Planus

Planus is Pentandra's Gilmoran cousin, "a very, very good practical adept. Got a good head for business. Commercial merchandise evaluation and assurance." Family has "had contracts in central Remere that stretch back two hundred, three hundred years." Pays 100,000 ounces of gold for a witchstone.

Physical description:

Planus looked every inch an eastern Practical Adept down to his silken robes and slippers, his thin goatee, and his plethora of rings and necklaces. He looked like a commercial mage used to the sophisticated life of prosperous affluence.

Handsome, smooth, charismatic:

the sort that can make you feel like a hayseed hedgemage on your best day.

Often smoking a pipe contemplatively. His Imperial mustache is a recurring feature.

Defends practical/commercial adepts in war debates:

What use is victory in the field when all behind you lies in ruin?

"Every step a soldier marches is on the backs of a hundred artisans and laborers." Volunteers in armor at Cambrian despite being a non-warmage. Defends Minalan against the dragon at Castabriel — "leaning on his slender staff, staring up at the dragon and looking thoughtful." Commissions Olmeg for agricultural review of his grain estates.

"A partner in a prestigious firm of Imperial magi whose roots dated to the late Magocracy, Planus had more or less purchased his stone outright. Planus had arrived the second day of the Convocation in regalia fit for an archmage. His firm had out-bid all of their competitors for lucrative contracts for upkeep on fortifications, bridges, canals." Pentandra says:

Planus is like my brother. He's a wonderful man, Min, don't mistake me. He'll make some normal girl a great husband and sire a roomful of brats.

Pays for Pentandra's wedding fete. Serious concern about reawakening the Celestial Mother:

That seems a dangerous pursuit, Minalan. Why would one want to do such a thing? I am all for pushing the art, I just propose doing so with all due wisdom and caution.

Moustache twitching at news of Pentandra's marriage. Helps select a paraclete baculus. Builds enchantments for business: crop-doubling wand (with Olmeg), merchandise-tracking spell, and a sincerity-detecting amulet — "knowing when the business associate he was speaking to was sincere cut past the simple matter of truth and revealed intention."

Finances-and-smuggling partner of Pentandra. Hosted her wedding party in Remere, told everyone. Pentandra calls on him for commerce: cotton futures, arranged commodity deals at six-and-a-half pennies a bushel at Remere port. "Planus was a perfectionist, and he continued to fiddle with the deals he made to get the best possible price long after a normal man would have walked away." Uses Supply Rods to establish a clandestine trade route Vorone-to-Remere. Smuggling remains their private secret — "not even Minalan. Not even Arborn."

Close business partner now. "A close friend and business partner, and he was ideally positioned to inform me of what was happening." Secret co-head of the Wizard's Mercantile. Co-founder of the Arcane Mercantile Company. Procures field-hospital supplies on Minalan's account. Commissions a river-silt dredging project to fertilize Vanador's fields. Sources flowers for a ducal event from Her Highness's homeland: "Planus always pays attention to that sort of detail."

Acts as Minalan's spy disguised as a Remeran cotton broker in Nion shadowing Count Anvaram. Sends intelligence mind-to-mind. "Every one of them, Planus assured. We had a bit of trouble coming through Northern Gilmora, but once we got to Cleston everything was fine. I made a profit, too." Humor:

I've never thrived as a soldier, but I'm quite enjoying playing the role of a camp follower.

Also facilitates establishment of the Remeralon archway.

Arrives at Vanador the instant word of Minalan's return breaks. "richly embroidered Remeran-style robes complete with skull cap, and his face was beaming." Reports Merwyn's incursion into Remere and names candidates for the Remeran Court Wizardship (including Pentandra's father and even Pentandra herself). Wistful:

I'm more likely to be challenged to a duel by a country knight than seduced by a maiden with a dagger in her bodice. It's refreshingly straightforward.

At the Magic Fair melee his short baculus appears from a hoxter pocket.

Facilitates the Remeralon archway installation. Minor but informative during the Mad Mage arc — keeps the Wizard's Mercantile running while Minalan is incapacitated.

Identified openly by Crown-aligned speakers as "one of the secret heads of the Wizard's Mercantile." Minalan decides to take Planus to Farise to introduce him to Asalon the Fair.

Facilitates Minalan's entire Farise operation through his smuggling contact Asalon the Fair — "member of the clandestine Wizard's Mercantile." Brings appropriate Farisian garments. "Oh, Asalon can get you anything — for a price." Reacts with shock at the Farisian Censorate news. Serves as Minalan's cover sponsor in Farise polite society. "Master Mirkandar's reputation is unmatched. Planus always looks like he's having a good time."