The Older Man¶

Role: admired mentor figure from the House on the Hill · Status: CANON (core), with provisional links

On naming

Referred to here as "the older man" / "the young man at the House on the Hill." He is not described as Greg's "best friend." REJECTED

Snapshot¶

Several years older than Greg, he lived with an influential family on a large property near the town. To young Greg he is a figure of admiration — and Greg, being a child, likely overestimates the closeness of the relationship. This is intentional.

Established CANON¶

Genuinely gracious; treats Greg and Markus naturally, never as objects of ridicule.
Technically gifted and mechanically intuitive; encourages young Greg.
Later helped improve Markus's legs, balance geometry, and servos.
Graduated from an elite military academy.
Obtained a prestigious command appointment; eventually became a significant squadron commander.
Disappeared during Devastation Day.
Later appears only ambiguously in official memorial records.

The family CANON / PROVISIONAL¶

Wealthy, successful, politically and socially connected, accustomed to formal social settings, connected to military/government/industrial circles.

REJECTED They are not a secret conspiracy family, and not secretly responsible for the war.
PROVISIONAL The father holds an important colonial-development / industrial / strategic role.

Connection to the White Ship PROVISIONAL¶

The White Ship eventually behaves in ways associated with the older man — but it is not merely his ghost, and its nature is never solved. See White Ship.