| “ | I won't die today. Nobody who matters to me will die today. I won't be injured today. Train's late today. No one is watching me at the moment. | „ |
| ~ Thomas of Erceldoune going about his day, Everafter: From the Pages of Fables #1 — "The Show Me State: Chapter One of The Pandora Protocol" |
Thomas of Erceldoune is a Fable who can only speak the truth, and therefore works as a truthsayer for secret intelligence organization known as the Shadow Players. He first appears in Everafter: From the Pages of Fables #1 — "The Show Me State: Chapter One of The Pandora Protocol."
History
The relic thieves
Thomas rises from his bed in Alexandria, Virginia and begins his morning routine before hopping on the train to the Shadow Players headquarters in Washington, D.C. Arriving at the tobacco shop which doubles as the secret entrance to the headquarters, he meets with Heinel, the manager, and exchanges the necessary code words that grant him access to the clandestine headquarters. But Heinel is exasperated; they have been doing this for five years now. Thomas reminds them of Robert Burns' words, "Dare to be honest and fear no labour."[3]
Feathertop assigns a new task to Peter Piper, Connor Wolf, and Thomas: to gather intelligence on a band of mercenaries who have been stealing valuable Native American relics from various locations. Their next target? The Denver Art Museum, where they plan to strike tonight. But Connor isn't happy about the prospect of a routine reconnaissance mission; he wants something more exciting. Thomas comments to Feathertop that this is not a great way to start things off, causing Feathertop to express his frustration with Thomas' inability to speak with irony.[2]
Thomas carefully records some ancient runes for Feathertop and delves into the archives dedicated to Salem. Then, he arranges the gruesome remains of Hansel's body in the exact manner specified for a ritual to resurrect him. "But do you want to know the truth…?" he asks, and Feathertop responds that this is precisely why he pays him. Thomas then voices his belief that this ritual is a terrible idea.[2]
Using a magical map of the mundane world, Thomas is able to locate Jordan Yow, a mundy girl who possesses magical abilities. Peter is consumed with anxiety as he has no knowledge of Connor, Feathertop, and his wife Bo Peep's whereabouts. He is frustrated that Thomas cannot offer any reassurance, but Thomas reminds him that it is not his responsibility to do so.[4]
The mercenaries make a disastrous mistake during a mass summoning, leading Thomas to explain to Ayesha that without properly binding the spirits of the dead, their souls will depart from their ectoplasmic bodies, leaving behind only hollow revenants. As the mindless ghosts approach San Francisco, Thomas turns to Feathertop and asks for a plan. However, Feathertop can't see a way out of the situation.[5]
Following the event, Bo Peep hands over body cam footage to Thomas as evidence of Yordan Yow's alleged demise.[6]
The Cube
After receiving a distress call from Inola Tanner, Feathertop, Peter, Bo, Connor and Thomas rush to Plano South Junior High School. A group of renegade students has created a magical prison called The Cube and trapped all the students classmates inside. It's up to the five of them to find a way to break the spell and free the captive students.[7]
The following morning, Thomas awakens at the base camp. As he goes through his usual morning routine, he surprises himself by suddenly announcing that today is the day he will fall in love. He goes back to The Cube, where it becomes clear that he has developed romantic feelings for Kara Bass, the guardian of Bobby Speckland. Thomas says to Feathertop that he has never met anyone remotely like her, but Feathertop says that this isn't the moment to act like a lovesick schoolboy. Suddenly, the Dallas Goat Man and the Plano Goat Man emerge and begin attacking police officers and Shadow Players agent alike. Thomas realizes that the creatures have targeted Tanner, and he informs Feathertop of this. However, Feathertop is more preoccupied with learning their sender and origin. Unfortunately, Thomas does not possess this information.[8]
Feathertop gives orders to his agents to lead the monsters away from the police officers here and handle them in a less populous area, stating that there must be no casualties. He declares confidently that no one dies today, turning to Thomas for validation. However, Thomas is uncertain since the day has barely started. Feathertop becomes increasingly exasperated as Thomas is unable to provide any useful information about the teenagers. Thomas claims that it's like there is nothing truthful to say about them. Feathertop attempts to utilize technology to pick up transmissions from within The Cube, but is unsuccessful. He concludes that there must be a malfunction, but Thomas insists that the equipment is functioning properly.[8]
Thomas attempts to tap into his gifts and gather intel on The Cube, but his ability as a truthsayer proves ineffective against it: Anything he says about it is true, but the opposite is also true: It feels like two conflicting truths exist simultaneously, overlapping each other. As he and Kara start flirting with each other, it becomes clear that Kara may be showing interest in him as well.[9]
Together, he and Toad Jr. sit and listen to the heartbreaking transmissions from The Cube. According to Toad, over four thousand years have passed in there. He and Kara continue their flirting, while Feathertop introduces Erwin, a cat who is sometimes alive and sometimes dead. Thomas informs Kara that Erwin's unique condition requires him to be the one sent in to take down The Cube, because it is sustained by a magical superposition of a quantum eigentstate. Erwin is successful, and Thomas observes as Kara and Bobby are reunited after Bobby was trapped inside The Cube. Bobby ponders the amount of time he spent in there, but Kara can't provide an answer. The important thing is that he's out now. Thomas confirms that she is being honest.[1]
Later, Tanner inquires Bobby about her son Garrett, who was among the rebellious students responsible for creating The Cube. Bobby lies and says that Garrett turned against his friends and helped him stop them. He married and had kids, and when he passed, the whole school mourned for him. Thomas confronts him afterward, saying that not one word of what he said was remotely true. Bobby admits that Garrett was an irredeemable monster, and they had to execute him, but he told Tanner what she needed to hear. He urges Thomas to consider this, now that he has fallen in love. Soon enough, a romantic relationship blossoms between him and Kara.[1]
Physical appearance
Thomas is a man with short fiery red hair, coupled with a pale complexion and thick-rimmed spectacles.[3]
Personality and traits
For Thomas, speaking only the truth is not an inconvenience. It's simply a part of his daily routine. Every morning, he repeats reassuring statements to himself: that neither he nor anyone he cares for will die.[3][8] However, even Thomas surprises himself when he predicts that he will fall in love during their mission at The Cube.[8] Due to his unique condition, he is incapable of irony,[2] and cannot provide false reassurance.[4] He speaks with a Scottish accent.[9]
Powers and abilities
Truthsayer: Thomas has a magical connection to the basic concept of "truth." As such, he is incapable of lying and can solely articulate the truth.[2] He can accurately convey the facts surrounding a particular situation,[9] and identify dishonesty in others.[1]
Appearances
Everafter: From the Pages of Fables
- Everafter: From the Pages of Fables 1 (first appearance)
- Everafter: From the Pages of Fables 2
- Everafter: From the Pages of Fables 3
- Everafter: From the Pages of Fables 4
- Everafter: From the Pages of Fables 5
- Everafter: From the Pages of Fables 8
- Everafter: From the Pages of Fables 9
- Everafter: From the Pages of Fables 11
- Everafter: From the Pages of Fables 12 (first identified as "of Erceldoune")
Original source
Thomas of Erceldoune is based on Thomas the Rhymer, a real-world Scottish poet and prophet from Earlston (then called "Erceldoune"), known from the ballad of the same name, and popular lore. The Everafter version of the character is from the Homelands version of Erceldoune.[1]
Trivia
On the back of the T-shirt that he wears to bed, there is a logo for[3][8] the real-world soccer team Earlston Rhymers.[10]
References