James Deland

James Deland is a pivotal human character in Raven's World series, serving as a vampire hunter for The Order of the Sons of Light during the American Revolution period (1776 series). His actions and legacy profoundly shaped the series' central narrative through his protection of Selah "Raven" Walker and his descendants who continue to be protected by her into the present day.

Biography

Early Life and Personal Tragedy

James Deland's life was forever changed when his son Joseph was murdered by the vampire Dumitru, approximately twelve years before the main events of the 1776 series. This tragedy drove James into a personal vendetta to find and kill his son's murderer, leading him to discover the existence of vampires when he finally tracked down Dumitru.

During his attempt to avenge Joseph's death, James was saved by vampire hunters from The Order of the Sons of Light, who rescued him from becoming one of Dumitru's victims. This encounter led to his recruitment into the secret organization.

Role in The Order of the Sons of Light

James became a Leader of hunters for his territory within The Order of the Sons of Light, a clandestine organization backed by the world's religious institutions that hunts demons and vampires. He worked alongside other notable hunters including:

• Michael Wyman (Leader of hunters for his territory)
• Archer (Head of Sons of Light in Western region)
• Nathaniel Hughes (Apprentice hunter)
• Samuel (Leader of hunters for his territory)

Relationship with Raven

James's most significant contribution to the series was his complex relationship with Selah "Raven" Walker, a second-generation vampire created by Jonas. After Raven was turned, James:

• Captured and initially imprisoned her, keeping her chained in his basement
• Trained her as a vampire hunter, teaching her to track and eliminate other vampires
• Protected her from other hunters who wanted to kill her, particularly Michael Wyman
• Shaped her moral code, instilling religious instruction and the principle to "never attack a godly person but rather, protect them from vampires and demons"
• Gave her purpose by having her hunt criminals and evil vampires rather than innocent humans

James used Raven's unique abilities (she was unusually powerful for a second-generation vampire, possessing strength, speed, animal control, and telekinesis) to track down Dumitru and his growing vampire army.

Family Life During the Revolutionary War

James maintained a family life during his hunting activities:

• Wife: Ann Deland
• Children: Multiple daughters including Ada (who suffered from nightmares), and at least one remaining son
• He struggled with balancing his need for vengeance against Dumitru with his family responsibilities

Conflict with The Order and Departure

James's protection of Raven eventually put him at odds with The Order of the Sons of Light, who considered all undead evil. His final encounter with Michael Wyman came to a head when:

• Wyman demanded immediate use of Raven to track vampires, despite James insisting she needed more training
• James struck Wyman after he used Joseph's death as leverage, declaring he needed two more weeks
• The Order later expelled James after a failed mission against Dumitru that resulted in the deaths of most of Wyman's men

The Promise and Legacy

Before departing from Raven's life, James made a crucial decision that would span centuries:

• He freed Raven and provided her with a wagon for protection from sunlight during travel
• He asked her to protect his family line, a promise she accepted and has maintained for over 200 years
• He left without explanation, disappearing from Raven's life but leaving an indelible impact on her moral development

Historical Impact

Immediate Consequences (1776 Era)

• Lost Order Protection: James's expulsion from The Order meant his family no longer had organizational protection
• Dumitru's Threat: The vampire promised to hunt down all of James's descendants and wipe them out
• Personal Stakes: James stayed close to home, living in constant fear for his remaining family's safety

Long-term Legacy (Present Day)

James Deland's decision to protect Raven and ask for her reciprocal protection created a lasting covenant that spans generations:

The Deland Family Line

James's descendants continue to be protected by Raven in the present day, including:

• Catherine Deland (New Orleans, 1800s era) - Raven protected her family and revealed her history
• Aunt Silvia (Present day, West Texas) - Elderly Deland family member who maintains family histories
• Kylie Deland (Present day, Los Angeles/West Texas) - Young descendant who has developed a close relationship with Raven

Family Traditions and Knowledge

The Deland family has maintained:

• Historical records of their supernatural heritage
• Knowledge of vampire hunters passed down through generations
• Awareness of Raven's protection ("The Deland family had their very own dark guardian angel")
• Books and documentation about churiphim and The Order of the Sons of Light

Character Relationships

Allies

• Raven/Selah Walker: His most complex relationship - captor, teacher, protector, and ultimately trusted ally
• The Order of the Sons of Light: Former member and leader until his expulsion
• Leonette: The churiphim who also protected and trained Raven

Enemies

• Dumitru: His son's killer and primary target for vengeance
• Michael Wyman: Fellow hunter who opposed James's methods and protection of Raven
• Jonas: The vampire who created Raven, though their direct interaction was limited

Family

• Ann Deland: His wife, who worried about his obsession with vengeance
• Joseph Deland: His deceased son whose murder drove James's vendetta
• His daughters and remaining son: Family members he feared losing to Dumitru's promised revenge

Legacy and Themes

James Deland represents several key themes in the series:

Redemption and Second Chances

His decision to protect and train Raven rather than kill her demonstrates the possibility of redemption even for the undead.

The Cost of Vengeance

His obsession with avenging Joseph's death cost him his position, his Order's protection, and nearly his relationship with his living family.

Cross-generational Protection

The covenant between James and Raven created a protective legacy spanning over 200 years, showing how acts of mercy can have far-reaching consequences.

Moral Complexity

James embodied the series' moral complexity - a good man driven to dark methods, who ultimately chose compassion over organizational loyalty.

Present Day Relevance

James Deland's influence continues to be felt in the modern books:

• Raven's unwavering commitment to protecting the Deland family line stems directly from her promise to James
• The family's acceptance of supernatural protection shows the lasting impact of his original trust in Raven
• Raven's moral code about protecting the innocent was fundamentally shaped by James's teachings
• The ongoing conflict with The Order traces back to James's original defiance of their absolute stance against the undead

James Deland's story demonstrates how a single act of mercy and trust can reverberate across centuries, fundamentally altering the supernatural landscape and creating bonds that transcend death itself.