#please share your own ideas about Sampo with me I would love to hear about them ^^

[slipping-is-doing-things]

After some much needed time here are my Sampo Koski headcanons! There are a few people in the community I take heavy inspiration from like Feroluce and Sorrin so please go check them out. You'll definitely see where their work gave me much needed inspiration.

Word count: 1,102

Trigger warnings: weapons, murder and implied death

Fandom: Honkai star rail

Primary headcanons

Sampo is an emulator, but not currently active in his role. He started as an actor that became director with his innate skills to work a crowd and more, it only was natural for him to step into the role as director while still partaking in the performance as a background character or side to keep the story moving flawlessly.

It's physically impossible to unmask Koski, Sparkle might be in possession of his original mask but he still has one. The mask Sparkle has is the one seen in her light cone ‘it's showtime’ mixed with the predominant mask in Aha’s artwork in the simulated universe with the gem. The mask he uses while she has his original is a half face mask that hides his eyes.

One of the odder effects from being an emulator, his eyes work oppositely. His eyes naturally have the appearance of being dilated while when they actually do they become more snake/cat like. A very long time ago this wasn't the case and his eyes worked how they should but this isn't isn't the case anymore with how long he's been an emulator.

The name Sampo Koski isn't his original name. The name was chosen for his performance on Jarilo-IV, his whole character at that. Though, one could say Sampo Koski is as much him as it isn't. Such facts are heavily true when the script for this performance was heavy up to him to build an believable character for.

The type of elation Sampo follows is more close to the original Aha used to be. elation comes in many forms, sometimes even extreme emotions that drive people to overjoyed almost manic laughter or overwhelming sorrow. Elation that's paraded by the tavern and the followers disgust Sampo to a degree. To him the Mourning Actors follow a more truthful yet sorrow filled path of Elation compared to Sparkle and the others.

The one oddity the Mourning Actors and Sampo share are extremes. While the Mourning Actors live in sorrow and anguish, Sampo in some situations feels extreme emotions that don't always outwardly show properly. True sorrow is shown by sobs broken by laughter he can't fully control while euphoric happiness can leave him laughing in such a way fitting of the Aeon he is an emulator of.

Having people willingly be friends with him outside of business or the work he does is something Sampo isn't used to. He's the background character, the comedic relief or one off side character. The idea of someone genuinely wanting to be friends with him, not including children, doesn't seem real to him. He isn't the likable character after all, none of his roles ever have been.

Aha is aware that Sampo follows both them and IX. The paths are similar in nature with both holding disregard to existence as a whole. If Aha didn't approve or find it entertaining Sampo would have exploded out of existence in a burst of confetti and the soft sound of bells ringing in the distance.

Koski has multiple safehouses across Jarilo-IV, from the underground, over world and outside the walls. His favorite and safest is deep into the blizzard outside the walls, far enough were determined Silvermane’s wouldn't go and away from the more aggressive fragmentum. At one point he had an apartment in the administrative district until it was burned down. It was the only place he actually paid legally while using his persona Brughel Poisson.

Interchangeable headcanons

Route ≜ - Sampo is a creation of Aha’s. He appeared one day on an forgettable planet around the age of Thirteen to stir up trouble for shits and giggles at Aha’s direction. Overall his creation by Aha was for shits and giggles just to see what would happen.

Route ≗ - (While unlikely, this idea scratches my brain delightfully!) Sampo was a part of the Mourning Actors and broke away once they were looked upon by Aha to embrace the path while starting to follow IX. He was the director before becoming an actor in the tavern, he doesn't believe in the Elation the Tavern does due to its naturally harmful nature he can't bring himself to follow.

Weapons

The smoke bombs Sampo uses hold very little effect on himself. He would have to inhale more than what it takes to knock out ten people to pass out. The smoke bombs he uses are harmless in that regard, unless one has asthma the only danger is being knocked unconscious.

Sampo does have two different kinds of bombs, he very rarely brings out his truly dangerous ones that rather than showing a happy expression have a sorrow filled one. He would never use those against people, he much rather smooth talk his way out of things or disappear in a burst of smoke.

Backstory mixed with open ended ideas

Sampo had found out about Aha’s origins through Aha themself. During his time as an active Emulator regardless of path he spoke with Aha on multiple occasions, primarily about scripts and similar subjects before it naturally came up in conversation. He was put at ease knowing the path he walks is true even with the push back and slight distrust from other followers of Aha.

In all of Sampo’s acts he won't kill. He's only done so once and was sick with himself afterwards even though it had been in self defense. He has no issue killing Fragmentium and similar things but another human isn't up for discussion, he rather take a beating if he can't escape in his usual methods. At worst he can use his power as emulator to push the act in his favor to avoid such things.

It takes a lot to make Sampo break character, very few have been able to genuinely upset Sampo enough to get a truly raw response. If one somehow does, Sampo has his ways to make the memory feel fake.

While most wouldn't know it, Sampo is genuinely a good cook be it sweets or savory meals he's good at cooking and enjoys getting to do it! He makes the Silvermane guards breakfast for a reason even if the guards don't know it's him.

Depending on the performance Sampo is taking part in the character he is acting as usually ends with them passing away. It's a peculiar way that helps him abandon his previous persona and personality. If he knows the persona will be useful later on he tends to simply vanish without any reason or make up an elaborate lie to make his disappearance believable until he steps back into the role.