Thaddeus Brandt

Tad is a lean man in his early fifties, skin weathered to the soft tone of well-worn parchment, and eyes the color of river silt after a storm—calm, reflective, and ever-watchful. He stands just a bit stooped from years leaning over the mill wheel, but retains a wiry strength in his sinewed arms. A faded tattoo—a simple scythe crossed with a quill—peeks from beneath his rolled-up sleeve, hinting at a past life as a village scribe. When he smiles, the mill’s low hum seems to pause for a beat.

Personality Traits & Quirks

• Distinct Trait: He hums an old tune—a gentle melody taught by his mother—whenever the mill’s gears turn smoothly.
• Quirk: Self-consciously adjusts his threadbare leather apron before greeting visitors, as if spring-cleaning his dignity.
• Voice: He speaks in even, deliberate tones and measures his words like grains of wheat. He reserves warmth for those he trusts, but often surprises newcomers with unexpected kindness.

Flaws & Inner Conflict

• Flaw: He’s excessively protective of the mill. At times of high tide or swelling river, Tad becomes tense and terse, fearing for the wheel’s safety, occasionally snapping at helpers without meaning to.
• Conflict: The mill represents his legacy, but also his regret: years ago, he abandoned his scribe’s desk to tend the mill after his father’s sudden illness. Some days he wonders which life might have been—and whether he gave up stories for stone too hastily.

Motivations & Goals

• Goal: To ensure the mill runs smoothly through the flood season, avoiding any damage that could jeopardize the village’s food supply.
• Motivation: Tad’s sense of duty is deeply felt—not just for business, but for Evenshade’s survival. He’s driven by the memory of his father’s quiet determination and his mother’s lullabies, and he wishes to honor both through his stewardship.

Backstory Snapshot

Once, Tad was apprenticed to a scribe in Berdusk, with neat handwriting and a scholar’s curiosity. When his father fell ill and the mill fell silent, Tad returned home to repair the race and wheel. Over time, his mind absorbed the rhythm of turning gears instead of quills, until the mill became his manuscript, and the water its ink. Still, he keeps a single quill locked in the miller’s chest—unfinished letters to his missing sister.

In-World Quirks & Roleplaying Hooks

• Day-to-day: He greets villagers with a nod and a gentle murmur about the wheel’s steadiness or strain.
• Interaction Hook: He often shares cryptic sayings about water—“Even the mightiest current must pass through the narrowest channel”—that can hint at deeper truths.
• Conflict Potential: If smugglers sabotage the sluice to disrupt the race, Tad will be the first to notice—and the first to demand answers.