Briar Moss
Briar Moss, once known as 'Roach', is a fictional character from Tamora Pierce's quartets Circle of Magic and The Circle Opens as well as the stand-alone The Will of the Empress.
Briar is of unknown, multiracial parentage. He is described as having straight black hair and brown skin, typical to natives of Sotat, his birthland, but with a Western nose and light, gray-green eyes.
Background
Briar Moss was, in early life, a street rat called 'Roach'. In The Circle of Magic quartet, he is about 10; in The Circle Opens quartet, he's 14; and in The Will of the Empress, Briar is 18. His mother was killed when he was approximately four, and he joined a gang, the Lightnings, led by the 'Thief-Lord', in Deadman's District in Hajra. He was caught three times, recieving a tattoo of an X on the webbing between each thumb and forefinger for the first two; on the third he was sentenced to life at the docks. A passing mage, Niklaren Goldeye, caught sight of the trial, saw Briar's psychic affinity with plants, and took him to Winding Circle Temple to be educated in plant magic.
Although initially a thief, Briar developed a strong sense of right and wrong, which would serve as a weapon against criminals and seductresses. He is cantankerous, but possesses profound loyalty to his foster-sisters Daja Kisubo, Sandreline fa Toren, and Trisana Chandler, as well as a cutting sense of humor. His affinity with all things botannical has made him not only a master gardener, but has also led to such oddities as stealing and later coming to own an ancient, magic-storing, miniature pine tree called a shakkan, tattoos of flowers that live and grow under his skin (he attempted to tattoo over his prisoner X tattoos with vegetable dyes and one of Sandry's needles), and the ability to control growth of plants.In the Will of the Empress he became some what of a lady's man. Also in the book he was having some troubles sleeping.
Magic
Briar has plant magic and his teacher is Dedicate Rosethorn, who is also a plant mage. Briar can make plants grow very quickly and move them to any form, like creating a snare from a vine. Rosethorn taught him how to make medicines and restore them to their full potential. He also enjoys and makes money by caring for shakkans (similar to bonsai), trees kept small which usually store magic in the way the plant looks.
Orpheus
In Circle of Magic - Briar's Book, a deadly epidemic threatens everyone in the city. His friend, Flick, catches "Blue pox", as it is called.
Student
In Street Magic, Briar finds Evumeimei Dingzai (Evvy), a former slave, who has stone magic. Evvy refuses to go with the nearest stone mage (Jebilu Stoneslicer) and thus, Briar must become her teacher. Briar teaches her meditation and at the same time about rocks and what they are used for. Evvy calls Briar's plants 'stone killers', because their roots dig into rocks and destroy them over time.
Sources
See also
- Tamora Pierce
- Circle of Magic
- The Circle Opens
- Briar's Book
- Street Magic
- The Will of the Empress
- Sandrilene fa Toren
- Trisana Chandler
- Daja Kisubo
External links
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