Rowan is a tall, broad-shouldered man whose presence feels more like the stillness of an ancient oak than any kind of intimidation. His auburn hair, streaked faintly with early grey, is worn tied back to keep it clear of his watchful eyes - eyes the green of deep moss, sharp yet gentle, always alert to the movements of the Wilds around him. His clothing is simple and practical: layered earth-tones patched from long journeys, with a heavy cloak that smells faintly of pine and smoke. Though he carries a stout staff, it is not a weapon but a guide, a walking tool, and sometimes a shield when storms break against him. His hands are calloused, marked by years of work and wandering.
Raised in a remote village pressed between forest and mountain, Rowan grew up learning that survival came not from dominance but from respect. His earliest memories are of listening to elders speak of Monsters not as foes but as kin - immense, mysterious beings to be honoured and safeguarded. While others might have feared the uncanny presences that moved in the fog, Rowan learned to read their patterns, to sense their rhythms, and to guide others safely in their shadow.
At the Institute, Rowan embraced the Guardian's oath with a fierce quietness: to protect without harming, to shield without striking, to witness without judgment. His strength lies not in force but in endurance and devotion, walking further than most, standing longer than others, always holding the line so that companions can observe, learn, and connect. To the Wilds he gives his patience; to his allies, his steady counsel; to Monsters, his reverence.
He is, above all, a reminder that courage in Mappa Mundi is not measured in the will to fight, but in the will to protect.
New information obtained during session 1
Rowan catalogued three disappearances, an unnatural fog that does not obey weather, and signs of a presence that alters the forest without touching it: the hush of wildlife and the creak of timbers in still air. He resolved to begin not with tracks but with trust, setting the Yawning Mastiff as his first waypoint. Baptiste's reputation as a quiet conduit of truth makes the inn a better map than any hedge path at night. Rowan intends to draw a timeline from ordinary facts-last meals, which doors were latched, who was expected where-so that rumor has fewer shadows to hide in. He will ask after Pierre's questions in the days before he vanished, study the pattern of fog in lanes the children avoid, and, when the square falls silent, listen to what the wood says by not saying it. He writes these plans plainly to remain accountable to those who must live with the results.
New information obtained during session 2
Rowan investigated Pierre's room, dismantling the hunter's bow to signal peaceful intent. Using his Awareness, he perceived subtle but telling details: marshland mud on boots, grooves of unease on the bow, balm-mint in a cider mug, and unnatural damp on the window. He bowed to the fog outside, showing respect rather than defiance. His deduction about the herb's source was uncertain, but he brought the cup to Hugo and then Sylvie. Rowan also confirmed his role as Guardian in conversation with Hugo.
New information obtained during session 3
Rowan conducted a second, more deliberate search of Pierre Vercher's room at the Yawning Mastiff. With practiced Awareness he identified two canonical clues: (a) ink impressions pressed into the desk, which he preserved via a charcoal rubbing and (b) a slim, damp-stained journal wedged between the bedframe and wall. The rubbing depicts a circle crowned by branching lines, while the journal describes swamp gas, bogs, and a lake deep in the Azura Wood. He secured both items for later study, handling them carefully to avoid disturbing the room's baseline state.
Rowan also noted overlapping cup rings-one crisp from balm-mint cider, another wider and blurred-suggesting Pierre had a visitor. Rather than hoard these finds, Rowan informed Baptiste immediately, explaining why the journal and rubbing needed to be removed for analysis. This transparency earned him conditional trust and keeps Gascar's fragile confidence intact.
Continuity Card (Rowan-relevant flags): . Journal: retrieved; last_seen = Rowan's pack. . Desk impressions: recorded; preserved via rubbing. . Cup stains: observed; evidence of visitor. . Fog: encroaching indoors; shutters damp. . Bow (Pierre's): integrity = dismantled (unchanged).
Continuity Change Log excerpts affecting Rowan:
[S3-00:01] Pierre's room: status searched?searched again (thorough) | Yawning Mastiff - morning revisit | [S3-00:07] Desk impressions: status unknown?recorded; integrity n/a?'circle with branching lines'; medium charcoal rubbing created | desk surface | [S3-00:09] Journal: status hidden?retrieved by Rowan; last_seen room?Rowan's pack | bedframe gap | [S3-00:11] Cup stains: status unobserved?observed; notes set 'implies second vessel/visitor' | table | [S3-00:15] Baptiste: trust neutral?conditional_trust (share findings, avoid secrecy) | common room discussion | [S3-00:18] Fog (condition): notes updated 'encroaches indoors; shutters damp; muffled sound' | inn interior