recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Chapel Hill

**Chapel Hill** is a town in North Carolina. It's home to a campus of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

## Description

Chapel Hill is four hours away from Bree Matthews and Alice Chen's small, rural town of Bentonville, North Carolina. The girls see UNC's Early College Program as their way out. Tap Rail is a streetcar turned biergarten on the far end of Franklin Street in Chapel Hill's downtown drag. The professors at UNC tend to live in one of the historic neighborhood. Martin Davis lives in this neighborhood. It's where Nick Davis and Selwyn Kane grew up. It's a two-story brick manor at the end of a cul-de-sac. There's an entrance to the underground tunnels not far from the Davis' home because it's the family property of the Line of Arthur.

## Notable Locations

* Eno Quarry
* Tap Rail
* Old Chapel Hill Cemetery
* Martin Davis' House
* The Waffle House

## Notable Residents

* Deputy Norris
* Martin Davis
* Isaac Sorenson
* Dean McKinnon
* Patricia Hartwood
* Dr. Christopher Ogren
* Sheryl
Spoilers (confirmed & unconfirmed)

* Explore more of magical world beyond the order (more of the history of rootcraft root crafters' history and possibly other practitioners from India and Ireland.
* Meet new practitioners possibly from India or Ireland.
* New characters include a hot new villain and hot waitresses. Both characters are hot and good looking
* More information on Faya might be included and legendborn parents.
* Sel wants to be Bree's kingmage
* Sel and Bree will understand each other a lot more in the sequel
* We will not spend a lot time at chapel hill in the sequel
* Bree will interact with new members of the order
* New magical races will appear
* We will meet the new Legendborn
* Bree will learn more history of the order
* We will learn about practitioners politics outside the order
* There will be romantic scenes in the sequel
* New romances will be explored
* William's boyfriend is a fairy
* We will meet practitioners in are lock up in the order
* We will meet Mariah's family members
* We will get to see Avalon
* We will get to meet the fairy prince and princess
* The lady of lake will appear
* The lady of the lake is immortal
* A lotknight of round table took fairies as mistress or lovers
* King Arthur was a cheater that slept with a lot women
* Puck, Oberon, and titania will be mentioned or appear
* Merlins sometimes have children outside the order from one night stands
* The Order marries locals from lands they colonialism
	+ Like Indians from India and native Americans
* The lady of the lake is the guardian of the sword
* The lady of lake location is unknown
* Faye Bree's mother dated a fairy and dated someone from the line of Morgaines.
* We will learn more about Haitian magic
Owen Roberts

**Owen Roberts** is a Liege and a former Squire of the Line of Bors, eleventh-ranked.

## Biography

### Legendborn

Owen introduces himself as the Squire of a Fallen Scion of Bors. He and Gillian Hanover will train the Pages for five nights before the third trial, and then referee the trial. Owen demonstrates using the quarterstaff in a match against Sel. Despite not having any inheritances, Owen is still a fierce fighter against Sel. Owen and Gillian are among the Lieges escorting outsiders out of earshot of the Selection at the gala.

### Bloodmarked

Owen arrives at the Lodge to help Felicity through the agony of losing her bonded Squire Russ, who was also her boyfriend.

## Physical Description

Owen is tall, and has broad shoulders and closely cropped blond hair. He's in his late thirties. He is stern and fierce in appearance.

## Powers and Abilities

* **Sight:** Due to being an Oathed member of the Order, Owen has the Sight, which allows him to see aether and Shadowborn.
* **Weapons and Combat Training:** Due to being a bonded Squire, Owen is trained in various weapons and forms of combat. As a Squire of the Line of Bors, Owen is particularly proficient in the use of the longsword.

## Appearances

* *Legendborn*
* *Bloodmarked* (mentioned only)
Elena Schaefer

**Elena Schaefer** is Vaughn Schaefer's mother and a member of the Order of the Rose.

## Biography

### Legendborn

Elena Schaefer comes to the Lodge with fellow Rose members Mrs. Hood and Virginia Edwards for the Pages' dinner. Unlike Mrs. Edwards, Elena is polite to Bree. However, later, when Bree is chosen by Nick as his Squire, Elena lashes out in anger, claiming Bree "took" her son's opportunity.

## Physical Description

Elena is dressed in head-to-toe country club-chic. Her pale face is perfectly contoured. She has a twinkle in her brown eyes.
Abatement

**Abatement** is the cost for the magic used by the Order, which practices a form of Bloodcraft.

## Description

Awakened Scions and their Squires have to endure Abatement. They essentially cut their life expectancy in half once Awakened. The result is that they don't live past thirty-five. In exchange for their powers, which include healing magic from even near-fatal injuries in hours and gaining the superhuman abilities of their bloodline, they die very young. When the Spell of Casting occurs, a knight's powers are transferred to their Scion and Squire, draining the human body the longer they are Awake.
Cestra

**Cestra** is the Regent of Shadows and a member of the High Council of Regents.

## Biography

### Early Life

Cestra was once a daughter of the Line of Tristan who was never Called, and is a distant relative of Tor's. As required by the Order's laws, when she took her title as Regent, she shed allegiance to her bloodline. Cestra is Oathed to the Mage Seneschal at Arms, Erebus Varelian. As the Regent of Shadows, Cestra is responsible for the Kingsmage, the Mageguard, and the Merlin Forces. She also oversees the Order's intelligence networks and security.

### *Bloodmarked*

Cestra and the rest of the Council arrives for the memorial service for those who died on the night of the Cave of the Dragon. She is also present for the Rite of Kings.

Cestra conducts Bree's second round of interrogations at the Institute. It's Cestra's idea to divide and distract the Legendborn of the Southern Chapter. She comes up with the strategy of informing all the Legendborn who witnessed Arthur's Call to Bree that she has chosen to go into hiding to protect the Spell for the good of the Order. Bree will have also allegedly agreed to leave the Regency in place as the Order finds its new way forward. If anyone questions things, the Council will reiterate the importance of Bree's safety and emphasize Bree's own concern about the well-being of her friends.

## Physical Description

She has pale blue eyes. She wears her hair pulled back tightly against her skull.

## Personality

Cestra uses a precise logic and psychological machinations. She's impatient and irritable. She doesn't seem to get along with Aldrich or Tacitus.
Adaptation

**The adaptation** of *Legendborn* will be a TV show.

## Announcements

### February 2, 2022

*The Punisher* and *Gossip Girl* writer Felicia D. Henderson is set to adapt Tracy Deonn’s YA fantasy novel *Legendborn* after Black Bear Television acquired the rights. The series currently does not have a network, but production company Black Bear Television is currently shopping the program around.

### Background Info

* Writer: Felicia D. Henderson
* Production Company: Black Bear Television

## References

1. ↑ https://deadline.com/2022/02/felicia-d-henderson-to-adapt-tracy-deonns-ya-fantasy-novel-legendborn-1234925007/
Betty

**Betty** appears in Cecilia's memories.

## Biography

### Legendborn

Betty is in Cecilia's memory that she shows to Bree on a memory walk. It is 1815 and Betty and Cecilia's friend Pearl is giving birth. Betty is in her late twenties. She works at the afterbirth when it's revealed that Pearl's baby is a crossroads child.

## Appearance

* *Legendborn* (in a memory walk)
* *Bloodmarked* (mentioned only)
Charlotte Simpson

**Charlotte Simpson** is a friend of Bree Matthews from Bentonville.

## Biography

### Early History

Charlotte Simpson is from Bentonville, North Carolina. She attended Bentonville High at the same time as Bree Matthews and Alice Chen. Charlotte completed UNC's Early College Program for two years and is now officially an undergraduate freshman at UNC, where she is pre-med.

### *Legendborn*

Now quite a party girl, Charlotte demands that Bree and Alice join her for a night out their first night at UNC. She drives the three of them to the Eno Quarry party in her old silver Jeep. At the party she introduces Bree and Alice to her boyfriend, Evan Cooper. Despite nearly getting them expelled when the police arrive at the Quarry, Charlotte invites the girls to a frat party, which they decline. At the end of the week, Charlotte invites the two girls out again, and again they decline.

Later, Bree learns that unbeknownst to Charlotte, Evan is Legendborn.

## Physical Description

Charlotte is an eighteen-year-old White girl. She has blue eyes and a wide smile. She wears her auburn hair in a ponytail.

## Personality

Charlotte is friendly and outgoing. Bree describes her as "the type of girl who lives with her phone in her hand, never on silent, never on do-not disturb."
Blake

**Blake** is a third-year Page sponsored by the Line of Owain.

## Biography

Blake and his twin brother Carson are wrestlers.

### *Legendborn*

Blake is competing to be selected as a Squire. He is friends with Vaughn and dislikes Bree. Bree meets him at the Pages' dinner the night after the initiation ceremony.

In the first trial, Blake and Whitty are partnered together. They are assigned to the first group to compete. They have to fight aether hellboars while trying to get three "Onceborn" mannequins across a field. Blake uses a quarterstaff with deadly precision. They are successful.

Blake successfully passes the second trial by completing the scavenger hunt. While training for the third trial, Vaughn, Blake, and Sydney smugly watch Bree struggle with the various weapons. Blake and Sydney are battling each other to become Pete's Squire. In the third trial, Blake is first matched against Sydney. He beats her with his longsword. His second round is against Whitty. He loses when he is forced out of the ring by rapid stabs and swipes of Whitty's dagger. His third round is against Bree. He uses his strength and height against her, but eventually loses due to his lack of endurance.

## Physical Description

Blake is tall and has broad shoulders and brown hair.
Edwin Matthews

**Edwind Simmons Matthews** is Bree Matthews' father and the husband of Faye Ayeola Carter Matthews.

## Biography

### Early History

Edwin grew up in a very rural area and did not go to college. His parents pushed him hard growing up. He met Faye after she graduated from UNC, and they got married. They had Bree and raised her in Bentonville, North Carolina. Edwin and Faye renovated an old split-level house from the seventies, and the family moved in eight years ago. He's worked with cars his entire life. He started in a repair shop before moving up to manager ten years ago. He still gets into a repair every now and then.

### *Legendborn*

After the death of Faye, Edwin knows Bree is miserable at home, so he reluctantly lets her go to UNC-Chapel Hill's Early College program. He makes a deal with her though. She has to take care of herself, or she will have to come home.

After Bree becomes a Page in the Order, Edwin tells her that he is done giving her space and is going to be more involved. He tells her that he's set her up with a counselor who knew her mom, Dr. Patricia Hartwood. When Bree tries to get out of seeing her, Edwin tells her that if she doesn't go to therapy, he will pull her from EC. She reluctantly agrees to see Dr. Hartwood every Wednesday and Friday.

Later, Edwin surprises Bree by visiting her at UNC. They go out to breakfast and Edwin gives Bree her mother's bracelet. Bree is determined to protect her father by keeping him in the dark about Order, although she still turns to him for advice from time to time. Although he is worried about Bree at the beginning of her time at UNC, he is proud as Bree becomes more independent and calls on him less. However, Bree knows that he would be very worried if he learned that the real reason was because of the Order.

## Physical Description

Edwin is 5'8" and stocky. He has the same full mouth as Bree. Edwin has deep, earthy brown skin that's lined with age and bushy, gray-flecked eyebrows. If he’s not wearing a repair shop polo and khakis, he’s in a tracksuit and a cap. He has weathered hands. He has a warm voice and a Richmond drawl.

## Personality

Edwin is very loving, caring, and supportive. He is very straightforward. Bree relies on her father for his advice. He has quite a few sayings that he uses to help support Bree. Edwin is very proud of his daughter. He tells Patricia that Bree is bright and wise. While at breakfast, Bree realizes that her mother’s death sent her dad on a mission to save their family. He tries to help Bree even when she doesn't want to hear it.

## Appearance

* *Legendborn*
* *Bloodmarked* (mentioned only)

## Notable Quotes

* "You can study hard, but only if that's how you want to do it. No matter what you do, you gotta live *your* life, kiddo. You gotta be in the world. That's what she would want you to do. Don't make your life about the loss. Make it about the love." - *Legendborn*
Ramirez

**Ramirez** is a Merlin and part of the Mageguard.

## Biography

### *Bloodmarked*

Guard Ramirez arrives at the Lodge the night before the memorial service to protect the Regents and the Crown Scion. Ramirez and Max are charged with keeping Bree contained in the van after she is kidnapped from the Rite of Kings and brought to the Institute. When she wakes up on the way, she attack them. When Ramirez goes to attack Bree with the intention to hurt her, his Oaths to the Order cause silver-blue aether to swarm his neck and face painfully. Erebus stops them all and mesmers Bree to sleep.

## Physical Description

Like all Merlins, Ramirez has glowing gold eyes, fangs that just touch his bottom lip, and is unnaturally beautiful.

## Powers and Abilities

* **Aether Affinity:** The ability to control and use aether.
* **Mesmerwork:** The ability to erase, manipulate, and replace someone's memories and to cast illusions.
* **Ward Casting:** The ability to create magical barriers used for protection.
* **Constructs:** The ability to create physical manifestations of aether that take the form of objects or animals.
* **Sight:** The ability to see magic and Shadowborn.
* **Enhanced abilities:** Super strength, super speed, enhanced endurance, self-healing abilities, and super senses.
* **Attraction:** The ability to make others feel attracted to them.
Merlin Academy

**Merlin Academy**, a school for Merlins to serve the Order. Located at Asheville, North Carolina (could be more because they are Merlins located all around the world).

## History

### Natasia Kane

Natasia was a prodigy trained at a Merlin academy where she befriended Erebus. She gave him the moniker "Erebus" and he called her "Nyz," after the Greek goddess of the night because she moved like shadows fall, silent and swift. Natasia was an aetherscholar. She studied demonology, Gate aether, runes, ancient texts, and more.

### Selwyn Kane

After his mother's supposed death, his father became an alcoholic and Sel was removed from his care. He was unrolled to a residential Merlin academy in Asheville, North Carolina, until ten years old.

### Larkin Douglas

Lark and Sel were rivals at the Merlin Academy.

### Nick Davis

Nick was about eight years old he visited the Merlin Academy when his father and a Liege came. He watch Sel and the other Merlins combat training sessions while the Liege whispered things about their form, tactics, and magic. He seemed curious at the time, interested in their matches, and he cheered each competitor on even when they are not allowed to cheer. Nicholas smiled a lot.
Liege

**Lieges** are former Scions and Squires.

## Description

Lieges aged out of their knight's inheritance when they turned twenty-two years old. Scions that were Awakened, and their bonded Squires, face the Abatement, which means they will die by the time they turn thirty-five. Lieges fight Shadowborn despite not having their inheritance. They have a network that works within the Order. It's a bit more worldly than the Regents realize. They have their own contacts that are off the Regents' and Seneschals' radar. The Lieges deal with the world as it is, so some of their channels are a little more underground than the Regents' channels. Samira Miller tells Bree, "We may be of the Order, but we are not the Order. We are Legendborn. Our allegiance is to one another."

## Known Lieges

* Gillian Hanover
* Samira Miller
* Jonas
* John
* Lyssa Burke
* Owen Roberts
* Martin Davis
* Ophelia
Ophelia

**Ophelia** is a Liege.

## Biography

### Bloodmarked

Ophelia pilots the plane Bree, Alice, William, and Sel use to escape the Regents.

## Physical Description

Ophelia is a tall white woman with short black hair.

## Powers and Abilities

* **Sight:** Due to being a Liege, Ophelia has the Sight, which allows her to see magic and Shadowborn.
* **Weapons and Combat Training:** Due to being a Liege, Ophelia is trained in various weapons and forms of combat.
* **Pilot:** Gillian says that Ophelia is the best pilot the Lieges have.
Lancelot

Lancelot's sigil

**Lancelot** is Arthur's most trusted knight, until he sleeps with Arthur's wife, Guinevere.

## Biography

### Legendborn

During the night of the Cave of the Dragon, Lancelot Calls Nick, Awakening him.

### Bloodmarked

He his present in Arthur’s memories, and Arthur’s Dream, but his spirit is not actually there.

## Physical Description

Like his descendants, Lancelot has blond hair and blue eyes. He has Nick's coloring. Lancelot is broad-shouldered and has a beard. His blue eyes are so dark they look navy. He has a deep, rumbling voice.

## Appearance

* *Legendborn* (as a spirt and mentioned)
* *Bloodmarked* (Arthur’s memories, Arthur’s Dream)
Kizia

**Kizia** is a goruchel demon.

## Biography

### *Bloodmarked*

Kizia went to the Crossroads Lounge to make a deal with Jonas. At the safe house, when Bree was alone, Kizia went to attack her, taking her outside to kill her. But Kizia decided she didn't wanted to kill Bree, instead she wanted to consume her aether after seeing how unique Bree's is. Kizia was overpowered by William and was eventually questioned by Sel and Will. She gives the name of the Great Devourer, she claimed to be her "boss." They agreed to release her once she shared what they wanted to know, she assured them that's all she could say. She is set free and makes for the woods but Sel lunges a dagger in her direction, killing her instantly.

## Physical Description

A full-blooded goruchel, Kizia murdered a human and then replaced them, so she looks like her human victim. She has long brown hair and pale skin. Her white fangs drip black saliva. She has black-tipped claws and dark-veined fingers and arms. Her blood is black. Kizia has crimson eyes.

## Powers and Abilities

Kizia is one of the strongest and rarest of the greater demons. She is incredibly strong and fast. She can consume aether.
Alonzo

**Alonzo** is a warlock who works at the Crossroads Lounge.

## Physical Description

Alonzo is shorter than six feet, but quite wide. He speaks around a toothpick.

## Powers and Abilities

As a warlock, he can grow taller and wider and the gleam in his eyes flares. He turns into a boulder of a man. His aether signature smells like rotten fruit. It's sour and rancid, like aether gone bad.
Emma

## Emma Miranda

**Emma Miranda** is a waitress at the Crossroads Lounge.

## Biography

### Bloodmarked

Emma is the waitress who serves Bree, Sel, William, and Alice's table at the Crossroads Lounge. While delivering their drinks, Emma gives Sel a shot saying, "Looks like you could use a lil’ pick-me-up, cambion. On the house.” She gives him an aether shot.

Alice discovers that Emma has been stealing aether from the bar. She uses this information to pay Valec for Bree's violation of the entry agreement. Valec fires her. In retaliation, Emma sells out Volition's location to Erebus.

## Physical Description

Emma is around eighteen or nineteen years old. She has golden-brown skin and large eyes. She's earring a bright red apron, black boots, and a red-and-black corset. It pushes her cleavage up in an impressive way. She keeps a spiral-bound notebook in her apron and a pen in her pinned-up curls for taking orders.
Carr

**Carr** was mentioned in Louisa's memory.

## Biography

### Legendborn

Patricia Hartwood takes Bree on a memory walk in Louisa's memories. Louisa brings them to June 1865. Carr is a rat-faced white boy who lies and claims Abby was "getting uppity with some white woman on the street, talking back to her.” He dragged Abby out, whipped her severely, and then left her on the ground passed out from the whip. He has a monument on UNC’s quad.
Legendborn Wiki

A place to discuss the wonderful world of Legendborn by Tracy Deonn!

**Welcome to the Legendborn Wiki!**
We're a collaborative community website about Legendborn that anyone, including you, can build and expand (aka I am a grad student with terrible technology skills and would love anyone contributing!)

I'll be keeping an eye on this so please don't bother spouting racist nonsense.

## About Legendborn

**Filled with mystery and an intriguingly rich magic system, Tracy Deonn’s YA contemporary fantasy Legendborn offers the dark allure of City of Bones with a modern-day twist on a classic legend and a lot of Southern Black Girl Magic.**

After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC–Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape—until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus.

*A flying demon feeding on human energies.*

*A secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down.*

*And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” and who attempts—and fails—to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw.*

The mage’s failure unlocks Bree’s own unique magic and a buried memory with a hidden connection: the night her mother died, another Merlin was at the hospital. Now that Bree knows there’s more to her mother’s death than what’s on the police report, she’ll do whatever it takes to find out the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn as one of their initiates.

She recruits Nick, a self-exiled Legendborn with his own grudge against the group, and their reluctant partnership pulls them deeper into the society’s secrets—and closer to each other. But when the Legendborn reveal themselves as the descendants of King Arthur’s knights and explain that a magical war is coming, Bree has to decide how far she’ll go for the truth and whether she should use her magic to take the society down—or join the fight.

## Official Art

Owlcrate coverBree by @miss.lys. Commissioned by Tracy DeonnSel by @miss.lys. Commissioned by Tracy DeonnNick by @miss.lys. Commissioned by Tracy Deonn

*Need help building out this community?*

* Rules of this wiki
* Getting Started
* How to Contribute
* Managing your new community
* Guides
* All Help articles

You can also be part of the larger Fandom family of communities. Visit Fandom's Community Central!

*A Fandom for the wonderful Legendborn series. Legendborn discusses many topics that need to be discussed such as the institutionalization of racism, sexism, loss and more. A beautiful story that is currently nominated for best YA fantasy on Goodreads!*
Serren

**Serren** is the Mage Seneschal of Constructs and is Oathed to Lord Regent Aldrich.

## Biography

### Early Life

Serren is from the Pacific Northwest. As the Master of Constructs, Serren is an incredibly powerful aethersmith.

## Physical Description

He is short and wide-framed, with bronze-skinned. His eyes are of the deepest orange. His fingertips glow a pure diamond-white, edged with a faint line of deep blue flames. The flames at his fingertips never go dark. His fangs are long enough to just touch his bottom lip.

## Powers and Abilities

Serren can change the form of his aether constructs without recasting them, and they are always unbreakable.

* **Aether Affinity:** The ability to control and use aether.
* **Mesmerwork:** The ability to erase, manipulate, and replace someone's memories and to cast illusions.
* **Ward Casting:** The ability to create magical barriers used for protection.
* **Constructs:** The ability to create physical manifestations of aether that take the form of objects or animals.
* **Sight:** The ability to see magic and Shadowborn.
* **Enhanced abilities:** Super strength, super speed, enhanced endurance, self-healing abilities, and super senses.
* **Attraction:** The ability to make others feel attracted to them.
Gabriel

**Gabriel** is Regent of Light and a member of the High Council of Regents of the Order.

## Biography

### Early History

As the Regent of Light, Gabriel is responsible for the Viceroys, the Vassalage, and the Emissaries. He oversees the recruitment and management of thousands of Vassals across the globe and is responsible for upholding the Code of Secrecy. He oversees the boundaries between the Order and the Onceborn world, and he adjudicates potential violations of the Code of Secrecy. The Merlins that report to him are mesmer specialists tasked with mesmering anyone who sees too much. He is Oath bound to the Mage Seneschal of Mesmer, which is Tacitus.

### Bloodmarked

Gabriel and the rest of the Council arrives at the memorial service for those who died on the night of the Cave of the Dragon. He is also present for the Rite of Kings. He conducts Bree's first round of interrogations at the Institute.

## Physical Description

Gabriel has the practiced, pleasant expression of a politician.
Max Zhao

**Maxwell Zhao**, better known as **Max**, is a Merlin and part of the Mageguard.

## Biography

### Early History

Max is Erebus Varelian's second-in-command.

### *Bloodmarked*

Max Zhao arrives at the Lodge the night before the memorial service with the other Mageguard to protect the Regents and the Crown Scion. Max and Ramirez are charged with keeping Bree contained in the van after she is kidnapped from the Rite of Kings and brought to the Institute. When she wakes up on the way, she attack them. Erebus stops them all and mesmers Bree to sleep. Zhao oversees Bree's torture at the hands of the Regents at the Institute.

Zhao and Erebus arrives at the cabin where Nick, Martin, and Isaac are hiding. When Nick tries to run, Erebus orders Max to kill him. Max throws an aether constant spear, but Martin saves Nick by jumping in front of the spear. Zhao tries again to kill Nick, but Nick constructs his dual swords and slices Zhao's head off.

## Physical Description

Like all Merlins, Max has glowing gold eyes, fangs that just touch his bottom lip, and is unnaturally beautiful.

## Powers and Abilities

* **Aether Affinity:** The ability to control and use aether.
* **Mesmerwork:** The ability to erase, manipulate, and replace someone's memories and to cast illusions.
* **Ward Casting:** The ability to create magical barriers used for protection.
* **Constructs:** The ability to create physical manifestations of aether that take the form of objects or animals.
* **Enhanced abilities:** Super strength, super speed, enhanced endurance, self-healing abilities, and super senses.
* **Attraction:** The ability to make others feel attracted to them.
Excalibur

**Excalibur** is the aether weapon of Arthur Pendragon and his Scions. It is also called ***Caledfwlch***.

## Description

Excalibur is the oldest aether weapon in the world. It was forged by Merlin himself. It contains so much power that it never dissipates, unlike other aether weapons, even when the bearer releases it. Each king, each Scion of Arthur, adds to its strength every time they wield it. Every time a Scion of Arthur wields the sword, its power magnifies exponentially. It can only be used by a Scion of Arthur. Excalibur is located in a stone in the center of the Cave of the Dragon, or *ogof y ddraig*, which is in the center of UNC's campus. The taking up of Excalibur is a sign that Camlann has begun. After Camlann is won, the current Scion of Arthur returns it to the stone. When a Scion of Arthur touches Excalibur, it hums a low and rhythmic pulse like drums, steadily rising to a hungry roar. This is called the war cry, or *rhyfelgri*. If a lesser demon doesn't find a specific person to hunt, they'll seek the nearest, biggest source of aether to consume. Excalibur is the biggest source in the area.

The pommel has a clear diamond of Arthur's Line gleaming in it. When Bree pulls the sword, the diamond turns the red of her root. Engraved on both sides of the blade is the phrase “Take Me Up. Cast Me Away.”
Jenna

**Jenna** was the previous Mage Seneschal of Mesmer before Tacitus.

## Biography

### Early History

Jenna was the one who mesmered Faye Matthews in 1995. She was the Mage Seneschal of Mesmer and bound to the previous Regent of Light. As per tradition, Jenna would have selected Tacitus as her replacement.

### Bloodmarked

Tacitus mentions her when discussing Faye's mesmer during Bree's interrogation.

## Physical Description

Like all Merlins, Jenna had glowing gold eyes, fangs that just touch her bottom lip, and unnatural beauty.

## Powers and Abilities

As the Mage Seneschal of Mesmer, Jenna would have been the most powerful mesmerist in the world. She was known for being particularly adept at memory replacement.

* **Aether Affinity:** The ability to control and use aether.
* **Mesmerwork:** The ability to erase, manipulate, and replace someone's memories and to cast illusions.
* **Ward Casting:** The ability to create magical barriers used for protection.
* **Constructs:** The ability to create physical manifestations of aether that take the form of objects or animals.
* **Enhanced abilities:** Super strength, super speed, enhanced endurance, self-healing abilities, and super senses.
* **Attraction:** The ability to make others feel attracted to them.
The Legendborn Cycle

***The Legendborn Cycle*** is a young adult fantasy series by Tracy Deonn. The first novel is *Legendborn*.

## Description

*The Legendborn Cycle* is a modern day twist on Arthurian legend. It follows a black teenage girl named Bree Matthews who discovers a secret and historically white magic society.

## Books

* *Legendborn* (September 15, 2020)
	+ Paperback Edition: Contains a teaser to the thrilling sequel, Bloodmarked, as well as an exclusive short story from Selwyn Kane's perspective!
* *Bloodmarked* (November 8, 2022)
	+ Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition: Includes a never-before-seen short story about the day that Selwyn Kane comes to live with Nick Davis!
	+ Paperback Edition: Two bonus chapters! Includes Oathbound Teaser & hidden scenes from William’s point of view from Legendborn & Bloodmarked (February 2, 2024)

## Adaptations

The series is set to be adapted into a television show.

## Accolades

### *Legendborn*

* Los Angels Times Book Prize: Best Young Adult Novel Finalist (2020)
* School Library Journal: Best Young Adult Books (2020)
* Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2020)
* Coretta Scott King Award/John Steptoe Award for New Talent Winner (2021)
* American Library Association: Top Ten Amazing Audiobooks for You Adults (2021)
* YALSA: Best Fiction for Young Adults (2021)
* Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book Finalist (2021)
* Locus Awards for Best Young Adult Book Finalist (2021)
* American Library Association: YALSA's Teens' Top Ten Nominee (2021)
* Ignyte Award: Best YA Novel (2021)
* Manly Wade Wellman Award Nominee (2021)
* Lincoln Award Nominee (2023)

### *Bloodmarked*

* Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2022)
* Locus Award Nominee for Young Adult (2023)
* Lodestar Award Nominee (2023)
Vassal

**Vassals** are Onceborn outsiders who are sworn to the Code of Secrecy and the Order at large.

## Description

Vassals are pledged in service to one of the original thirteen Legendborn bloodlines. The Vassals know about aether and Shadowborn but don’t fight in the war. Instead, their network shores up any gaps in their assigned family’s needs and resources. In exchange, the Order grants them favors. Most Vassals start out with power or money and use the Order to gain more. Vassalage creates CEOs, elected officials, cabinet members, and even presidents. Vassals know enough about the Order to be dangerous if they weren't Oathed. Most families have been aligned with the Order for centuries. They have too much to gain socially and financially, even if their kids don’t Squire in the end to reveal the Order to the Onceborn world.

After a Vassal swears to the Code of Secrecy and pledges to the Order, someone from their assigned Line explains the origin of the Order and its mission. If they want their kid to Page and have a chance of becoming a Squire, that child is sworn to the Code as well. Vassal families prepare their children to compete as Pages, hoping they'll be selected as Squires, raising their family's status in the Order. Martin Davis describes "Vassals and their contemporary fiefdoms" as "the Order's lower limbs. Without them, we would not have walked through fifteen centuries of this war, would not have advanced from the Middle Ages to modernity." He also feels that the Vassals who are CEOs and politicians expect Lieges to follow their whims and to give them what they want. Vassal infighting pits Lines against Lines.

## Known Vassals

* Alice Chen
* All known Vassal Families

## Triva

* According to Martin Davis, Thomas Malory was a Vassal.

## References

1. ↑ *Legendborn*: pg. 91
2. ↑ *Legendborn*: pg. 109
3. ↑ *Legendborn*: pg. 187
Page

**Pages** are the lowest ranking in the Order. Pages are sponsored by Scions to compete to become Squires.

## Description

Traditionally, new Pages come from the Vassal families who pledged themselves to the Order decades, and even generations, ago. Pages and their families get privileges Vassals don't. Vassal families prepare their children to compete as Pages, hoping they'll be made Squires, which raises the family's status in the Order. When a Scion "taps" someone to be their Page, it means that Scion's bloodline vouches for them, and they have that bloodline's protection and blessing. A person's year of study at school doesn't affect when a student can be tapped, so someone who joins as a senior will only ever be a first-year Page, and thus will only get once chance to be Selected as a Squire. For an outsider to join the Order, they must first start as a Page. They must compete against all the other Pages to become Legendborn. The tournament lasts months and all of it is rigged to favor Vassal families. Most Pages have been trained to fight and have studied for years. To be eligible for Selection, Pages have to make it to the end of the tournament without losing or forfeiting. Eliminated Pages are still welcomed at the Lodge for meals and events.

The role is based on the medieval Page's service, which was voluntary, honorable, and mutually beneficial. Once a Page makes their Pledge by taking the Oath of Fealty, they are given True Sight so they can see magic and Shadowborn. Lord Davis describes Pages as the Order's "left hand. Once Oathed, they are granted Sight in order to hold the shield while Legendborn fight in the shadows."

## Trivia

* Veteran Pages wear robes of gray.
* A Page must never address an Order member with higher status than them without their title.
* Pages are sometimes called "Pagelings" in a not-so-kind way.
Bloodmarked (Book 2)

> "WILL SHE BECOME THE LEGEND OR BREAK IT?"
>
>

***Bloodmarked*** is a young adult fantasy novel by Tracy Deonn. It is the second book in the *Legendborn Cycle* series.

## Synopsis

**The powerful sequel to the instant *New York Times* bestselling and award-winning *Legendborn*—perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare and Margaret Rogerson!**

*The shadows have risen, and the line is law.*

All Bree wanted was to uncover the truth behind her mother’s death. So she infiltrated the Legendborn Order, a secret society descended from King Arthur’s knights—only to discover her own ancestral power. Now, Bree has become someone new:

A Medium. A Bloodcrafter. A Scion.

But the ancient war between demons and the Order is rising to a deadly peak. And Nick, the Legendborn boy Bree fell in love with, has been kidnapped.

Bree wants to fight, but the Regents who rule the Order won’t let her. To them, she is an unknown girl with unheard-of power, and as the living anchor for the spell that preserves the Legendborn cycle, she must be protected.

When the Regents reveal they will do *whatever* it takes to hide the war, Bree and her friends must go on the run to rescue Nick themselves. But enemies are everywhere, Bree’s powers are unpredictable and dangerous, and she can’t escape her growing attraction to Selwyn, the mage sworn to protect Nick until death.

If Bree has any hope of saving herself and the people she loves, she must learn to control her powers from the ancestors who wielded them first—without losing herself in the process.

## Bonus Content

**Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition:** Includes a never-before-seen short story about the day that Selwyn Kane comes to live with Nick Davis!

**Indigo Exclusive Edition:** Same content as B&N.

**Note:** if you wish to have a copy with extra content but do not live in Canada or the United States I highly recommend contacting *The Global Book Hunters Guild.* Find their Facebook group here.

See various editions and signed copies here.

## Content Warnings

Death of a parent and traumatic grief, combat/battle flashbacks, alcohol consumption, mind control/memory manipulation, drugging/medical abuse, forced captivity, racist macro- and microaggressions, emesis (vomiting), blood, ritual magic self-harm to access blood (via hands with safety pin and sword), mild gore, torture, combat/interpersonal violence, murder, death, and mention(s) of: physical abuse, racist violence, sexual violence. (From Tracy's website)
Katherine

**Katherine** appears in Cecilia's memories.

## Biography

### Legendborn

Katherine is in Cecilia's memory that she shows to Bree on a memory walk. It is 1815 and Katherine and Cecilia's friend Pearl is giving birth. Katherine is in her late twenties. She holds Pearl's crying baby out of sight, wiping it down. Upon seeing the baby’s eyes, she tells Pearl, “Told you not to mess with that red-eyed devil, but you did, didn’t you? Ain’t nothing good coming from a man you meet at the crossroads.” She tells Pearl that while the child may look human, “they can’t be trusted because it is in their nature to lie. Just like his father, he will turn on you one day.”

## Appearances

* *Legendborn* (in a memory walk)
* *Bloodmarked* (mentioned only)
Tucker Johnson

**Tucker Johnson** is a Page competing to be a Squire.

## Biography

### Legendborn

In the first trial, Tucker is partnered with Ainsley Edwards. They are assigned to the second group to compete. They both use swords as their weapon. Their strategy is a failure. Just before they are about to get gored by Sel's hellboars, Sel makes his constructs dissolve. They last less than sixty seconds before they're eliminated. Ainsley gets medical assistance while Tucker complains to Celeste, blaming Ainsley.
The Crossroads Lounge

**The Crossroads Lounge** is a bar owned by Valec where magic users outside the Order gather. It's located in rural Georgia.

## Description

The Crossroads Lounge is in Grand Dame Lucille's territory. Valec authorizes and controls every bit of magic that happens in the bar. The majority of the patrons are Black and brown folks. The staff wears clothing in Valec's colors of dark red and gold. The whole place is heavily warded. The entrance is covered with a tin roof. It's a sprawling building of hodgepodge architecture. The staff parking lot is behind the Lounge.

The main room is a large, square, two-storied warehouse. Off to the left are three open-ended shipping containers attached to the warehouse wall, each labeled with a glowing sign overhead. To the right, the roof dips low, the floor flows from tile to wood, and there's a long, shiny bar running from one end to the other. Straight across from the entrance, there's a stage set beneath a rickety-looking loft and a second level that stretches farther back into the building. The corners are shadowed, shifting, and wavering. It makes it impossible to know exactly where the walls end. There are low, sticky wooden tables with candles in the center. Other seating areas seem to be purposefully left dark. The room smells like stale pipe smoke, desperation, and aether.

### Entry Agreement

“With entry you agree to release the owners, staff, and other guests be they human or nonhuman of the Crossroads Lounge from any and all liability, including, but not limited to, liability arising from negligence, fault, agreements, or disagreements between entities that may occur as a result of your presence on the premises. You also agree not to instigate, continue, or intercede in any magical conflicts that are not explicitly permitted by the Crossroads Lounge owner or staff… Do you understand, agree, and swear to this vortal release and these behavior requirements?"

## Workers

* Valec
* Lucille
* Louis
* Alonzo
* Emma Miranda

## Trivia

* The name comes from Blues folklore in which a musician can go to the crossroads at midnight to meet the man in black, the devil. If the bluesman sells his soul to the devil, he'll gain the ability to play the guitar like no one before or after. Robert Johnson is said to have done this.
* While Bree and her friends are there, a group known as the three sisters Morrígna performs.
* They have a local brew on tap called “Better Angels” that’s a sort of spicy stout and a citrus-y wheat called “Calamity.”

## References

1. ↑ *Bloodmarked*: pg; 306
Fan Art

**Fanart** dedicated to the *Legendborn Cycle* series. This Fandom takes art credit very seriously, so if art here has been posted without permission or without proper credit, please do not hesitate to comment or message. The officially commissioned art is first and everything else is in alphabetical order by artist.

## Miss.lys

Nick Davis, commissioned by Tracy DeonnBree Matthews, commissioned by Tracy DeonnSelwyn Kane, commissioned by Tracy Deonn
## Alibi

The Trio, commissioned by RosegoldreaderBree Matthews & Nick Davis, commissioned by Rosegoldreads

## Pandacubstories

Text is a Chinese metaphor that means “even though knowing there are tigers/beasts in the mountains, continuing through the mountains nevertheless” (meaning being valiant/courageous despite knowing the dangers that lie ahead).
## Rauviel

Alice ChenWilliamNick DavisSelwyn KaneBree Matthews

## SpaceRockBand

Find the comic here: https://spacerockband.tumblr.com/post/658286084826054656/everyone-please-read-legendborn-so-these-jokes
## Topazsunzart

Find it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CTSE2BLoc5l/
Erebus Varelian

**Erebus Varelian**

## Biography

In the Merlin academy, Erebus knew Natasia Kane. She gave him the moniker "Erebus." He called her "Nyx" after the Greek goddess of the night because she moved like shadows fall, silent and swift. Erebus teach young Merlins how to serve the Order. Before being appointed as Seneschal at Arms, one of the most powerful Merlins in the world, the Shadow King kills him and impersonates him.

## Physical Description

Erebus has olive skin and thick black hair slicked back into an undercut. He has glittering gold eyes. His voice is low and smooth. As a Mage Seneschal, Erebus wears a long black overcoat with the silver Legendborn symbol stitched on each wide lapel and silver grommets at his shoulders. He carries a black-and-silver aether staff with him. He has longer fangs than most Merlins. His mage flame is blue and silver. His aether signature is harsh and fragrant, like incense lit too close to one's face.

## Personality

Erebus' first impression is that he is concerned for Bree and is friendly towards her. He claims that as the Scion of Arthur, her "health and well-being are of concern to us all." He appears as if he wants to help her. However, this is quickly revealed as a deception. Cestra describes him as "the most vicious warrior she's ever met."

## Powers and Abilities

As a Seneschal, Erebus is incredibly powerful. He can detect aether users like the Morgaines, claiming he can "taste their magic."

* **Aether Affinity:** The ability to control and use aether.
* **Mesmerwork:** The ability to erase, manipulate, and replace someone's memories and to cast illusions.
* **Ward Casting:** The ability to create magical barriers used for protection.
* **Constructs:** The ability to create physical manifestations of aether that take the form of objects or animals.
* **Sight:** The ability to see magic and Shadowborn.
* **Enhanced abilities:** Super strength, super speed, enhanced endurance, self-healing abilities, and super senses.
* **Attraction:** The ability to make others feel attracted to them.

## Appearances

* *Bloodmarked* (impersonated by the Shadow King)
Tacitus

**Tacitus** is Regent Gabriel's Mage Seneschal and the Master of Mesmer. He is a member of the High Council of Regents.

## Biography

### Early History

Tacitus was born in Italy. As Master of Mesmer, Tacitus is the most powerful mesmerist in the world. He was appointed to his position by the previous Master of Mesmer, Jenna.

In 2011, when Anna Rheon was captured trying to escape from the Order with her son Nick Davis, Tacitus mesmers her, taking away her memories of the Order, Nick, and her husband Martin Davis.

### Bloodmarked

Bree meets Tacitus on the day of the memorial service and the Rite of Kings. While imprisoned in the Institute, Tacitus mesmers her for three days in row, wiping her memories of their interrogations of her.

## Physical Description

Tacitus is a tall, handsome, white man with dark hair, rust-colored eyes, and long fingers. He wears a dark gray robe. His fangs are longer than most other Merlins.

## Personality

He is cunning, cruel, and charming. He talks *about* Bree, not to her. She wonders if having a mesmer strong enough to wipe whole people from someone’s memory, maybe no one is real to them.

## Powers and Abilities

As the Mage Seneschal of Mesmer, Tacitus is the is the most powerful mesmerist in the world. He is able to do precise mesmerwork. Serren is impressed with Tacitus’ ability to distinguish between Alice’s experiences when Tacitus wipes her memories of the Order and any of Bree's connection to them.

* **Aether Affinity:** The ability to control and use aether.
* **Mesmerwork:** The ability to erase, manipulate, and replace someone's memories and to cast illusions.
* **Ward Casting:** The ability to create magical barriers used for protection.
* **Constructs:** The ability to create physical manifestations of aether that take the form of objects or animals.
* **Sight:** The ability to see magic and Shadowborn.
* **Enhanced abilities:** Super strength, super speed, enhanced endurance, self-healing abilities, and super senses.
* **Attraction:** The ability to make others feel attracted to them.

## Notable Quotes

* “I do like it when they stumble on the truth. … Much more satisfying when I take it away.” - *Bloodmarked*