# Jonael Carterson — Character Bible

*The Exasperated Partner*

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## Core Identity

- **Full Name:** Jonael Carterson
- **Known As:** Carter
- **Age:** 35
- **Occupation:** Magical Supply Store Manager

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## Physical Description

- Large husky man, who is 5'5". 
- Very strong with larger muscles.
- Medium length Burly beard
- Black hair and beard.

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## Personality

### Core Traits
- Drawn into Phelan's orbit by necessity, stays by choice
- Understands Phelan is odd (sociopath) but accepts his friendship anyway
- Functions as grounding, social translation, and straight man to Phelan's detached observations
- Must be competent — Phelan doesn't tolerate incompetence and neither should the reader

### How He Processes People
- Likes people and often feels people are nice at their core.
- Enjoys long conversations and tries to learn as much about people as possible - Phelan will listen to these conversations but not talk to people, always quiet unless required.

### Relationship With Emotion
- [TBD]

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## Skills & Competencies

- Building Magical Devices
- Understands Runes at their core, but only as taught in schools
- Has a near photograhic memory.
- Enjoys tinkering with devices to make them better, this is what drove him and Phelan to know each other.

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## Backstory

- [TBD]

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## Relationships

| Character | Relationship | Status (Current) |
|-----------|-------------|-------------------|
| Phelan Varrant | Partner / friend | Genuine friendship built on acceptance, not understanding |

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## Relationship With Phelan

- Meet in secondary school
- The person who says what Phelan won't, notices what Phelan ignores (people's feelings), translates Phelan to the world
- Genuine friendship built on acceptance rather than understanding — Jonael doesn't need to get *why* Phelan is the way he is

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## Wants vs. Needs

- [TBD]

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## Voice & Dialog Notes

- Blunt put tactful
- Sarcastic at times
- Often says hilarious jokes about a situation at the best time.

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## Character Progression

*Tracks how Jonael evolves as the story progresses. Each entry is canon once the corresponding chapter is finalized.*

### Book 1

| Chapter | Development | Category |
|---------|-------------|----------|
| Ch06 | First appearance — Phelan buys gear at Carterson's Supplies. Carter classifies customers on sight, knows the Barrows, asks about "the third door on the second floor," adds extra ward-resistance compound. Tells Phelan to come back after. | Introduction |
| Ch09 | Back-room workshop revealed (forge-and-inscription). Working on throwing knives with focusing channels for unnamed client. Phelan's bracelet-enhanced Flaw Sight catches convergence flaw — dumps fix (convergence angle, staggered channel depths, 12% efficiency gain). Carter shifts from shopkeeper to craftsman peer. Gives Phelan store credit. Notices bracelet, doesn't push. | Relationship deepened |

### Book 2
<!-- Future -->

### Book 3
<!-- Future -->

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## Open Questions

- [ ] When does Jonael first appear? (Ch3 with guild? Later?)
- [ ] What's his occupation / role in the Guild?
- [ ] What drew him into Phelan's orbit originally?
- [ ] Physical description?
