| “ | I have the feelings of my partner Curnsbick to consider, and he has a heart of iron where business is concerned. | ” |
Honrig Curnsbick is the partner of Abram Majud, and an inventor, whose reputation as a hard-heated businessman is not all it seems.
Appearance and Personality[]
Curnsbick is broad, with heavy hands scarred across the backs by hard work, and explosive orange sideburns. He wears thick eyeglasses, and a tailored suit. Despite the reputation Majud has built for him, Curnsbick proves to be a ruthlessly pleasant, generous man, with an immense smile.
History[]
Curnsbick is from Keln, and the inventor of the patent portable forge. He has since made a partnership with a Gurkish man named Abram Majud. They intend to found a metalwork business in the Far Country, and hopefully staking iron and copper mining claims in the mountains.
Red Country[]
Majud goes ahead to Crease, in the Far Country, to setup the business. Along the way, he blames his meanness on his partner Curnsbick’s heart of iron in business.
Curnsbick eventually meets up with his partner in Crease, just as Temple’s construction of the residence and workshop nears completion. Temple is shocked when Curnsbick gives him a bonus, and describes Majud as the one having a heart of iron where business is concerned.
In the end, Majud and Curnsbrick construct an ever growing manufactory in the town, to refine the coal that's been found in the mountains around Crease. They own almost half of the town, and Majud travels to Adua to cement a deal with the Union.
A Little Hatred[]
Honrig Curnsbick is now perhaps the most famous inventor and industrialist in The Union. He is one of the founders of the Solar Society, a learned society dedicated to new inventions, alongside Savine dan Glokta and Ardee West. His recent invention include a steam-engine that is being successfully applied to the textile industry, and to pumping water from mines. He also designed Arch Lector Glokta's wheelchair.
The Trouble With Peace[]
Honrig Cursbick has become concerned about Savine, whose business judgement is failing. He tries to talk to her at the Solar Society, but is interrupted by the arrival of King Orso. Later, Curnsbick gives a public demonstration of his steam locomotive, with the king, the Queen Dowager, and members of the Closed Council in the audience. Unfortunately, the Burners use it as an opportunity to assassinate King Orso. When Curnsbick gives a grand speech about progress and then signals for the train to start, it suddenly explodes, killing and grievously wounding many in the crowd. Curnsbick fears he might be blamed, and is almost relieved when a group of Burners emerge from the carnage, charging for the royal box. Watching the chaos unfold, he acknowledges that he's a coward in the face of physical danger, unlike his former partner, the brave and stingy Majud. The assassination attempt is actually quite cleverly, if ruthlessly, planned and might have succeeded, but for the unanticipated presence of Yoru Sulfur, an Eater, who ended up slaughtering all the Burners.
The Wisdom of Crowds[]
With the great change fully in motion, Curnsbick is forced by the Breakers to create a new device that can be used for the execution of the enemies of the people. It is a heavy counterweight attached to nooses, and a lever that will release the counterweight and raise the prisoner up sharply, breaking their neck and killing them instantly. This execution method is used on Fortis dan Hoff and other members of the closed council, and results in a disastrous scene where some prisoners are hanged correctly, some stay alive and suffocate slowly, and one has his head ripped off altogether to the murderous applause of the crowds. Curnsbick looks sick to his stomache as his new invention is being used, clearly not wishing to have been involved.
After the burners kill Superior Risinau and take over the assembly, Curnsbick is next seen at the Solar Society talking about all of the new opportunity available as a result of the great change. He attempts to project total optimism, but when he speaks to Savine he reveals that he is actually terrified, and has been every day since the start of the great change. He speaks to Savine about his time in the Far Country and reflects on his time spent with Lamb, and how much he admires the man for taking on his problems head on and never giving in to fear.