| Spoiler warning! This article contains plot details from the latest book. |
“'I do think they might be onto something with the code names.' Keefe said as she searched all the shadows. 'In fact, after I swear fealty I should have you all call me Emo. Fitz can be Brainwave. Biana and Della can be Blink and Wink. Dex, you're Gears. And Foster? Hmm. That's tricky.... Maybe Enigma?'”
The Black Swan's Collective consists of its five leaders: Mr. Forkle, Blur, Granite, Wraith, and Squall. The Collective makes the big decisions for the Black Swan. Mr. Forkle mentioned that it is ultimately their plan for Sophie and her original group of friends to take their places in the future. They, like the Councillors, cannot have kids or a family, but that rule has been broken for Squall and Granite.
It is revealed in Nightfall that Mr. Forkle had a twin brother that went by the same name. Sometimes Sophie was in the company of one, and sometimes with the other. Unfortunately, one of the brothers died at the end of Lodestar, and now Mr. Forkle can't be in quite so many places at once anymore.
Mr. Forkle makes a comment that the five friends, Sophie, Biana, Fitz, Dex, and Keefe are intended to be the predecessors of the current collective. Saying that if they died, they had a set of proxies ready to fill in until they were ready.
Identities of the Collective
- Mr. Forkle - aka Magnate Leto, Sir. Astin, original identity, and a Human Fertility Doctor:
(one of the twins is deceased) is the leader of the Collective and was the head of Project Moonlark. He is a very talented Telepath, who is one of the few Telepaths to breach Sophie's blocking. He disguises himself by consuming ruckleberries, causing him to appear as a wrinkly old man.
is a very powerful telepath, and is Wylie's legal guardian. He frequently assists Sophie and Fitz on their path to being Cognates. His disguise consists of turning himself into a stone statue.
- Blur - Identity(s) unknown:
is a highly skilled Phaser who is able to only partially reform causing him to appear blurred. It was also mentioned that he has a recognizable round face,
- Wraith - Identity(s) unknown:
is an experienced Vanisher who is able to make only his clothes appear. It was mentioned that he helped Biana train in Neverseen
- Squall - aka Juline Dizznee:
is the most recent Collective member, who took Physic's place. She disguises herself by covering her body in a thick layer of ice, with her ability as a Froster.
- Physic (previously) - aka Livvy:
is a previous Collective member who wears decorative masks to disguise herself. She stepped down after Sophie's allergic reaction. Her ability remains unknown. What is known, however, that she is not a Flasher, like Elwin, for if she was, her job would have been easier. She is Quinlin Sonden's wife.