Ezra Squall

**BEWARE!**

By Order of the Geographical Oddities Squadron and the Nevermoor Council,
 This Page Has Been Declared to Contain Possible ***Spoilers***.
**Enter At Own Risk**

**Ezra Squall** is a Wundersmith and the main antagonist of the *Nevermoor* series. He was banished a hundred years ago from the fantastic world of Nevermoor for killing innocent people and doing terrible things during the Great War. He wants to be Morrigan’s patron and teach her how to control Wunder. He visits Nevermoor through the Gossamer.

Click here to see quotes from Ezra Squall

## Biography

### Early Life

Ezra Squall was taken from his family at a young age to be educated as a Wundersmith at the Wundrous Society which was considered the greatest of honors. He was there from at least seven years of age. Squall was a young, talented Wundersmith who was described as joyful and happy. He was lucky to be born in a cohort of three Wundersmiths with Owain Binks only two years older and Elodie Bauer the same age as he was. He had a friendly relationship with both that extended into his late teens (seen in the fun-filled water-Weaving lesson with Decima Kokoro). He also a rivalry with Owain who had two years more experience than he did.

At some point Squall created the Gossamer Line. Ezra may have got guidance from an unusual ghostly hour, from before Ezra's inauguration, that documents a conversation between Brilliance Amadeo and Rastaban Tarazed about travel on the gossamer. Something happened that presumably caused him to turn on his friends and fellow Wundersmiths and murder them in what became known as the Courage Square Massacre. It is unknown what caused the Massacre but Ezra often speaks fondly of Wundersmiths he knew and he speaks disdainfully of persons in power.

At least 100 winters before the third Age of the Aristocrats, Ezra was thus banished from Nevermoor and the Free State. He went on to found Squall Industries in the Wintersea Republic where he was likely the second most powerful person after the President of the Wintersea Republic.

### Eighth Age of the Wintersea Republic, Eleven

Winter

At Jackalfax's annual Bid Day, Ezra Squall made an anonymous bid for Morrigan Crow to become his apprentice. Calling himself Mr. Jones, he meets Morrigan and attempts to persuade her to become Squall's (his) apprentice, telling her she will learn to run Squall Industries, though really wishing to teach her the Wundrous Arts. Morrigan hesitates at the last moment and he hides himself so that the Mayor and Morrigan's father do not know he is her bidder. She leaves without signing his contract.

On Eventide, Squall sent his Hunt of Smoke and Shadow to "herd" Morrigan so that she could begin to learn the Arts from him. However, she is rescued by Jupiter North and spirited away to Nevermoor where Squall could only communicate to her via the Gossamer Line (as Mr. Jones).

### Third Age of the Aristocrats, One

Ninth Age of the Wintersea Republic, One

The chandelier in Hotel Deucalion has fallen and Morrigan goes down to the lobby to inspect the damage. Ezra, as Mr. Jones is there waiting.

He says he is surprised to see her, saying he thought she was, well... dead. Morrigan tells him about the fallen chandelier, and he assures her that it has 'grown out,' like a tooth, and that it will simply 'grow back,' but replace itself with something new. When Mr. Jones asks about her knack, she replies truthfully, that she doesn't know. He remarks on the absurdity of that.

Mr. Jones sees Morrigan again, when she is looking for a shadow, and 'escapee' from the Hall of Shadows. He tells her that Jack was simply pulling her leg. The shadows in the Hall of Shadows are nothing more than illusion. Mr. Jones then says, "Pity you can't send a real wolf to teach him a lesson," although Morrigan never told him the shadow was a wolf.

At the end of the Fright Trial, Morrigan hears Mr. Jones' voice in her head, saying, "Shadows are shadows, Miss Crow. They want to be dark." This causes Morrigan to climb up the street lamp in the illusion, thus getting her out of the Fright Trial successfully.

Right after the Fright Trial, Morrigan sees Mr. Jones yet again. Morrigan introduces him to Hawthorne, and they wish each other a happy Hallowmas.

Morrigan meets 'Mr. Jones' again, now knowing he is Ezra Squall, on the Gossamer Line platform. Squall whisks her to her old home, Crow Manor, via the Gossamer Line. He reveals to Morrigan that she is a Wundersmith and that the only curse upon children born on Eventide like her is that he kills them on Eventide of the next age because they are inconvenient to him.

Ezra then gives a Wundersmith masterclass to Morrigan hoping to get her to become his student and teach her the ways of the Wundersmiths. Unfortunately for Ezra, he also shows Morrigan with his pathological lack of concern for other intelligent beings which appalls Morrigan. Morrigan shows some of her power when she sends away the The Hunt of Smoke and Shadow. He offers her a second lesson when she requests it and Morrigan return home.

### Third Age of the Aristocrats, Two

Ezra knows Morrigan Crow will need to be motivated to receive a second lesson, and her woeful progress under Hemingway Onstald and Dulcinea Dearborn means Ezra needs to move things along. Ezra's plan is to create a rescue situation where Morrigan must use her Wundersmith powers.

#### Henry Mildmay

Ezra enlists the help of Henry Mildmay. Henry also gives Ezra information about Wunsoc members with interesting knacks who are kidnapped for the Ghastly Market. Henry also helps Ezra by guiding Morrigan to places using his Discovering Nevermoor class. As a result of the Tricksy Lane lesson, Morrigan, Cadence Blackburn and Hawthorne Swift find the Devilish Court Ghastly Market, this might have been planned. In the class's final exam, Henry leaves instructions that lead Morrigan to a Bonesmen trap where she is rescued by the Hunt of Fire and Smoke and brought, for the first time, to the Museum of Stolen Moments.

Later at Autumnal Ghastly Market at the Museum of Stolen Moments, Ezra reveals he is upset with Henry's wavering loyalty and *takes care* of him.

#### Morrigan Crow's Rescue Test

"*There are far greater monsters - and far greater dangers. Miss Crow, we have a shared enemy you could never imagine. If the Wunderous Society doesn't take you off the leash, if you aren't given the freedom to grow, to become the Wundersmith I need you to be ... then terrible things are coming down the line. For both of us.*"
―Ezra Squall[src]
Ezra watches Morrigan Crow throughout this year and is dismayed at her disappointing progress at The Wundrous Society. He then uses his available Nevermoor resources (Henry, the Gossamer Line, his connection to Morrigan's excess Wunder, and the Hunt of Fire and Smoke) to directly teach Morrigan and also to set up a situation where she must rescue her friends.

After guiding Morrigan to the Museum of Stolen Moments, Ezra gives Morrigan her second Wundersmith lesson, succeeding in at least teaching her the Wretched Art of Nocturne, but she runs away before he can teach her any more. During Hallowmas night on the roof of The Hotel Deucalion, Squall 'puppeteers' everybody except for Morrigan. Ezra teaches Morrigan the Wretched Art of Inferno, the ability she has the most natural aptitude for.

Ezra then sends Morrigan and Hawthorn to the Ghastly Market at the Museum of Stolen Moments. Ezra had given Morrigan the best chance of success having shown her both the Museum and the Market earlier in the year. Ezra's plan is that Morrigan, with all his carefully orchestrated preparation, and the motivation to save her friends, will show the Wunderous Society how important she is.

In addition to his master plan this year, Ezra is able to use Morrigan's excess Wunder, and uses it to 'puppeteer' The Charlton Five and enchant Valerie Bramble's Magnificub in separate incidents. Ezra chooses Alfie Swann and Professor Onstald as victims of his Knack stealing plan, perhaps because he thinks this will please Morrigan.

### Third Age of the Aristocrats, Three

Ezra continues to follow Morrigan Crow and the path of the Hollowpox in Nevermoor. He waits until Morrigan is fully aware of the limitations of ghostly hour lessons and offers to teach her.

Ezra is then asked to visit Nevermoor with President Wintersea and hurriedly negotiates with Morrigan Crow to destroy the Hollowpox pathogen. During these negotiations he reveals more about himself than he is usually willing to. Morrigan destroys the Hollowpox under Ezra's direction and falls asleep for two days.

Ezra waits for Morrigan to contact him and, using a form of voluntary Wundersmith possession, reverses the damage caused to the Hollowpox victims. After this demonstration, two and a half years after their meeting in Jackalfax, Ezra convinces Morrigan to sign a wundrous apprenticeship.

## Physical Appearance

### As Ezra Squall

Ezra is described as a serious-looking man. He has well brushed brown hair with a splash of silver at the temples, dark shiny eyes, and a scar cutting through one eyebrow. His skin is mentioned as being so pale it is almost translucent. Though he looks a bit older, it almost appears as though he hasn't aged much over the past 100 years.

### As Mr. Jones

When Squall was described as Mr. Jones, he was wearing a gray suit and wire-rimmed glasses. His overall appearance is noted as looking serious and neat as well as tasteful and “immaculately groomed.”

### As *The Wundersmith*

*The Wundersmith* is remembered by Nevermoor as a monster with a hunched back, sharp black teeth, black eyes and fingers ending in long talons. When present day Ezra Squall is angry, he changes appearance to have a black mouth, sharp teeth and black hands. He usually quickly calms himself and returns to a more normal appearance.

## Personality and Traits

### As Ezra Squall

**Ezra Squall**: "*We can reel them back in. But are you certain we should? Are you certain it’s what they’d want? What is there for them here, after all? A world that doesn’t understand them, a society that barely tolerates their existence? We could give them a little nudge into the void. Doubt they’d feel a thing. We might be doing them a favour.*"
**Morrigan**: "*Bring them back.*"
— Squall murmured staring at Sofia, a crease between his eyes[src]
Ezra is a utilitarian who sees his great power as an obligation - he admits to killing a handful of innocent children who would only live a few more years in order to keep his hospitals, heating, and industry running. He was brought up in an insular environment where he was praised and admired for his innate abilities, and because he had Elodie and Owain as peers, he probably socialised with non-wundersmiths very little. Squall is ruthless, manipulative, and proud of his ability to lie. He knows what he wants and he'll do whatever's possible to make it happen. It is apparent that he has a plan and will make it happen, although the only part of his plan yet revealed is to teach Morrigan Crow how to use Wunder and to turn her over to his side.

Also, it is written in Wundersmith that Ezra Squall has a beautiful singing voice. Most people refer to his outward appearance as a mask, that conceals the true monster he is, he is shown to be vengeful and rather bitter at his family leaving him behind for the society.

Ezra admits to having no friends or connections except Morrigan Crow in whom he sees a darkness. He admits that he would destroy everyone in the Wintersea Republic to get back into Nevermoor, the town which he loves.

Ezra's lack of complete lack of empathy causes difficulty in his relationship with Morrigan Crow who wants, and gives, friendship to other intelligent beings in a normal way. Ezra expects to please Morrigan when he threatens her parents or punishes Alfie Swann and Henry Mildmay. Interestingly, after three years, he finally gets his apprenticeship from Morrigan Crow by displaying some kindness, not by changing himself but by accident. Specifically, Ezra chooses to put Nevermoor's safety above his own wants by destroying the Hollowpox monster and then by carefully and skillfully healing the Hollowpox victims.

Ezra has a wicked sense of humor. When he meets Morrigan at the Hotel Deucalion, two days after Jupiter snatched her from the Hunt of Smoke and Shadow, he wildly understates his alter-ego's emotions: "Mr Squall was most disappointed to lose you as his apprentice. Most disappointed". At the masterclass at Crow Manor he makes an absurd flag with Morrigan's face and a neon sign saying WELCOME TO MORRIGANLAND. At the Séance of the top of the Deucalion Hotel he reveals himself by puppeteering the fraud clairvoyant Malau, effectively making Malau a true medium. When Morrigan adds the Museum of Stolen Moments to her list of Wunder hotspots, Ezra ruefully says *"Before you demolished it, certainly".*

### As a Child

After observing Ezra in many Ghostly Hours, Morrigan Crow is surprised by how different his younger personality is to the adult that Morrigan knows. Ezra is playful, competitive, and happy in the company of Elodie Bauer and Owain Binks. Young Ezra is also studious and respectful to Griselda Polaris which can be seen in the present day Ezra.

When he was younger than seven, Ezra left his family to spend most of his time at Wunsoc and he may have viewed Brilliance Amadeo as mother figure.

### As Mr. Jones

Mr. Jones was kind and understanding unlike his evil form of Ezra Squall. He understands Morrigan's curiosity and tries to teach her without her knowledge.

## Abilities and Skills

### Wundersmith

As a Wundersmith, Squall is able to control and manipulate wunder in multiple ways to his will. He is shown to be able to perform the arts at ease and with great skill, using multiple arts at once. It also shows that he has good stamina, learned over many years, as he does not tire from performing as Morrigan does.

### Singing

Ezra Squall sings to call Wunder, using the wunderous art of Nocturne. He is described as having a beautiful singing voice.

## Accomplishments

* Learning the nine Wundrous Arts (likely)
* Creating the Gossamer Line
* Founder and Head of Squall Industries
* Second most powerful person in the Wintersea Republic

## Relationships

Young Ezra used to be friends with Elodie Bauer, before he tried to capture Nevermoor and kill all the other Wundersmiths. Ezra doesn`t have any relationships or friendships with anyone anymore, according to this quote:

*"One thing you learn, is that Wundersmiths don`t have friends."*

*- Ezra Squall, to Morrigan*

### Morrigan Crow

"*You are not a mouse, Morrigan Crow. You are a dragon.*"
―Squall, to Morrigan[src]Morrigan has been one of the only characters to have any true interaction with Ezra Squall within the series so far. Squall's plan seems to hinge on having her becoming his apprentice. Despite killing every child who could potentially be a Wundersmith so they don't take too much Wunder, he chose to let her live, selecting her to become his heir. This led him to place a bid on her, and begin meeting her; first as "Mr. Jones," then as himself when she realized the truth. Currently, his motives for choosing her to be his heir remain a mystery.

Squall's interactions with Morrigan take on a decidedly uneven tone. He alternates between politeness and calmly offering her a chance to join him, to screaming abuse at her and threatening her, often with very little warning. Whenever Morrigan displays control over Wunder, he seems genuinely pleased, and even expresses admiration for her strength a few times. However, he is also frequently angered by her good nature, naivete, and unwillingness to abandon her friends and loved ones.

Squall claims to see similarities between himself Morrigan, and seems to consider it a given that she'll join him eventually. Curiously, he doesn't outright force her into an apprenticeship despite having a clear opportunity to do so at the end of *Hollowpox*. He states this is because he doesn't want Morrigan to join him because she feels she has an obligation to do so, or because she has no choice; he wants a willing and eager student. Despite her hatred of him, Squall is better-equipped to teach Morrigan the Wundrous Arts than any other currently living person, because he killed the other Wundersmiths.

### Henry Mildmay

"*Never fear, I promise to take care of our dear friend Henry.*"
―Squall, after Mildmay's treachery is revealed[src]Mildmay worked with Ezra Squall to help him set up the Ghastly Market. It is unknown what happened to him afterwards, as he kidnapped more people than he was commissioned to, and was left alone with Ezra Squall. Given that Squall promised to "take care" of him, it seems unlikely he is still alive. However, his death has yet to be confirmed.

### President Wintersea

It is found out in Hollowpox that Erza Squall works for President Wintersea and does her bidding, but does not want her in Nevermoor for fear of its destruction.

## Etymology

The name **Ezra** (EHZ-rə) means "help/helper" in Hebrew. Jessica Townsend has confirmed this etymology was intended in an interview.[*citation needed*]

**Squall** probably comes from the term for a sudden violent gust of wind or localized storm, usually with a "sudden, sharp increase in wind speed lasting minutes."

## Behind-the-Scenes

* Ex-member of The Wundrous Society at least 100 years before Morrigan Crow
* Sings the song "Little Crowling" to summon Wunder (via Nocturne); however he often only hums.
* Mentions that he created the Gossamer Line
* Mentions that he used his Hunt of Smoke and Shadow (his own creation) to kill other Wundersmiths who tried to stop him at the Courage Square Massacre.

## Trivia

* On a Q&A session on Instagram, Townsend revealed that more of Squall's past will be revealed in Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow

## Gallery

by Jim Madsenfrom the back cover of the Thai editionalternate Thai edition showing one monstrous black eye
## Appearances

##### As Ezra Squall

* *Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow* (First appearance)
* *Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow*
* *Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow*
* *Silverborn: They Mystery of Morrigan Crow* (likely)

##### As Mr. Jones

* *Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow* (First appearance)
* *Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow* (Mentioned only)
* *Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow* (Mentioned only)

## Notes and References

1. ↑ *Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow*, Chapter 7 (*Happy Hour at the Hotel Deucalion*) "he's been gone for more than a hundred years" - Jupiter North
2. ↑ *Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow*, Chapter 18 (*Daylight Robbery*)
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow, Chapter 25 (*Master and Apprentice*) "I should know, I created it"
4. ↑ *Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow*, Chapter 17 (*Ezra, the Boy*)
5. ↑ Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow, Chapter 12 (Shadows)
6. ↑ Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that determines right from wrong by focusing on outcomes. It is a form of consequentialism.

Utilitarianism holds that the most ethical choice is the one that will produce the greatest good for the greatest number. It is the only moral framework that can be used to justify military force or war. It is also the most common approach to moral reasoning used in business because of the way in which it accounts for costs and benefits.

Utilitarianism - Ethics Unwrapped (utexas.edu)
7. ↑ https://www.behindthename.com/name/ezra
8. ↑ http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/Ezra
9. ↑ Needs confirmation source
10. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squall
11. ↑ @digressica Instagram Stories, June 02, 2021 "(Pause) Yes." (In reply to the question "Is there more of Squalls past revealed in Silverborn?"