Mandrake/Detailed History

== Detailed History ==
=== Duncton Wood ===
Mandrake’s entry into the system was a foreboding mark to a new era of Duncton. He arrived on Spring sunset - rain poured across the fields as he rushed through the Westside territory, unchallenged and evoking fear among the adult males who watched him strive past. His initial encounter with the moles of the Westside was violent and ruthless; his sheer size had wrought panic among the males, and in a display of his own raw power, Mandrake killed three moles with terrifying ease, establishing his dominance through fear and physical superiority. Upon entering the Westside, Mandrake declares himself in a powerful roar that sends vibrations throughout the system, announcing his name and issuing a challenge that none dare answer. He then utters the threat again in the language of Siabod which translates loosely to ('I am Mandrake Siabod. Gelert faced Helgi Cwmoerddrws and ignored him. I faced the Wind Castle Stones and mocked them. Let any guest who thinks he's not a phony face my claws now.'). Mandrake’s arrival coincided with the mating season, during which he travelled through the system, violently killing male competitors and taking their females. His presence during this time was described as a brooding, silent curse, as he moved like there was a trail of death and terror in his wake. 
Mandrake becomes an elder by force, killing an existing elder and taking his place without consent. At his first elder meeting, he says nothing, maintaining a heavy silence that instills fear in the other moles. During his third elder meeting, Mandrake makes his first significant move, intervening in the debate over the traditional Midsummer trek to the Stone. He ends the debate by asserting his will, threatening violence against any who would continue the ritual, effectively canceling the Midsummer trek. Mandrake allows Hulver to live despite the old mole’s outspokenness and connection to ancient traditions. By not killing Hulver outright, Mandrake showed a strategic restraint, choosing a time when Hulver’s death can signify a final break from the old ways. Mandrake consolidated his power, as weaker moles seek his favor for the perceived security it offers. Even Burrhead, Bracken’s father, aligns with Mandrake, serving as one of his henchmoles. By the time of Bracken’s birth, a year later, Mandrake’s rule is absolute, marked by his use of threats, manipulation, and occasional brute force. His tyranny has permeated every aspect of mole life in Duncton Wood.
Under Mandrake's influence, Duncton Wood underwent a subtle yet profound transformation, mirroring a forest shrouded in murky fog. Although daily life continued—Westside moles engaged in their struggles, young moles visited Barrow Vale, and natural predators like owls persisted—the wood's atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive. Mandrake's reign introduced an air of unease and mistrust, with moles feeling insecure even within their own burrows and Mandrake's henchmoles looming ominously, enforcing his will.
Mandrake's directives reshaped mole society, discouraging travel beyond home territories and surface visits without tangible purpose, ostensibly for safety but also tightening his grip on the community. His specific disdain for the Marshenders, possibly fearing their resistance, further isolated them, creating internal divisions. Mandrake's personal life also reflected his domineering nature, particularly in his relationships with his mates. Unlike a typical mole who might seek multiple partners, Mandrake fiercely guarded his chosen mates, particularly Sarah, the mother of his daughter, Rebecca who he was especially protective of. Despite his cruel exterior, moments of unexpected tenderness and profound love surfaced, revealing a complex character shaped by a harsh past.
Rebecca grew up under his strict and often violent tutelage, she still retained a spirit of independence and a love for the natural beauty of Duncton. It irritated Mandrake as his harsh beginning showed the brutality and cruelness of the very thing she loved; once, he took her to what was originally a soft winter scene that she was enamored with, into a harsh and merciless blizzard, yelling over the roar of the storm, teaching her that life isn't as so magical as she had made it to be, at least in Mandrake's eyes. Despite her father's overbearing presence, she still found joy in the wood's changing seasons and its flora. However, Mandrake's insistence on her obedience and isolation, especially during mating season, cast a shadow over her burgeoning adulthood.
But she did not listen - which provoked Rune to seek her out and attempt to mate with her in a long chase through the tunnels; it stopped when Mandrake's presence is felt intensely when he abruptly intervenes with a sharp scold to Rebecca, halting the scene. He sternly reprimands her, underscoring his strict expectations and control over her actions, especially emphasizing that she will not be part of the mating season. This assertion of control not only emphasizes Mandrake's dominance but also his protective, albeit oppressive, stance towards his daughter. His interaction with Rune, where he firmly states his willingness to kill any male that tries to mate with Rebecca, further cementing his role as a formidable figure in Rebecca's life and in the broader Duncton community. Rune however, in Mandrake's absence, knew there was power in toying with something that was his, and that something was Rebecca.