Cecil Vanderfell
Cecil Vanderfell is an Entomologist Mage, Guardian of Enca, and the last surviving member of House Vanderbelt. His name is also recorded as Cecil Vanderbelt.
Biography
Entomologist Mage and Guardian of Enca; controls insects, perceives through their eyes and hearing, and commands swarms. Signature insects: small bumblebees, hawk-sized black-and-dark-blue Encan Hornets, vampiric butterflies. Last surviving Vanderbelt after his family died during the Darkest Night. Best friend of Vincent Faust; friend of Tanis Trahain, Remy Gousselle, Gaston Gousselle, Syzgian DuLoncray, and King Curtis Misericorde through Vincent's established circle. Gave Anya her bumblebee companion when she married Curtis. Plays acoustic guitar, likes beer, moonshine, and Mystics food; rides a swamp-equipped Triumph motorcycle.
Appearance
Layered silver-white hair; yellow eyes; handsome clean-cut Creole facial features; quiet, slightly shy, intelligent expression. Cream silk button-down shirt, khaki pants, over-the-knee black boots and practical leather accessories. Black spider mark of Lloth on neck.
Magic and abilities
Controls insects; sees through their eyes and hears through them; commands massive swarms. Signature insects: bumblebees, hawk-sized black-and-dark-blue Encan Hornets, vampiric butterflies.
Relationships
Best friend of Vincent Faust; best friend of Tanis Trahain; friend in Vincent’s circle with Remy Gousselle, Gaston Gousselle, Syzgian DuLoncray, and King Curtis Misericorde. Gifted Anya a bumblebee companion for her marriage to Curtis.
The Darkest Night (unpublished)
This section draws on The Darkest Night, an unpublished story. The opening document and numbered DN documents are manuscript sources, not published AO3 chapters. Ages, relationships and events below describe this earlier point in the characters' lives.
A young survivor
Cecil is seventeen and part of the young Guardian patrol near the rift when the containment fails. He is fascinated by the Sanctuary's insects, including vampiric butterflies. He survives the battle while his family and original intended partner are lost. Afterward he resists the Council's pressure to replace that engagement with Janet. (Opening manuscript; DN 2; DN 5.)
During the later blood-moon crisis, Cecil fights with enormous silver spiders and Encan hornets. Spider silk helps pin and burn groups of undead, while hornets can lift endangered people out of harm's way. His work is part of the coordinated city defense alongside Syzgian's wards, the necromancers and the other Guardians. (DN 13.)
