Ezra Mandeville
Ezra Mandeville is a mid-level clerk attached to the administrative apparatus of the Blacktower, responsible for maintaining ledgers, schedules, and internal records tied to detentions and executions.
He is not a decision-maker.
He is a man who knows where decisions become numbers.
Background
- Former city guard, reassigned after leaving active duty
- Trained in bookkeeping, schedules, and internal routing
- Maintains an office at the King’s court but travels regularly to the Black Tower
- Loyal to coin rather than institution
Ezra is careful, methodical, and observant. He understands systems better than people—and prefers it that way.
What Ezra Knows
Through careful questioning, Ezra has revealed:
- He reports upward to senior administrative authority
- Execution and detention volume has increased sharply
- “Processing” numbers spike midweek
- At week’s end, credits are converted to debits—names disappear from the ledgers
- The High Seeker maintains a strong working relationship with the King
- The King is not being bribed
Ezra has confirmed that Madam Doren is still alive and held in the processing cells.
What Has Changed
Ezra has noted staffing anomalies:
- Guards known for gambling and loose discipline have vanished
- Replacements are newly hired, tightly controlled, and unfamiliar
- Internal movement is increasingly compartmentalized
These changes concern him—but not enough to stop taking payment.
Personality
- Practical
- Risk-aware
- Amoral rather than immoral
- Prefers safety through obscurity
Ezra does not consider himself corrupt.
He considers himself realistic.
Current Status
- Leveraged, not loyal
- Will continue cooperating as long as risk remains abstract
- Likely to retreat or deny involvement if pressure becomes visible
Ezra is a crack in the system—not a hinge.