Elder Thorne

Elder Thorne is the oldest living Muridae and the most respected scholar in The Shrouded Boughs. Residing in a massive, hollowed-out branch known as Thorne’s Library within The Crown City of Ardor, he is the primary keeper of the race's oral and written histories. His fur is thin and patchy, and he moves with the aid of a gnarled staff carved from the very first root of the Mother-Tree.

Thorne is a living bridge between the Muridae's past and their uncertain future. He has spent over a century studying the growth patterns of the forest and the rhythmic "heartbeat" of the Mother-Tree. He is one of the few individuals trusted by both the Acorn Guard and the Mist-Weaver Coven, often serving as a mediator during their frequent disagreements. Thorne is a firm believer that the Mousefolk must learn to adapt to the changing world of Aethervale, but he warns against abandoning the traditions that have kept them safe for so long.

He is incredibly knowledgeable about the "Tall Races" and the world outside the Boughs, having spent his youth as a stowaway on various merchant vessels before returning home to dedicate his life to scholarship.

Secret Motivation: Thorne is secretly corresponding with a scholar from the Ministry of Records in the Northern Continent. He is trading ancient Muridae myths for information about modern aether-technology, hoping to find a way to stabilize the forest's failing magical barrier without needing to rely on the Coven's dangerous rituals.

Adventure Hook: Elder Thorne has discovered a reference to a "Sky-Island" that was once part of the Boughs but broke away centuries ago. He believes this island contains a lost Muridae library and hires the party to find a way to reach it and recover the ancient bark-scrolls.