Explore the profile below. Later developments and revelations are gathered in the expandable story section.
Deran Hollowmantle lives on a guarded farmstead west of Branloch, beyond an old stand of ash trees. An older elf with the hands of a working man, he maintains practical wards around his home. He is reluctant to encourage dangerous curiosity, but he remembers Elowen Blackthorn’s visit and the questions she brought to the hills.[1]
Appearance and surroundings[1]
Deran is old for an elf without being frail. His silver hair is tied at the nape, and his hands show the wear of labor. Splitting wood occupies him when the visitors arrive. Around him, patched fencing and a crooked gate conceal no abandonment: the farmstead is inhabited, maintained, and prepared for trouble.
Practical caution[1]
Deran’s caution appears in both his manner and his home. Protective marks are refreshed on lintel, stone, and fencepost when weather weakens them. He finishes his work before acknowledging strangers, asks who sent them, and offers neither an immediate welcome nor an outright dismissal. His dry humor makes a clear distinction between being old and taking unnecessary risks.
Story & history[1]
Remembering what others leave unsaid
Sister Serelle directs Sylas to Deran because his knowledge goes beyond a name in a ledger. His caution comes with tangible help: a map, cord, trail food, and precise directions through the eastern hills.
BONDS story revelationsEvents through the epilogue · Open to read
The evidence he supplies[1]
Deran confirms that Elowen entered Thunderdelve and returned from the hills more certain and more troubled. He remembers her saying that the cave was one mouth of something larger, a lead that turns Sylas’s inherited suspicions into an investigable route.
Story revelations are closed. Open this section on the website before printing to include them.
Sources & appearances
BONDS: The Tale of Sylas · B.K. McSherry
BONDS · Final Draft 1.0
Referenced chaptersChapter 4
- [1]BONDS · Chapter 4