it.
Maxwell in particular was furious. Ever since his wife had died, he had become particularly fond of Sofia, viewing her innocence and pureness as long reminders of his wife. When he found out, he confronted Oswin, beating him in revenge. However, Oswin had come prepared, an in the ensuing fight, he managed to draw his long knife, and stabbed his father in the heart, killing him slowly. Oswin immediately realised that the only family that had ever truly loved him, his father, was now dying on his lap, and despite his most sincere apologies, Maxwell succumbed to his injuries then and there.
Fleeing to the Keltian mainland
After murdering his father, Oswin had little choice but to flee the Dark Berry Islands. That night, he stole his father's horse and rode out down south through the island to Coxley Bay, losing his ensuing siblings along the way. From there, he stole a boat out to the Keltian mainland.
