Gavan Rainwater

**Gavan Rainwater** is the headmaster of Camp Ravenwyng and Iron Mountain Academy, and the de facto leader of the Magickers. Before the war between Gregory the Gray and Antoine Brennard, he was Gregory's apprentice and acknowledged heir, and had studied magick under his tutelage from an early age. Upon awakening and finding himself in the modern world, he began to seek out other Magickers, and ultimately conceived a plan to educate young hopefuls with the aim of rebuilding their order and restoring magick to the world.

## Biography

### **Early Life**

Gavan was born to unnamed parents in Renaissance Era England, presumably sometime in the early 1600s. He was likely separated from them when he was very young in order to study magick and escape persecution when his abilities began to manifest. Some of his earliest memories include crystaling down the Thames near Windsor Castle, and across London Bridge with his peers in games of crystal tag. During this time, Gavan met his classmate Hercule Fizziwig, and the two became close friends.

When he was sixteen, Gavan met Eleanora Andarielle, Gregory the Gray's only daughter. He fell in love with her, and although she tolerated his affections, he believed that pursuing her was a hopeless cause due to her being several years older than he. Gregory, however, evidently supported the idea of Gavan marrying his daughter, and reassured him that in time, the years between them would mean very little.

Gavan studied with Gregory until he was approximately seventeen, at which time the war between the Magickers and the Dark Hand escalated. When Gregory and Brennard attempted to destroy one another, he was sent into a magickal coma for several hundred years, and would awake some time in the 1980s.

### The Magickers

> "Magick is alive in the world again, and you are its heirs. You can create it. Wield it. Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the world of Magickers.
> ─Gavan Rainwater, *The Magickers*, "Lightning in a Bottle"
>
>

After his Awakening in the latter half of the twentieth century, Gavan, with support from several other Magickers, decided to begin rebuilding their order. This involved seeking out new Talent, such as through creative entries in the California state Imagination Celebration. While little is known about the selection process or how potential Magickers were identified, Gavan examined the entries personally for signs of magickal ability. In some cases, he was assisted indirectly by acquaintances like Sarah Cowling, who had entered Jason Adrian's story into the competition.

Gavan first appeared under the guise of a camp counselor, and was one of the staff responsible for transporting the campers to Camp Ravenwyng. He and Eleanora, accompanied by Jason, Bailey, Henry, Jonnard, Ting, Stefan, and Rich, were among the last to arrive, partly due to their getting lost on the way. With his help, Eleanora managed to transport their van, along with all of its passengers, to the road outside Ravenwyng using the Herkimer diamond focus in his cane.

Gavan played the role of camp counselor well until he and Eleanora deemed it necessary to reveal their true identities and motives to the campers. He explained the history of the Magickers from the Old World, and how the duel between Gregory the Gray and Antoine Brennard rendered most of the world's magickal inhabitants comatose, if not outright killing them. He had the campers swear an Oath of Binding, which would prevent them from discussing their talents and other magickal phenomena with anyone not part of the Circle.

### The Curse of Arkady

Gavan first appeared in *The Curse of Arkady* when responding to Jason's cry for help through the Ravenwyng alarm beacon, which he had inadvertently activated in his dream.

### The Dragon Guard

> "He remarked, very quietly, 'You do know that I love you?'
> 'Yes. I have known that for quite some time.' Her hand tightened on the back of his wrist. Then she said, 'And I love you.'"
> —Gavan Rainwater and Eleanora Andarielle in *The Dragon Guard,* "Things Unsaid"
>
>
>

Following the events of *The Curse of Arkady,* Gavan remained preoccupied with several important matters. Chiefest among them was Eleanora's health which had suffered during her work with Jennifer Logan, and despite Jason's attempts to contact him, he was unresponsive to the young Gatekeeper for some time.

Sensing that their tentative peace with the Hand might not last, Gavan confessed his love to Eleanora, to which she replied that she was aware of his feelings, and confirmed that she loved him, too. He expressed concern for her well being, and she reassured him that she was coping, albeit wearily. She rejected his offer of assistance, stating that Jennifer was too afraid to allow anyone else close to her, and that their other allies on the Council had too many hidden agendas beyond the welfare of their students. He promised her that he would find answers to their troubles, and the two enjoyed a brief respite, finding comfort in each other.

Gavan was present at Jennifer's farewell gathering, and wove a protection spell around her in order to keep her safe after losing her magick and memories to the Draft of Forgetfulness. He was also witness to the magickal attack on Eleanora when she tried to purge the remaining darkness from Jennifer, and attempted to comfort her in spite of his evident distress over her condition. He protested when Khalil declared his intention to put Eleanora into a coma in order to preserve her remaining life force, but eventually acknowledged that it was the only way to keep her safe from further harm.

Desperate, he sought refuge for Eleanora with Aunt Freyah, only to be turned away. Freyah criticized his failures, stating that he was too bold in attempting to take on students before he had a proper means of teaching and protecting them, and that Eleanora was the one who suffered most for it. Gavan, furious at Freyah's refusal to help, returned to Ravenwyng with Eleanora, and left her in FireAnn's care as he searched for a way to undo what had been done.

Some time later, he interrupted a fight between Jason and Jonnard outside of the Iron Gate at Ravenwyng, and was appalled to find that Jonnard had created a Leucator in order to hunt Jason down. When Crimcarias forbade the Magickers from entering Haven on account of their feud with the Dark Hand, Gavan demanded to know what had happened. He wearily commented that he had warded the entire property, but the effort was now in vain as the fight had destroyed all but the two wards protecting Eleanora which he and FireAnn had managed to repair. Aware of Jason's frustration with him and their less-than-ideal educational situation, Gavan apologized, and reminded him that he held the true power over the Gates, in spite of what the dragon had told them.

Gavan remained unavailable to the younger Magickers for some time afterward due to his obligation with Eleanora, but appeared when summoned by Aunt Freyah to come and collect them after the group was forced to flee present-day Earth for fear of being discovered. He settled them in the Ravenwyng Gathering Hall for the night before returning to Eleanora's side. When Jason succeeded in opening the Dragon Gate and permanently anchoring Haven to their reality, Gavan felt the magickal shockwave generated by the act, and resolved to aid his students, even if it meant leaving Eleanora. He kissed her, promising that he would return, and left FireAnn to watch over her as she continued to sleep.

Although he'd intended to catch up with the young Magickers, Gavan was nearly trapped while crystaling between Ravenwyng and Haven, and attempted to make his way back following Eleanora's presence. He was deceived, however, and materialized inside a remote dungeon belonging to Isabella Ruelle. He quickly realized the cave was filled with Leucators that she had created of all their comrades, including one of Eleanora, which was the presence he had sensed. Gavan confronted and fought with her, nearly losing the battle before Tomaz Crowfeather arrived to render aid. Upon arriving back at Ravenwyng, he was devastated to find that Eleanora, along with FireAnn, had been taken by the Hand.

### The Gate of Bones

Gavan took charge of the fledgling Iron Mountain Academy and oversaw its construction after the Magickers' exile to Haven. He and Tomaz were responsible for developing the "talker" crystals which allowed them to speak with the locals and wanderers, such as Renart and Dokr. He also continued to pursue leads on recovering Eleanora and FireAnn from the Dark Hand, a situation which troubled him deeply.

When Renart brought news that Chieftain Mantor had sent for the Magickers to help the Havenites deal with Isabella's raiders, Gavan reluctantly agreed to meet with him. He took Bailey and the boys with him to Avenha, and together they rode with Mantor and Renart to the Dark Hand's base of operations in an old warlord's fortress.

### The Prince of Nowhere

Gavan and Eleanora married sometime during the two years between The Gate of Bones and The Prince of Nowhere.

## Personality

Gavan is confident and capable, often regarded as a source of strength and authority by his students, for whom he cares fiercely. He is described as "a bit of a showman" by Jason, and has a flair for the dramatic. By others, friend and foe alike, he is seen as young, headstrong, impulsive, and lacking the foresight his position necessitates. However, Gavan is aware of how others perceive him, and confides in Jason that he uses their underestimation to his advantage. Although kind and generally patient, he possesses a quick temper, and is most frequently frustrated by inaction.

Gavan is a romantic at heart, and has been teased about it by several people, Eleanora included. He has stated himself that he was shy and somewhat awkward in his youth, and the latter is still occasionally true, particularly concerning matters of the heart. He has a tendency to put the collective good before his personal needs, largely because his leadership role demands it. Though he is progressive in many ways, some of his views are still fairly traditional (such as those pertaining to gender roles), and Eleanora remarks on one occasion that his "sensibilities are positively Victorian." [Citation needed, somewhere in Prince of Nowhere]

## Appearance

Gavan is described as a tall, youthful man with wavy, shoulder-length brown hair and piercing blue eyes. He has adapted his dress to the modern era, preferring to wear button down shirts and jeans, but retains some relics from the past as well, such as his cape. He carries a cane with a pewter wolf head at one end, in which his Herkimer diamond focus is set. After living in Haven for a time, he reverts to dressing in clothing similar to the Renaissance fashion he grew up with, such as breeches and loose shirts (though his hallmark cape and cane remain unchanged).

## Relationships

### Eleanora Andarielle

> "It was no wonder Gavan loved her, for she was beautiful. They could all see it on his face as Rainwater looked at Eleanora, and he wondered if she knew it, too."
>
> — Trent on the nature of Gavan and Eleanora's relationship, *The Dragon Guard,* "Hellos and Good-Byes"
>
>
>
>
>
>

Gavan and Eleanora have a long mutual history and an incredibly close and personal relationship, which begins platonically and later develops into one of a romantic nature. Despite their bickering, they harbor a deep and genuine love for one another, which is evident in nearly all of their interactions. Gavan frequently confides his troubles in Eleanora, and she in turn supports him, both emotionally and in his efforts to rebuild the Magickers.

#### Personal History

Gavan's history with Eleanora began when he first met her at the age of sixteen. He was instantly taken with her, but was daunted by the five or six year age difference between them. He regarded the idea of courting her as little more than a dream, though still harbored some hope that she would remain single, since she seemed to hold little interest in suitors. To his surprise, Eleanora's father Gregory encouraged him in his affections, and told him that "if he had patience, eventually the age difference between them would mean little."

Gavan's love for Eleanora persisted, even after both fell victim to the the magickal coma caused by Gregory and Brennard's duel. He awakened several years before she did, and it was some time before the two met again. Their ages now equalized by the disaster, Gavan began to hope that Eleanora would see him as a peer, and perhaps even seriously consider his suit, though he made little mention of it. They worked side-by-side during the years between their Awakenings and the events of *The Magickers*, and developed a close friendship. Eleanora supported him in his efforts to recruit and train young Magickers, and was one of the elders who volunteered to teach at Camp Ravenwyng.

It was likely during this time that Eleanora also fell in love with him, but while each was superficially aware of the other's feelings, both she and Gavan did not openly acknowledge them for some time. They maintained their friendship and working relationship through the events of *The Magickers,* and were shown to be comfortable around one another, freely exchanging physical (if platonic) gestures of affection and comfort.

Around the time of *The Dragon Guard,* Gavan began to fear for Eleanora's health, which had begun to falter during her work with Jennifer Logan. Unsure of whether or not he would find another opportunity, he confessed his love to her, and Eleanora responded that she loved him, too. When she fell victim to an attack of dark magick and was rendered comatose, Gavan was devastated, and vowed that he would find a way to bring her back.

Antoine Brennard commented to his followers that Gavan's love for her was a crippling weakness and could be exploited. With this in mind, upon defecting to the Dark Hand Isabella Ruelle kidnapped the comatose Eleanora along with FireAnn, and held them hostage for several months in a fortress in Haven. Gavan ruthlessly pursued the Hand and mounted several rescue attempts, though his continual failures at Eleanora's expense tormented him. When he finally achieved success, the two were reunited and resumed their relationship as Eleanora began to heal.

Gavan and Eleanora married sometime between the events of *The Gate of Bones* and *The Prince of Nowhere*. When Tomaz Crowfeather announced his intention to return to Earth for good, Eleanora revealed (to Gavan's surprise) that she was pregnant with their first child, and told Crowfeather that if it was a boy, she and Gavan would name the child after him.

### Tomaz Crowfeather

The true duration of Tomaz and Gavan's acquaintanceship is unknown, but their long-standing friendship began some time after Gavan's awakening in the modern world. Tomaz frequently acts as a steady presence to complement Gavan's somewhat more dramatic personality, and does not hesitate to offer advice when Gavan is in need of it. They have a mutual respect for each other's Talents, and Gavan acknowledges, with no small amount of admiration, that Crowfeather's understanding and practice of magick is vastly different from his own. Gavan does not hesitate to trust Tomaz with his life, which is amply demonstrated on the several occasions when Tomaz has, in fact, saved his life.

### Aunt Freyah

Gavan and Freyah generally coexist as well as two people with equally strong personalities are able to. Despite this, they harbor a genuine affection for one another, and it is implied that they have known each other for much of Gavan's lifetime. Freyah frequently disagrees with Gavan's approach to solving the Magickers' problems, as she considers him too brash and reckless. Gavan, in turn, is often exasperated by Freyah's seeming unwillingness to take action and her hermit-like tendencies.

## Trivia

* Gavan can play the violin and has a reasonably good singing voice, as demonstrated in *The Magickers*.
* He has seen at least one *Star Wars* film, as he refers to feeling a backlash of magickal energy as sensing "a trembling in the Force."
* Gavan enjoys watching soccer and comes to Jason's games when he can, although Jason teases him that croquet or jousting were likely more popular when he was young.
* Gavan knew FireAnn when he was an apprentice, as she mentions to Jason that she recalls him being a great deal of trouble.
* His primary crystal, the Herkimer diamond in his cane, is flawed on the inside and contains a droplet of water from when it formed. This led to several other Magickers advising him against choosing it as a focus, though he professes that he is fond of it and has had it for quite some time.
	+ Eleanora is the only other person known to have used the crystal in his cane.

## References

1. ↑ The Magickers, p. 33
2. ↑ In *The Gate of Bones*, Gavan's hair is referred to as being dark blonde in color, although *The Magickers* describes it as dark brown.
3. ↑ The Gate of Bones, p. 226