Mayor Aldric Thornwell
Mayor Aldric Thornwell serves as Driftwood Hollow's elected leader, a position he has held for nearly two decades. His weather-beaten face and calloused hands speak to a lifetime spent pulling nets from Moonshadow Lake, while his penetrating gaze suggests depths of wisdom acquired beyond mere physical labor. Despite his humble attire—patched woolens and sturdy boots rather than mayoral finery—he carries himself with quiet dignity that commands respect from villagers and visitors alike.
Thornwell maintains a steady, respected leadership who values tradition but may know more about the village's past than he lets on. His public persona emphasizes practical concerns—maintaining the village's infrastructure, mediating minor disputes, and representing community interests when dealing with outside authorities.
Once monthly, Thornwell conducts a peculiar ritual visible only to those who know where to look. In the predawn hours, he walks the village perimeter, pressing small objects into the earth at precise intervals—weathered coins bearing unfamiliar markings, carved stones with spiral patterns, occasionally droplets of his own blood. These actions correspond to astronomical alignments and historical anniversaries not recognized by Eldorian calendars, suggesting continuation of practices predating current governance.
Thornwell maintains cordial but carefully distanced relations with Oathwatch Academy's administration. He attends formal functions when protocol demands, engages in necessary commerce, but strategically feigns ignorance or provincial simplicity when conversations venture toward historical or magical matters. With certain faculty members—particularly those whose research touches on pre-imperial history—he occasionally engages in hushed conversations during ostensible fishing expeditions far from prying ears.
Students seeking information from Thornwell encounter a frustrating dichotomy—endless patience for mundane questions but skillful evasion of deeper inquiries. Those who demonstrate genuine respect for the village and its traditions, however, might eventually witness a transformation in his demeanor, as layers of protective caution gradually give way to measured revelations about the region's true history and significance.
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