Ender

Ender is a the dragon member of The Menagerie. He is sixteen and one of the youngest members of the group. As this is his first time interacting with any other beings other than his mother, he has a shy personality with an awkwardness in socializing, but he is usually friendly and helpful. He is usually fearful and overly cautious, but also has moments of bravery when he wants to protect others. His age and lack of social experience leaves him naïve and very trustworthy to those around him, but he also has a lot of empathy and forgiveness that runs deep.

Ender loves books both filled with stories and knowledge. He seems to like to collect things he comes across although he will choose his books over anything else. He has a thirst for knowledge and will ask several questions, take notes, record events, and study whenever possible.

## Biographical information

### Date of birth

17 Years Old (Technically 27 after Feywilds)

## Backstory

Ender is from a place formally known as the Forbidden Forest. His mother, fearing for his safety, kept them hidden deep in the forest in a small cabin knowing it would be difficult for them be to discovered and hunted there. Ender's childhood was a very isolated one but his mother tried to make the best of it constantly filling his life with books and stories so he could have adventures, experiences, and meet new people even if it was just through stories. Her seemingly never ending collection of books brought a wide range of stories to his life, and also a vast knowledge. It would later fuel his love for both books and learning during his travels. As he grew older his mother taught him little basics of magic; making him begin with his own Shadow Book.

As Ender came into his teens, he would begin noticing changes in his mother. Normally very calm, wise, and able to manage her emotions and stress quite easily, her worry and stress and the weight of their situation seemed to more noticeable to him. One night she woke him from his sleep, forcing him to hide in a narrow space between the book shelves. As soon as he was hidden, their home was raided by a group of what he suspects were bandits. Ender was able to hear them say they were looking for a dragon. His mother possibly trying to lead them away shifted in her dragon form outside making them charge out after her. Although unable to see anything, he was able to hear the fight and could tell it was a terrible one. After a while everything got silent and he heard one of them mention they had "slayed the dragon" and that they were going to be rich now. He stayed there until they left and it was well into the morning before he was finally able to crawl out of his hiding space. He grabbed a backpack and stuffed it with as much he could and thought he might need, including his Book of Shadows he had began, and decided to leave fearing they would come back.

He spent a few years traveling in the Forbidden Forest; trying to both survive and find his courage to go into the world until he finally entered into the city of Hearth. He spent only a few months in the city finding it difficult to hide his appearance and survive on the little money he did have in a city full of people. He used his last little bit to go to the tavern to get food where he would overhear about the guild offering jobs with gold rewards and other benefits. Seeing as a few other odd beings like himself were wanting to go, he thought it was his best opportunity.

## Relationships/thoughts on other Menagerie

#### 13 (XIII)

Ender has a lot of respect and admiration for 13. Being the oldest member of the group, 13 often shows a level of maturity, wisdom, and critical thinking that the rest of them do not, and Ender has noticed this quite a lot. He has noticed she has times of unpredictable and sometimes frightening behavior (or both), but has grown a deep trust and reassurance in her. He often seeks her out for advice on most things both personal and in their adventure. In the Feywilds, Ender had mistakenly gave his name to a fairy, in an innocent way of introductions, and 13 eventually traded fates with him giving her name for his. Ender has not forgotten that she had done that and has carried that with him since. To him she seems more of a parental figure for the group even though she is more annoyed with them than not.

#### Frederick

Ender describes his interactions with Frederick as weird, frustrating, annoying, sometimes painful, and more often than not exhausting. He sometimes makes grumbly comments of Frederick being a bit of a jerk and his chaotic impulsive behavior being a constant battle, but he has an attachment to him as well. He finds their common love for books and knowledge as well as their similarity in social awkwardness both reassuring and comforting. Due to his months spent in the city, Ender thought his interests and social behavior made him stand out as a dragon, and after meeting Frederick he now knows that there are others (and humans) like him. Although Frederick is sometimes annoying, exhausting, and quite mean to Ender, Ender still cares a lot about him and would do whatever he could to protect him if he had to. Despite his attitude, Ender has seen Frederick's heart and knows he has good intentions. He looks at Frederick as the rude older brother that screws up sometimes.

#### Beatrice

Ender likes Beatrice quite a lot. Although death is something he is always terrified of, he admires her love for it and how she dedicates her life around it and the different aspects of it. He sees how kind hearted she is, and he enjoys her odd comments and strange interests. He likes sitting with Beatrice, talking with her, and learning more about her and her practice. They seem to work well when they come with up with plans together. He thinks she's very fragile though, and her acceptance to death so easy frightens him a lot. He's still learning more about her, but feels bonded to her like a sister.

#### Blaze

As Blaze is a new member to the group, and because of the timing of his arrival, Ender has a slight weariness of him. Unlike the others who believe he is Irva, he thinks that Blaze might be some sort of being created by the Eclipse. He doesn't think Blaze himself is bad though. He sees Blaze as naïve and vulnerable to some of the things they interact with and he worries a lot about the different experiences influencing what might be an Eclipse creation even if he seems good.

#### Willus

Ender finds Willus both intriguing and amusing. He finds his description of his home a little confusing, but fascinating. He has only seen some glimpses of his powers and abilities. He wants to learn more about him and his people but hasn't had much time to sit down and talk with him. He sees Willus has having a really good heart and has shown a lot of want to help people.