Bartholomew

Bartholomew is thin and weak as someone who prefers books and sitting to doing any kind of physical activity; the exception is his belly paunch, which he'll quickly lose after arriving in The Arena. He will also pick up some strength on the road, and he'll even commit to daily stretching once in Willowmoor.

Large glasses that magnify his eyes greatly.

Bartholomew arrived in one of his usual outfits: khaki pants, a button-down shirt and sweater vest over that, loafers, and a suede trench coat. He'll change into sneakers between the arena and Willowmoor, but he'll never stop wearing sweater vests.

Bartholomew was born in the Before Times, so not much is known about his life before the bombs dropped. He worked as a librarian, though no one knows which branch he worked at.

Bartholomew has known he was asexual since he borrowed a book from the library about sexuality at the tender age of 13. He has no qualms about who he is, and often supposes his life is easier for his lack of romantic interests.

Bartholomew traveled to the arena with his sister, and they ran into their share of ruffians. For his part, Bartholomew has been able to repress a lot of that journey to the point that his sister often has to remind him that she had to stab a guy in the neck for the siblings to get away. What stood out to Bartholomew was the first dead body they came across - a teenage girl lying on the sidewalk with a chunk of her head missing. Since he's a repository of knowledge, he'd always known details of what happens to the body in death, but it was unnerving to see up close and the memory is burned into his brain.

Bartholomew has a tight, logical way of viewing morality: if it's harmful to many people while helping few, it's bad; if it's helpful to many people while harming few, it's good.

Like many of the survivors, Bartholomew is motivated by a desire to return to some form of normal so that he can continue to live his life.

Bartholomew is excellent at organizing and retaining information, and he's probably the fastest reader in Willowmoor.

He's not great at communicating verbally or simply dealing with people at all.

Likes

• Reading
• Knowledge
• Truffles

Dislikes

• Bugs
• Exercise

Bartholomew is the type of person who will forget to bathe if he doesn't have places to go (i.e. - while taking time off from work) because showers are boring and he can't read while in one. Never one to be bothered when he starts smelling on those occasions, he won't be bothered in the arena or on the road either...at least, until he starts itching in uncomfortable places.

Bartholomew briefly joined the Advisory Council, then the Caravan Conclave when the council dissolved. He remains a steadfast member of Willowmoor's leadership, getting repeatedly elected into the role of Head Historian.

He traveled to the arena with his sister. He's not good at friends, so he'll struggle to make those.

His younger sister, Celeste.

Bartholomew is an atheist.

Bartholomew enjoys reading and learning.

He has no pets.