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The Black Swan is a rebel group of elves, dwarves, and gnomes working together to improve their world, according to Sophie Foster's point of view.

The organization is led by a group of elves known as the Collective, made up of Mr. Forkle, Squall, Blur, Wraith, and Granite.

To swear allegiance and become members of the organization, Sophie and her friends had to lick a fist-sized black cube for DNA and say the oath "I will do everything in my power to help my world" until the cube decided that the speaker was sincere. According to the book Neverseen, it only took Sophie one try because her spot was reserved as the Collective's "heir", but others took more than one because they weren't sincere enough.

There are six known hideouts: The High Seas Facility, Alluveterre, Brumevale, Widgetmoor, the Stone House, and Watchward Heath.

History[]

Pre-Keeper[]

The Black Swan are the ones who created Sophie as Project Moonlark, they genetically enhanced her to be able to have several different special abilities. Prentice, their Keeper, had his mind broken and was sent to Exile. Mr. Forkle became Sophie's neighbor and called the hospital when she hit her head. Mr. Forkle then triggered Sophie's ability as a Telepath at, incredibly, the age of five. Then, years later, we know that Sophie became a Keeper.

Book 1: Keeper of the Lost Cities[]

One of the leaders of the group, Mr. Forkle, was Sophie's neighbor in the Forbidden Cities. When the Neverseen kidnapped Sophie and Dex, Mr. Forkle came, took Sophie and Dex to Paris, activated two of Sophie‘s abilities, Inflicting and Polyglot, and trusted that they would find a way back to the Lost Cities on their own. However the Neverseen managed to find Sophie and Dex again. It was the Black Swan that set up the necessary elements for Sophie to catch the Everblaze burning in the Forbidden Cities, using Gildie, the flareadon, and Prattles pins.

Book 2: Exile[]

The Black Swan started leaving clues for Sophie. She and Keefe went to find the Black Swan so that Sophie's abilities could be fixed, which they did with a small dose of limbium. But since this was after she figured out she was deathly allergic to it, Sophie, Keefe and Mr. Forkle were slightly more prepared. This allowed Sophie to heal Alden Vacker's broken mind.

When the Neverseen found the cave they were in and tried to kidnap Silveny the alicorn, the Black Swan fought them off, allowing Sophie, Keefe, and Silveny to escape. Sophie and Keefe were very grateful, and so were Sophie's parents.

Book 3: Everblaze[]

The Black Swan helps them plan an ambush on Mt. Everest. Mr. Forkle helped Fitz get Sophie's trust so she would allow him into her mind. At the end of the book, Sophie, Fitz, Biana, Keefe and Dex decide to go find the Black Swan to join them and rebel against the Council.

Book 4: Neverseen[]

Sophie, Fitz, Biana, Keefe, Della, and Dex join the Black Swan. The Black Swan trains them in their abilities accordingly. The Black Swan then finds out that the Neverseen have a Psionipath, Ruy, and the Collective tries to ambush him. They tried to question Gethen but did not get much information from him. They also attempted to break Prentice out of Exile but failed since they were caught by the Council. As a result, they traded Gethen (who they had as a prisoner) for Prentice. Prentice is moved to the hideout called the Stone House.

Book 5: Lodestar[]

Mr. Forkle, Sophie and Councillor Oralie go to interrogate Gethen. Mr. Forkle also attended the Peace Summit as a representative of the Black Swan. Later in the book, after the Peace Summit, Mr. Forkle's identical twin is stabbed, and Sophie coils a strand of his hair (DNA) into a seed for a Wanderling.

Book 6: Nightfall[]

After the death of Mr. Forkle, the Collective reveals the truth that Mr. Forkle has an identical twin who has helped him keep up with having so many identities. When Sophie is first revealed that Mr. Forkle (or his twin) was alive, Sophie asked whether the seed was fake and that he just pretended to die as he watched Sophie cry and get covered in his blood as she tried to help save him. After his death, it is a struggle for Mr. Forkle to be able to stay on top of all three (and possibly more) of his identities.

Book 7: Flashback[]

The Neverseen (specifically Umber) use Shadowflux to explode Sophie and Fitz’s bones. The Black Swan learns the caches are fake. They continue to try to stop the Neverseen.

Book 8: Legacy[]

The Black Swan continues to try to stop the Neverseen. Mr. Forkle tells Sophie that he created her Inflicting to work a different way and she does an ability reset. The Black Swan looks into the human that Keefe delivered Lady Gisela’s letter to and finds out that his name was Ethan Benedict Wright II. After further investing, they also learn that Lady Gisela most likely murdered him and his daughter, Eleanor Olivia Wright.

Book 8.5: Unlocked[]

When Sophie burns down the Neverseen’s storehouse, Mr. Forkle is the only one who backs her up.

Book 9: Stellarlune[]

The Collective does not want Sophie to work as hard on finding Elysian, saying they want her to focus on their projects instead. Mr. Forkle is off on another project, but he will not tell Sophie what it is. Brumevale, one of their hideouts, was exploded by one of Lady Gisela's crystal shards.

Known Members[]

Mr. Forkle (as of Nightfall) aka Magnate Leto and Sir Astin[]

  • (one twin deceased, other alive)

The head of Project Moonlark and leader of the Collective. He was thought to be dead but it was revealed that “Forkle” was two people taking turns assuming his identity. The Forkles were monozygotic twins who divided their roles, but one of them was killed during the breakout of Vespera Folend, though not before taking the life of Brant. Mr. Forkle is a very talented telepath and before Fitz could breach Sophie's impenetrable mind, Mr. Forkle was the only person who could break into her mind without her even knowing.

Jolie Ruewen[]

A double agent for the Black Swan who worked against the Neverseen from within. Initially, she caught the attention of both groups with her open protests against certain matters in the elvin world and was recruited through Prentice, and trained to defend herself. Unfortunately, she was killed by Brant, her lover, a Pyrokinetic of the Neverseen. Brant didn't mean to kill Jolie, but they just argued their separate loyalties when both attempted to recruit the other to their sides. When Jolie refused to join the Neverseen, Brant lost control of his powers, accidentally killing Jolie in the process. She hid a report in Havenfield for sixteen years before Sophie Foster uncovered it. She was a Conjurer.

Prentice Endal[]

The Keeper for the Black Swan and the father of Wylie Endal. His mind was broken by Quinlin Sonden under the order of the Council after he refused to betray the Black Swan and he was imprisoned in Exile for years afterward. He was saved by the combined efforts of Sophie Foster, Dex Dizznee, Biana Vacker, Keefe Sencen, Fitz Vacker, and the Collective. He is residing in the Stone House for rehabilitation. He is a Telepath.

Screenshot 2018-09-24 at 1.55

Black swans drawn by Shannon Messenger

Granite aka Tiergan Alenefar[]

He is a member of the Collective and a Telepath. Sir Tiergan (Or Granite) was always very kind to Sophie and he came back to Foxfire to teach Sophie all the amazing things about telepathy.

Sophie Foster aka Project Moonlark[]

She is a Telepath, Inflictor, Enhancer,Teleporter, and Polyglot. She is the only elf with brown eyes. She is Fitz's Cognate. Sophie knew the best way to make the Black Swan trust her more would be to join them, so she and her friends did exactly that, a path that eventually revealed Sophie to be the biological daughter of Councillor Oralie. She is the current team leader of Team Valiant.

Fitz Vacker[]

Fitz is a Telepath and Sophie's Cognate in training, having joined the Black Swan with Sophie, their friends and his mother. He is one of the only members of the Black Swan that can read Sophie's mind. He also is Sophie's main love interest in Flashback. As of Legacy, Fitz and Sophie have dated only to break up at the end of the book. Fitz and Sophie are known as Sophitz.

Biana Vacker[]

A Vanisher. She is Sophie's best friend and the younger sister of Fitz and Alvar. In Alluveterre Biana loved the gowns and clothes that the Black Swan gave them. Currently a member of Team Valiant.

Keefe Sencen[]

An Empath, Sophie's close friend and Fitz's best friend. He worked as a double agent for the Black Swan against the Neverseen for a short while which resulted in catastrophe in the form of Vespera's escape from prison but managed to steal both Fintan's and Kenric's caches, which were revealed to be fakes in Flashback. We don't know how many times it took for Keefe to say the oath. As of Stellarlune, he and Sophie kiss but don't officially date. They are known as Sokeefe.

Dex Dizznee[]

A Technopath, and Sophie's best friend. He has helped make many gadgets to help the Black Swan's cause, including the Panic Switches that he has made for all his friends. Sophie's Panic Switch has saved her life more than once.

Tam Song[]

A Shade. Discovered (along with Biana) the Neverseen's hidden room behind the Lodestar Mirror in the Silver Tower. Tam melted his registry pendant and painted the silver on his bangs.

Linh Song[]

A Hydrokinetic. She was the elf that flooded Ravagog after stealing the "cure" for the gnomes and prevented the flooding of Atlantis during Lady Gisela's escape. She is also Tam's twin sister. Linh also has distinctive silver tips on her hair, but she has hers as a reminder of what happens when she loses control.

Coiffe aka Timkin Heks[]

He is Stina's father and Vika's husband. He is Talentless and though he does not agree with some of the Black Swan's actions, he believes also in their cause and the need for the elf world to change. When he works with the Black Swan, he disguises himself by wearing fur all over his body, making him look like a poodle. Sophie thought he was someone else when they first met because she couldn't believe the Black Swan would recruit him.

Physic aka Livvy[]

A physician who heals Fitz after he is injured while rescuing Prentice. She used to be part of the Collective before stepping down for Juline to take her place. She is also Quinlin's ex-wife and reveals that she joined the Black Swan after being recruited by Mr. Forkle after a visit to San Fransokyo caused her to witness how elves had allowed thousands of innocent people perish and joined out of a desire to help both the elvin and human races.

Squall aka Juline Dizznee[]

A Froster who is part of the Collective, having been recruited by Livvy due to her desire to end the prejudices of her world after the birth of her triplet children, which were considered inferior to many elves. She is Dex's mother. Her sister is Edaline, the adoptive mother of Sophie.

Blur[]

  • (unknown identity)

Part of the Collective, a Phaser who disguises himself by "phasing" then reforming only partway, so he looks blurry.

Wraith[]

  • (unknown identity)

A skilled Vanisher who is part of the Collective. He can vanish partially, making only his clothes appear.

Calla (see Panakes)[]

A gnome who played a key role in Sophie's creation. She later sacrificed herself to stop the plague. Calla was Sophie's favorite gnome, and after she sacrificed, her great-great-grandniece Flori became Sophie's new favorite, and later a bodyguard for Sophie.

Amisi[]

A gnome who lived in Alluveterre in Book 4: Neverseen. She is one of the Gnomes who greeted Sophie, her friends, and Della, when they first joined the Black Swan. She is said to look much like the other female Gnomes, wearing grass-knitted skirts and with blonde plaited hair.

Sior[]

A gnome mentioned in Book 4: Neverseen. He works for the Black Swan, growing food and scouting for them and according to Calla, he is currently courting Amisi

Lur[]

A gnome who was friends with Calla and located (along with Mitya) Sophie and Dex when they were kidnapped.

Mitya[]

A gnome who was friends with Calla and located (along with Lur) Sophie and Dex when they were kidnapped.

Lady Cadence[]

Sophie's linguistics teacher and an expert on the customs and traits of ogres, who insisted on joining the Black Swan as one of her terms for being their escort to Ravagog. She is a conjurer and polyglot. Sophie wouldn't have selected her for the Black Swan because Sophie wasn't exactly a huge fan of her, but Lady Cadence actually requested it and even before has generally shared the Black Swan's desire to establish peace with the people of King Dimitar. She serves as the Black Swan's delegate between them and the ogres.

Marella Redek[]

A Pyrokinetic, who was previously great friends with Sophie; joined to go to Lady Gisela's Nightfall. She swore fealty to the Black Swan in Legacy. Marella is being trained in her ability by Fintan Pyren, a member of the Neverseen. Unfortunately, he was the best Pyrokinetic for Marella because she needed to be trained whether the Black Swan liked it or not. However, Marella is firmly on the Black Swan's side.

Lord Cassius[]

Keefe's father, an Empath, who insisted on joining as a condition for revealing the location of the original Nightfall.

Ermete[]

Deceased dwarf working with the Black Swan. He died during the Battle of Mount Everest.

Yegor[]

A deceased dwarf working with the Black Swan in Everblaze.

Irja[]

One of the dwarves who died during the Battle of Mount Everest.

Kun[]

One of the dwarves who died during the Battle of Mount Everest.

Gora[]

A gnome mentioned in Neverseen.

Yuri[]

A gnome mentioned by Forkle in Neverseen, stationed near Lumenaria in the hopes that they would be able to visit the refugee gnomes.

Della Vacker[]

She is a skilled Vanisher who is the mother of Fitz and Biana.

Tinker[]

She is a very skilled technopath who prefers to speak in questions. Dex and Tinker are working together to create gadgets/weapons to help the Black Swan defeat the Neverseen.

Maruca Chebota[]

She is a recently-manifested Psionipath who joined in Legacy despite what cousin Wylie Endal made Sophie promise, desiring to assist in the war on the Neverseen.

Unknown Psionipath[]

In Neverseen, it is mentioned that the Black Swan has a Psionipath on their team.

Quotes[]

“I will do everything in my power to help my world.”

“Follow the pretty bird across the sky.”

Jolie Ruewen in Prentice’s mind, in Book 2: Exile


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