Minox Welling

Inspector Minox Welling is a major character of the Maradaine Sequence, and is the featured protagonist of the Maradaine Constabulary series. He is an untrained (Uncircled) mage and an Inspector Third Class at the Inemar Stationhouse of the Maradaine Constabulary. His partner is Satrine Rainey.

His sister, Corrie, is a significant secondary character in the Constabulary series. His brother Jace appears in some of the Thorn novels as well, at the Aventil Stationhouse.

Like most mages, Minox is very thin. When working (as he often is), he wears a leather overcoat, dark shirt, and boots. His Inspector's vest is kept in good condition, but his appearance is otherwise sloppy.

History
Like much of the rest of the Welling family, Minox lives in the family home in Keller Cove. The Wellings have served in the Constabulary for eight generations, when the city first established the service.

Minox's mother, Amalia D'Fen Welling, grew up in the Little East area of Maradaine, in the Kellirac & Racquin section. Minox is named for her father. Minox and his siblings (Oren, Corrie, Jace, and Alma) are thus of Druth and Racquin heritage.

His father, Rennick Welling, was killed on duty in 1207. He volunteered for a horsepatrol shift in a dangerous situation that would have otherwise been given to Minox.

Skills and Abilities
Minox is a gifted inspector, with a knack for connecting patterns and noticing details others miss. He has high standards of proof, and often is unsatisfied with the conclusion of cases. He then considers them closed, but "unresolved." His unresolved cases seem linked together, and he sees the Thorn and Fenmere as part of the overall picture. This does seem to be a family trait, however, since Evoy and Fenner also exhibited these "connecting dots" characteristics as their mental health deteriorated.

He possess raw, natural magical ability, but has received no training in its use. Minox was a "late bloomer," coming into his magical power at the age of 23, three years before A Murder of Mages. This is unusually late, as Major Dresser had never before heard of it happening after age 20. This puts him in a very uncomfortable position. Mages live in a nearly parallel society, training in college and joining a circle upon graduation. Mages do not serve in the Constabulary, whereas the Welling family almost exclusively does. Had his powers manifested themselves at a younger age, he would have likely been forced to join a circle, and not the force. He remains in the Constabulary, as an Uncircled mage, which makes him a suspect outsider to both groups.

As the Saga progresses, Minox struggles with the changes that are happening to him. Spoilers are being avoided here...

Appearances
A Murder of Mages

The inspectors investigate serial killings of mages in Maradaine. Minox suffers a serious injury to his left hand.

An Import of Intrigue

After the events of A Murder of Mages, he becomes a close friend to butcher Joshea Brondar. Joshea supplies him rijetzh to gain a little bit more control over the magical impulses. The inspectors tackle the diplomatically sensitive murder of a Fuergan noble in the Little East.

The Imposters of Aventil

The inspectors investigate and cross paths with the Thorn.

A Parliament of Bodies

The People of the City