Iakov Kolokoltsev

Sasha Antonov - Best Friend/Complicated Tsezar Bortsov - Adversary Yuri Pavlenko (†) - Adversary Lyosha Kozlov - Adversary Marina Vlasova - Adversary Altynbek Batiarov - Friend/Frequent Customer

Eventually, he was promoted to an enforcer. The job was straightforward: remind a man named Yuri of his debt. He was told to rough him up if needed, but not to kill him. It was supposed to be controlled. Quick. Routine. Instead, everything went wrong. Iakov lost control almost immediately. What should have been simple intimidation turned into chaos, raised voices, panic, a struggle he wasn’t prepared for. His judgment failed him, and his actions escalated, spiraling beyond what he could handle. By the time it was over, the damage had already been done. Not long after, Iakov was arrested. Just like that, whatever future he thought he was building collapsed before it had even begun.

After the war ended, Iakov began to see just how unstable and uncertain the economy of his country had become. Veterans who had fought for Nussia were left on the streets - abandoned, broken, and forgotten. Meanwhile, criminals were rising in the opposite direction, turning into successful businessmen, building their lives on blood and connections. The streets smelled of smoke and sweat. Neon signs flickered over broken pavement. Older boys walked like they owned the place, their eyes sizing him up.

Iakov didn’t want to end up on the wrong side of that divide. To him, it became clear that honest work led nowhere. If he wanted anything in life, he had to act fast - before whatever opportunities were left were taken by someone else. Through older acquaintances, he eventually got in touch with the “Tversovkaya Kompaniya”. His name meant nothing to them, and he had no reputation to rely on. So they gave him the only role he was fit for - running simple errands, delivering packages from point A to point B. He told himself it was only temporary, just a first step toward something bigger.

At first, the work seemed simple enough. Iakov kept his head down, followed instructions, and did what he was told. He proved reliable in the simplest way - never asking questions. That alone was enough for people to start noticing him.

Over time, he was trusted with slightly more than just deliveries. Nothing major at first - watching over a deal, standing nearby during collections, making sure nothing got out of hand. It wasn’t much, but to Iakov, it felt like progress. Like he was finally becoming someone.

Iakov was born in a poor district of Noskow to a widowed mother. He never knew his father - he died during the Reintegration War before Iakov was old enough to remember him. Before his father’s death, Iakov’s mother had been lively, warm, and full of energy. But the war took not only her husband - along with him, it seemed to take everything that had made her who she was. Over time, she withdrew into herself, becoming quiet and distant. She neither yelled nor hit him, nor did she punish him - but she also did not love him. She often forgot important dates for Iakov, like his birthday, which hurt him more than he was willing to admit.

Iakov grew up in a strange emptiness: without praise, without support, without any sense of being needed. He was the only child in the family, yet he felt like an outsider. Life in the poor district was harsh; strength and authority defined everything. Iakov was of average build, not especially strong, which didn’t give him much of an edge in fights.

Still, he craved attention from older boys. He watched them closely, copied their behavior, and ran small errands - fetching cigarettes or alcohol, sometimes keeping the change. Even the smallest praise felt like real recognition. Over time, he developed a certain kind of street smarts. He learned how to read people, avoid immediate trouble, and blend in when needed. But this awareness often worked against him - he second-guessed himself, hesitated, and made poor decisions when it mattered most.

To compensate, he adopted the persona of a “tough guy,” mimicking the confidence and aggression he saw in others. In reality, it was little more than a fragile front. Under pressure, that image quickly began to crack - his reactions betrayed him, his confidence collapsing the moment things escalated. Even a raised voice could unsettle him, exposing just how far he was from the role he tried so hard to play.

Iakov has messy red hair and noticeable freckles. In Strugatsky Park, he wears a flat cap, along with a black turtleneck under a heavy winter coat. His outfit is completed with cargo pants and plain black shoes.

Iakov is a tense and insecure young man who constantly tries to act tougher than he really is. He has strong street instincts and reads people well, but overthinking and hesitation often ruin his decisions. He craves recognition from stronger figures and builds a fragile “tough guy” persona to get it. Under pressure, that image quickly breaks, exposing his lack of real confidence.

Name: Iakov Kolokoltsev

Age: 22

Occupation: Courier

Creator: AdelHagil, sillywillo