History MagnificentBastard / APracticalGuideToEvil

* Each of the possible versions of Catherine Foundling shown in the [[ForWantOfANail Fourfold Crossing]] prove to be just as ruthless and charismatic as the real one. All three weather Praesi civil wars and Proceran invasions to emerge as the de facto ruler of Callow, while responding to Akua's overwhelming might with a defiant sword through the arrogant noble's throat:

* [[BoisterousBruiser Indrani]], the [[MasterArcher Archer]], is the lithe physical powerhouse of the Woe and their most dangerous--yet surprisingly insightful--killer. Originally a slave girl freed by Hye Su, Indrani took to her teacher's violent beliefs with gleefully wholehearted embrace, remolding herself into a pleasure-seeking thrill-chaser. Befriending Catherine and joining her Woe at the opportunity for more killing, the Archer demonstrates herself to be a nigh-unstoppable OneWomanArmy and perceptive bodyguard able to proactively protect the Black Queen from assassination attempts, and despite her hedonistic and provocative attitude is unquestionably indispensable when it comes to efficiently decimating enemies, even leveraging her own death to wake Masego from the Dead King's possession. Later reconciling with her fellow students from Refuge to defeat their old mentor and claim the Name of [[ChallengeSeeker Ranger]] as her own, Indrani spends the years after the War on Keter wandering the world in search of adventure, but always makes time to return to those she loves.

[[AC:Arcadia]]

* First Prince [[RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething Cordelia Hasenbach]] is one of Catherine's greatest enemies-turned-allies and a steadfast bulwark against the madness of the north. As only a teenager, Cordelia discovered Malicia's responsibility for the massive civil war consuming Procer and sought to save her nation from destruction by rallying the Lycaonese principates behind her to put an end to the petty conflicts of the south. Through years of warfare, assassinations, and a web of alliances and betrayals, Cordelia rose from the ashes as the victor of her cold war with the Dread Empress, with all her opponents either bending the knee or forced to drink the "[[DeadlyEuphemism Regal Kindness]]." Despite the countless lives that would be lost from the endeavor, Cordelia organizes the Tenth Crusade against Praes to distract her political enemies and unite the Principate for their endless war with the Evil polities to the north, but when faced with defeat is quick to swallow her pride and ally with Catherine to finally destroy the Dead King, effortlessly handling the corrupt politicking in the way of the Black Queen's war effort. A master of diplomacy constantly outsmarting her ungrateful subjects' efforts to overthrow her, Cordelia stands tall through legions of death and madness to bring peace to her nation [[GoodIsNotNice no matter how many thousands must die]] to see her dream through.
* [[DefectorFromDecadence Sargon Isaru]], the Herald of the Deeps, is a dwarf who sought to reform the [[FantasticCasteSystem cruel caste system]] of the Kingdom Under, gaining command of the Fourteenth Expansion into the Everdark and enacting brutally methodic massacres of any sigil they come across in hopes of creating colonies for dwarven commoners. Agreeing to bring much-needed supplies for the Grand Alliance's armies in exchange for the city of Keter as a new haven--after a previous attempt to leverage the lives of everyone in Procer by effectively ransoming his aid for three major cities--the Herald nonetheless [[IGaveMyWord swears to honor this lesser deal with all his might]], managing to recruit reinforcements unmolested after killing the King Under the Mountains and plunging the Kingdom Under into [[EnemyCivilWar civil war]] when they intentionally impede his efforts to lend aid to Calernia's plight. Relinquishing the many spirits he's captured over the years to finally conquer his dwarven Greed, the Herald is crowned king of the new dwarven nation of Kishar, intending to carve forward a path of change and freedom for all.

* [[AGodIAmNot Catherine Foundling]] rises from a mere orphan to the dreaded "Black Queen" of Callow in her quest for peace. Chosen by the Black Knight to become his Squire, Catherine battles her way to victory in the hopes of swindling rule over Callow from the cruel Imperials, emerging against impossible odds to best the Lone Swordsman and Akua Sahelian's respective rebellions while swaying legions of competent minions and fellow villains to her banner through her charisma and drive. Garnering enough acclaim to take Callow for herself after orchestrating the destruction of the Winter and Summer Courts to claim the former's power as her own, [[TheChessmaster Catherine]] weathers the Tenth Crusade and gains the favor of the goddesses Sve Noc, outwitting the legendary Grey Pilgrim to bring the Principate to heel. Catherine and her Woe make alliance with their former enemies to war on the genocidal plans of the Dead King and the Wandering Bard, [[FrontlineGeneral leading the charge]] against the former on the warfront while battling the latter's all-encompassing schemes as Catherine becomes the [[OutsourcingFate Warden]] to corral the nations of Calernia into accepting her rules for Named and reining in the infamous mass-slaughters of their era. Bringing peace to not only Callow but also the very conflict between heroes and villains itself, Catherine and her Woe leave their homelands in an unprecedented Age of Order as they seek new adventures in distant lands.

* [[DefectorFromDecadence Sargon Isaru]], the Herald of the Deeps, is a dwarf who sought to reform the [[FantasticCasteSystem cruel caste system]] of the Kingdom Under, gaining command of the Fourteenth Expansion into the Everdark and enacting brutally methodic massacres of any sigil they come across in hopes of creating colonies for dwarven commoners. Agreeing to bring much-needed supplies for the Grand Alliance's armies in exchange for the city of Keter as a new haven -- after a previous attempt to leverage the lives of everyone in Procer by effectively ransoming his aid for three major cities -- the Herald nonetheless [[IGaveMyWord swears to honor this lesser deal with all his might]], managing to recruit reinforcements unmolested after killing the King Under the Mountains and plunging the Kingdom Under into [[EnemyCivilWar civil war]] when they intentionally impede his efforts to lend aid to Calernia's plight. Relinquishing the many spirits he's captured over the years to finally conquer his dwarven Greed, the Herald is crowned king of the new dwarven nation of Kishar, intending to carve forward a path of change and freedom for all.

* [[EvilGenius Masego]], the [[KillTheGod Hierophant]], is the magically prodigious son of the Warlock and the Woe's expert in all things blasphemous. Obsessed with dissecting Creation itself after seeing the pocket dimension he was raised in be casually destroyed, Masego joins the Fifteenth Legion during the Liesse Rebellion as TheApprentice, quickly striking up a strong friendship with Catherine as he aids her against Akua's diabolism. Further assisting Catherine in the destruction of the Summer Court after transitioning into the Hierophant, Masego bolsters Callow's magical arsenal against the Tenth Crusade, and although he loses his magic after his possession by the Dead King, he retains the knowledge necessary to remain an unrivaled prodigy. Creating the Autumn Crown and the [[ImmortalBreaker Severance]] blade to destroy the lich; devising a method to steal the Intercessor's control over stories; and raising the drow goddesses into a Choir of Below, Masego's audacious achievements reach their apex when he gains his revenge by catching and eating the fleeing Dead King's soul after his physical body is slain by the Severance, forging his own godhead to emerge as a deity in the dawn of the Age of Order.
* [[BoisterousBruiser Indrani]], the [[MasterArcher Archer]], is the lithe physical powerhouse of the Woe and their most dangerous--yet surprisingly insightful--killer. Originally a slave girl freed by Hye Su, Indrani took to her teacher's violent beliefs with gleefully wholehearted embrace, remolding herself into a pleasure-seeking thrill-chaser. Befriending Catherine and joining her Woe at the opportunity for more killing, the Archer demonstrates herself to be a nigh-unstoppable OneWomanArmy and perceptive bodyguard able to proactively protect the Black Queen from assassination attempts, and despite her hedonistic and provocative attitude is unquestionably indispensable when it comes to efficiently decimating enemies. Later reconciling with her fellow students from Refuge to defeat their old mentor and claim the Name of [[ChallengeSeeker Ranger]] as her own, Indrani spends the years after the War on Keter wandering the world in search of adventure, but always makes time to return to those she loves.
* [[MyCountryRightOrWrong Vivienne Dartwick]], the [[KingOfThieves Thief]], is the least morally bankrupt member of the Woe but still a ruthless and brilliant operator. The daughter of a Callowan baron spared in the Conquest, Vivienne took to the streets to rob Praes blind in retaliation for her mother's murder, eventually joining the Lone Swordsman's rebellion. Vivienne survives to take over Callow's Thieves' Guild before being swayed to Catherine's side, stealing the Arcadian sun to defeat Summer and playing an instrumental role in slaying Akua. Reforging her criminal underlings into Catherine's spy network of "Jacks", Vivienne goads the "Regal" faction of Callow's nobles into ordering an assassination on Hakram based off false information and has them executed for treason, removing weak links that could be exploited by the Tenth Crusade. While always a capable and confident pilferer, Vivienne matures remarkably after losing her original Name, adapting to handle the politics of rule in Catherine's stead and even stealing the entire Thirteenth Legion from Praes to become the [[PoliticallyActivePrincess Princess]]. In her coronation as [[TheHighQueen Queen of Callow]], Vivienne takes up the Foundling name to honor her friend and ensure an orphan will always be prepared to restore dignity to the crown.

* [[PragmaticVillainy Amadeus of the Green Stretch]], the BlackKnight, is the leader of the Calamities and DragonInChief to Dread Empress Malicia responsible for the brutally swift Conquest of Callow and the longest reign ever seen in Praes. [[GenreSavvy Amadeus]] has reforged the unnecessarily evil aspects of the Empire to rule pragmatically, using his spy network to murder scores of nascent heroes; reforming the Legions of Terror to give competent orcs and goblins positions of authority; and improving living conditions in Callow to stifle interest in rebellion. To further his plan of permanently integrating Callow into the Empire, the Carrion Lord takes on Catherine Foundling as his Squire, giving her the guidance and freedom necessary for her to grow into a proper ruler and terrifying villain rivaling his own reputation. Continuing to silently aid his apprentice even after she breaks from Praes, Amadeus challenges Malicia's rule out of disgust for her increasingly insane plots and spends the next few years furthering the Praesi civil war, orchestrating the complete annihilation of the Dread Empire without ever getting directly involved in the conflict. An unapologetic monster who will fight tooth and nail to protect those he loves, Amadeus' [[ThanatosGambit final act]] is to force Catherine to spare Alaya from her bloody vengeance for eight more years, nonetheless dying with pride in [[LikeADaughterToMe the girl he has come to see as his own daughter]].
* [[SecretaryOfEvil Eudokia]], the Scribe, is Amadeus' [[{{Spymaster}} spymistress]] and one-woman bureaucracy. Originally a homeless orphan taken in by the [[AcademyOfEvil School of Gulls]], Eudokia survived their deadly initiation and took advantage of her subsequent access to the school's ledgers to orchestrate the deaths of the entire staff and student body. Later joining the Calamities, Eudokia's efficiency allows Black to rule Callow uncontested for years, unearthing numerous rebel plots and nascent heroes through their Eyes of the Empire while cowing the criminal Dark Guilds into obedience. Scribe also uses her ability to make corpse-puppets to craft the myth of [[TheDreaded Assassin]], whose legendary and morbidly hilarious killings as the unseen yet ever-feared fifth official Calamity would draw attention away from her as Amadeus' unassuming secretary. Hyper-competent and fanatically loyal to the one man she deems worthy of making use of her talents, the Webweaver's skills at espionage are near unrivaled by any in Calernia.

* [[ColonelBadass Juniper]] "[[BloodKnight The Hellhound]]" of the Red Shields orc clan is a prodigy tactician viewed by many as the next Grem One-Eye. Already the ruthless captain of the Imperial War College's First Company when Catherine meets her, Juniper constantly puts the Squire on the back foot throughout their war games, impressing her enough to be offered the position of legate in the Fifteenth Legion. Juniper's steel trap of a mind quickly proves to be invaluable as they move from campaign to campaign, slaughtering enemies ranging from devils to fae as she incorporates into her tactics whatever new resources Catherine throws at her with ease. Soon rising to general of the Fifteenth and eventually [[FourStarBadass marshal]] of the Army of Callow, Juniper shares just as much responsibility as Catherine for their troops' undefeated record in combat, growing from a girl who dreamed of winning her heroes' battles better than them to the marshal who undeniably bested them.

* [[OldSuperhero Tariq "Fleetfoot" Isbili]], the Grey Pilgrim, abdicated as heir to the Holy Seljun in his youth in favor of alleviating suffering throughout the land, healing the sick and [[TheMentor mentoring]] younger heroes. With his growing legend, however, came the need to stop those intent on spreading unnecessary suffering, as the "Peregrine" would slay threats ranging from the monstrous Barrow Lord to even his beloved yet warmongering nephew. Joining the Tenth Crusade in fear of Catherine becoming a threat akin to a new Dead King, Tariq proves to be one of her greatest obstacles in both sheer power and knowledge of stories as he attempts to [[RedemptionEqualsDeath assassinate her through a redemption arc]] and infects a town with a plague to capture the Black Knight as a bargaining chip. Tariq nevertheless allies with Catherine to fight the Dead King and sacrifices himself to prevent a shard of Arcadia from crashing into Creation, before being resurrected and pledging his support for the Black Queen's cause as the first of his amends for his misguided antagonization. Always empathetic yet holding nothing to be more important than [[TheNeedsOfTheMany the greater good]], Tariq [[HeroicSacrifice gives his life once more]] to save the Grand Alliance's armies at the Battle of Hainaut by dragging a star down on the Dead King's hordes.
* [[GlorySeeker Ishaq "Deathless" Rabia]], the [[SoulEating Barrow Sword]], started out as a woodcutter on the outskirts of the Brocelian Forest before learning of the location of hidden treasure. Assembling an unruly band of adventurers to search for this treasure, Ishaq outmaneuvered their various efforts to usurp command while allowing them to be slowly whittled down, claiming his Namesake sword [[HungryWeapon Pinon]] to get revenge when betrayed by the sole other surviving member. Joining the Truce and Terms as one of Catherine's more competent underlings, Ishaq also uses his amnesty from past crimes to demand the Majilis add him to the Rolls as its first open villain, hoping to be named the founder of his own line of the Blood and dragging in Catherine to set precedent for future villainous Bestowed to appeal to the Warden should they ever be cheated. While inexperienced at the start of the series, Ishaq grows into a capable commander and Catherine's chosen successor as the representative for the champions of Below, even slaying one of the Dead King's elite Scourges to [[RagsToRoyalty secure his addition to the Rolls]].

* [[DefectorFromDecadence Sargon Isaru]], the Herald of the Deeps, is a dwarf who sought to reform the [[FantasticCasteSystem cruel caste system]] of the Kingdom Under, gaining command of the Fourteenth Expansion into the Everdark and enacting brutally methodic massacres of any sigil they come across in hopes of creating colonies for dwarven commoners. Agreeing to bring much-needed supplies for the Grand Alliance's armies in exchange for the city of Keter as a new haven -- after a previous attempt to leverage the lives of everyone in Procer by effectively ransoming his aid for three major cities -- the Herald nonetheless [[IGaveMyWord swears to honor this lesser deal with all his might]], managing to recruit reinforcements unmolested after killing the King Under the Mountains and plunging the Kingdom Under into [[EnemyCivilWar civil war]] when they intentionally impede his efforts to lend aid to Calernia's plight. Relinquishing the many spirits he's captured over the years to finally conquer his dwarven Greed, the Herald is crowned king of the new dwarven nation of Kishar, intending to carve forward a path of change and freedom for all.
* [[FriendlyPirate Iseul Su]], the charming [[FourStarBadass Admiral]]-in-[[TheExile Exile]] of the Asadal navy's Southern Fleet, led his crew in a daring journey across the tumultuous Tyrian Sea to Calernia. Turning his small fleet into a crew of {{Pirate}}s, Iseul made a name for himself as a [[LovableRogue dashing rogue]] when robbing trade ships, sparing the lives of those who didn't fight back yet meeting resistance with steel gleefully in hand. When confronted by the deadly Lady Borean, elven champion of the xenophobic Forever King, Iseul saved his crew by binding his heart to hers, ensuring that if one of them died so too would the other, and promised to activate the seal should she harm his men. Managing to woo Borean over the course of a decade, Iseul responds to the revelation that she broke the seal early with nothing but confidence that she "wouldn't be able to resist keeping [him] around," with his cutthroat spirit of adventure proving instrumental in molding their daughter Hye into the legendary Ranger.

[[AC:The Dread Empire of Praes]]

* [[PragmaticVillainy Amadeus of the Green Stretch]], the BlackKnight, is the leader of the Calamities and DragonInChief to Dread Empress Malicia, responsible for the brutally swift Conquest of Callow and the longest reign ever seen in Praes. [[GenreSavvy Amadeus]] has reforged the unnecessarily evil aspects of the Empire to rule pragmatically, using his spy network to murder scores of nascent heroes; reforming the Legions of Terror to give competent orcs and goblins positions of authority; and improving living conditions in Callow to stifle interest in rebellion. To further his plan of permanently integrating Callow into the Empire, the Carrion Lord takes on Catherine Foundling as his Squire, giving her the guidance and freedom necessary for her to grow into a proper ruler and terrifying villain rivalling his own reputation. Continuing to silently aid his apprentice even after she breaks from Praes, Amadeus challenges Malicia's rule out of disgust for her increasingly insane plots and spends the next few years furthering the Praesi civil war, orchestrating the complete annihilation of the Dread Empire without ever getting directly involved. An unapologetic monster who will fight tooth and nail to protect those he loves, Amadeus' [[ThanatosGambit final act]] is to force Catherine to spare Alaya from her bloody vengeance for eight more years, nonetheless dying with pride in [[LikeASonToMe the girl he has come to see as his own daughter]].
* [[SecretaryOfEvil Eudokia]], the Scribe, is Amadeus' {{Spymaster}} and one-woman bureaucracy. Originally a homeless orphan taken in by the [[AcademyOfEvil School of Gulls]], Eudokia survived their deadly initiation and took advantage of her subsequent access to the school's ledgers to orchestrate the deaths of the entire staff and student body. Later joining the Calamities, Eudokia's efficiency allows Black to rule Callow uncontested for years, unearthing numerous rebel plots and nascent heroes through their Eyes of the Empire while cowing the criminal Dark Guilds into obedience. Scribe also uses her ability to make corpse-puppets to craft the myth of [[TheDreaded Assassin]], whose legendary and morbidly hilarious killings as the unseen yet ever-feared fifth official Calamity would draw attention away from her as Amadeus' unassuming secretary. Hyper-competent and fanatically loyal to the one man she deems worthy of making use of her talents, the Webweaver's skills at espionage are near unrivaled by any in Calernia.
* [[TheConsigliere Lady Ime]] is Malicia's [[TheSpymaster spymistress]] who, alongside Scribe, cultivated the Eyes of the Empire into one of the most extensive spy networks in all of Calernia, eventually proving to rival even the Circle of Thorns as they orchestrate a coup in Procer under their very noses. Upon recognizing that Malicia's schemes in the War on Keter are only digging her grave deeper, Ime collaborates with Amadeus in his plan to destroy the Dread Empire and save Malicia's life, secretly smuggling the imprisoned Grem One-Eye's battle plans to Abreha's rebellion while stealing Sargon Sahelian's soulbox to force him to support Amadeus' ploy. Loyal to the point where she would go behind the Empress' back to save her from her own out of control plots, Ime continues to competently serve Malicia even after her betrayal is revealed, standing out in the end as a worthy match for her Calamity counterpart.
* [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder Dread Emperor Traitorous]] was infamous for his habit of double-crossing anyone he could, believing that "Treason is more art than act." Traitorous most famously started numerous cabals with the intent to overthrow himself, successfully usurping his own throne countless times and leaving his co-conspirators unaware of his true identity until it was too late. Additionally managing to betray a villain with the Name of Betrayer; trade the soul of a single gnat for infernal enlightenment; fake a redemption to a Choir of the Heavens; and subsequently trick a Hashmallim into perdition, Traitorous notoriously stated that instead of being on the right side of history he would prefer being on all sides, ultimately committing suicide and [[ThanatosGambit framing over a hundred different people for his murder]].
* [[ZanyScheme Dread Emperor Irritant]], the "[[BewareTheSillyOnes Oddly Successful]]," was known for his ability to find victory through the strangest of tactics. Frequently using his defeats at the hands of heroes to further his own plans, Irritant would repair the palaces they destroyed to pull Praes out of economic slumps; let them defeat rebellious armies he hadn't paid in over a year; set multiple, incompatible heroic bands after himself to dilute their chances at success; and use their honor to avoid punishment by abdicating to become a--surprisingly decent--shoemaker on three separate occasions. Able to manipulate narratives through failure so he could never be slain for good, Irritant made his mark as an eccentric yet strangely competent Dread Emperor.

[[AC:The Fifteenth Legion/The Army of Callow]]

* Special Tribune [[ComedicSociopathy Robber]] is a gleefully malicious goblin considered half-mad even by his own species' standards and one of Catherine's earliest, [[UndyingLoyalty staunchest supporters]]. Having gotten into the War College by spitting in the faces of the Matrons and their cruelty, Robber establishes himself as a mischievous yet ruthlessly reliable sapper whom Catherine assigns to a "war of vultures" against Akua, sabotaging the highborn's forces throughout both Liesse campaigns. Successfully leading his detached cohort in increasingly audacious missions to harass, kidnap, assassinate, and spy on Catherine's enemies throughout the years, Robber ultimately sacrifices himself to save the Grand Alliance's armies by destroying one of the Dead King's Crab monster-fortresses, charging into certain death with nothing but pride in his service to his Black Queen.
* [[ColonelBadass Juniper]] "[[BloodKnight The Hellhound]]" is a prodigy tactician from the Red Shields orc clan, viewed by many as the next Grem One-Eye. Already the ruthless captain of the Imperial War College's First Company when Catherine meets her, Juniper constantly puts the Squire on the back foot throughout their war games, impressing her enough to be offered the position of legate in the Fifteenth Legion. Juniper's steel trap of a mind quickly proves to be invaluable as they move from campaign to campaign, slaughtering enemies ranging from devils to fae as she incorporates into her tactics whatever new resources Catherine throws at her with ease. Soon rising to general of the Fifteenth and eventually [[FourStarBadass marshal]] of the Army of Callow, Juniper shares just as much responsibility as Catherine for their troops' undefeated record in combat, growing from a girl who dreamed of winning her heroes' battles better than them to the marshal who undeniably bested them.

[[AC:The League of Free Cities]]

* [[CardCarryingVillain Kairos Theodosian]], the Tyrant of Helike, learned at the age of twelve that he would die within thirteen years, and decided not to spend that time in mediocre obscurity. Making his debut in the story by assassinating representatives from the other Free Cities, the Tyrant starts a civil war that draws in Hanno the White Knight and ends with [[PuppetKing Anaxares elected Hierarch]]. Kairos, acting as the unofficial leader of the united League, makes preparations to join the growing continent-wide war, professing "[[BlatantLies eternal friendship]]" to all sides and [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder running a massive gambit of lies, alliances, and betrayals]] with every faction present at the Prince's Graveyard. Despite being cursed by Tariq to speak only the truth lest Mercy smite him, Kairos orchestrates a trial for Hanno's "crimes" against the Free Cities that results in Anaxares entering into a deadlock with the Seraphim, and invokes his curse by prematurely declaring victory to prevent Mercy from interfering in the crippling of the other Choir. With unrepentantly insane plans masking his competence, Kairos is a throwback to the [[LargeHam over-the-top villains of old]], dying proudly declaring that he has slain the Age of Wonders as he's greeted with applause by the Gods Below.
* [[DragonAscendant Basilia Katopodis]] is Kairos Theodosian's prize general, who chooses to follow the Tyrant's last will and testament to the people of Helike to "do as you will" by declaring bloody war on Malicia's allies in Penthes and Nicae. Compensating for her weakened army by attacking quickly and viciously, Basilia helps facilitate coups in Nicae and Stygia so she can install her own vassals, uniting the western cities of the League into the Empire of Aenia. Recognizing the foolishness in attempting to conquer all of the Free Cities, Basilia instead navigates their complicated politics to establish the imperial office of Aenia as the Protector of the League; charged with leading their armies against foreign enemies, Basilia is able to finally bring them into the War on Keter, while providing her descendants an advantage in completing her mission to unite the Free Cities.

[[AC:Arcadia]]

* [[BloodKnight Larat]] is the Prince of Nightfall, assisting the King of Winter in his scheme. Seeking to escape the restraints that hold back the fae, Larat assists Catherine Foundling against Summer in exchange for [[ArcNumber seven crowns and one]], which would allow him to form his own fae Court. Leading TheWildHunt, Larat binds himself to Creation after Summer and Winter are destroyed by pledging their services to the Queen of Moonless Nights, serving as Catherine's [[DragonWithAnAgenda "treacherous lieutenant"]] and personal hound of war until the debt she owes is paid. When the crown of the Twilight Court is offered as his payment, Larat abdicates before Catherine can kill him to prevent the birth of a new god, turning the Hunt into something unprecedented and [[ScrewDestiny leaving them free to do whatever they desire]].
* The Prince of Bleak Solstice, serving as the [[FaerieCourt King of Winter]] at the start of Book 3, seeks to escape the [[EternalRecurrence monotonous cycle of acting out stories]] that the fae are trapped in. Ordering an invasion of Marchford, the King allows Catherine Foundling into the Winter Court's capital of Skade when she subsequently enters Arcadia and makes her the Duchess of Moonless Nights upon her defeat of the Duke of Violent Squalls, charging her with the defeat of Summer and ensuring that Callow will be dragged into the next story cycle should she fail. Catherine [[GodCouple forces the Queen of Summer to marry the King]] in order to both [[ThanatosGambit unmake]] and merge the two courts, with the newly crowned King of Arcadia Resplendent granting Catherine vassalage from his rule in thanks.

[[AC:The Dominion of Levant]]

* [[OldSuperhero Tariq Isbili]], the Grey Pilgrim, abdicated as heir to the Holy Seljun in his youth in favor of alleviating suffering throughout the land, healing the sick and [[TheMentor mentoring]] younger heroes. With his growing legend, however, came the need to stop those intent on spreading unnecessary suffering, as the Peregrine would slay threats ranging from the monstrous Barrow Lord to even his beloved nephew who would see bloody war waged on Procer. Joining the Tenth Crusade in fear of Catherine becoming a threat akin to a new Dead King, Tariq proves to be one of her greatest obstacles through both his sheer power and his knowledge of stories as he attempts to [[RedemptionEqualsDeath assassinate her through a redemption arc]], and infects the entire town of Saudant with a plague to capture the Black Knight as a bargaining chip. Tariq nevertheless allies with Catherine to fight the Dead King, sacrificing himself to prevent a shard of Arcadia from crashing into Creation before being resurrected and pledging his support for her cause. Always empathetic yet holding nothing to be more important than [[TheNeedsOfTheMany the greater good]], Tariq [[HeroicSacrifice gives his life once more]] to save the Grand Alliance's armies at the Battle of Hainaut by dragging a star down on the Dead King's hordes.
* [[GlorySeeker Ishaq "Deathless" Rabia]], the [[SoulEating Barrow Sword]], started out as a woodcutter on the outskirts of the Brocelian Forest before learning of the location of hidden treasure. Assembling an unruly band of adventurers to search for this treasure, Ishaq managed to outmaneuver their various efforts to usurp command while allowing them to be slowly whittled down, claiming his Namesake sword [[HungryWeapon Pinon]] to get revenge when betrayed by the sole other surviving member. Joining the Truce and Terms as one of Catherine's more competent underlings, Ishaq also uses his amnesty from past crimes to demand the Majilis add him to the Rolls as its first open villain, hoping to be named the founder of his own line of the Blood and dragging in Catherine to set precedent for future villainous Bestowed to appeal to the Warden should they ever be cheated. While inexperienced at the start of the series, Ishaq grows into a capable commander and Catherine's chosen successor as the representative for the champions of Below, even slaying the Wolfhound to [[RagsToRoyalty secure his addition to the Rolls]].

[[AC:The Empire Ever Dark]]

* [[StealthExpert Ivah]]'idimas'iyanya'ajolig was once a rylleh before being stripped of Night, leaving with a warband for the "Burning Lands" in vain hope of regaining its might. After running into Catherine Foundling and agreeing to act as her [[LesCollaborateurs guide]] to the horrors of the Everdark, Ivah is left in awe of her power and gifted the Winter title of [[NoiselessWalker Lord of Silent Steps]] in exchange for oaths of loyalty, adapting to its newfound eldritch abilities with ease. As the most trusted among her Peerage, Ivah negotiates the surrender of various enemy sigils and coaches Catherine on their customs, providing her sigil with the name Losara. Continuing to act as a deadly spy for the drow Exodus, Ivah and the Losara are charged with enforcing the new oaths binding sigils together, with Ivah competently leading this priesthood in Catherine's stead and increasing its membership tenfold. Later slaying the false god Kurosiv and refusing to claim the Night for itself in favor of restoring Sve Noc to life, Ivah's [[UndyingLoyalty unflinching embrace]] of Catherine's selfless ideals leads to it being named the next [[HighPriest First Under the Night]], shepherding the growing Faith of Crows in the aftermath of the war.
* [[SarcasticDevotee Rumena]]'ivedran'ikole [[DishingOutDirt Tomb]]-[[RedBaron Maker]] is TheDragon to Sve Noc and one of the oldest Firstborn in the Everdark. Originally the mightiest of the Twilight Sages' generals, Rumena allied with the Sisters to kill them and save the Firstborn from their genocidal aspirations, becoming Sve Noc's loyal champion in striking down ambitious Mighty who would challenge their authority and endanger the bargain with Below to keep the drow alive. Capturing Catherine Foundling to sacrifice her and cement Sve Noc's hold over the stolen power of Winter, Rumena nonetheless herds the Firstborn into battle against the Grand Alliance on her behalf when she is instead made First Under the Night, holding its own against the Saint of Swords in the conflict. Further amassing a massive sigil with an oath to personally tear down the gates of the Crown of the Dead within nine years, Rumena leads the drow in the War on Keter and fulfills its pledge after aiding in the final death of its nemesis Kurosiv, thoroughly proving that its might is matched only by its [[DeadpanSnarker dry wit]].

[[AC:Others]]

* First Prince [[RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething Cordelia Hasenbach]] is one of Catherine's greatest enemies-turned-allies and a steadfast bulwark against the madness of the north. As only a teenager, Cordelia discovered Malicia's responsibility for the massive civil war consuming Procer and sought to save her nation from destruction by rallying the Lycaonese principates behind her to put an end to the petty conflicts of the south. Through years of warfare, assassinations, and a web of alliances and betrayals, Cordelia rose from the ashes as the victor of her cold war with the Dread Empress, with all her opponents either bending the knee or forced to drink the "[[DeadlyEuphemism Regal Kindness]]." Despite the countless lives that would be lost from the endeavor, Cordelia organizes the Tenth Crusade against Praes to distract her political enemies and unite the Principate for their endless war with the Evil polities to the north, and when faced with defeat is quick to swallow her pride and ally with Catherine to finally destroy the Dead King, effortlessly handling the corrupt politicking in the way of the Black Queen's war effort. A master of diplomacy constantly outsmarting her ungrateful subjects' efforts to overthrow her, Cordelia stands tall through legions of death and madness to bring peace to her nation [[GoodIsNotNice no matter how many thousands must die]] to see her dream through.

[[folder:The Dread Empire of Praes]]

[[folder:The Fifteenth Legion / The Army of Callow]]

* [[ColonelBadass Juniper]] "[[BloodKnight The Hellhound]]" is a prodigy [[TheStrategist strategist]] from the Red Shields orc clan, viewed by many as the next Grem One-Eye. Already the ruthless captain of the Imperial War College's First Company when Catherine meets her, Juniper constantly puts the Squire on the back foot throughout their war games, impressing her enough to be offered the position of legate in the Fifteenth Legion. Juniper's steel trap of a mind quickly proves to be invaluable as they move from campaign to campaign, slaughtering enemies ranging from devils to fae as she incorporates into her tactics whatever new resources Catherine throws at her with ease. Soon rising to general of the Fifteenth and eventually [[FourStarBadass marshal]] of the Army of Callow, Juniper shares just as much responsibility as Catherine for their troops' undefeated record in combat, growing from a girl who dreamed of winning her heroes' battles better than them to the marshal who undeniably bested them.

[[folder:The League of Free Cities]]

[[folder:Arcadia]]

[[folder:The Dominion of Levant]]

[[folder:The Empire Ever Dark]]

[[folder:Others]]

* [[SecretaryOfEvil Eudokia]], the Scribe, is Amadeus' {{Spymaster}} and one-woman bureaucracy. Originally a homeless orphan taken in by the [[AcademyOfEvil School of Gulls]], Eudokia survived their deadly initiation and took advantage of her subsequent access to the school's ledgers to orchestrate the deaths of the entire staff and student body. Later joining the Calamities, Eudokia's efficiency allows Black to rule Callow uncontested for years, unearthing numerous rebel plots and nascent heroes through their Eyes of the Empire while cowing the criminal Dark Guilds into obedience. Scribe also uses her ability to make corpse-puppets to craft the myth of [[TheDreaded Assassin]], whose legendary and morbidly hilarious killings as the unseen yet ever-feared fifth official Calamity would draw attention away from her as Amadeus' unassuming secretary. Hyper-competent and fanatically loyal to the one man she deems worthy of making use of her talents, the Webweaver's skills at espionage are unrivalled by any in Calernia.

[[folder:The Army of Callow]]

* The Prince of Bleak Solstice, serving as the [[FaerieCourt King of Winter]] at the start of Book 3, seeks to escape the [[EternalRecurrence monotonous cycle of acting out stories]] that the fae are trapped in. Ordering an invasion of Marchford, the King allows Catherine Foundling into the Winter Court's capital of Skade when she subsequently enters Arcadia and makes her the Duchess of Moonless Nights upon her defeat of the Duke of Violent Squalls, charging her with the defeat of Summer and ensuring that Callow will be dragged into the next story cycle should she fail. Catherine [[GodCouple forces the Queen of Summer to marry the King]] in order to both [[ThanatosGambit unmake]] and merge the two courts, with the new King of Arcadia Resplendent granting Catherine vassalage from his rule in thanks.

* [[StealthExpert Ivah'idimas'iyanya'ajolig]] was once a rylleh before being stripped of Night, leaving with a warband for the "Burning Lands" in vain hope of regaining its might. After running into Catherine Foundling and agreeing to act as her [[LesCollaborateurs guide]] to the horrors of the Everdark, Ivah is left in awe of her power and gifted the Winter title of [[NoiselessWalker Lord of Silent Steps]] in exchange for oaths of loyalty, adapting to its newfound eldritch abilities with ease. As the most trusted among her Peerage, Ivah negotiates the surrender of various enemy sigils and coaches Catherine on their customs, providing her sigil with the name Losara. Continuing to act as a deadly spy for the drow Exodus, Ivah and the Losara are charged with enforcing the new oaths binding sigils together, with Ivah competently leading this priesthood in Catherine's stead and increasing its membership tenfold. Later slaying the false god Kurisov and refusing to claim the Night for itself in favor of restoring Sve Noc to life, Ivah's [[UndyingLoyalty unflinching embrace]] of Catherine's selfless ideals leads to it being named the next [[HighPriest First Under the Night]], shepherding the growing Faith of Crows in the aftermath of the war.
* Rumena'ivedran'ikole [[DishingOutDirt Tomb]]-[[RedBaron Maker]] is TheDragon to Sve Noc and one of the oldest Firstborn in the Everdark. Originally the mightiest of the Twilight Sages' generals, Rumena allied with the Sisters to kill them and save the Firstborn from their genocidal aspirations, becoming Sve Noc's loyal champion in striking down ambitious Mighty who would challenge their authority and endanger the bargain with Below to keep the drow alive. Capturing Catherine Foundling to sacrifice her and cement Sve Noc's hold over the stolen power of Winter, Rumena nonetheless herds the Firstborn into battle against the Grand Alliance on her behalf when she is instead made First Under the Night, holding its own against the Saint of Swords in the conflict. Further amassing a massive sigil with an oath to personally tear down the gates of the Crown of the Dead within nine years, Rumena leads the drow in the War on Keter and fulfills its pledge after aiding in the final death of its nemesis Kurisov, thoroughly proving that its might is matched only by its [[DeadpanSnarker dry wit]].

Catherine Foundling has schemed her way to victory countless times and even murdered gods in order to achieve her dream of peace, both fighting against and scheming alongside numerous characters just as [[MagnificentBastard vicious, intelligent, and badass]] as her.

* [[SecretaryOfEvil Eudokia]], the Scribe, is Amadeus' {{Spymaster}} and one-woman bureaucracy. Originally a homeless orphan taken in by the [[AcademyOfEvil School of Gulls]], Eudokia survived their deadly initiation and took advantage of her subsequent access to the school's ledgers to orchestrate the deaths of the entire staff and student body. Later joining the Calamities, Eudokia's efficiency allows Black to rule Callow uncontested for years, unearthing numerous rebel plots and nascent heroes through their Eyes of the Empire while cowing the criminal Dark Guilds into obedience. Scribe also uses her ability to make corpse-puppets to craft the myth of [[TheDreaded Assassin]], whose legendary and morbidly hilarious killings as the unseen yet ever-feared fifth official Calamity would draw attention away from her as Amadeus' unassuming secretary. Hyper-competent and fanatically loyal to the one man she deems worthy of making use of her talents, Eudokia's skills at espionage are unrivalled by any in Calernia.

* The Prince of Bleak Solstice, serving as the [[FaerieCourt King of Winter]] at the start of Book 3, seeks to escape the [[EternalRecurrence monotonous cycle of acting out stories]] that the fae are trapped in. Ordering an invasion of Marchford, the King allows Catherine Foundling into the Winter Court's capital of Skade when she subsequently enters Arcadia and makes her the Duchess of Moonless Nights upon her defeat of the Duke of Violent Squalls, charging her with the defeat of Summer and ensuring that Callow will be dragged into the next story cycle should she fail. Catherine [[GodCouple forces the Queen of Summer to marry the King]] in order to both [[ThanatosGambit unmake]] and merge the two courts, with the new King of Arcadia granting Catherine vassalage from his rule in thanks.

* [[StealthExpert Ivah'idimas'iyanya'ajolig]] was once a rylleh before being stripped of Night, leaving for the "Burning Lands" in vain hope of regaining its might. After running into Catherine Foundling and agreeing to act as her [[LesCollaborateurs guide]] to the Everdark, Ivah is left in awe of her power and gifted the Winter title of [[NoiselessWalker Lord of Silent Steps]] in exchange for oaths of loyalty, adapting to its newfound eldritch abilities with ease. As the most trusted among her Peerage, Ivah negotiates the surrender of various enemy sigils and coaches Catherine on their customs, providing her sigil with the name Losara. Continuing to act as a deadly spy for the drow Exodus, Ivah and the Losara are charged with enforcing the new oaths binding sigils together, with Ivah competently leading this priesthood in Catherine's stead and increasing its membership tenfold. Later slaying the false god Kurisov and refusing to claim the Night for itself in favor of restoring Sve Noc to life, Ivah's [[UndyingLoyalty unflinching embrace]] of Catherine's selfless ideals leads to it being named the next [[HighPriest First Under the Night]], shepherding the growing Faith of Crows in the aftermath of the war.
* [[DefectorFromDecadence Sargon Isaru]], the Herald of the Deeps, is a dwarf who sought to reform the [[FantasticCasteSystem cruel caste system]] of the Kingdom Under, gaining command of the Fourteenth Expansion into the Everdark and enacting brutally methodic massacres of any sigil they come across in hopes of creating colonies for dwarven commoners. Agreeing to bring much-needed supplies for the Grand Alliance's armies in exchange for the city of Keter as a new haven -- after a previous attempt to leverage the lives of everyone in Procer by effectively ransoming his aid for three major cities -- the Herald nonetheless [[IGaveMyWord swears to honor this lesser deal with all his might]], managing to recruit reinforcements unmolested after killing the King Under the Mountains and plunging the Kingdom Under into [[EnemyCivilWar civil war]] when they intentionally impede his efforts to lend aid to Calernia's plight. Relinquishing the many spirits he's captured over the years to finally conquer his dwarven Greed, the Herald is crowned king of the new dwarven nation of Kishar, intending to carve forward a path of change and freedom for all.

* [[GlorySeeker Ishaq "Deathless" Rabia]], the [[SoulEating Barrow Sword]], started out as a woodcutter on the outskirts of the Brocelian Forest before learning of the location of hidden treasure. Assembling an unruly band of adventurers to search for this treasure, Ishaq managed to outmaneuver their various efforts to usurp command while allowing them to be slowly whittled down, claiming his Namesake sword [[HungryWeapon Pinon]] to get revenge when betrayed by the sole other surviving member. Joining the Truce and Terms as one of Catherine's more competent underlings, Ishaq also uses his amnesty from past crimes to demand the Majilis add him to the Rolls, hoping to be named the founder of his own line of the Blood and dragging in Catherine to set precedent for future villainous Bestowed to appeal to the Warden should they ever be cheated. While inexperienced at the start of the series, Ishaq grows into a capable commander and Catherine's chosen successor as the representative for the champions of Below, even slaying the Wolfhound to [[RagsToRoyalty secure his addition to the Rolls]].
* [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder Dread Emperor Traitorous]] was infamous for his habit of double-crossing anyone he could, stating that "Treason is more art than act." Traitorous most famously started numerous cabals with the intent to overthrow himself, successfully usurping his own throne countless times and leaving his co-conspirators unaware of his true identity until it was too late. Additionally managing to betray a villain with the Name of Betrayer; trade the soul of a single gnat for infernal enlightenment; fake a redemption to a Choir of the Heavens; and subsequently trick a Hashmallim into perdition, Traitorous notoriously stated that instead of being on the right side of history he would prefer being on all sides, ultimately committing suicide and [[ThanatosGambit framing over a hundred different people for his murder]].
* [[ZanyScheme Dread Emperor Irritant]], the "[[BewareTheSillyOnes Oddly Successful]]," was known for his ability to find victory through the strangest of tactics. Frequently using his defeats at the hands of heroes to further his own plans, Irritant would repair the palaces they destroyed to pull Praes out of economic slumps; let them defeat rebellious armies he hadn't paid in over a year; set multiple, incompatible heroic bands after himself to dilute their chances at success; and use their honor to avoid punishment by abdicating to become a -- surprisingly decent -- shoemaker on three separate occasions. Able to manipulate narratives through failure so he could never be slain for good, Irritant made his mark as an eccentric yet strangely competent Dread Emperor.

* [[SecretaryOfEvil Eudokia]], the Scribe, is Amadeus' {{Spymaster}} and one-woman bureaucracy. Originally a homeless orphan taken in by the [[AcademyOfEvil School of Gulls]], Eudokia survived their deadly initiation and took advantage of her subsequent access to the school's ledgers to orchestrate the deaths of the entire staff and student body. Later joining the Calamities, Eudokia's efficiency allows Black to rule Callow uncontested for years, unearthing numerous rebel plots and nascent heroes through their Eyes of the Empire while cowing the criminal Dark Guilds into obedience. Scribe also uses her ability to make corpse-puppets to craft the myth of [[TheDreaded Assassin]], whose legendary and morbidly hilarious killings as the unseen yet ever-feared fifth official Calamity would draw attention away from her as Amadeus' unassuming secretary. Hypercompetent and fanatically loyal to the one man she deems worthy of making use of her talents, Eudokia's skills at espionage are unrivalled by any in Calernia.

* [[CardCarryingVillain Kairos Theodosian]], the Tyrant of Helike, learned at the age of twelve that he would die within thirteen years, and decided not to spend that time in mediocre obscurity. Making his debut in the story by assassinating representatives from the other Free Cities, the Tyrant starts a civil war that draws in Hanno the White Knight, and upon winning has [[PuppetKing Anaxares elected Hierarch]]. Kairos, acting as the unofficial leader of the united League, makes preparations to join the growing continent-wide war, professing "[[BlatantLies eternal friendship]]" to all sides and [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder running a massive gambit of lies, alliances, and betrayals]] with every faction present at the Prince's Graveyard. Despite being cursed by Tariq to speak only the truth lest Mercy smite him, Kairos orchestrates a trial for Hanno's "crimes" against the Free Cities that results in Anaxares entering into a deadlock with the Seraphim, and invokes his curse by prematurely declaring victory to prevent Mercy from interfering in the crippling of the other Choir. With unrepentantly insane plans masking his competence, Kairos is a throwback to the [[LargeHam over-the-top villains of old]], dying proudly declaring that he has slain the Age of Wonders as he's greeted with applause by the Gods Below.

* [[OldSuperhero Tariq Isbili]], the Grey Pilgrim, abdicated as heir to the Holy Seljun in his youth in favor of alleviating suffering throughout the land, healing the sick and [[TheMentor mentoring]] younger heroes. With his growing legend, however, came the need to stop those intent on spreading unnecessary suffering, as the Peregrine would slay threats ranging from the monstrous Barrow Lord to even his beloved nephew who would see bloody war waged on Procer. Joining the Tenth Crusade in fear of Catherine becoming a threat akin to a new Dead King, Tariq proves to be one of her greatest obstacles through both his sheer power and his knowledge of stories as he attempts to [[RedemptionEqualsDeath assassinate her through a redemption arc]], and infects the entire town of Saudant with a plague to capture the Black Knight as a bargaining chip. Tariq nevertheless allies with Catherine to fight the Dead King, sacrificing himself to prevent a shard of Arcadia from crashing into Creation, before being resurrected and pledging his support for her cause. Always empathetic yet holding nothing to be more important than [[TheNeedsOfTheMany the greater good]], Tariq [[HeroicSacrifice gives his life once more]] to save the Grand Alliance's armies at the Battle of Hainaut by dragging a star down on the Dead King's hordes.
* [[StealthExpert Ivah'idimas'iyanya'ajolig]] was once a rylleh before being stripped of Night, leaving for the "Burning Lands" in vain hope of regaining its might. After running into Catherine Foundling and agreeing to act as her [[LesCollaborateurs guide]] to the Everdark, Ivah is left in awe of her power and gifted the Winter title of [[NoiselessWalker Lord of Silent Steps]] in exchange for oaths of loyalty, adapting to its newfound eldritch abilities with ease. As her most trusted among the Firstborn, Ivah negotiates the surrender of various enemy sigils and coaches Catherine on their customs, providing her sigil with the name Losara. Continuing to act as a deadly spy for the drow Exodus, Ivah and the Losara are charged with enforcing the new oaths binding sigils together, with Ivah competently leading this priesthood in Catherine's stead and increasing its membership tenfold. Later slaying the false god Kurisov and refusing to claim the Night for itself in favor of restoring Sve Noc to life, Ivah's [[UndyingLoyalty unflinching embrace]] of Catherine's selfless ideals leads to it being named the next [[HighPriest First Under the Night]], shepherding the growing Faith of Crows in the aftermath of the war.
* [[DefectorFromDecadence Sargon Isaru]], the Herald of the Deeps, is a dwarf who sought to reform the [[FantasticCasteSystem cruel caste system]] of the Kingdom Under, gaining command of the Fourteenth Expansion into the Everdark and enacting brutally methodic massacres of any sigil they come across in hopes of creating colonies for dwarven commoners. Agreeing to bring much-needed supplies for the Grand Alliance's armies in exchange for the city of Keter as a new haven -- after a previous attempt to leverage the lives of everyone in Procer by effectively ransoming his aid for three major cities -- the Herald nonetheless [[IGaveMyWord swears to honor this lesser deal with all his might]], managing to recruit reinforcements unmolested after killing the King Under the Mountains and plunging the Kingdom Under into [[EnemyCivilWar civil war]] when they intentionally refuse to help save Calernia from annihilation. Relinquishing the many spirits he's captured over the years to finally conquer his dwarven Greed, the Herald is crowned king of the new dwarven nation of Kishar, intending to carve forward a path of change and freedom for all.

* [[ZanyScheme Dread Emperor Irritant]], the [[BewareTheSillyOnes Oddly Successful]], was known for his ability to find victory through the strangest of tactics. Frequently using his defeats at the hands of heroes to further his own plans, Irritant would repair the palaces they destroyed to pull Praes out of economic slumps; let them defeat rebellious armies he hadn't paid in over a year; set multiple, incompatible heroic bands after himself to dilute their chances at success; and use their honor to avoid punishment by abdicating to become a -- surprisingly decent -- shoemaker on three separate occasions. Able to manipulate narratives through failure so he could never be slain for good, Irritant made his mark as an eccentric yet strangely competent Dread Emperor.

* [[PragmaticVillainy Amadeus of the Green Stretch]][[note]]The BlackKnight[[/note]] is the leader of the Calamities and DragonInChief to Dread Empress Malicia, responsible for the brutally swift Conquest of Callow and the longest reign ever seen in Praes. [[GenreSavvy Amadeus]] has reforged the unnecessarily evil aspects of the Empire to rule pragmatically, using his spy network to murder scores of nascent heroes; reforming the Legions of Terror to give competent orcs and goblins positions of authority; and improving living conditions in Callow to stifle interest in rebellion. To further his plan of permanently integrating Callow into the Empire, the Carrion Lord takes on Catherine Foundling as his Squire, giving her the guidance and freedom necessary for her to grow into a proper ruler and terrifying villain rivalling his own reputation. Continuing to silently aid his apprentice even after she breaks from Praes, Amadeus challenges Malicia's rule out of disgust for her increasingly insane plots and spends the next few years furthering the Praesi civil war, orchestrating the complete annihilation of the Dread Empire without ever getting directly involved. An unapologetic monster who will fight tooth and nail to protect those he loves, Amadeus' [[ThanatosGambit final act]] is to force Catherine to spare Alaya from her bloody vengeance for eight more years, nonetheless dying with pride in [[LikeASonToMe the girl he has come to see as his own daughter]].
* [[SecretaryOfEvil Eudokia]][[note]]Scribe[[/note]] is Amadeus' {{Spymaster}} and one-woman bureaucracy. Originally a homeless orphan taken in by the [[AcademyOfEvil School of Gulls]], Eudokia survived their deadly initiation and took advantage of her subsequent access to the school's ledgers to orchestrate the deaths of the entire staff and student body. Later joining the Calamities, Eudokia's efficiency allows Black to rule Callow uncontested for years, unearthing numerous rebel plots and nascent heroes through their Eyes of the Empire while cowing the criminal Dark Guilds into obedience. Scribe also uses her ability to make corpse-puppets to craft the myth of [[TheDreaded Assassin]], whose legendary and morbidly hilarious killings as the unseen yet ever-feared fifth official Calamity would draw attention away from her as Amadeus' unassuming secretary. Hypercompetent and fanatically loyal to the one man she deems worthy of making use of her talents, Eudokia's skills at espionage are unrivalled by any in Calernia.

* [[CardCarryingVillain Kairos Theodosian]][[note]]The Tyrant of Helike[[/note]] learned at the age of twelve that he would die within thirteen years, and decided not to spend that time in mediocre obscurity. Making his debut in the story by assassinating representatives from the other Free Cities, the Tyrant starts a civil war that draws in Hanno the White Knight, and upon winning has [[PuppetKing Anaxares elected Hierarch]]. Kairos, acting as the unofficial leader of the united League, makes preparations to join the growing continent-wide war, professing "[[BlatantLies eternal friendship]]" to all sides and [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder running a massive gambit of lies, alliances, and betrayals]] with every faction present at the Prince's Graveyard. Despite being cursed by Tariq to speak only the truth lest Mercy smite him, Kairos orchestrates a trial for Hanno's "crimes" against the Free Cities that results in Anaxares entering into a deadlock with the Seraphim, and invokes his curse by prematurely declaring victory to prevent Mercy from interfering in the crippling of the other Choir. With unrepentantly insane plans masking his competence, Kairos is a throwback to the [[LargeHam over-the-top villains of old]], dying proudly declaring that he has slain the Age of Wonders as he's greeted with applause by the Gods Below.

* [[OldSuperhero Tariq Isbili]][[note]]The Grey Pilgrim[[/note]] abdicated as heir to the Holy Seljun in his youth in favor of alleviating suffering throughout the land, healing the sick and [[TheMentor mentoring]] younger heroes. With his growing legend, however, came the need to stop those intent on spreading unnecessary suffering, as the Peregrine would slay threats ranging from the monstrous Barrow Lord to even his beloved nephew who would see bloody war waged on Procer. Joining the Tenth Crusade in fear of Catherine becoming a threat akin to a new Dead King, Tariq proves to be one of her greatest obstacles through both his sheer power and his knowledge of stories as he attempts to [[RedemptionEqualsDeath assassinate her through a redemption arc]], and infects the entire town of Saudant with a plague to capture the Black Knight as a bargaining chip. Tariq nevertheless allies with Catherine to fight the Dead King, sacrificing himself to prevent a shard of Arcadia from crashing into Creation, before being resurrected and pledging his support for her cause. Always empathetic yet holding nothing to be more important than [[TheNeedsOfTheMany the greater good]], Tariq [[HeroicSacrifice gives his life once more]] to save the Grand Alliance's armies at the Battle of Hainaut by dragging a star down on the Dead King's hordes.

* [[DefectorFromDecadence Sargon Isaru]][[note]]Herald of the Deeps[[/note]] is a dwarf who sought to reform the [[FantasticCasteSystem cruel caste system]] of the Kingdom Under, gaining command of the Fourteenth Expansion into the Everdark and enacting brutally methodic massacres of any sigil they come across in hopes of creating colonies for dwarven commoners. Agreeing to bring much-needed supplies for the Grand Alliance's armies in exchange for the city of Keter as a new haven -- after a previous attempt to leverage the lives of everyone in Procer by effectively ransoming his aid for three major cities -- the Herald nonetheless [[IGaveMyWord swears to honor this lesser deal with all his might]], managing to recruit reinforcements unmolested after killing the King Under the Mountains and plunging the Kingdom Under into [[EnemyCivilWar civil war]] when they intentionally refuse to help save Calernia from annihilation. Relinquishing the many spirits he's captured over the years to finally conquer his dwarven Greed, the Herald is crowned king of the new dwarven nation of Kishar, intending to carve forward a path of change and freedom for all.

* The Prince of Bleak Solstice, serving as the [[FaerieCourt King of Winter]] at the start of the series, seeks to escape the [[EternalRecurrence monotonous cycle of acting out stories]] that the fae are trapped in. Ordering an invasion of Marchford, the King allows Catherine Foundling into the Winter Court's capital of Skade when she subsequently enters Arcadia and makes her the Duchess of Moonless Nights upon her defeat of the Duke of Violent Squalls, charging her with the defeat of Summer and ensuring that Callow will be dragged into the next story cycle should she fail. Catherine [[GodCouple forces the Queen of Summer to marry the King]] in order to both [[ThanatosGambit unmake]] and merge the two courts, with the new King of Arcadia granting Catherine vassalage from his rule in thanks.

[Quote]

[Description]

* [[SecretaryOfEvil Eudokia]][[note]]Scribe[[/note]] is Amadeus' {{Spymaster}} and one-woman bureaucracy. Originally a homeless orphan taken in by the [[AcademyOfEvil School of Gulls]], Eudokia survived their deadly initiation and took advantage of her subsequent access to the school's ledgers to orchestrate the deaths of the entire staff and student body. Later joining the Calamities, Eudokia's efficiency allows Black to rule Callow uncontested for years, unearthing numerous rebel plots and nascent heroes through their Eyes of the Empire while cowing the Dark Guilds into obedience. Scribe also uses her ability to make corpse-puppets to craft the myth of [[TheDreaded Assassin]], whose legendary and morbidly hilarious killings would allow it to serve as the unseen yet ever-feared fifth official Calamity, drawing attention away from her as Amadeus' unassuming secretary. Hypercompetent and fanatically loyal to the one man she deems worthy of making use of her talents, Eudokia's skills at espionage are unrivalled by any in Calernia.

* The Prince of Bleak Solstice, currently serving as the [[FaerieCourt King of Winter]] in Arcadia, seeks to escape the [[EternalRecurrence monotonous cycle of acting out stories]] that the fae are trapped in. Ordering an invasion of Marchford, the King allows Catherine Foundling into the Winter Court's capital of Skade when she subsequently enters Arcadia and makes her the Duchess of Moonless Nights upon her defeat of the Duke of Violent Squalls, charging her with the defeat of Summer and ensuring that Callow will be dragged into the next story cycle should she fail. Catherine [[GodCouple forces the Queen of Summer to marry the King]] in order to both [[ThanatosGambit unmake]] and merge the two courts, with the new King of Arcadia granting Catherine vassalage from his rule in thanks.

* [[PragmaticVillainy Amadeus of the Green Stretch]][[note]]The BlackKnight[[/note]] is the leader of the Calamities and DragonInChief to Dread Empress Malicia, responsible for the brutally swift Conquest of Callow and the longest reign ever seen in Praes. [[GenreSavvy Amadeus]] has reforged the unnecessarily evil aspects of the Empire to rule pragmatically, using his spy network to murder scores of nascent heroes; reforming the Legions of Terror to give competent orcs and goblins positions of authority; and improving living conditions in Callow to stifle interest in rebellion. To further his plan of permanently integrating Callow into the Empire, the Carrion Lord takes on Catherine Foundling as his Squire, giving her the guidance and freedom necessary for her to grow into a proper ruler and terrifying villain rivalling his own reputation. Continuing to silently aid his apprentice even after she breaks from Praes, Amadeus challenges Malicia's rule out of disgust for her increasingly insane plots and spends the next few years furthering the Praesi civil war, orchestrating the complete annihilation of the Dread Empire without ever getting directly involved. An unapologetic monster who will fight tooth and nail to protect those he loves, Amadeus' [[ThanatosGambit final act]] is to force Catherine to spare Alaya from her bloody vengeance for eight more years, nonetheless dying with pride in [[LikeASonToMe the girl he has to come to see as his own daughter]].

* [[PragmaticVillainy Amadeus of the Green Stretch]][[note]]The BlackKnight[[/note]] is the leader of the Calamities and DragonInChief to Dread Empress Malicia, responsible for the brutally swift Conquest of Callow and the longest reign ever seen in Praes. [[GenreSavvy Amadeus]] has reforged the unnecessarily evil aspects of the Empire to rule pragmatically, using his spy network to murder scores of nascent heroes; reforming the Legions of Terror to give competent orcs and goblins positions of authority; and improving living conditions in Callow to stifle interest in rebellion. To further his plan of permanently integrating Callow into the Empire, the Carrion Lord takes on Catherine Foundling as his Squire, giving her the guidance and freedom necessary for her to grow into a proper ruler and terrifying villain rivalling his own reputation. Continuing to silently aid his apprentice even after she breaks from Praes, Amadeus challenges Malicia's rule out of disgust for her increasingly insane plots and spends the next few years furthering the Praesi civil war, orchestrating the complete annihilation of the Dread Empire without ever getting directly involved. An unapologetic monster who will fight tooth and nail to protect those he loves, Amadeus' [[ThanatosGambit final act]] is to force Catherine to spare Alaya from her bloody vengeance for eight more years, nonetheless dying with pride in the girl he has to come to see as his own [[LikeASonToMe daughter]].

* [[ColonelBadass Juniper]] "[[BloodKnight The Hellhound]]" is a prodigy [[TheStrategist strategist]] from the Red Shields orc clan, viewed by many as the next Grem One-Eye. Already the ruthless captain of the Imperial War College's First Company when Catherine meets her, Juniper constantly puts the Squire on the back foot throughout their War Games, impressing her enough to be offered the position of legate in the Fifteenth Legion. Juniper's steel trap of a mind quickly proves to be invaluable as they move from campaign to campaign, slaughtering enemies ranging from devils to fae as she incorporates into her tactics whatever new resources Catherine throws at her with ease. Soon rising to general of the Fifteenth and eventually [[FourStarBadass marshal]] of the Army of Callow, Juniper shares just as much responsibility as Catherine for their troops' undefeated record in combat, growing from a girl who dreamed of winning her heroes' battles better than them to the marshal who undeniably bested them.

* [[DefectorFromDecadence Sargon Isaru]][[note]]Herald of the Deeps[[/note]] is a dwarf who sought to reform the [[FantasticCasteSystem cruel caste system]] of the Kingdom Under, gaining command of the Fourteenth Expansion into the Everdark and enacting brutally methodic massacres of any sigil they come across in hopes of creating colonies for dwarven commoners. Agreeing to bring much-needed supplies for the Grand Alliance's armies in exchange for the city of Keter -- after a previous attempt to leverage the lives of everyone in Procer by effectively ransoming his aid for three major cities -- the Herald nonetheless swears to honor this lesser deal with all his might, managing to bring reinforcements unmolested after killing the King Under the Mountains and plunging the Kingdom Under into [[EnemyCivilWar civil war]] when they intentionally refuse to help save Calernia from annihilation. Relinquishing the many spirits he's captured over the years to finally conquer his dwarven Greed, the Herald is crowned king of the new dwarven nation of Kishar, intending to carve forward a path of change and freedom for all.

* [[SecretaryOfEvil Eudokia]][[note]]Scribe[[/note]] is Amadeus' {{Spymaster}} and one-woman bureaucracy. Originally a homeless orphan taken in by the [[AcademyOfEvil School of Gulls]], Eudokia survived their deadly initiation and took advantage of her subsequent access to the school's ledgers to orchestrate the deaths of every single teacher and student in attendance. Later joining the Calamities, Eudokia's efficiency allows Black to rule Callow uncontested for years, unearthing numerous rebel plots and nascent heroes through their Eyes of the Empire while cowing the Dark Guilds into obedience. Scribe also uses her ability to make corpse-puppets to craft the myth of [[TheDreaded Assassin]], whose legendary and morbidly hilarious killings would allow it to serve as the unseen yet ever-feared fifth official Calamity, drawing attention away from her as Amadeus' unassuming secretary. Hypercompetent and fanatically loyal to the one man she deems worthy of making use of her talents, Eudokia's skills at espionage are unrivalled by any in Calernia.

* [[CardCarryingVillain Kairos Theodosian]][[note]]The Tyrant of Helike[[/note]] learned at the age of twelve that he would die within thirteen years, and decided not to spend that time in mediocre obscurity. Making his debut in the story by assassinating representatives from the other Free Cities, the Tyrant starts a civil war that draws in Hanno the White Knight, and upon winning has [[PuppetKing Anaxares elected Hierarch]]. Kairos, acting as the unofficial leader of the united League, makes preparations to join the growing continent-wide war, professing "[[BlatantLies eternal friendship]]" to all sides and [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder running a massive gambit of lies, alliances, and betrayals]] with every faction present at the Prince's Graveyard. Despite being cursed by Tariq to speak only the truth lest Mercy smite him, Kairos orchestrates a trial for Hanno's "crimes" against the Free Cities that results in Anaxares entering into a deadlock with the Seraphim, and invokes his curse by prematurely declaring victory to prevent Mercy from interfering in the crippling of the other Choir. With unrepentantly insane plans masking his competence, Kairos is a throwback to the [[LargeHam over-the-top villains of old]], dying proudly declaring that he has slain the Age of Wonders as he's greeted with applause from the Gods Below.

* Eudokia[[note]]Scribe[[/note]]

* Sargon Isaru[[note]]Herald of the Deeps[[/note]]