Mistborn · Character

Straff Venture

Also known as Lord Straff Venture, Elend's father, Straff

Supporting
First seen · Book 1

Straff Venture is a supporting character in Mistborn (Book 1).

Gender: male
Age: middle-aged
First appears: Book 1
Books: 3

Straff Venture, the ruthless and calculating head of House Venture, begins the series as one of the most powerful noblemen in the Final Empire, scheming within the Lord Ruler's court and even withdrawing guards to let assassins reach his disappointing heir, Elend. After the Lord Ruler's fall, he reinvents himself as a tyrannical warlord, marching an army on Luthadel to seize the city from his own son while wielding his unstable Mistborn son Zane as a weapon kept in line with atium. His cruelty and paranoia ultimately undo him. Zane's attempts on his life and his own overreach leave him exposed, and he is slain by Vin during the siege. By the series' end he is remembered only as a stern nobleman whose legacy Elend sought to repudiate.

Description

A human nobleman and head of House Venture. No specific physical features or clothing are described for these appearances. Straff Venture is a tall, large man with brown hair and a new beard that heightens his commanding presence, giving him a strong jaw and distinguished air. He maintains a firm figure and upright posture that radiates authority, wearing a sharp well-cut noble suit tailored perfectly to his frame. Fair-skinned with fine nobleman's hands and a regal bearing, he appears every inch the calculating patriarch even when recovering from hardship. Nobleman, stern

Connections

Family & partnersFriends & mentorsRivals

Elend Ventureconflicting source relationships
Elend is Straff's legitimate son and heir. In Book 1 Straff tries to dominate his choices and even allows assassins to reach him. In Book 2 the rift becomes open war, as Straff besieges Luthadel to take the throne from the son he considers weak.
ZV
Zane Venturefather-son
Straff's illegitimate Mistborn son, used as an assassin and controlled with atium. Zane's instability and resentment eventually turn him against his father.
TenSoonemployer
TenSoon is the kandra employed by House Venture and serves in Straff's presence.
the Lord Rulersubject
Straff is a powerful subject of the Lord Ruler who fears imperial retribution. The Lord Ruler's death frees him to pursue his own conquest.
Kelsiertarget
Straff's house is among those threatened by Kelsier's plan to destabilize Luthadel and topple the Great Houses.
Vinunacknowledged daughter
Vin infiltrates noble society in Book 1, where Straff is among the lords Kelsier's crew targets. In Book 2 she becomes his deadliest foe, ending his campaign against Luthadel.
SE
Shan Elarielconspirator
Shan's faction moves to assassinate Elend. Straff tacitly aids the attempt by withdrawing guards, and their interests converge on removing his heir.

Story so far

BOOK 1Mistborn: The Final Empire
- Rules House Venture as one of the most powerful Great Houses in Luthadel under the Lord Ruler
- Pressures his heir Elend to conform to family protocol and political necessity, clashing with his son's idealism
- Employs the kandra TenSoon in service of House Venture
- Secretly withdraws guards so House Elariel's assassins can reach Elend during the rising chaos
- Fears the fallout of the Pits incident and the skaa rebellion orchestrated by Kelsier's crew
BOOK 2The Well of Ascension
- Marches his army on Luthadel to reclaim the city from Elend after the Lord Ruler's death
- Controls his illegitimate Mistborn son Zane through atium while using him as an assassin
- Treats Elend as a weak fool, negotiating with him from a position of contempt
- Survives being poisoned by Zane but is left weakened and recovering
- Launches an assault on Luthadel and is killed by Vin
BOOK 3The Hero of Ages
- Referenced posthumously as a stern nobleman whose tyranny stands in contrast to Elend's rule
- His fall leaves the Venture legacy and its armies in Elend's hands