Claude
Biography
Rebuilding a fatal childhood
Claude survives a childhood village catastrophe, becomes a disciple of Clark, and advances to True Wizard. Unable to release the past, he uses the Dream Bell to reconstruct the dead villagers, including childlike “Little Claude” figures and memories of himself. Borderland pollution gives the replicas autonomous but extreme personalities and makes Claude part of a rule that repeatedly kills and revives him. Saul exposes the village's soul harvesting, removes most of the pollution, and takes the Dream Bell as payment. Claude chooses to remain with the now-fading villagers, finally able to approach their disappearance as release. (Chapters 506–512)
Appearance and personality
Adult Claude is a tall, red-haired middle-aged man scarred across his face and ringed at the neck by evidence of repeated death. Traumatised and evasive, he is also sincerely grateful when Saul ends the village's cycle.
Abilities
He is a First Rank Wizard who uses the Dream Bell to control corpses, soothe spirits, and weave memories; the village's pollution allows him to revive under its local rules.