| “ | Remember the name. I'm going to be a wingleader one day. | ” |
–Jack Barlowe, Fourth Wing | ||
Jack Barlowe is a first-year rider at Basgiath War College and former bonded rider of Baide.
Biography[]
Fourth Wing[]
Jack meets Violet and the other cadets on the parapet, after throwing a candidate off the side casually. With this, he makes it his mission to personally kill Violet, no matter the cost. He is later assigned to Third Squad,[1] Flame Section, First Wing.[2] He is assigned to the third-floor dorms. On his first day in the RIders Quadrant Jack kills another cadet during the sparring portion of their assessments. This continues to be a trend and he gradually becomes responsible for a large portion of names read on the death roll each morning.[3]
Violet eventually manages to kill him by collapsing an entire mountain on his head, crushing him.
Iron Flame[]
After being crushed by the weight of a mountain and presumed dead, Jack is mended by Nolon over the course of several months in secret. His dragon, Baide, keeps his survival a secret from the Empyrean until Professor Markham reintroduces him to the quadrant.
Later on Jack rushes to the turret during his watch after hearing screams. He saves Violet from an assassination attempt by piercing the infantry soldier's throat and pulling her up from the edge. Violet is confused and questions Jack about why he did not take the chance to throw her off the tower and kill her. He explains that he has changed after nearly dying and receiving a second chance in life, which makes both of them even after Violet almost killed him. He leaves the tower without further notice.
In the wardstone chamber during the battle of Basgiath, he is seen riding Baide for the last time before grabbing her by her horns and pushing a dagger in between the hard scales that protect her neck. Baide ends up falling onto the wardstone before bleeding out, extinguishing the flame on top. However, Jack does not die, as it is revealed that he turned Venin prior to her death.
Physical Description[]
Jack has thick blond brows matching to his blond hair, and glacial blue eyes. His face becomes red when he's enraged.[4] He later develops red rims around his eyes. Jack is described by Violet as having a "monstrous frame" and possessing enough strength to toss another rider candidate off the parapet[4] as well as snap a cadet's neck during Assessment Day. He's stocky.
Personality[]
Jack is cocky and impatient. He feels no remorse for tossing other cadets off the parapet into their death and tried on multiple occassions to kill Violet. His aggressive and envious behavior towards others was in alignment with his dragon Baide, who is stated to be aggressive. Jack firmly believes in the idea that those lacking strength have no place in the Riders Quadrant, whether they be humans or dragons. This is why he attempted to kill Andarna during Threshing, assuming her small size made her as vulnerable as Violet. "Even his voice reeks of arrogance."[4]
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
Veninism[]
The ability to use magic directly from the source rather than his dragon.
Pain Projection[]
The ability to force power into someone's body, causing them immense pain. It was originally thought to be his "signet" however Rebecca Yarros confirmed in an interview that it is in fact a venin-ability.[5]
Lesser Magic[]
As a rider whose dragon is channeling through them, Jack is capable of performing lesser magic. With this channeling, Jack is able to do things like locking and unlocking doors without touching them, moving with preternatural speed, manipulate mage lights, and power ink pens. Lesser magic also allows Jack to place runes.
Signet[]
Not applicable, please see above.
Abilities[]
TBA
Relationships[]
Baide[]
Jack and Baide complemented each other, as both were remarkable for their aggressiveness, as far as Baide hiding the truth from the Empyrean that her rider was still alive, mended by Nolon. However, Jack later betrays Baide by slashing a dagger between the scales of her neck, leading to her death.
Violet Sorrengail[]
Since conscription day, Jack has had a strong hatred for Violet. He attempts to kill her several times over the course of their first year. In his own words he see's violet as frail and weak, and targeted her after she managed to bond Tairn who he had his sights set on prior to Threshing.
After surviving his presumed death, Jack makes amends by saving Violets life, though he reveals his true colors during the final battle at Basgiath by destroying the wardstone.
Quotes[]
"Do you understand how much power is beneath your feet?" - Jack to Nolon
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Violet Sorrengail won a fight on the mat against Jack due to his allergic reaction to oranges.
References[]
- ↑ Fourth Wing: Chapter 5
- ↑ Fourth Wing, Chapter 3
- ↑ Fourth Wing, Chapter 8
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Fourth Wing: Chapter 2
- ↑ Rebecca Yarros, Entertainment Weekly Interview, Pub. Nov 22nd, 2023. https://ew.com/rebecca-yarros-empyrean-series-book-three-8405856