Edric Evenshade

Personality

Edric is a man of measured demeanor and deliberate silence. He speaks sparingly, but with gravity—each word weighed like a stone. He believes in order, tradition, and the quiet authority of knowledge. Though he can appear stern or unyielding, he possesses a deep (if rigid) sense of fairness and carries a quiet grief that no one ever seems to mention.

His presence is commanding but never theatrical—he prefers stillness to spectacle, and scrutiny to sentiment. That said, he is not without warmth; it simply burns deep and rarely rises to the surface. Those who earn his trust find themselves shielded with unwavering loyalty. Those who disappoint him often find the door closing without a sound.

 Philosophy

Edric believes truth is not something shouted from rooftops, but something preserved through restraint, precision, and legacy. He follows Oghma with a reverence that leans conservative—emphasizing the responsibility of knowledge's curation, rather than its free distribution.

His core tenets include:

Wisdom requires patience.

— Persil Evenshade

Some truths must wait for their time.

— Rina Evenshade

Order is not control; it is clarity.

— Edric Evenshade

 Relationships with Family Members

Althar Evenshade (son):

Edric sees Althar as his heir apparent—disciplined, dependable, and steady. Unlike Rafin’s wayward unpredictability or Elenna’s subtle idealism, Althar plays by the rules. He has learned Edric’s way of silence and stability, and though not as naturally insightful as Elenna or as bold as Rafin, he is loyal, competent, and present.

Their relationship is formal and respectful, if not affectionate. Edric entrusts Althar with public-facing responsibilities: handling visiting trade dignitaries, speaking on behalf of the family at village forums, and overseeing the day-to-day upkeep of the manor and lands. He relies on Althar to maintain continuity, even if he doesn’t confide in him deeply.

However, there is an unspoken limit to Edric’s trust: he doubts whether Althar could bear the weight of difficult truths. The hidden archive, the deeper histories of the family, and the ancient responsibilities tied to the tower—these are not burdens Edric is certain Althar could carry. And though he would never admit it, this judgment sometimes makes him withhold praise, leaving Althar forever striving to earn what may never be offered.

Rafin Evenshade (son):
Edric sees Rafin as both his greatest failure and most dangerous legacy. Their estrangement pains him, though he rarely admits it—even to himself. He had once hoped Rafin would follow in his footsteps as Keeper of the Scrollmark, but Rafin’s rebellion felt like betrayal. He reads the reports of his son's exploits with a mix of pride and sorrow. Deep down, he fears that Rafin might one day uncover something Edric has hidden.

Elenna Evenshade (daughter):
Elenna is the child Edric leans on most heavily. He respects her mind, consults her judgment, and trusts her discretion. Though he doesn’t say it aloud, she is the reason he sleeps at night, knowing the family legacy is safe in thoughtful hands. Their bond is built on unspoken mutual esteem—but also some quiet tension. He expects more of her than anyone else, and she feels the weight of it.

Marlena Thryndel Evenshade (wife):

Edric and Marlena's relationship is one of mutual calculation, pragmatic loyalty, and occasional friction beneath a veneer of unity. Theirs is not a passionate love story, but rather a partnership of shared ambition, inherited duty, and deliberate effort to maintain dignity—for the family and for the name Evenshade.

Their marriage was not arranged, but it was strongly encouraged by their respective families. Marlena came from a noble line in Berdusk known for shrewd diplomacy and a fierce commitment to legacy. She saw in Edric a man of gravity and purpose. He saw in her a mind that matched his own and a public demeanor that would uphold the family’s image.

Though there was genuine admiration, there was never true romantic heat between them. Over the years, affection has grown, but their relationship is still characterized by respect tinged with distance—as if they are co-curators of a library neither quite completed.  Neither would ever abandon the other, even if offered freedom. Their loyalty is absolute, even in absence of warmth.

Public Reputation

Edric is regarded as a pillar of quiet strength—a fair but distant leader who prioritizes the village’s stability above all else. Many find him intimidating but respectable. Some younger villagers whisper that he is “half-statue,” and that he may not have laughed since the year of the flood. Older residents, however, know he’s the reason Evenshade never fell to bandit raids or internal corruption in the past 30 years.

To the common folk, he is dignified but inaccessible.

To the learned, he is a wise and cautious custodian of knowledge.

To outsiders, he is inscrutable.

 Symbolic Role

Edric represents the shadow side of wisdom—the gatekeeper, the archivist, the preserver. Where others seek to share knowledge, he guards it. Where others shout truth, he whispers it into stone.

In mythic terms, he is the living threshold between what is known and what is hidden.

 Quirks

• He wears a signet ring on his left thumb, though no one has seen him use it to seal a letter in over a decade.
• Always carries a silver mechanical pencil—a curious trinket from a traveler, which he uses to annotate even ancient scrolls.
• He hums tunelessly when pacing, always in seven-beat cycles.
• Collects extinct seeds, storing them in the manor’s cold cellar in labeled glass jars.
• Keeps a blank book on his nightstand labeled “Final Truths,” though he has yet to write in it.