Per Haskell

Per Haskell
Biographical Information
Alias(es)	Old man
Status	Alive
Physical Information
Gender	Male
Hair Color	Gray
Affiliation
Nation	Kerch
Occupation	Gang leader (former)
Organizations	The Dregs (former)
Appearances
First seen	Six of Crows
Last seen	Crooked Kingdom

Per Haskell was the leader of the Dregs until he was overthrown by Kaz Brekker.

Biography

Under Per Haskell, the Dregs were a laughably weak gang, primarily running penny-poor cons without any real territory. When Kaz Brekker realized Pekka Rollins was the one who conned him, Kaz went to Haskell and asked if he could join the Dregs. As Kaz rose through the ranks, he increased the gang's revenue and reputation with his own, bringing great money and luck to Haskell. Haskell made Kaz a lieutenant—his favored lieutenant, who was like a son to him.

After witnessing her stealth, Kaz convinced Haskell to purchase Inej Ghafa's indenture from Heleen Van Houden. When Kaz decided to mortgage the Crow Club in order to build up Fifth Harbor, Haskell thought him an idiot, but eventually relented. The endeavor paid for itself quickly, however, and made Haskell rich and the Dregs a truly competitive gang in the Barrel.

Six of Crows

Per Haskell insists that the Dregs meet with the Black Tips to discuss Fifth Harbor, thinking that they would chat, agree to respect each other's boundaries and then go out for a drink together, although it turns out to be much more violent. After coming out of the parley victorious, Kaz meets Haskell in his office. Haskell is upset that Kaz did not speak with him before ousting Big Bolliger as a spy for the Black Tips, and mocks Kaz's good manners. Kaz tells him that he will be gone for a while as part of a big job; as long as Haskell gets his twenty percent, he does not care what Kaz does.

Crooked Kingdom

With Kaz out of the city, Haskell becomes antsy as work piles up and begins looking for Kaz and the Dregs he took with him. After Kaz is seen on Goedmedbridge with Jan Van Eck, Haskell is forced to shut down the Crow Club by the stadwatch. Knowing that every week, Haskell plays cards at the Fair Weather Inn and gossips with his cronies, Kaz and Inej ambush Haskell on his way to the Fair Weather Inn and disarm him. Haskell is furious about Kaz's absence (and the powerful members of the gang he took with him), but Kaz assures him they will be rich. Haskell agrees to give Kaz more time but requests Inej stay with him; however, Inej disappears into the shadows and stays with Kaz. Before he leaves Haskell to his card game, Kaz returns the bullets he stole from Haskell's gun.

When Van Eck and Pekka Rollins team up and organize the Barrel gangs into an army to catch Kaz, Haskell leads the Dregs in the parade across the city. Back at the Slat, Haskell cheers on the Dregs, carrying a walking stick with a papier-mâché crow atop it to evoke Kaz's cane. Kaz, suddenly at the top of the stairs, interrupts the party and announces his intention to take over the gang. Haskell orders his men to take Kaz down. In the ensuing brawl, Red Felix bats away Kaz's cane and Beatle hands it to Haskell. Milo tries to stab Kaz, despite Haskell's order not to kill him, but Kaz defeats all of Haskell's men.

Kaz tells the Dregs about Haskell's laziness and emphasizes his own skill at fighting. Haskell argues that Kaz kidnapped Wylan Van Eck, but Kaz sows doubt among the Dregs and points out Haskell is apparently believes the Dime Lions before the Dregs. Kaz offers to the assembled Dregs to take over the gang, and the Dregs ignore Haskell's command to raise the alarm to Rollins' men. Kaz snatches his cane back from Haskell and tells him to get out of his house.

Now the leader of the Dregs, Kaz buys out Haskell's shares in the Crow Club and takes over Haskell's old office.

Personality and traits

Per Haskell is lazy, egotistical, and greedy. He used to be a dangerous man, but now prefers to let other people do the work while he drinks lager. He likes being the center of attention, and is easily convinced by stroking his ego or paying him a great deal of money. Haskell likes the power and perks of being the leader of the Dregs, but not the work that goes with it. He can never resist a shortcut. Although the other gangs and much of the Dregs recognize Kaz as the power behind the Dregs, Haskell still convinces himself that he is the one making the Dregs prosper. When he gets antsy, he likes to do something just to remind people he is in charge.

Haskell is an old man with old ways, who still believes disputes among the gang can be easily settled the way they used to: with a chat and a drink together. He dislikes conflict and large-scale gang wars. He spends his days in the warmth of his room, drinking lukewarm lager, building model ships, and telling long stories of his past exploits. Nevertheless, Kaz wonders if the parley with Geels was some sort of test Haskell had set for him, implying that Haskell is still capable of devious plans. Haskell does not care for anyone other than himself, but he likes "to think of himself as the patriarch of a big, criminally inclined family."

Physical description

Haskell has grey hair, a grizzled chin, and eyes jaundiced by years of heavy drinking. He wears a plumed hat and dresses in Barrel flash, such as a plaid jacket, a checked vest, and/or a false sapphire tie pin. Despite his age, he moves quickly.

Appearances

• Six of Crows
• Crooked Kingdom