Allan Hobson (Al-Len Hob-Son)

"It all began when I stepped out of the door that foggy morning..."

Summary

Allan Hobson lives deep in the Shadow Woodlands. Now in his old age, he lives a solitary, but happy life, in the little cabin he built. 
His only human contact is with the de Barro family when they wish to trade or are traveling through the woods. He becomes good friends with them, and is, after a few years, the only outsider they truly trust. 
Allan has cultivated the land around his cabin, as well as creating digging a well, and several ways to bring water from a nearby stream to his cabin. 
Due to the remote location, he is incredibly surprised when Brandon Hobson turns up at his door, several years later. 

Backstory

The middle son of the Hobson clan, he rather always felt like the black sheep of the family. As a young child, he was considered to be too quiet and too dreamy. Like his siblings, he only went to the local dame school for a few years before joining his father and siblings in the fields of their farm. He liked working the land with his family, but often wished he could do and see more. 
As a teenager, he withdrew from many of his friends, who teased him for being stoic, and his kindness toward Felize Goode, a local girl that was considered very strange. They formed a gentle friendship, though Allan felt a little trapped when she admitted her feelings with him. Though he felt the same, he felt his life and future lay elsewhere and didn't admit anything to her, in order to not hurt her feelings.
He was drawn to the Shadow Woodlands from an early age, even telling Felize, his dreams of going deep into the woods, behind the steps of his grandfather (without abandoning his wife and children.)
As the years pass by, he feels hesitant to propose to Felize, or anyone else, despite his family's wishes.
Late one night, he sneaks to Felize's home and tells her that he must leave and venture into the woods. He kisses her goodbye and goes into the woods, following the trail that dozens of Hobsons and his grandfather made before him. 

Life in the Shadow Woodlands

Allan's spent his first year in the woods traveling the trails created by past Hobsons, past de Barro's, and others. He entered the woods, prepared to survive for months, but once he found a small stone cabin, he decided it was best to hunker down before winter began. 
After the first winter he continued to explore the woods, finding places that he already knew about (Gregor Loch and the river Corstock), places he did not know existed (Linette Mountain - the 4th tallest mountain in Ludo), and places he thought were a myth (the Distant Cliffs).
He briefly encounters Berta and Aelis de Barro along with their father when in the Silver Valley. They spend two weeks together before they lead Allan to the area where his grandfather had settled. 
To Allan's surprise, his grandfather is still alive and they spend a few months together before his death. 
Once he dies, Allan buries him and decides to leave the woods and go back home. 
He arrives back in his hometown of Dalry 4 years later and everyone is shocked to see him, thinking him dead or having left Blackburn to go work at sea or in the capital. 
Allan struggles to reconnect with his family after he tells them of all the wonderful things he saw in the woods. He only really impresses his young niblings and a few friends. At first, Felize refuses to speak with him, and finally relents, admitting how crushed she was that he really did leave and left her behind. 
As the months pass, and the year comes to a close, Allan decides that his place is in the woods and no longer in Dalry, nor among anyone else. He has a tearful goodbye with Felize Goode and his mother before going back into the woods, never to return to Dalry again.  

Characteristics

Basics

• Name: Allan Hobson (he is named after his father's brother)
• Age: 54
• Gender: Male
• Physical Appearance: He has long hair that he keep pulled away from his face and keeps his beard as neatly trimmed as possible.

Childhood

• Upbringing: Allan grew up in a traditional Blackburn family with his parents and siblings 
• Family Background: Allan's family is very traditional, in the sense that they work their land, get married, and want the same for their children and grandchildren. 
• Early Experiences: Allan's grandfather abandoned his family to go live in the Shadow Woodlands. It was considered a great scandal and a blemish on their name, it also prompted the saying that "All Hobson men do is break women's hearts."
• Family Dynamics: He is a middle child and is close to his siblings, despite being very reserved and not showing much affection. He does show much care in his youngest siblings and ensures they are safe and well. He adores his mother, but is rather frightened of his father.
• Parents: Elric Hobson and Amelia Red
• Siblings: Aileth, Sylvia, Rickard, Hale, Gilbert, Einvor, Hartley, Alger, Theresa, Mirna, Alena, Emmy, Frida
• Significant Events: Allan's grandfather leaves, the year of the big rain (Allan does not remember this), the burning down of the dame school during a summer or drought (Allan does remember this), a new lord Blackburn (after the death of the current Lord Blackburn), the day he first feels a calling to go deeper into the woods
• Significant Traumas: The death of siblings from hunger, accidents, and illness
• Personality: Allan is a quiet but sweet person, he is not superstitious , nor does he believe in luck. He is practical and hard working. He prefers to be by himself. 
• Beliefs: Allan, like most of the Hobsons, does not believe in any religion. He doesn't believe in the magic of the Golden Apple at first either, until he meets the de Barros.

Identity

• Key Events/Turning Points: Allan leaves his home for the woods for the first time before leaving permanently
• Achievements: Allan builds a stone cabin of his own on the same property that his father had a cabin. He cultivates the land and makes access to water. 
• Failures: He blames himself for not being able to prevent the deaths of his siblings, plus the death of one of the de Barro girls.
• Losses: He deeply regrets leaving his friends and family behind, but knows this was the best, and only, option for himself.
• Transformative Experiences: When he first realizes the call into the woods and makes the decision to leave his home and family for the woods
• Educational Milestones: He has a basic level of reading and arithmetic comprehension 
• Career Choices: Before going into the woods, he trained in rudimentary farming and irrigation techniques taught to him by a traveling group of brothers from Blackburn Abbey.
• Relationships: He treats everyone as fairly and impassively as possible, despite his feelings
• Personal Growth: He begins to trust the de Barros and open up to them years into their aquientence. He counts them as the very best friends he has ever had. His relationship with them, plus his early relationship with Rodrick, is what makes him open to Brandon when they first meet. 
• Motivations: He wants to be alone and free to explore the Shadow Woodlands
• Goals: To go further into the woods than anyone else, once he meets the de Barros, it changes into living a simple life in the place he loves the most

Established Relationships

• Friendships: He is close to siblings (Hartley and Theresa), along with his niblings (Rodrick), cousins, Felize Goode, and much later, his great nephew, Brandon
• Romantic Partnerships: Felize Goode is his first crush. He has a relationship later on with several de Barro women
• Mentors: de Barros, the brothers from Blackburn Abbey, and briefly his grandfather
• Rivals: Sometimes his own brothers and sometimes other boys from the village
• How Did These Connections Influence Developments and Choices: Allan is kind to those around him, if not a little distant from them. But his relationship with de Barro, Rodrick, and the golden apple inclines him to help Brandon.
• Conflicts & Bonds that Impact's His Character Journey: He takes it very personally that he breaks Felize's heart. It takes him a while before he opens up to other women, including Berta and Aelis. 

Motivations & Goals

• What Does He Hope to Achieve: Allan hopes to see much, if not all, of the Shadow Woodlands. He does succeed in seeing most of it.
• External Motivation (eg power, revenge, love): Escape his home and explore
• Internal Motivation (eg personal growth, self-acceptance, finding purpose): Expand his knowledge 
• Opportunities for Conflict and Growth: His first meeting with the de Barros is an opportunity to trust them and have them trust him, plus an opportunity to be open with them and let them accept him as he is, which he then does with Brandon

Strengths & Weaknesses

• What is He Good at: Despite wanting to leave home, he's very good at farming and inventing new ways of irrigation 
• What Challenges Does He Face: He doesn't open up or express how he feels or what he thinks
• How Do They Impact His Actions and Decisions: He's very reserved and closed off. He doesn't open up until he is in his late 20s, early 30s, when he truly trusts the de Barros.

Establish Personality Traits

• Define His Personality: He is shy and reserved, but he is also good natured, friendly, and helpful
• Traits: Blunt, cold, patient, rigid, capable, intuitive, friendly
• Quirks: Careful with his appearance, snores loudly, introverted, Hobson stubbornness, loyal
• How Does He Respond to Different Situations: He takes them in and then carefully acts
• Introverted/Extroverted: Introverted 
• Impulsive/Cautious: Cautious 
• How Did These Traits Develop Over Time: He was also very reserved, it is only as he got older that he became more open to others
• How Does it Influence His Behavior and Interactions: He is very friendly and kind, but holds all new people at arms length until he knows what kind of person they are

Conflicts & Obstacles

• Internal Conflicts and Obstacles (eg self-doubt, conflicting desires): Self-doubt, love, and wishing to not disappoint his family and friends keeps Allan from leaving Dalry the first time 
• External Conflicts and Obstacles (societal expectations or adversaries): Being ill-prepared and societal expectations keeping him for leaving at first as well
• Opportunities for Growth and Character Development: Allan leaves for the Shadow Woodlands when he realizes he can no longer stay and to stay would mean denying himself true happiness at the expense of doing what others want instead

Allan Hobson and the Golden Apple

Like all Ludovian children, Allan Hobson grew up learning about the legendary King Ahmenebar and his Golden Apple. 
Due to growing up in County Blackburn, and especially at the foot of the Shadow Woodlands, Allan grows up with a deeper understanding of the apple and the surrounding superstitions. As a small child, he loves the story as much as every Ludovian child. However, he doesn't wish to get an apple of his own, nor does he wish to be king. 
It is only when he is an adult that he truly appreciates the apple, its magic, and how deeply interwoven with the fabric of Ludo it really is. 
If asked, Allan would say that the apple is the past, present, and future of Ludo - especially when it comes to Blackburn and the Shadow Woodlands. 
He has no opinion on how it relates to Ludo's royal family, but if asked, he would say the apple's own magic could work as a poultice or a canker to the crown.

The Magic of the Golden Apple & Allan

While Allan may not have a golden apple, he does still have access to some of its magic. 
He felt a "call" to enter the Shadow Woodlands, not realizing it was part of the apple's magic. Once he was settled in the woods, he decides to stay. Not because of the apple's magic, but because of the peace, solitude, and companionship with the de Barro family that keeps him there. 
Due to his closeness with the de Barros, Allan is loosely protected by their apple from serious illness and death. 
If given the choice, Allan would have never gone for the apple. Still, he thoroughly enjoys his place in the woods and the little bit of magic he has access to.

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Image of Allan Hobson made on Artbreeder