Not many mistake Kostas o Skiatchro for a magus of House Bonisagus when they first meet him. His skin is a deep brown from time outdoors and his hands are calloused. Usually he wears a peasant's coarse shirt and trousers, and they are usually stained with sweat, dirt, and sometimes flecked with animal blood. He speaks with a rumbling country accent. And he seems more concerned with cabbages and ewes than Aristotle or the current theory on the Lunar Limit.
Kostas was born to a peasant family in Morea that already had too many mouths to feed. The child was odd. He was stubborn and always making mischief. On the other hand, he did seem to have a knack for farm work, so he was not driven out. However when the stranger came and offered to buy him, his family was quick to accept.
His early apprenticeship was difficult. His first master grew exasperated with the boy's stubbornness. More often than not, Kostas was out in the garden or with the covenant's flocks instead of studying. A Bonisagus at the same covenant became interested, sensing the boy had an apptitude for Creo. When questioned, the covenant grogs admitted they considered Kostas a bit of a good luck charm. Seeds he planted always seemed to grow better. And he could always tell when one of the flock was about to give birth. When confronted with this information, Kostas' first master threw up her hands and said, 'Of course they grow better around him! He's always out there scaring away the birds! He's more the making of a scarecrow than a magus!' Like his family before, his first master was only too glad to be rid of him when the Bonisagus claimed him.
The third time appeared to be the charm. Kostas' new master was as stubborn as he was, but wise enough to give the boy some freedom. Kostas improved rapidly. His new master encouraged his interest in fertility magic, though there was scant information to go on. Shortly before his gauntlet, his parens asked him what he wished his Hermetic name to be. Kostas grinned and said, 'Kostas o Skiatchro' or 'Kostas the Scarecrow'. His master simply shrugged, commenting the boy had been called far worse.
Kostas is stubborn and gruff. His saving graces are that he takes a long time to form a solid opinion, prefering to gather all the facts, and that he keeps his mouth shut on the matter at hand until then. Once he's formed an opinion though, arguing with him is like trying to chip away at Mount Athos with a dull spoon. His goal is to devise a system of Hermetic fertility magic. Mostly because it is a subject Kostas considers of use. It also gives him an excuse to get out of the lab and do what he considers an honest day's work once in a while. Kostas plans to marry soon. He wants to have as many children as possible before his longevity ritual.
Perhaps due to his knack with fertility, at odd times an animal will take to following Kostas around. Once it was a young bull. Another time a hare. Currently he is shadowed by a rooster he calls Moulari or 'Mule'. The joke in that only makes sense to Kostas.