Tryfan

**Tryfan**, was the son of Bracken and Rebecca and is the protagonist of the second book, Duncton Quest. He is the apprentice of Boswell and mentor to Beechen.

Spoiler warningThis article contains detailed information about the *Duncton* series. Please read with caution if you do not want the story spoiled for you!

## History

### Duncton Wood

#### Part Five: The Seventh Stillstone

Born in Duncton Wood of Rebecca along with two sisters and a brother, Tryfan had interest in the ways of Uffington, the Scribemoles and especially the way of Silence.

### Duncton Quest

#### Part One: Return to Uffington

As he grew up with Boswell himself as his mentor, he gave a promise to Tryfan, to make him a Scribemole. Though when grikes and their leader began to attack mole systems, he and Boswell were separated, but another mole, Spindle stayed to protect Tryfan.

#### Part Two: Buckland

They ventured to Buckland to know more of the Word, and were taken in. Horrified by the grikes' macabre snoutings and the Eldrene Fescue, Spindle and Tryfan had sought to leave the system. However, captured by the grikes and sent to punishment: not snouting, not death, but disease, was to be their punishment. As it was, they were moved to Slopeside and met Mayweed, Smithills, Skint and few others.

The plan of escape was horrendously unlikely but through stealth, they evacuated a small group; caught in the clutches of the beautiful Henbane, she ordered attack and as they had fled with only two killed, Henbane vented her anger out on a grike.

### Duncton Found

#### Part Three: Darkness Falls

Now elderly, Tryfan gathers with his friends at the Stone to celebrate Longest Night. But they are intruded upon by Lucerne and his followers, who take them prisoner. Lucerne tries to persuade Tryfan to acknowledge him as his son and renounce the Stone, but Tryfan coldly spurns him. Lucerne then has all his friends including Feverfew ritually murdered, and when Tryfan begs to Stone to take away the sight of so much horror Lucerne has him blinded by Drule and leaves him to die.

However Tryfan survives and is found by Bailey. With the younger mole's help he scribes a final text giving an account of what happened, and then insists on waiting for Mayweed to come and help him. Mayweed does indeed return along with Romney and Mistle, and comforts him while he peacefully passes away.

## Appearance

He is a battle-scarred (on his head and back), well-built, large mole with powerful shoulders; patchy, ragged and greying (whiting too) fur that hangs loose at his flanks (it used to be black in his younger days); patchy and great paws with thick, worn claws and has calloused flanks. Toward the end of his life he develops a tremor and is almost blind.

## Personality

* Adventurous
* Strong

## Quotes

> He was super! Gosh, he was *amazing*. They all went straight for him and he sort of smiled at them, and calm as you please, he raised one paw and hit the first one, the the second, then the third, and the first one fell back and hit the fourth one and then they were all crying and it was fantastic!
>
> — Curlew tells Rebecca about her brother's bravery facing some bullies,,

"I have many faults, mole, but pride in you is not likely to be one of them."

> You know that I am Tryfan, born here in Duncton, and sent from here by the Stone to guard over Boswell on his journey to Uffington with the Stillstone of Silence. You know that Boswell ordained me scribemole and gave me a task which was to help prepare moledom for the coming of the one we call the Stone Mole. As time passed, moles I loved gathered around me, the first among them being Spindle, my dearest and my oldest friend. He went to the Stone the night Beechen was born, but his son Bailey is here among us. Other moles who travelled with me are here and some I met before my return to Duncton Wood.
>
> — Tryfan's speech;, *Duncton Found*

## Trivia

* His name is pronounced like Triff-an.
* He is named in memory of Bracken's journey to the Siabod Stone.
* Before Bracken and Rebecca gave him his name, they suggested between the names of Mekkins or Boswell.

## References and Citations

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 -- Duncton Wood, ch. 47
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 -- Duncton Wood, ch. 50