Mr. Wendell
The mysterious protector of Wendell’s Landing. He saved Stevie‘s life when the rest of us thought she had died. He lives in the house on the hill above the bay — a place we’d known existed our whole lives but never visited until Session 4.
He gave us the artifacts we now carry.
Appearance & Voice
Each of us sees him as a different ancestry. We didn’t realize this until Session 7, when we compared notes:
- Royvan saw a dracona
- Spark saw an average attractive elf
- Tarine saw a reborn giant
- Harmony saw an infernus (snake-like, with armor mask)
- (Foley and Frankie’s perceptions are still being clarified)
His voice is warm. Calming. — described variously as “Mister Rogers,” “Captain Kangaroo,” “Barack Obama,” “James Earl Jones.” Older than he should be. Sad in a settled way.
What He Told Us (Session 4)
When we crossed his threshold, the sharp stone underfoot softened to moss (or shag carpet, depending on whose feet). The cold of the room melted into perfect comfort.
Then Mr. Wendell told us the truth Stevie hadn’t lived long enough to share:
“You all thought that you were helping the scary thing. Stevie knew that you were all helpers who just got a little lost in the dark, and it’s time for you all to come out of that dark.”
He revealed:
- He taught Stevie how to teach us — “This is how she taught you the magic, but I taught her, and this is how she brought me back here.”
- The Metronome is older than the Grove, older than the Blackweald, older than most names — the Grove co-opted it, didn’t create it
- We are the helpers, not the threat. The Grove has it backwards.
The Artifacts He Distributed
- Royvan: the rusty lunchbox + erector set
- Tarine: the industrial flashlight (concentrated starlight)
- Harmony: the silver tuning fork
- Foley: the celestial karate belt
- Frankie: the tiny wooden toy sword
- Spark: Mr. Wendell’s red shoes
- The pristine leotards for all of us
What We Don’t Know
- Why does each of us see him differently?
- What is he? (Not human, certainly. Possibly older than this world.)
- What is his connection to Stevie?
- Why did he choose Wendell’s Landing as his home?
- Is he watching us now? Can he hear us when we talk about him?
See also: Star Map Artifacts · Star Stevenson · The Metronome · The C-Side
Last Updated: Session 7