Barb

First Appearance and Context

Barb is first seen arriving with his father during the opening at the Concent of Saunt Edhar. He quickly fixates on mechanisms, analyzes the bridge‑and‑gate drive, and becomes a familiar face on tours. He is later Collected into the resident math and begins formal study, showing early strength in orbital topics and bell‑change recognition.

Roles and Actions

• Study and inquiry: In quiet sessions at Shuf’s Dowment with Lio, Arsibalt, Tulia, and Fraa Erasmas, Barb helps digest a Praxic‑Age text on nuclear pulse propulsion. He explains that the design uses very small, directional explosive charges to drive a pusher‑plate through shock absorbers, and jokes about nose cones while keeping the group focused on practical details.
• Measurement drive: When the group turns to interpreting a pinholed solar record, he insists that they cannot make sense of it without solid geometry and moves to begin measurements at once. He presses for establishing angles so that orbital changes can be reasoned about concretely.
• Analogies and recall: In conversation he offers precise analogies (e.g., masking tracks “like a fugitive who walks in a river”) and recalls prior definitions such as polar orbits and relativistic travel.
• Peregrin travel: As the Peregrin group moves beyond the city toward isolated mountains, Barb rides in the second vehicle with Cord, Rosk, Lio, Fraa Jad, and Fraa Criscan; during a later reshuffle he transfers to the driver’s vehicle and asks to remain with Jad, though companions reassign him. At a Bazian retreat center on the nearer mountain, he occupies himself by memorizing the posted camp rules.

Relationships and Affiliations

• Family: Son of the extramuros artisan Quin.
• Peers and mentors: Works closely with fellow Tenners (including Lio, Arsibalt, and Tulia) and studies alongside Fraa Erasmas in chalk halls and during informal analyses. He shows a marked preference for the company of Jad during travel.

Description and Characteristics

Mechanically minded and literal, Barb speaks with crisp precision and tends to pursue the immediate problem before moving on. When excited by ideas he may become rambunctious; direct physical attempts to calm him can increase his energy, but brief exertion helps him settle. He is quick to memorize definitions and bell patterns and does not always register social cues as fast as others. On the road he proves methodical and rule‑focused (e.g., memorizing posted camp rules) and can be intense company over long stretches in a confined vehicle.

Current Status/Location

After a later overnight service of Voco naming many avout, Barb (called formally as “Tavener”) is among those Evoked and instructed to make his way to the Concent of Saunt Tredegarh in small groups without conspicuous mathic garb. Local helpers are organizing transport; he notes the destination is roughly two thousand miles away. He is now traveling extramuros with a small convoy, staging at a Bazian retreat center near isolated mountains before continuing the search and onward journey.