Rod Gallowglass

Rod Gallowglass is the fictional protagonist throughout the Warlock of Gramarye series written by Christopher Stasheff

Overview

Rod Gallowglass, real name Rodney d'Armand was born on the meteor colony of Maxima which is populated solely by aristocrats and robots. Rod decides to leave his home to seek out adventure¹. His father suggests he take the family robot (an antique FCC unit); Fess becomes Rod's personal companion, unfailingly loyal though unfortunately prone to turning himself off when his processors are too heavily taxed. Rod joins SCENT (the Society for the Conversion of Extraterrestrial NascentTotalitarianisms), a somewhat-secret organization of the DDT (Decentralized Democratic Tribunal) dedicated to seeking out lost colonies of Earth and bring democracy to them.

During his travels, Rod comes to Beta Cassiopeia (known to the locals as Gramarye). Most of the planet resembles Earth's Cretaceous period (dinosaurs and all), save one island slightly larger then Britain. The island is the kingdom of Gramarye, a Lost Colony which was set up by escapee members of the SCA from Terra (Earth) who had fled the totalitarian government five hundred years ago. Upon landing, Rod is declared a Warlock due to his advanced knowledge and some of his more high tech tricks. In Gramarye, however, witches and warlocks are very common. Despite the fact that in the rest of the universe, there has only been two recorded cases of actual psionic powers, Gramarye is teeming with them; an estimated 10% of the population has 'witch powers' and the rest are believedFact|date=July 2008 to be those with latent abilities and/or carriers of the genes that would produce it.

In the course of thwarting forces that would wish to keep Gramarye from heading towards constitutional monarchy, including two competing groups of time travellers, Rod becomes friends with both Queen Catherine and Brom O'Berin (whose name gives a hint to exactly what role he plays) and ends up the Lord High Warlock of Gramarye.

Gramarye Life

Rod spends the remaining 40 years or so of his life on Gramarye. Initially, upon falling in love with the witch Gwendolyn, he sends his resignation to SCENT. At this point, due to the importance of Gramarye to the DDT, he is assigned to the planet permanently, which serves both SCENT and his own personal needs.

Trivia

- The word Gallowglass is old Irish for mercenary, which Rod originally posed as upon landing on Gramarye.

- A running gag throughout the series is how Rod is often knocked out and imprisoned, with the only book were this didn't occur being King Kobold.

ources

1- The Warlock in Spite of Himself page 5