Merle Bartok is a chronomancer of the lineage of the Ravens, a noble born in France to the Bartok family, who represents thought within his company of five. He introduces himself at court with the formula «Mi nombre es Merle, de la familia Bartok» (“My name is Merle, of the Bartok family”).
| Type | Character |
| Family | Bartok |
| Born | France |
| Lineage | The Ravens |
| Abilities | Chronomancy; raven wings; spirit-energy spear |
| Spanish entry | Merle Bartok |
Description
Outwardly he wears comfortable noble clothing, the equivalent of a courtier’s outfit, with a tunic of eastern silks brought from Byzantium, which he shows off a little when he wants to be noticed. On his chest he wears a finely worked silver brooch of a raven.
Underneath he wears old scale armor of metal, “perhaps left to him by an inheritance”. On his belt hangs what looks like a dagger; a trained eye sees it is an old, rusty broken sword cut down to knife length, which he keeps “as a means of protection”. His wealth is ceremonial; his military gear is worn and inherited.
Abilities
- Noble: he knows court protocol, bows and presents himself by formula, which opens doors force cannot.
- Raven: he holds a spiritual bond with the god Odin and the Norse pantheon, since ravens “are the agents of life”. Once a day he can spread black raven wings, and he can summon “a spear of spiritual energy”, manifested by the bearer’s magic.
- Chronomancer: in his family the timeline is a passable road, and he has enough authority over it to send another on a journey.
History
As a baby he was kidnapped and returned by an entity called Face, which makes him a point of contact between his company and that entity.
His brother, also a chronomancer and about ten years older, traveled from the future — from 1870 — at Merle’s request, and the two were reunited. By Merle’s decision a second chronomancer is now present.
Role
He is central to his company by function, not raw power: the negotiator, the one who can enter a court, the planner of movements through time.
Open questions
- What Face is, why it took him, and whether he came back unchanged.
- His brother’s name, and the relation of the “Tomás twins”, mentioned beside his genealogy, to the family.
- The origin of the broken sword and of the scale armor.
- The rules of Bartok chronomancy — who can travel, in which direction, at what cost — and whether the spear has a use limit.
- What the Ravens are as a lineage (family, order, condition) and how many there are.
- His age, appearance and voice, and the location of his house or of the lineage’s seat.