Maiza Avaro

Maiza Avaro is one of the original immortals; back in 1711 leading a group of alchemists who wanted to gain the knowledge of immortality. In the early 1700s he led Rotten Eggs, under the alias "Aile" out of distaste towards his actual name because it sounded like "Miser". He is a major character in all 3 of the Baccano timelines, being one of the main protagonists in the 2000s timeline and 1700s timeline, as well as a recurring supporting character in the Prohibition Era Timeline, making him one of the most important and recurring characters in the entire franchise.

He calls about the demon during the meeting in Advenna Avis, and in turn he is the only one that obtains the knowledge of immortality and the Grand Panacea. After obtaining the knowledge and power he regrets his decision and goes against allowing the immortal elixir to be revealed to the public. He passes on half his knowledge to his younger brother, Gretto. However, Szilard Quates kills (or rather "eats") Gretto (mistaking him for Maiza) out of his lust for the knowledge of immortality.

Despite being a Camorra member, Maiza does not advocate violence, and is rather tenderhearted. He perennially wears a kind expression. After Czeslaw Meyer returns on the Flying Pussyfoot, he travels the world in search of immortals, in order to bring them together again, as Szilard Quates is no longer a threat to them. At some point he became a mentor to young Firo, and they are often seen together.

Appearance
Maiza is typically depicted with his eyes shut. He has brown hair, which he kept long and messy in the 1700s before he met Dalton Strauss. Upon becoming an alchemist, Maiza made his appearance neater and started wearing glasses.

Personality
Maiza is a soft spoken person, generally preferring to not involve himself in violence and usually avoids it at all costs. Though he is a good person he will sometimes ignore immediate threats, not wanting to get involved. He is sincere and nice despite being a member of the Martillo Camorra, and is a very notable mentor figure to some of the younger members of the Camorra, showing kindness and respect to all members. This is the reason that he is respected and loved by the other members of the Camorra, which he in turn considers like a family, having lost his own. He cares for the Camorra so much so that he even tried to protect them against the likes of Szillard Quates, and shed tears when they became burdened with the same curse as him.

Maiza cared very much for his younger brother Gretto, and trusted him above all others on the Advenna Avis despite having close relations with Begg Garott, Elmer C. Albatross and Huey Laforet. He also cares greatly for the all the members of the Advenna Avis, calling them his kind brothers, and almost 300 years later is attempting to reunite the survivors. He even made friends with Ronnie Schiatto, showing the remarkable ability to make friends with many people and occult beings.

When he was younger, he was far more akin to the stereotypical Camorra that he would one day become. He had a quick temper and often put down the members of Rotten Eggs for their stupidity, and boldly insulted Begg Garott. He even chastised his younger brother for calling him his name (prefering to be called Aile). However he was still rather humane in comparison, warning Monica Campanella and Elmer about the drug the two were housing and not to get involved, and is noted by Niki to one of the few to ever treat her as a human. He also showed a sense of caution and an avoidance to violence, choosing not to fight Zank Rowan and Denkuro after they hurt his men, knowing full well that they were responsible and deserved what they got.

Abilities
Maiza is extremely good with numbers, designing, planning and leadership. He possesses amazing self-control and a capacity for kindness and forgiveness.

He has demonstrated strong physical abilities, as he was able to support and lift (spring) himself off the ground with the strength of his arms alone.

Along with knife-wielding, Maiza has also proven extremely capable in unarmed combat. Ambushed by armed attackers in the stairwell of his apartment in 1935, he was able to dislocate one man's jaw by delivering a low to the man's face with the heel of his hand, rip off another man's ear from his head with brute force, and executing some strong kicks to anaother.

That fight in particular not only revealed Maiza's physical strength and showcased Maiza's skills in combat, it also revealed for the first time the brutality that Maiza is willing and capable of inflicting on others if necessary.

Immortality
Further Information: Immortals

On the Advenna Avis he drank the Grand Panacea and obtained true immortality, meaning he cannot age, get sick, be injured, or die via conventional means.

Knife-wielding
It is worthy of mention that Maiza is considered extraordinary with a knife. He was so respected for his skills that he was chosen to be leader of the Rotton Eggs in the early 1700s based on his prowess with a knife alone. In the early 20th century, Maiza's skill with a knife was so respected by the Martillos that he was one of the tests that candidate executives had to face--they would be pitted against him in a knife-wielding duel (testing their 'duty') - and if they lost against him, they would have to fight another executive). He remained undefeated until his match with Firo in 1930.

1705 the Ironic Light Orchestra
Aile is first scene coming to the aid of his underlings after they get into a fight with Zank Rowan and Denkuro. Rotten Eggs, suddenly greeted by the arrival of their leader and a powerful fighter are suddenly more confident that they can win, however Aile instead scolds them for their actions of causing such a scene. He than notices Niki, and realizes that they had bought her for prostitution. Fortunately he managed to settle the dispute peacefully and walks away with his underlings and no causalities. His interference is what ultimately allows Elmer C. Albatross and Niki to escape the chaos.

He later confronts Elmer and Monica and warns them about the drugs and not to get involved. Elmer sites that he is a nice person and that a rotten person would have not warned them at all.

He is mentioned by Zank to Dalton, and while Dalton is familiar with many aristocrats and commoners, the name does not ring a bell, implying that their is more to Aile than what appears to be.

In the Epilogue, Aile and Begg Garott converse about the drug, where Begg tells him that he is not to blame and informs him that he'd also be helping to take care of the recently orphaned Czeslaw Meyer. As Begg Leaves, Aile wonders if all alchemist were like him and boldly insults him while doing it. Moments later he is greeted by his younger brother who than identifies "Aile" by his true name Maiza Avaro. At first Maiza is angry for being called his unwanted name, he quickly forgives his little brother, and than informs him that he hopes this incident will change the city for the better - whether the aristocrats, commoners or slaves do it or who it benefits.

Trivia

 * He is in his twenties by 1710
 * Apparently he takes after his mother [in looks]
 * In the years leading up to 1930, Maiza had earned or saved enough money to be able to afford a house on the "outskirts of Manhattan." However, ever on the alert for Szilard Quates, he was constantly moving from apartment to apartment instead of staying in one place. However, with the death of Szilard in 1930, he was finally able to settle down in one place. In 1935-B, we learn that he has being living in his particular apartment for five years.
 * Maiza not only did not want to live in a big house because it would be far too enormous for one person to live in, he did not want to live in an 'unnecessarily' big house because it would inevitably remind him of his family manor in Lotto Valentino.
 * Maiza wore big, round glasses in the 1700s. By the 1930s, he switched to wearing smaller, rectangular glasses.
 * Maiza's eyes were revealed for the first time in the twenty-first light novel (1935-C), in which Enami Katsumi illustrated the scene in which Maiza threatens one of his assailants with his eyes open. To date, it is the only known official art that depicts Maiza's eyes opened.