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Switching to a new project. Another fantasy series: Mask of Names. Read an overview on the character index page.
Graden Duforet (84)
Project: Fantasy novel series (Mask of Names)
Known as: No nicknames
Real name: Graden Duforet
Group affiliation: Student of Justitia Academy
Physical description: Graden is 17 at the start of the story. However, he is already an impressive physical specimen, standing 6’2” with 250lbs of muscle. He is handsome in a chiseled-from-granite sort of way but is nearly always serious and intense in expression.
Personality: Graden is serious and devout and always has been. He has great compassion for other people but doesn’t always connect well. He is a little too fast to remind others of the rules and largely lacks a sense of humor. His nobility is manifest, however, and even those who don’t want to be around him admire him.
History: Graden grew up moving from town to town with his mother (who was ostensibly a bard). She regaled him with stories of his father, a Paladin of Solus. Brave and virtuous, Graden had a strong influence on Graden even though he was no longer alive. One story his mother was evasive on, however, was exactly how his father died. All she would say was that he died heroically though others would claim otherwise.
They tended to stay to small towns and little did Graden know that this was to avoid any community with a Name Stone. A Name Stone is a magical item that could force someone to reveal his or her true name just by contact. For the elite and criminals their most relevant deeds were included with their name. In this way those deserving special consideration (positive or negative) could be identified by the authorities. Of course, if new crimes were committed or new deeds performed, the authorities could add this using the Name Stone as well. Though most assumed that the details provided via Name Stone were true, in reality they were merely consistent. Each Name Stone forced the user to tell what the authorities had attached to their names. The truth lay in whether the authorities were correct, or moral, when the deed is attached.
Graden enjoyed seeing the world but frequently spent time with the religious leader or best swordsperson in a community. He had every intention of following in his father’s footsteps and strived to be both noble and the finest swordsperson the world had ever known. His focus and dedication were remarkable, and his mother often tried to get him to enjoy life more. He could be distracted by suggesting he could serve their current community in some way. He frequently helped families with chores, helped in building, and looked forward to the day when he might use martial prowess to stop some evil.
The latter often amused the adults around him, but he was preternatural in his skill with a sword, and there were a few times that he showed the kind of superhuman abilities the Paladins were reputed to have (e.g., he once lifted a broken wagon off a trapped person). He soon hit a point where no one in the small communities could teach him more of sword or gods either one. His mother taught him to fight with a staff (she was exceptional) but could not teach him the sword. Sometimes a mercenary friend of his mother’s would meet them and teach Graden (though this man could only stand Graden’s suggestions for his moral improvement for so long).
The time came when Graden was old enough to enter Justitia Academy. A school for the elite, as a son of a former Paladin Graden was allowed to attend. To confirm his identity, he would need to use the Name Stone. His mother warned him his name would include that he was the son of a betrayer. This was hard for Graden to hear, though his mother reassured him that it was not true.
In that moment, Graden gained a new life goal in addition to becoming a paladin. He was going to prove his father’s innocence.
Role in the narrative: Protagonist.
Abilities: He’s got a great tactical mind and unshakeable faith. He is a truly gifted swordsperson and better than most with about any weapon he picks up. At times, he is super human. It will be revealed that he had magical ability, though he can barely do any spellwork at the academy. This is because his magic has been bound to his body, enabling exceptional speed, strength, and more. Usually binding magic takes years of specific study as a paladin, but Graden has done it instinctively.
Inspirations: Sheesh – where to start? The reader’s mind might have gone to Harry Potter, which would be fair for the academy part. However, given the Wizard of Earthsea was read much earlier in my life, it may be more that. The heroic knight-errand theme came from King Arthur and the like, and while I’d like to claim it was my knowledge of history that led to “paladins,” let’s face it, it was D&D. There will be some Tolkein, Game of Thrones, and who knows what other books I’ve loved. For a guy who tried to wear his inspirations on his sleeve, I imagine this one will seem derivative even for me. Even the Name Stone concept sprung from pondering RFID chips in Skylanders.
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