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1A list of characters for ''Literature/MemorySorrowAndThorn'' and ''Literature/TheLastKingOfOstenArd'', subdivided by faction. There may be unmarked '''spoilers''' for readers who haven't finished ''either of the two series''.
2----
3
4[[foldercontrol]]
5
6[[folder: Erkynlanders]]
7
8!'''[[spoiler:King]] Seoman (Simon) Snowlock'''
9
10A kitchen scullion in the Hayholt under the watchful gaze of Rachel the Dragon, Simon comes under the tutelage of Doctor Morgenes, who seems to plan great things for him, only to have his idyllic life shattered by the coming of evil to the castle in the form of the priest Pryrates. His subsequent journey leads him headlong into the conflict surrounding the Three Swords.
11
12[[spoiler:He finishes out the trilogy being crowned king, and this is still his role thirty-odd years later in ''The Witchwood Crown''.]]
13
14* TheAce: Though his education is cut short by his mentor's death, he's quite intelligent, able to calmly judge conditions even in the heat of battle and innovate. He's also noted, by the end of the trilogy, to be quite tall and strong, even beautiful (especially after getting LockedIntoStrangeness). On top of that, he's learned to be comfortable with a variety of cultures and situations, even the alien Sithi and their magic, which he understands well enough to help defeat the BigBad. All of this leaves him [[SeenItAll with enough knowledge and understanding]] that [[spoiler:he realizes independently that he's the descendant of [[IdenticalGrandson Saint Eahlstan, former king]], and the revelation leaves him solemn, rather than shocked]]. That's quite TheHerosJourney.
15* BerserkerTears: After [[spoiler:Amerasu's death]], Simon goes into a berserker rage against Ingen Jegger, unknowingly crying the whole time.
16* ConvenientlyAnOrphan: His mother died giving birth to him. His father is unknown. Morgenes is the only one who knows the secret of his heritage.
17* CrucifiedHeroShot: After he confronts Inch, the latter binds him to his Wheel, arms and legs spread. Its constant rotation leaves him first posed like Jesus, then inverted, like the Christ-figure of the Erkynlander religion.
18* DeclarationOfProtection: Frustrated by Miriamele's refusal to reciprocate his affections, Simon instead declares that he will be her knight-protector, and abandons his duties to Josua in order to accompany her on her journey back to the Hayholt.
19* DistractedByTheSexy: Be it the "insolent sway" of Hepzibah’s hips or Aditu’s inclination to wear almost nothing - Simon’s anyway fickly attention span is easily disrupted by the female and beautiful.
20* FieryRedhead: Simon fits the hot-headed image, but his hair is also a clue to his parentage.
21* [[spoiler:TheGoodKing: In ''The Witchwood Crown'', he's beloved by his people and as nice and modest as royalty can be.]]
22* TheHerosJourney: A deliberate and methodical use of this by Williams; it can be seen throughout the story.
23* HeroicBSOD: After [[spoiler:Amerasu's death]] in Jao-é-Tinukai'i, Simon first goes into a berserker rage and then falls into a stupor, fueled partly by grief and partly by shame at his savage behavior in front of the Sithi.
24* HitchhikerHeroes: Simon starts out alone, penniless, and starving in his journey across Osten Ard, but on the way acquires a host of friends and allies, some by chance and some by design.
25* IdenticalGrandson: At the end of the trilogy, he comes face to face with [[spoiler:a statue of Saint Eahlstan, and realizes he might as well be looking into a mirror]].
26* LittleHeroBigWar: While the war comes into major focus at times, Simon's role in it and around it is given the most attention; he manages to miss all but one of the major battles.
27* LivingLegend: By the end of the trilogy, thanks to having been the hero of multiple impossible stories in the space of a few short years. He faced a dragon, befriended the Sithi, fell in love with a princess, won a battle, defeated a demon, saved the kingdom, and turned out to be the lost descendant of a sainted king. Isgrimnur notes that, given the rest of Simon's story, he would've made the last bit up even if it weren't true, just because it would fit the rest and help secure Simon on the throne.
28* LockedIntoStrangeness: A lock of his hair is permanently turned white due to being splashed by a dragon's blood; it comes to be symbolic of his journey into otherworldliness. Jiriki tells him, "You have been marked, for good or ill."
29* MosesInTheBulrushes: [[spoiler:He is revealed to be the direct descendant of Saint Eahlstan Fiskerne, and therefore the rightful heir to the throne.]]
30* NotSoDifferentRemark: While fighting the battle at the Stone, Simon realizes that his opponent is ''terrified'', that his opponent is alone on the field of battle against an armored foe that's more than six feet tall. This is when Simon starts to see himself as a man and not a boy.
31** This is how Simon beats the BigBad. [[spoiler:He realizes that Ineluki is what remains of a man who loved his people, who saw them suffering and dying, and wanted nothing more than to save them, just like Simon. That's what makes Simon realize ''he can't hate Ineluki'', and instead forgives him, thus freeing him from Thorn's siren song.]]
32* OrphansPlotTrinket: The ring given to him by Morgenes ends up being proof of his ancestry.
33* SandInMyEyes: Whenever Miriamele is around and emotions get too hard to handle.
34* RageAgainstTheHeavens: He suffers a crisis of faith after seeing his friends die on the quest for Thorn, and cries out against God in his anguish. His traveling companions are shocked.
35* TookALevelInBadass: He begins the series as a kitchen scullion, and becomes first a capable soldier, then a leader among the forces of good, and finally [[spoiler:the king of Erkynland]]. Atypical of the traditional badass, his strength is reflected more in his mind and spirit than in his body (though he has that, too).
36* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: He's on the receiving end of this from Jeremias, though much of the speech from Jeremias is a reflection instead of the abuse he received from Inch.
37
38!'''[[spoiler:Queen]] Miriamele'''
39
40King Elias's daughter, she chafes under her father's heavy handed yet distant manner and secretly ventures out of the castle in the guise of a serving boy. When her father tries to marry her off to Earl Fengbald, she flees with her handmaiden Leleth, and is eventually rescued by Simon and Binabik. Simon falls in love with her but her self-doubts and rebellious nature keep them apart for most of the story.
41
42[[spoiler: After the war she marries Simon and together they rule Osten Ard. They still do when thirty years later in ''Literature/TheLastKingOfOstenArd'', when a new threat arises in the north.]]
43
44* ActionGirl: She fights quite capably with the bow, first seen against Ingen Jegger's hunting dogs. While traveling to Erkynland with Simon, she hunts to supplement their supplies, and kills a Norn in the ruins of Asu'a.
45* LoveInterest: Her relationship with Simon is first foreshadowed when he sees her silhouetted in a window at the Hayholt.
46* MyGirlIsNotASlut: Simon is quite upset when he finds out about her [[spoiler: sexual encounter with Aspitis]], despite the fact that she was coerced. She doesn't help, either, throwing it in his face as a way to keep them apart.
47* RebelliousPrincess: Ever since her mother died, her father Elias has been distant from her, keeping her at arms' length and treating her more like property than a person. Unable to find acceptance from him, she becomes increasingly independent, sneaking around the castle in disguise and learning to shoot.
48* RunawayFiancee: When she learns that her father has arranged her marriage to Earl Fengbald, a despicable and brutal man, she flees the Hayholt with her handmaiden, Leleth. The pair are rescued from a huntsman by Simon and Binabik.
49* SamusIsAGirl: She initially introduces herself as "Malachias," a Hayholt servant, and Simon doesn't figure it out for quite some time.
50* SelfMadeOrphan: [[spoiler:She's the one who delivers the killing blow to Elias, defeating the Storm King in the process.]]
51* SweetPollyOliver / [[KingIncognito Princess Incognito]]: She goes undercover as a common boy named Malachias.
52
53!'''King Elias'''
54
55Inheritor of the throne of Erkynland after Prester John's death, Elias distinguishes himself with his violent temper and his love of carousing. The tale takes a blacker turn as his reliance on the dark priest Pryrates grows deeper, until he is coerced into making a bargain with the Storm King. Once he takes possession of the evil blade Sorrow, he begins a descent into madness and damnation.
56
57* AbusiveParents: As his sanity erodes more and more, so too does his concern for Miriamele's safety.
58* AlasPoorVillain: [[invoked]] Miriamele's primary motivation in the fourth book is to redeem her father, precisely because she believes he's doing evil not out of wickedness but rather grief. She's right.
59* CainAndAbel: He and Josua bicker endlessly because Elias blames Josua for his wife's death. When the Storm King demands a blood sacrifice to seal their pact, Pryrates persuades Elias to use Josua.
60* TheCaligula: His own grief combined with the magical influences of the Storm King, Pryrates, and Sorrow, fuel Elias's descent into madness. His ensuing insanity results in his people suffering more and more under his rule, and his kingdom's power crumbling.
61* DealWithTheDevil: At Pryrates' urging, Elias bargains with the Storm King for possession of Sorrow.
62* DyingAsYourself: He comes to his senses at the very last second, just before [[spoiler:Miriamele kills him]].
63* {{Necromantic}}: Played for tragedy; his descent into madness begins with his love for his dead wife and his hope to be reunited with her spirit.
64* ParentalFavoritism: It was no secret that Elias was Prester John's favored child. [[spoiler:Later on it's revealed that Elias was his only child, Josua being Camaris's son.]]
65* UnwittingPawn: Pryrates is the driving force behind Elias' madness, as he tricks the king into thinking that he's helping him achieve {{Immortality}}, when in fact he's [[spoiler:getting him [[DemonicPossession possessed by the Storm King]].]]
66* VillainousFriendship: Unlike the other members of his inner circle who just seem to stay by his side for power, he and Earl Guthwulf have a genuine friendship based on trust and care for each other.
67* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: He's willing to bring the Storm King back and destroy all mortals because he can't be reunited with his lost wife.
68
69!'''Prince Josua "Lackhand"'''
70
71Elias' younger brother, called "Lackhand" for the loss of his right hand in a skirmish with Thrithings men that also claimed the life of Elias' wife. Known more for his love of lore than of fighting, he is secretly imprisoned by Pryrates for use in an evil ritual, but escapes with the aid of Simon and Doctor Morgenes. He is the tacit leader of the forces opposed to Elias' rule and reluctantly leads them in their struggle.
72
73[[spoiler: At the end of the Storm King War he fakes his own death and joins the League of the Scroll. In the timeline of ''Literature/TheLastKingOfOstenArd'' he's been missing for about twenty-six years with Pasevalles claiming that he murdered him.]]
74
75* AbdicateTheThrone: In effect [[spoiler: by upholding the common belief that he died in Green Angel Tower.]]
76* AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs: Due to his bother Elias calling onto otherworldy forces Josua finally loses his stronghold Naglimund. Him and a crowd of few can flee while the 'monsters' kill everyone else inside, earning Josua the mocking nickname "Prince of Rubble" by one of the Norns.
77* AloneInACrowd: Explicitly says he feels like this.
78--> Josua: "When I see the world as it has been presented to me, I feel only a deep loneliness. (...) One can be lonely in the highest and best of company."
79* BestFriend: Sir Deornoth to him. [[spoiler: The knight’s death puts Josua into ExcessiveMourning and he takes a long while for MovingBeyondBereavement.]]
80* BondOneLiner: Has one after - against all odds - killing Utvart of the Thrithing-men, who kept mocking Josua throughout the fight by calling him a 'small man' that talks too much.
81--> Josua: "Tall man, it is ''you'' who talks too much."
82* CainAndAbel: He plays TheWisePrince to his brother Elias' HotBlooded nature, and pays for it by getting picked for a blood sacrifice to the Storm King.
83* TheChainsOfCommanding: He hates the burden of leadership and would much rather be studying old books.
84* ChekhovMIA: [[spoiler:In ''Literature/TheLastKingOfOstenArd'' he has been missing for more than 20 years but there is a lot of talk about him and a hunt after him - and the story is not yet over.]]
85* DeadAllAlong: If Pasevalles is telling the truth in ''Literature/TheLastKingOfOstenArd'' [[spoiler:he killed Josua 26 years ago.]]
86* DuelToTheDeath: He is forced by Fikolmij to a duel with the Thrithings-man Utvart for 'stealing' Vorzheva, Utvart’s unwilling intended. First blood is not an option.
87* FakingTheDead: [[spoiler:He's seemingly killed by Elias in the final book, and decides to keep the illusion going afterwards so he can be free to join the League of the Scroll.]]
88* GloomyGray: A gloomy man dressed habitually in gray.
89* HandicappedBadass: Having only one hand does not stop him from riding into battle with his army or from fighting and killing a couple of Norn-warriors when they attack Naglimund. He even beat and killed the Thrithing-man Utvart in a sword-fight, though Josua was smaller, older, starved and severely beaten up the day before; that said, Josua almost follows Utvart into death thanks to the injuries he receives during their duel.
90* HasAType: Might be a coincidence but both Vorzheva and Hylissa have raven-black hair and pale skin.
91* HeroicSelfDeprecation: Josua excels in this sport. Deornoth's main talent is snapping him out of it.
92* LetsJustBeFriends: He "friend-zones" [[spoiler:Lady Faiera]]. She's not happy about it.
93* LikeFatherLikeSon: It turns out Josua is a lot like his father [[spoiler: Camaris, including his brooding and his unwillingness to rule or to fight or argue. This resemblance goes as far as both men falling in love with another man's wife - Camaris with his queen, Josua with his brother's wife - only that Josua never got intimate with Hylissa.]]
94* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler:Turns out he isn't King Prester John's son; he's Camaris'.]]
95* MeaningfulAppearance: Josua’s appearance and demeanor are constantly compared to that of saints, marble statues or ancient philosophers. He also looks nothing like Prestor John.
96* ModestRoyalty: He never dresses in the pomp fitting his station and indeed has to be cajoled into even wearing his crown.
97* NamedAfterTheInjury: He is is called 'Lackhand' for his missing right hand even to his face, though does not seem to mind.
98* NamedWeapons: His slim sword is named 'Naidel'.
99* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: When his small party of survivors just barely manages to escape the doom of Naglimund, he beholds the burning stronghold from a hill, raising a hand and exclaiming that he will take the crown from his brother Elias - though against all false allegations he was never interested in power and later only understands it as a means to end the threat posed by Elias'.
100--> Josua: "Now you are king no longer! I will take the crown from you. I will take it, I swear!"
101* PostVictoryCollapse: After disposing of Utvart. Hell, just give the man some rest!
102* ReluctantWarrior: While he's a capable fighter, he shows a dislike for killing and only enters combat as a last resort.
103* SupportingLeader: He's aware that his fight with his brother, Elias, is merely a footnote to the larger battle against the Storm King, but he willingly leads his army in siege of the Hayholt in hopes of providing a crucial distraction.
104* SurvivorGuilt: He lost his hand trying to save his brother's wife Hylissa but would have preferred to have given his life.
105* TheWisePrince: He'd far rather be studying than leading, and is among the most learned of all the noblemen in the story. In the end, [[spoiler:he gives up his crown and joins the League of the Scroll]].
106* TooUnhappyToBeHungry: Not a good eater in general. Even more so when his mind is occupied - like most times. Very much to the worry and annoyance of Vorzheva.
107* WarriorPrince: Josua insists to join his men in battle and does so frequently, often enough bringing in TheCavalry for the rescue.
108* WatchingTroyBurn: From the mountain slope above the castle, he takes one last glance at Naglimund.
109
110!'''King Prester John'''
111
112John came to the Hayholt as a wayward islander, but skyrocketed to fame when he emerged victorious from the catacombs beneath it, having slain the great dragon that claimed the life of the former king, Eahlstan Fiskerne. He went on to become the king of Erkynland and the foremost mortal warrior in Osten Ard, reveling in battle as he wielded the fearsome blade Bright-Nail. His only equal was the Nabbanai knight Camaris. At the opening of the story, his passing hands the throne to his son, Elias.
113
114* AFatherToHisMen: John towards all and everyone of his subjects, yet not so much towards his sons.
115* BadassNormal: A legendary king who slew a ''dragon'', despite possessing no magical powers. [[spoiler: Turns out he didn't. It was dead already]].
116* BloodKnight: To a certain extent.
117* {{Cuckold}}: [[spoiler:By Ebekah with Sir Camaris’, leading to Josua being NotActuallyHisChild.]]
118* FakeUltimateHero: [[spoiler:He was not actually the one who slew the dragon Shurakai.]]
119* LivingLegend: He carefully cultivated the stories around himself. The fact that he lived to ninety helped leave most of his story as... stories.
120* MaintainTheLie: [[spoiler: Turns out it wasn't him who slew the dragon his legend is built on.]]
121* MyGreatestFailure: Enforced by the spirits of the Sithi at Hayholt, he never got over [[spoiler:the fact that Eahlstan killed the dragon and he's built his kingdom on a lie]]. It drove him to great accomplishments, but also to the persecution of the Sithi and a deep-seated insecurity and shame.
122* ParentalNeglect: Despite John loving his subjects and his kingdom of Osten Ard very much he was not really loving towards his sons. He was not bad, no. He just didn't care about them very much.
123* PublicDomainCharacter: Based on the medieval legend of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prester_John Prester John]].
124* ShroudedInMyth: [[spoiler: Falsely, as it turns out]].
125
126!'''Towser'''
127
128King Prester John's jester, and privy to his deepest secrets, Towser maintains a presence in Josua's party for a long time.
129
130* TheAlcoholic: Drunk all the time, by the end, thanks to his grief over John's passing.
131* BigSecret: Privy to some rather delicate details of King John’s court, including Camaris’ DarkSecret.
132* CourtJester: His role at court.
133* TheDeadGuyDidIt: [[spoiler:He steal Camaris’ horn "Cellian" the night before he dies.]]
134* GuiltRiddenAccomplice: He is so terrified of his friends’ reaction to him knowing of Camaris’ secret all along, that he steals the horn "Cellian" [[spoiler:in order to keep Camaris from coming back from his HeroicBSOD. Even his death the following night probably was due to his shock and fear.]]
135* KeepingSecretsSucks: He kept Camaris’ secret for forty years, but suffers from the discord created by it and sometimes slips cryptic hints as if he was hoping someone would suddenly discover the truth from them.
136* PassedInTheirSleep: [[spoiler:He dies from old age in his sleep.]]
137* SecretKeeper: Knows both John and Camaris' secrets, and faithfully keeps them both into death.
138
139!'''Doctor Morgenes'''
140
141One of the founding members of the League of the Scroll along with Eahlstan Fiskerne, Morgenes devoted his life to the study of the Art and the history of Osten Ard, particularly the myths surrounding Prester John and the human conquest of the Hayholt. He also preserves in secret the legacy of Eahlstan's family. He takes Simon into his tutelage, but is unexpectedly spurred to action by the scullion's discovery of Pryrates' plotting. He sacrifices himself to allow Josua and Simon to escape the castle.
142
143* CoolOldGuy: Simon admires and looks up to him. Also, just because he's probably the smartest person in the Hayholt doesn't mean he doesn't enjoy a good ale.
144* LetsGetDangerous: In his confrontation with Pryrates.
145* MentorOccupationalHazard: [[spoiler:After serving as a good mentor and friend to Simon, he dies protecting him when Pryrates leads a group of of soldiers to his workshop to recapture Prince Josua.]]
146* MysteriousPast: It's implied that he is very well-traveled. [[spoiler: Unfortunately he never gets the chance to elaborate on any of his adventures as he dies very early in the story.]]
147* ObiWanMoment: Saves Simon from [[spoiler: Pryrates]], but [[spoiler: is killed in doing so]].
148* YouShallNotPass: He [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifices his life]] holding back Pryrates to allow Simon to make an escape from the Hayholt.
149* YouAreNotReady: When Simon pesters him about "magic", or "the Art" as Morgenes refers to it, Morgenes tells him he'd no sooner teach Simon of it now than he would hand a torch to a baby sitting in a pile of straw. [[spoiler: His showdown with Pryrates reveals just how dangerous magic can be.]]
150
151!'''Rachel "The Dragon"'''
152
153Mistress of the Hayholt's servants, Rachel rules the oft-wayward seamstresses, scullions, maids, and other staff members with an iron fist. When the Hayholt descends into madness, she remains, but is ultimately forced into hiding by an unexpected confrontation with Pryrates. Her Aedonite faith and charity serve her well in the trials that ensue.
154
155* ApronMatron: Described as such.
156* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: She is ''devastated'' when she thinks Simon dies and goes on a mission of revenge. When Simon returns, they're overjoyed to find each other alive and weep TearsOfJoy.
157* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: She genuinely cares about Simon, despite her harsh treatment of him. She also gets multiple PetTheDog moments despite her abrasive attitude in general. Two notable ones are helping Jeremias escape Inch, and trying to aid Guthwulf after he's rendered blind and insane.
158* MamaBear: Seeks revenge against Pryrates, who she believes to be responsible for killing Simon.
159* ParentalSubstitute: To Simon, whom she loves as if he were her own son.
160* TeamMom: To all of the servants in the castle.
161
162!'''Sir Deornoth'''
163
164Josua's [[IronicNickname right hand man]], a knight in his late 20ties. He is deeply devoted to his prince, but secretly he also wishes that his lord would be a little bit firmer, and less worried and haunted.
165
166* AbusiveParents: His father was a hard, cruel man.
167* AmbiguouslyGay: He is nearly thirty and unmarried, he never expresses any interest for women and most of his thinking is occupied with Prince Josua.
168* ChekhovsGunman: Being known as the "Prince's Right Hand" ends up playing a part in the prophecy [[spoiler:that restores Camaris' memory]].
169* ImpliedLoveInterest: Bordering HoYay. Some of the bodily reactions of Deornoth to things Josua does or says read a bit like those of Simon and Miriamele - who are in fact in love with each other...
170--> "There was a sudden power in the prince’s voice that sent a thrill up Deornoth’s back."
171* IronicNickname: The Prince's Right Hand. Josua doesn't have a right hand.
172* KilledOffscreen: His death while fighting at the Stone of Farewell isn't shown onscreen. Instead, his body is found afterwards.
173* MauveShirt: He gets significant characterization before his death.
174* MutualKill: He and a Thrithings mercenary leader mortally wound each other while fighting at the Stone of Farewell.
175* UndyingLoyalty: He's not just loyal to Josua for giving him his rank, he's deeply devoted to him. In fact many of his POV thoughts read like PlatonicDeclarationOfLove towards Josua.
176* UseYourHead: Fighting a Norn in the forest of Aldheorte - oh, the headache!
177* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: Though he's a capable fighter, his value to the prince is his ability to consistently pull the man out of a funk and remind him that he's a good man who serves his people well.
178
179!'''Earl Guthwulf'''
180
181Marshal of Elias' armies at the opening of the story, Guthwulf leads the assault on Naglimund only to be brushed aside by Elias' decision to consummate his bargain with the Norn Queen. He grows increasingly concerned by Elias' erratic behavior, but is driven nearly mad by contact with the sword Sorrow. Subsequently blinded in a confrontation with Pryrates, he eventually finds his way to the tunnels beneath the castle.
182
183* TheBrute: He is called "The Monster of Utanyeat" - a BloodKnight, who is despite his age of around 40 years, still capable to break the back of a man with a single stroke from his broadsword.
184* DefectorFromDecadence: Becomes more and more concerned with the darkness in Elias and his court. Unfortunately, touching Sorrow breaks him before he can make a HeelFaceTurn.
185* EvenEvilHasStandards: While he may serve Elias faithfully at first, he grows more and more disturbed by his king's increasingly insane actions, Pryrates's rise in power, and the spread of Norn influence.
186* GoMadFromTheRevelation: He really shouldn't have taken Elias up on the latter's offer to learn Sorrow's secret.
187* HeroicSacrifice: He knew Pyrates was evil, and jumped at the opportunity to try and help Rachel kill him (though he didn't know about it beforehand). The result was that he was blinded and driven mad.
188* {{Jerkass}}: Later becoming a JerkassWoobie.
189* OnlySaneMan: Definitely counts as one in Elias court. Kind of a JerkJock, but not really actively evil.
190* RedemptionEqualsAffliction: Try to kill an evil wizard, become a pitiable cripple and spend the end of your life as a madman wandering the haunted halls of an EldritchLocation.
191* ScrewThisImOutOfHere: He eventually plans on deserting Elias, but being rendered blind while trying to help Rachel kill Pryrates put an end to that plan.
192* VillainousFriendship: He truly cares about Elias as a friend and grows increasingly concerned about his descent into madness and dependence on Pryrates.
193
194!'''Earl Fengbald'''
195
196Marshal of King Elias' mortal armies after Guthwulf's defection, Fengbald is known for his brutality and his taste for subservient women. Miriamele flees the Hayholt in large part because of Elias' promise of her hand in marriage to this man. He leads the assault on the Stone of Farewell.
197
198* ArrangedMarriage: Elias tries to marry him to Miriamele; she runs away instead.
199* BadBoss: He is brutal to anyone who fails him and mistreats his servants as well.
200* DirtyCoward: He is a sadistic killer, but only when he has the advantage. When he finds himself having to FaceDeathWithDignity, he's revealed as pathetic.
201* EvenEvilHasStandards: After trying to get information from a child, one of Fengbald's men asks if he wants the kid dead, seemingly for no reason other than ForTheEvulz. Fengbald is insulted, asking if the man thinks he's a demon.
202* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Those villagers he strikes a deal with at the Stone of Farewell? They're the people whose homes he burned earlier. They have good reason not to trust him.
203* JerkAss: His EstablishingCharacterMoment is the off-screen massacre of a town complaining about taxes.
204* KarmicDeath: The relatives of some of the people he murdered lure him into a trap and kill him via HeroicSacrifice.
205* KickTheDog: His response to a group of citizens petitioning the King for redress is to burn them out.
206* MercurysWings: His Falcon-winged helmet.
207* SmugSnake: Yes, he's a bastard, but all he has going for him is his title. Beyond that, no one really cares about him and his death is really just a side story in a war that is itself nothing more than a distraction.
208* TheStarscream: He believes that he can parlay his marriage to Miriamele into usurping the throne. He never gets the chance.
209
210!'''Jeremias'''
211
212A boyhood friend of Simon's from the Hayholt, he was a former chandler's apprentice until Inch took him as his own student. With Rachel's help, he manages to escape the Hayholt and eventually joins Josua's side in the war.
213
214[[spoiler:Later serves as King Simon's Lord Chamberlain.]]
215
216* AscendedExtra: He starts off as a very minor character who appears briefly in the first two books. In the third book, he's still not a main character but he gets a much more prominent role.
217* BigBrotherInstinct: Has this towards [[CreepyChild Leleth]], and he becomes one of the few people besides Gelöe that she shows visible attention to.
218* ChildhoodFriends: He was Simon's best friend at the Hayholt. They eventually reunite in the third book and quickly resume their friendship.
219* FormerlyFat: He used to be chubby, but he loses a lot of weight after working in the forge.
220* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: Inch is implied to have raped Jeremias, leaving him with some serious PTSD.
221* TheSquire: He volunteers to become this to Simon following Simon's knighthood. Though Simon leaves with Miriamele, leaving Jeremias behind before he can do any official squire duties.
222
223!'''Inch'''
224
225The former assistant of Doctor Morgenes until he was replaced by Simon, something he did not take well. A simple-minded giant of a man with a penchant for cruelty, he betrayed Morgenes to his death by Pryrates and became the new foundry-master of the Hayholt.
226
227* BadBoss: As foundry-master, he beats and abuses his men, working them until they're crippled, mad or dead. These ones are lucky compared to the ones he hands over to Pryrates for his experiments.
228* DumbMuscle: Inch is described as a huge, strong man, but thinking is not his strong suit.
229* HoistByHisOwnPetard: The giant wheel in his foundry and which he was using in an attempt to torture Simon to death, is what ends up killing him. He gets caught on it and is literally ground into chunks in the machinery.
230* InsistentTerminology: He demands to be called "Doctor" Inch.
231* MistreatmentInducedBetrayal: Doctor Morgenes might have lived longer had he not fired Inch.
232* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: Jeremias drops hints that Inch raped him.
233* TheResenter: Towards Simon in particular for taking his job but Pryrates notes that Inch has managed to get rid of everyone smarter and better looking than him.
234
235!'''Eahlstan Fiskerne'''
236
237Founder of the League of the Scroll and the last in the line of the kings of Erkynland before Prester John took up the throne. "Saint" Eahlstan, as he was known, was a famously beloved leader who saw portents of the return of the Storm King and did everything in his power to prepare Osten Ard for this eventuality. He died fighting a dragon beneath the Hayholt.
238
239* FlingALightIntoTheFuture: By way of founding the League of the Scroll.
240* GeniusBruiser: Founded the League of the Scroll, was a member, fought a dragon.
241* TheGreatestStoryNeverTold: [[spoiler: He killed the red dragon Shurakai]] [[MutualKill but died in the process]]. He's the real hero to Prester John's FakeUltimateHero.
242* PosthumousCharacter: Really posthumous. He died a century before the story even began.
243
244!'''Father Strangyeard'''
245Aedonite brother and archivist at Naglimund, that gets with Binabik, Jarnauga and Geloë into discovering the secret of the three swords. Receives Jarnauga’s scrollbearer necklace before the former's sacrifice and joins the League of the Scroll.
246
247* AbsentMindedProfessor: Not a professor, but really absent-minded at times.
248* AttentionDeficitOohShiny: Not with shiny things but with all the knowledge swimming through his head and distracting him.
249* {{Foreshadowing}}: He learns of Camaris’ AwfulTruth and explicitly tells the others not to pry into the knight’s secret anymore because it will hurt the man … and others [[spoiler: i.e. Josua, who is unknowingly Camaris’ son.]]
250--> "I know for certain that to force anything more from that man would be cruel beyond belief, not just to him."
251* BirdsOfAFeather: Him and Tiamak. Both are shy, self-doubting and quiet - but actually very smart and team up perfectly.
252* CantHoldHisLiquor: Got drunk quickly.
253* ConfessInConfidence: Takes Camaris’ confession. The [[TheReveal content]] is a huge shock to him.
254* EndearinglyDorky: Shy, geeky and kind.
255* FriendshipMoment: He becomes close friends with Jarnauga [[spoiler:and is heartbroken when he has to leave him behind to die in Naglimund.]]
256* FriendshipTrinket: The pendant of the League of the Scroll which Jarnauga gives to Strangyeard serves also as a reminder of their friendship.
257* NonActionGuy: Absolutely. And he knows it.
258* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: When in the final battle he marches up to Duke Isgrimnur who is in the thick of the fighting to warn him.
259* OutOfCharacterMoment: Getting drunk with Tiamak when the two of them decide that one of them must enter the tunnels beneath Asu'a with Camaris and the Sithi.
260* PlatonicKissing: As they have to part, Strangyeard kisses Jarnauga on the cheek.
261* TheQuietOne: Afraid to speak in front of others but slowly getting better at this.
262* SecretKeeper: {{Invoked}} by Binabic, who notes the Aedonite tradition of confession to allow Camaris some peace. Not only does it not really help Camaris, it just gives Strangyeard something to struggle with.
263* TheSmartGuy: One of them.
264* StandardRoyalCourt: As the archivist of Naglimund’s extensive library.
265
266!'''Sangfugol'''
267Harpist in the retinue of Prince Josua, based in Naglimund. A young man with a good sense of humor and fine fashion. [[spoiler:He survives the fall of the fortress, the flight to the Sesuad’ra, the war in Nabban and the siege of the Hayholt and comes into service at the court of King Simon and Queen Miriamele.]]
268
269* ActionSurvivor: Without being a fighter, he manages to get himself out alive in the end.
270* AmbiguouslyBi: The sequel book ''Witchwood Crown'' hints at this.
271* TheBard: Well, he is one, playing the harp and the lute. He sings and composes his own songs.
272* ButtMonkey: ''Averted''. You think as TheBard he'd fulfill this purpose? He doesn't. Sangfugol is a smart, kind guy, trying to not be TheLoad and apart from some little teasing especially by Duke Isgrimnur those around him actually like him and his music.
273* CrisisCatchAndCarry: On their several-days-long flight from the Norns, Sangfugol is struck by an arrow. He can't walk for a lengthly time, so the others carry him. NoOneGetsLeftBehind!
274* CowardlyLion: When forced to watch the unequal fight between Josua and Utvart, he helps Isorn and Deornoth in the attempt to save their Prince by attacking their captors.
275* TheDeadGuyDidIt: [[spoiler:Towser stole the horn "Cellian" - for reasons never found out - then he dies. Sangfugol finds it in their tent but does not know what it is. He figures out when everyone is searching for it and is so frightened to be punished for ''unbeknowingstly stealing'' the horn, that Simon has to pep-talk him into giving it back.]]
276* DisproportionateRetribution: ''Played With''. Prince Josua telling him that if he sang "Women from Nabban" one more time, he'd have Sangfugol’s head off.
277* GenreSavvy: Probably as a bard who sings to both commoners and kings you have to be this to survive and thrive.
278* TheLoad: ''Subverted''. He is neither a fighter nor among the group of thinkers that slowly unravel the secrets of the Three Swords. However, he is GenreSavvy enough to know his place, not be in the way and help in any way he can.
279* MrExposition: Serves as this both for Simon and the reader more than once, especially concerning Naglimund and Prince Josua, who - despite being one of the main characters - is not a POV-character.
280* NonActionGuy: Sangfugol is not a fighter and he knows it. Thus he is horrified when his ally’s search for an in-battle-stand-in for Prince Josua temporarily muses about ''him'' doing the job.
281* SleepDeprivation: Doesn't sleep for several nights because he is so disproportionately frightened of the possible consequences of being the one person who knows where [[spoiler:Camaris’ horn "Cellian" is. - Turns out he worried for nothing. Josua is a bit annoyed, that's it.]]
282* SophisticatedAsHell: Likes to dress in fancy, expensive fashion - a stark contrast to his down-dressing Prince.
283* StandardRoyalCourt: Good enough as a bard that he does not have to travel but has a fixed place at Prince Josua’s court at Naglimund, and later at Simon and Miriamele’s court at the Hayholt.
284* UndyingLoyalty: He carries Towser to the end, unwilling to leave the old man to suffer or die, putting up with his drunkenness and increasing age without complaint, because the man is like a father to him.
285
286!'''Prince Morgan'''
287
288The seventeen-year-old son of John Josua and Idela. [[spoiler:After his father's death]], he's officially the heir to the throne of Erkynland. However, he doesn't much want to play the role expected of him, and prefers adventures in taverns instead.
289
290* AlcoholInducedIdiocy: He even realizes that climbing Hjeldin’s Tower is probably not the best of ideas - he does it nonetheless.
291* TheAlcoholic: Very much so.
292* BreakTheHaughty: By the end of Book One, after [[spoiler:his mission to find the Sithi goes south and he witnesses his camp and Eolair getting attacked by brutal strangers]], Morgan has pretty much hit rock bottom where his self-confidence is concerned.
293* TheConfidant: Eventually, becomes Nezeru's.
294* DrowningMySorrows: Morgan's way of coping with life.
295* GoingColdTurkey: Involutarily when he gets lost in Aldheorte Forest.
296* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He's abrasive, haughty and arrogant towards most people, but his heart of gold comes out in his [[BigBrotherInstinct relationship]] with his little sister and later in his friendship with the young trolls.
297* OvershadowedByAwesome: Believes he can never live up to his grandparents, often remembering that his grandfather had already participated in a war and won a throne at his age.
298* RoyalBrat: In typical Williams fashion, this is a trope that gets deconstructed.
299* TookALevelInKindness: When he is forced to spend months in Aldheorte Forest, alone with a group of tiny, non-speaking Tinukeda'ya. After surviving this ordeal, the change in his personality can be seen in how he later deals with Nezeru.
300
301!'''Princess Lillia'''
302The seven-year-old daugther of John Josua and Idela, and younger sister of Morgan.
303
304* RoyalBrat: She knows what she wants and she gets it ... usually.
305
306!'''Prince John Josua'''
307
308[[spoiler: The only child of Simon and Miriamele, he was Idela's husband and the father of Morgan and Lillia. He took after Josua (the great-uncle he was named after) in that he much preferred scholarly exploits to his royal duties.]]
309
310* [[spoiler:PosthumousCharacter: He died of a fever seven years before the start of ''The Witchwood Crown''.]]
311
312!'''Princess Idela, the Widow'''
313The wife of late Prince John Josua and mother of Morgan and Lillia. She lives in the Hayholt though her love for her in-laws and her two children is little. [[spoiler: To keep her place at court - and perhaps strengthen her standing - she tries to ensnare Pasevalles - it proofs a fatal mistake.]]
314
315* [[spoiler:MakeItLookLikeAnAccident: Pasevalles kills her by making it look like she fell down a flight of stairs.]]
316* SacrificialLamb: [[spoiler:Pasevalles kills her after she accidentally comes upon proof of his treason.]]
317* KilledToUpholdTheMasquerade: She finds an incriminating letter to [[spoiler: Pasevalles. He kills her for it.]]
318
319
320!'''Brother Etan'''
321
322An Aedonite monk and scholar. Discovers a TomeOfEldritchLore.
323
324
325[[/folder]]
326
327[[folder: Rimmersmen]]
328
329!'''Duke Isgrimnur'''
330
331A close ally of Prester John, Isgrimnur takes up the leadership of the Rimmersmen in exile after the treacherous Skali betrays his countrymen to Elias. A skilled if elderly warrior, he joins forces with Josua and acts as a voice of reason when all else seems to be going to madness.
332
333* AsskickingLeadsToLeadership: '''Played With''' There's some light-hearted bickering between him and Josua that usually revolves around how Duke Isgrimnur is still able to bend the other over his knee and give him a spanking like the "little pup" he is (even though Josua is forty years old at this point).
334* TheBigGuy: Basically a wall of a man. Stout of tum, but strong as an ox, despite being seventy years old.
335* HappilyMarried: Is devoted to his wife Gutrun.
336* GallowsHumor: His contemplative WelcomeToHell to Baron Seriddan.
337--> "Ah, Baron, soon you'll find yourself down in the pit with the rest of us. I could have wished you better."
338* HonoraryUncle: He is being called 'uncle' by Elias, Josua and Miriamele, though they're not related by blood.
339* OutlivingOnesOffspring: [[spoiler:Unfortunately, Isgrimnur's eldest son, Isorn, does not survive the events of the original trilogy.]]
340* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Despite his blustering, he is understood as this by most around him - other nobles alike.
341* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Spends the story traveling the length and breadth of Osten Ard, serving his king and fighting his enemies personally.
342* SupportingLeader: He's the Duke of the Northland, and basically acts as TheBigGuy to Miri's FiveManBand.
343
344!'''Isorn'''
345
346Isgrimnur's son who spends much of his time acting as a message runner between the various groups allied with Josua.
347
348* EmergencyImpersonation: Disguises himself as Camaris when the latter goes into the tunnels beneath Asu'a.
349* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:He impersonates Camaris to boost the morale of their troops and to distract their enemies - and is lured into a trap together with others, that kills him.]]
350* MyGreatestFailure: Feels this way about losing Elvritshalla to Skali of Kaldskryke.
351* TheBigGuy: Very tall, [[spoiler:therefore perfect to impersonate Camaris once need arises.]]
352
353!'''Sludig'''
354
355One of Simon's traveling companions on his quest to Igjarjuk to retrieve Thorn, Sludig is a veteran soldier who teaches Simon swordsmanship and helps him overcome his adolescent angst.
356
357* AbusiveParents: Implied. He is really not fond of talking about his father.
358* DemotedToExtra: He's a major character in the second book but plays only a small role in the third; he [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this by complaining about being ignored.
359* DualWield: Prefers two axes; he's given the epithet "Sludig Two-Axes" in the {{Interquel}} novel ''The Heart of What Was Lost''. He explains to Simon that it's handy to have a backup when one gets stuck in a ribcage.
360* DudeWheresMyRespect: When they deliver Memory to the Stone, he doesn't get the same honors as the others. Justified, since he's Isgrimnur's man and it wouldn't be appropriate to receive honors from Josua, like Simon does.
361* TheEeyore: Deeply pessimistic and always complaining.
362* OldSoldier: His personality, though he isn't actually that old. He's just seen more than his fair share of action.
363* RealMenLoveJesus: He is seriously upset during Simon's RageAgainstTheHeavens.
364** Oddly though, he's still wary of bringing up the old Rimmersgard gods such as Udun One-Eye. When he's questioned about this, he says that just because he's an Aedonite doesn't mean that he thinks Udun isn't just as real as Usires Aedon, and he worries that the bawdy song about Udun that Grimmric sings at one point might draw his wrath.
365* TheResenter: A mild version of this, he's a bit jealous of Simon being knighted before him, when Simon is younger and much less of an experienced warrior than himself. Things work out for him though as he becomes part of the landed nobility by the time of the sequel novel ''The Witchwood Crown''.
366* AgeGapRomance: With his wife Lady Alva.
367
368!'''Jarnauga'''
369
370A founding member of the League of the Scroll, Jarnauga lives most of his life in perpetual vigil over Stormspike, the black northern mountain that is the home of the Norns. He emerges from this vigil in an attempt to warn Josua's forces about the looming threat of the Storm King, but loses his life in the battle for Naglimund.
371
372* BadassBookworm: Picks up a pair of axes when the time comes to fight in Naglimund.
373* HeroicSacrifice: In Naglimund; he stops to defend a doorway against attacking Norns so Josua and the rest can escape.
374* LetsGetDangerous: Again, picking up axes.
375* TheSmartGuy: One of the last surviving members of the League.
376* TheMentor: Acts in a small way as a mentor to Father Strangyeard and passes on his League pendant to the latter before his HeroicSacrifice.
377
378!'''Einskaldir'''
379
380A Rimmersman warrior and chieftain serving Duke Isgrimnur.
381
382* BadassNormal: Lacking any supernatural speed or strength, he manages to kill several Norn warriors.
383* BloodKnight: He's not a berserker per se, but is more than happy to kill anyone his Duke commands him to.
384-->"Fight and live, fight and die, God waits for all."
385-->"I have tasted [[TheFairFolk faerie]]-blood tonight. I would not mind more."
386* BornInTheWrongCentury: At one point Deornoth muses that maybe Einskaldir would have preferred the old pagan Rimmersgard religion, with its warrior's heaven, instead of the (by comparison) more peaceable Aedonite faith.
387* DrawAggro: He helps Josua's party flee from the Norns by drawing their attention and [[spoiler: is lethally wounded doing so.]]
388* HeroicSacrifice: He is mortally wounded while distracting the Norns so Josua's party can flee further into Aldheorte.
389* RealMenLoveJesus: For all his bloodthirstiness, he is surprisingly pious.
390
391!'''Jarnulf Godtru, the White Hand'''
392
393A former Norn slave who was trained by the sword-master Denabi sey-Xoxa - not because Denabi liked Jarnulf, but because he wanted to proof to himself that he was great enough a teacher that he could even teach a dog his skills. After fleeing Nakkiga, Jarnulf set out for revenge, killing Norns with Utuk'ku as his final goal. [[spoiler: His true name is Gilhedur and to get back into Nakkiga, he murdered a Queen's Huntsname named Jarnulf.]]
394
395* BloodyHandprint: '''Subverted''' He calls himself "the White Hand" and leaves a mark next to his victims by spraying blood on the snow around his hand, leaving a white print on a red surface.
396* DeadPersonImpersonation: [[spoiler: His true name is Gilhedur.]]
397* DisappearedDad: After losing his family in Nakkiga, he was 'adopted' by a wandering priest, whose disappearance started Jarnulfs revenge against the Norns.
398* FakinMacGuffin: For reasons yet unknown he owned a silver pendant that was a copy of the golden necklace the members of the League of the Scroll wore - and sent it to the Hayholt informing the other mortals about his plan to infiltrate the Norns.
399* HunterOfMonsters: He is on a private crusade against the Norns.
400* TheInfiltration: He joins the Queen's talon around Makho to find out their purpose.
401* MissionFromGod: He regards his self-imposed campaign against Utuk'ku as this.
402* RealMenLoveJesus: Finds his strength in his Aedonite faith.
403* WellIntentionedExtremist: He is on a killing spree and would gladly rid the world of every single Norn.
404
405
406[[/folder]]
407
408[[folder: Hernystiri]]
409
410!'''Cadrach'''
411
412A monk and scholar who became a junior member of the League of the Scroll; Cadrach's hunger for knowledge met its match when he unearthed a copy of ''Du Svardenvyrd'', the black tome of Nisses' lore that revealed the impending return of the Storm King. Upon reading the book, he fell into a black pit of despair that broke only when Pryrates discovered his secret and tortured the knowledge out of him. He falls in with Miriamel, who pries away at his veneer of self-loathing in the hopes of eventually reforming him.
413
414* AscendedExtra: He was originally a one-off character that Williams liked enough to bring back, and turned out to have a significant role in the backstory and main story.
415* BrokenAce: He was once the greatest of scholars, a good, kind, and wise man, groomed to be the Morgenes's successor as the leader of the League of the Scroll, but then he read ''Du Svardenvyrd''.
416* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: Wants to die, but can't kill himself because of a gaes laid on him by Pyrates.
417* ColdBloodedTorture: Experienced this at the hands of Pyrates, who was enraged to learn that Cadrach sold off the pages of ''Du Svardenvyrd'' one by one to pay for booze. Pyrates extracted every scrap of knowledge about the book he could before Cadrach managed to escape.
418* DespairEventHorizon: He made the mistake of reading ''Du Svardenvyrd''. He was strong enough not to go insane, but it still broke him.
419* DirtyCoward: Cadrach will always mysteriously vanish when it comes to a fight or dangerous situation. This quality is quite possibly the reason he has survived so far.
420* DrowningMySorrows: From first to last, he loves his drink. He only quits at the very end, out of devotion to Miriamel.
421* GoMadFromTheRevelation: The only person to have read the whole of ''Du Svardenvyrd'' not to do so, but it still transformed him from a powerful mage into a broken, drunken thief.
422* HeroicSacrifice: He sacrifices himself to [[spoiler: allow Miriamele to escape from the Storm King's CollapsingLair]] at the end of ''To Green Angel Tower''.
423* MoralityPet: Miriamele is his. She inspires him to finally give up drinking and, to save her life, he summons the strength to keep Green Angel Tower from collapsing long enough for her and Simon to escape its collapse.
424* NunTooHoly: Though an ordained monk, Cadrach is prone to various sinful behaviors, including greed, dishonesty, and gluttony.
425* RedemptionEqualsDeath: See HeroicSacrifice, above.
426
427!'''Princess Maegwin'''
428
429Daughter of King Lluth of Hernystir, Maegwin is forced to watch as Skali's forces conquer her people and kill her father and brother. She chafes at the demands of leadership, burns with unrequited love for Count Eolair, and is eventually driven to madness in her desperation to save her people.
430
431* AllLoveIsUnrequited: Spent years nurturing a hopeless crush on Eolair.
432* DespairEventHorizon: Crosses it when she leads her group of exiles back to Hernysadharc and instead of the gods raining vengeance upon Skali Sharp-Nose and his men like she thought would happen, Skali takes her and the exiles prisoner.
433* GoMadFromTheRevelation: She pretty much loses it after spending a freezing night alone on top of a mountain, walking the Dream Road the while.
434* HeroicSacrifice: After being almost killed, she ends up in a coma. When she realizes, on the Dream Road, how horribly she's screwed everything up, she gives her life force to Simon so he can survive Inch's WheelOfPain.
435* HopelessSuitor: To Eolair, driving her into despair.
436* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Takes a much more active role in leading her people after Hernystir is conquered by Skali, in sharp contrast to her father's young widow Inahwen, who is borderline useless.
437* {{Tsundere}}: Type B, she's mostly polite to everyone except Count Eolair, because she secretly harbors romantic feelings for him and doesn't know how to deal with them.
438
439!'''Count Eolair'''
440
441A noble of Hernystir driven into exile after its conquest, Eolair spends much of the story abroad, seeking out allies to aid his people in their time of need. He has feelings for Maegwin but believes that she holds him in contempt, which keeps them emotionally separated. When the Sithi liberate Hernystir, he joins Jiriki's force in their assault on Naglimund.
442
443* AllLoveIsUnrequited: Turns out Maegwin's crush wasn't quite so hopeless. He was very fond of her, and that fondness had been growing before she went insane and sent him away.
444* BittersweetEnding: He is now the ruler of a broken people, and Simon informing him about Maegwin's death wasn't entirely comforting, but...
445
446[[/folder]]
447
448[[folder: Nabbanai]]
449
450!'''Pryrates'''
451
452Nobody knows the origins of the black priest Pryrates, and he never reveals them. Introduced to the League of the Scroll around the same time as Cadrach, his love of dark knowledge had already begun to reveal itself. Displaying a visible disdain for such things as morality and restraint, he delved into the deepest secrets of the Art and of Unbeing and eventually made contact with the darkest being of all, the Storm King. He acts as the architect of all the evil that befalls the mortal lands of Osten Ard, gleefully sacrificing souls and even entire nations to feed his hunger for domination.
453
454* BaldOfEvil: No hair, no beard, no eyebrows, nothing - no explanation if he shaves them off or if this is for or due to some other reason.
455* BlackEyesOfEvil: Like a shark.
456* CardCarryingVillain: He takes a cackling delight in being evil for evil's sake at times.
457* DangerousForbiddenTechnique: He learns these right from the source -- Utuk'ku and Ineluki themselves. Specifically, the Words of Changing and the Words of Unmaking.
458* TheDragon: The heroes believe that he is Elias' henchman. They are wrong; Elias is Pryrates' pawn. It then appears that he will be this for the Storm King, but he ends up being more of a [[TheStarscream Starscream]], and the heroes are not the ones who kill him.
459* EstablishingCharacterMoment: He makes a brief appearance almost running over Simon with a carriage, and in his first real in-person scene he [[KickTheDog stomps a dog's skull in]], [[ForTheEvulz just because he can]].
460* EvilChancellor: He deliberately ingratiates himself with Elias in order to get promoted to "trusted advisor", intending all along to betray him.
461* EvilGloating: He gets most of a chapter dedicated to describing his EvilPlan in loving detail to a helpless audience. Then he tries it on the Storm King, preemptively, which [[TemptingFate doesn't go as well]].
462* EvilIsNotAToy: Yup, trying to backstab the ancient, angry undead sorcerer you just resurrected is a ''great'' idea.
463* EvilSorcerer: To a tee.
464* ForScience: His goal is knowledge. All knowledge, all secrets, no matter how dark or forbidden. He seeks everything that can be known.
465* FromNobodyToNightmare: He started off as a newly ordained priest that came from a poor island family, delved into forbidden knowledge, and ended up as an EvilSorcerer who nearly caused the end of the world.
466* KickTheDog: In his EstablishingCharacterMoment, he crushes a puppy to death beneath his boot, just to creep out Simon.
467* KarmicDeath: [[spoiler: His plan to betray the Storm King results in his annihilation by same.]]
468* MadeOfIron: Due to his magic, [[spoiler: he shrugs off getting knifed by Rachel the Dragon, and survives an arrow through the throat from Miriamele.]]
469* TheManBehindTheMan: The audience knows this, but for a long time the heroes don't realize that he's the one driving Elias, not vice versa.
470* MisanthropeSupreme: He cares nothing for people; they are instruments to him, to be discarded as easily as a pair of old shoes when they are no longer useful.
471* SinisterMinister: Although Pryrates is notionally an ordained Aedonite priest, he does absolutely nothing that resembles the worship of that religion, and is even excommunicated by Lector Ranessin in ''The Stone of Farewell'', not that it does any good.
472* SquishyWizard: Averted, it's shown that trying to get into a hand-to-hand fight with Pryrates is a very bad idea.
473* TheStarscream: He intended all along to betray his master. It doesn't work out well for him.
474* TheUnfettered: He states that he is "what a person who accepts no limits can become."
475* TortureTechnician: If his "laboratories" in Hjeldin's Tower are any indication.
476* VoluntaryShapeshifting: He uses the Words of Changing to adopt a variety of terrifying shapes.
477
478!'''Camaris'''
479
480Camaris was the greatest knight of the Benidrivine era, rivaled only by King Prester John. His presence on the battlefield was so immense that enemies would surrender rather than face him, not the least of which because he wielded the great blade Thorn which could mow men down like wheat before a scythe. Not long after the death of John's wife in childbirth, Camaris vanished and was presumed dead, only to be discovered twenty years later as a simpleminded servant in an inn in Kwanitupul. Once restored to his wits, he demonstrates bitter unhappiness and seems to have no will to live for himself, only fighting to save his beloved Osten Ard from destruction.
481
482* TheAtoner: Because he [[spoiler:slept with Prester John's wife, who was fifty years younger than the king, resulting in the birth of Prince Josua]].
483* BadassNormal: No superpowers or anything, but still exceedingly strong despite his age. An unstoppable fighter with Thorn in hand.
484* TheBigGuy: Even bigger than Isgrimnur, probably something like 7 feet tall.
485* TheChainsOfCommanding: Really, really dour. Basically, clinical depression.
486* CoolOldGuy: Becomes a mentor to Simon, teaching him the tenets of knighthood.
487* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: As a brainless servant, he still possesses enough skill to kick Aspitis's ass in a duel.
488* DarkSecret: The shame weighing him down is rooted [[spoiler:in him having been intimate with his best friend’s wife and queen, resulting in the birth of Josua. That Ebekah died giving birth only adds to the misery.]]
489* DeathSeeker: Following the death of Prester John's wife in childbirth. He gave away all his possessions and set out in a rowboat, disappearing in a storm.
490* DrivenToSuicide: Finding no other way to silence his guilt, he threw himself overboard into the bay of Firannos. [[spoiler:He survives but suffers from HeroicBSOD for the next 40 years until set free by prophecy and Josua.]]
491* HeroicBSOD: Whether the storm drove him witless or he did it himself is pretty much up to you.
492* HesBack: After coming out of his HeroicBSOD, he proceeds to sweep the countryside clean of Elias's armies, fighting as well as he had decades earlier.
493* KnightInShiningArmor: He's the archetypal Arthurian knight: horse, sword, arcane code of honor.
494* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler: He's Josua's real father.]]
495* MartialPacifist: Camaris hates fighting, but when he has to, he does it thoroughly.
496* ReligiousBruiser: Grimly [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed.]] [[spoiler: His guilt and self-loathing over his own transgressions provides enough negative energy to empower Ineluki through Thorn.]]
497* ReluctantWarrior: "Camaris conducts war like a lady's maid cleaning spiders. She'll put it off as long as she can, but once she starts, she doesn't stop until the job is completely done." "Who is the greater warrior? The one of slightly lesser skill who loves it, or the one of greater skill who abhors it?"
498* ShroudedInMyth: Ever since his disappearance. Arguably, after his ''second'' disappearance, too.
499
500!'''Duke Benigaris'''
501The Duke of Nabban, Benigaris assumed the title at the Battle of Bullback Hill, where he betrayed Josua's forces and personally murdered his father, Leobardis.
502
503* AloofBigBrother: He doesn't care much for his little brother, nor does he think much of him.
504* TheEvilPrince: personally murdered his own father, Leobardis, to gain his title.
505* MommasBoy: Initially he seems to be one, but as he begins losing the war against Josua and Camaris, he eventually cuts ties with her, [[spoiler:and doesn't even appear to feel bad when she commits suicide.]]
506* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: According to Aspitis, after he murdered his own father, Benigaris spent the night crying in remorse.
507* {{Patricide}}: Personally murdered his father to gain his title. It says something that feeling remorse for it is one of his only redeeming moments.
508* SuicideByCop: [[spoiler:After the war with Camaris and Josua arrives at his doorstep, and he realizes just how badly the world is screwed due to Elias's actions, he demands a DuelToTheDeath with Camaris for rule of Nabban. He knows he has very little chance of winning, but at least, in his mind, if anyone survives the end of the world, they'll remember him as the man who fought well against Camaris instead of as just a man who murdered his father for power.]]
509* VillainousBreakdown: As the war against him begins to go badly, he displays his instability by murdering an astronomer who gave him a bad prediction and cutting all ties with his mother.
510
511
512!'''Count Aspitis'''
513
514A Nabbanai nobleman who falls deep in the service of Pryrates, the devilishly handsome Aspitis briefly imprisons Princess Miriamele on his ship and coerces her into sleeping with him with the intent of forcing her into marriage.
515
516* AndNowYouMustMarryMe: After taking her virginity, his plan is to force Miriamele into marriage so he can seize the throne after Elias.
517* AristocratsAreEvil: A count and one of the most flat out evil characters in the series. He's in good company serving [[CardCarryingVillain Pryrates]].
518* BigBadWannabe: While he wants to be king after Elias by marrying Miriamele, the Storm King's forces endanger the entire world and are far more of a threat than he could ever hope to be.
519* FalseFriend: Benigaris thinks of him as a close friend. In reality, Aspitis detests him and even mocks him behind his back about Benigaris [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone crying the night he murdered his father.]]
520* FauxAffablyEvil: Even after he's been outed as a villain to Miriamele, he still speaks to her with a gentlemanly tone. Only now the content of what he says is frequently slimy, mocking and cruel.
521* HandsomeLech: He is considered good-looking and likes to chase girls - including Miriamele, wooing them mockingly and sometimes cruelly (see "Faux Affably Evil" above).
522* HumiliationConga: He's betrayed by the niskie he employs, his ship is attacked by kilpa, he's disfigured by Miriamele during her escape, and he's soundly beaten in a sword fight against a seemingly simple old man in front of his men.
523* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: Though it's not violent, his seduction of Miriamele is extremely coercive and not really a pleasant read. This is what finally drives Gan Itai, his Niskie singer, to not merely carry notes between Miriamele and Cadrach, but even to sing the kelpie ''up'', nearly destroying his ship and allowing the pair to escape.
524* SmugSnake: His aspirations are almost as large as his ego, and he doesn't realize just how small of a fish he is in the grand scheme of things when compared with the Storm King and his plans.
525* TheStarscream: He wants to force Miriamele into marriage, thereby becoming heir to the throne.
526
527
528!'''Baron Seriddan'''
529Lord of Metessa. Brother of Brindalles. Finds himself in the unlucky position of having his Duke’s and King’s enemy (Prince Josua) and army turn up on his doorstep. Instead of sticking with his unbeloved lord, Seriddan sides with Josua.
530* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: While other Nabbanai lords prefer to watch from a safe distance as their men fight, you’ll better expect Seriddan to be in the thick of it.
531* DidntSeeThatComing: [[spoiler:Camaris being alive... ok, no one did.]]
532* GondorCallsForAid: Seriddan and his troops are the Rohirrim coming in for the aid in this case.
533* HappyEndingOverride: [[spoiler:(As per the sequel series ''Literature/TheLastKingOfOstenArd'') For Seriddan’s family the final victory proofs to be a bitter one. Brindalles is killed, Seriddan succumbs to his wounds days later, and the rest of the Metessan house quickly falls into ruin.]]
534* INeedAFreakingDrink: Understandably after everything that happens the day Prince Josua shows up.
535* IsThisAJoke?: Seriddan takes the whole "big evil swords and Camaris returning from the grave" business so badly that he has this reaction several times.
536* KilledOffscreen: Sort of. [[spoiler:Brindalles, Seriddan’s brother, is killed by the Norns offscreen. Seriddan is fatally wounded in the battle and dies from his wounds days later - also offscreen.]]
537* OutGambitted: Seriddan confronts Josua in the midst of his court about his plans, trying to make Josua admit treason. He did not see coming what was about to hit him but owns up to it by fair play.
538* SiblingTeam: Him and Brindalles. As opposing in characters as Elias and Josua, these two Nabbanai men get along very well though. He's the WarriorPrince character contrasting his brother's WisePrince demeanor.
539* SupportingLeader: Secondary to Duke Isgrimnur, he leads the heroes’ armies into the final battle.
540
541
542!'''Brindalles'''
543Younger brother of Baron Seriddan of Metessa, father of Pasevalles. A well-read, studious and quiet person.
544* EmergencyImpersonation: [[spoiler:When Josua vanishes Brindalles comes in as a last minute stand in to make their enemies and troops believe that their Prince is still with them.]]
545* HeroicSacrifice: Brindalles is aware that he is not the best of fighters but when there is need for someone [[spoiler:looking remotely like Josua and able to wield his sword with his left hand, he steps in - much to the dismay and worry of his brother. And it gets Brindalles killed.]]
546* KilledOffscreen: [[spoiler:Together with Isorn is killed by the Norns or Pryrates in Green Angel Tower.]]
547* WisePrince: A quiet, well-read and diffident man, in stark contrast to his brother's roguish WarriorPrince nature.
548
549!'''Pasevalles'''
550
551Son of Brindalles of Metessa, nephew of Baron Seriddan. A child of around eight years in the time of the Storm King War. Later Lord Chancellor of the Hayholt under the reign of [[spoiler:High King Simon and High Queen Miriamele.]]
552
553* BoulderBludgeon: [[spoiler: If he is not lying to Simon, he killed Prince Josua that way.]]
554* DivideAndConquer: [[spoiler: He wants the Dragonbone Chair, thus he tries to weaken the rule of Simon and Miriamele.]]
555* EstablishingCharacterMoment: [[spoiler: We already know that he is out for nothing good but then he throws Idela down the stairs to kill her.]]
556* [[spoiler: EvilChancellor:]] Basically his job description in ''Literature/TheLastKingOfOstenArd''.
557* [[spoiler: EvilOrphan: He wants to end the rule of Simon and Miriamele, but not by only killing them - that would be too gentle.]]
558* FateWorseThanDeath: [[spoiler: He does not simply wish to kill Simon and Miriamele in his quest for revenge, but wants them to slowly lose everything they love to see them suffer again and again and again...]]
559* FromNobodyToNightmare: [[spoiler: Goes from a very minor character introduced in the last book of the original trilogy, to orchestrating what could be the downfall of the High Ward in the sequel trilogy.]]
560* GainingTheWillToKill: Happening upon [[spoiler: Prince Josua by chance decides his further path into active revenge.]]
561* OrphansOrdeal: His life after the death of his father and uncle was not easy.
562* TheUnfettered: He has a goal [[spoiler: which is revenge and he is utterly ruthless about it.]]
563
564!'''Sir Astrian of Poines'''
565
566One of the drinking companions of Prince Morgan and as turns out [[spoiler: paid by Pasevalles to keep an eye on the prince, keep him occupied and a drunk]]. Sent out with Duke Osric into the Thrithings, but not as a part of his campaign, but to find and free [[spoiler: Count Eolair]] in a stealth operation.
567
568* AlcoholInducedIdiocy: Incoming temper tantrums.
569* TheAlcoholic: Probably never ever really sober.
570* DeadpanSnarker: Bordering a SmugSnake.
571* TheGadfly: To everyone around - including Count Eolair.
572* ShamelessSelfPromoter: As often as he finds a chance.
573* ShorterMeansSmarter: Said out loud.
574--> "My head reaches Olveris’ neck, and since there is nothing of much use above that point, he and I are as good as even."
575* VitriolicBestBuds: With Olveris. To a lesser degree with Porto.
576
577!'''Sir Olveris'''
578
579The second of the drinking companions of Prince Morgan, [[spoiler: paid by Pasevalles to keep the prince drunk and occupied]]. Sent out with Duke Osric into the Thrithings, but not as a part of his campaign, but to find and free [[spoiler: Count Eolair]] in a stealth operation.
580
581* DeadpanSnarker: If for once he’s making the effort to speak.
582* PrecisionFStrike: The only character in almost 5k paperback pages of story to ever use the word "fuck".
583* TheQuietOne: So much that he startles people if for once he talks.
584* TheStoic: With a single facial expession.
585* VitriolicBestBuds: With Astrian. To a lesser degree with Porto.
586
587!'''Duke Saluceris'''
588
589The ruler of Nabban at the time of the reign of [[spoiler:High King Simon and High Queen Miriamele.]], son of Varellan and brother of Drusis, husband of Duchess Canthia. His reign over Nabban is an unsteady one as there are more and more attacks on the Nabbanai borders by Thrithing-men and his own brother opposes his rule.
590
591* PublicExecution: [[spoiler: When the rioters storm the Sancellan Mahistrevis, Saluceris is hanged from the statue of one of his ancestors.]]
592
593!'''Dallo Ingadaris'''
594
595Lord of the Nabbanai House Ingadaris and uncle of Lady Turia. Leader of the opposition against the rule of Saluceris.
596
597!'''Lord Drusis'''
598
599Saluceris' brother and at open odds with him. The opposition lead by Dallo Ingadaris wants Drusis to replace Saluceris as Duke of Nabban.
600
601!'''Lady Turia'''
602
603A girl of twelve years and the niece of Dallo Ingadaris, she is married to Lord Drusis [[spoiler:, who is murdered quickly after. She seeks revenge via the tradition of the Nabbanai people and when her uncle does not support her in this, she has him killed. Despite her age, she is slowly becoming the Powerhouse of Nabban, threatening even Miriamele.]]
604* AChildShallLeadThem: [[spoiler: She leads an uprising against the Duke of Nabban.]]
605
606
607[[/folder]]
608
609[[folder: Wrannamen]]
610
611!'''Tiamak'''
612
613A Wranna scholar and student of one of the members of the League of the Scroll, it is Tiamak's ambition to someday be counted among their ranks. His questing for knowledge takes him out of the Wran, where he is widely regarded as a savage no better than the rest of his people. Quiet and unassuming, his wisdom ends up playing an invaluable role in the quest to save Osten Ard.
614
615* HealingHerb: One of his primary goals in life is to publish ''Sovran Remedies of the Wranna Healers'', a compendium of healing recipes and techniques passed down by his people. The prequel novel ''Brothers of the Wind'' reveals that the healers of the Wran are the real deal as, aside from Hakatri's mother Amerasu's use of [[MagicByAnyOtherName the Art]], the healer Hakatri and Pamon Kes discovered in the Wran was the only person who could give Hakatri any kind of actual relief from the burns caused by Hidohebhi's blood. Unfortunately, both Amerasu's magic and the Wranna herbs only work temporarily.
616* MagicalNativeAmerican: A fantasy equivalent.
617* NonActionGuy: He's a scholar, not a warrior, especially after his leg is crippled by a crocodile attack.
618* OldRetainer: Has become this by the time of ''Literature/TheLastKingOfOstenArd'', [[spoiler: working for King Simon & Queen Miriamele as an advisor.]]
619* TheSmartGuy: Though due to prejudice he is not always recognized as such.
620
621
622!'''Jesa'''
623
624A young Wranna girl, maid to Duchess Canthia of Nabban during the time of ''Literature/TheLastKingOfOstenArd''.
625
626* {{Determinator}}: Proves herself to be this during ''Into the Narrowdark''. [[spoiler: When fleeing Nabban after the rebellion kicks off, the Duchess' carriage is attacked and burned by Thrithings mercenaries out on the plains, and Jesa escapes with the Duchess' infant daughter Serasina. Jesa manages not only to survive herself, but keep Serasina alive, dispose of a treacherous noble, and rescue Miriamele from her imprisonment by a crazed hermit.]]
627
628[[/folder]]
629
630[[folder: Thrithings]]
631
632!'''Vorzheva'''
633
634A Thrithings woman who was Josua's mistress for some years. She became his wife and the mother of his twins Derra and Deornoth (not to be confused with Sir Deornoth). She's also the daughter of Fikolmij, the March-Thane of Clan Mehrdon and all the High Thrithings.
635
636* AbusiveParents: Her father is a bastard who treats her like she's his property.
637* BelligerentSexualTension: She and Josua have a very heated relationship, not helped by the fact that Josua still has lingering feelings for [[spoiler:[[TheLostLenore his brother's dead wife.]] Despite their clashes, they still love each other enough to marry and have children.]]
638* CultureClash: Her Thrithings upbringing causes her to sometimes have trouble adjusting to Erkynlander culture.
639* DoesNotLikeMen: With intensity increasing by the years, Vorzheva is very weary of men bordering on generally loathing each and all of them - which in the years after the Storm King War does not even spare her son or husband.
640* DreamingOfThingsToCome: [[spoiler: She dreams of Josua coming back to her after the final battle telling her that now he had what he ever wanted: he is presumed dead and thus does not have to rule or lead anymore.]]
641* DubNameChange: For reasons unknown her name was changed to "Vara" in the German translations.
642* {{Patricide}}: [[spoiler: In ''The Witchwood Crown'' she finally gets her revenge on her father for a lifetime of abuse.]]
643* TheExile: Self-imposed, to get away from her arranged marriage and her abusive father.
644* FaceHeelTurn: [[spoiler: By the time that ''The Last King of Osten Ard'' takes place, Vorzheva has become a bitter, vengeful woman who's determined to use her son and the movement surrounding him to invade Erkynland and kill all of her and Josua's former friends, who she blames for "abandoning" them.]]
645* HotBlooded: She's a very passionate, and occasionally stubborn, person, which can put a strain on her relationship with Josua who has an [[OppositesAttract opposite personality.]]
646* HotConsort: She starts off as Prince Josua’s mistress, which gives her the unfair reputation of a “Thrithings whore” among the noble women of Naglimund. [[spoiler:Eventually she marries him and bears his children.]]
647* IfICantHaveYou: Basically her attitude towards her lover/later husband Josua.
648* InsecureLoveInterest: Worries that Josua does not respect her.
649* MadeOfIron: Or at least SelectiveSqueamishnessSuppression. While giving birth to her twins, she hardly made a sound.
650* MissingMom: Her mother is dead, and she claims that her father killed her.
651* TheMistress: For a while to Josua, [[spoiler:until they marry.]]
652* OddFriendship: She forms one with Aditu, who becomes very intrigued by [[spoiler:Vorzheva's pregnancy.]]
653* TheRival: In ''Literature/TheLastKingOfOstenArd'' [[spoiler: between Lady Faiera and Vorzheva for Josua’s affection - which is firmly with the latter.]]
654* RunawayFiance: Her father tried to force her into an ArrangedMarriage. She decided she didn’t like that and fled from her people.
655* {{Yandere}}: Hard to tell if she'd actually pull it off, but Vorzheva threatens Josua more than once that she will kill him (or any other woman he might love) and then herself.
656
657!'''Hotvig'''
658
659A randwarder of Fikolmij's Clan Mehrdon, who joins Josua's cause.
660
661* TheBet: At the DuelToTheDeath between Utvart and Prince Josua, he places one on the latter. Hotvig’s friends mock him for being stupid - they lose.
662* TheCavalry: basically the function of Hotvig's men in Josua's army.
663* CoveredWithScars: If their frequent fighting does not give Thrithings-men their scars, then they cut themselves to look more fiercesome.
664* HeelFaceTurn: Is one of Fikolmij's men but isn't too happy. Ultimately he leaves his clan altogether including his family and a large group of other Thrithings-people, who are just as sick of their Thane's tantrums.
665* HorsebackHeroism: He was practically BornInTheSaddle, so that's where he's fighting from.
666
667!'''Fikolmij'''
668
669Elected March-Thane of the High Thrithings and leader of Clan Mehrdon. Father of Vorzheva.
670
671* AbusiveParents: He is one, including hints of sexual abuse towards his younger daughter Hyara and attempts of the sort towards his grand-daughter Derra.
672* ArchnemesisDad: To Vorzheva - [[spoiler:ultimately leading to her killing him in ''The Witchwood Crown''.]]
673* BerserkButton: The mere presence of Prince Josua tickles his.
674* BreachOfPromiseOfMarriage: He was to get 13 horses as a bride's price for Vorzheva, but he’s even more aggravated for feeling like Prince Josua »cut off his balls« by helping Vorzheva flee.
675* BrutalBrawl: Hands one to a defenseless Josua.
676* GruesomeGrandparent: To Derra and Deornoth.
677* KickThemWhileTheyAreDown: He gives a defenseless, half-starved Josua a severe beating then sends him into a DuelToTheDeath the very next morning.
678* LargeAndInCharge: Despite his age, he is still a giant of a man and a pretty dangerous fighter.
679* TheLeader: Thane of Clan Mehrdon and elected March-Thane of all of the High Thrithings’ clans.
680* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Being a Thrithings-man and a Clan-leader at that.
681* TheQuisling: He made a deal with High King Prester John against his own people.
682* SoreLoser: Always has been, always will be.
683* TilMurderDoUsPart: According to Vorzheva, Fikolmij killed her mother.
684
685!'''Utvart'''
686
687A member of Clan Mehrdon, who had wanted to marry his March-Thane's daughter Vorzheva, but she fled from him.
688
689* TheBerserker: '''Subverted''' One would expect this of him from his demeanor and physics, but all in all he is very cautious about his fight with Josua.
690* BreachOfPromiseOfMarriage: He wanted to marry Vorzheva but she fled. He swore not to marry anyone else until he had revenge from the man she ran to.
691* TheBrute: By the textbook.
692* BadassBoast: [[spoiler:"Now Utvart kills you!"]]
693* CoveredWithScars: He 'decorated' his skin with scars.
694* DuelToTheDeath: With Prince Josua.
695* DumbMuscle: '''Subverted''' He is not stupid and does not fly into rage like Fikolmij.
696* {{Jerkass}}: A rapist, paedophile and murderer - don’t take his willingness for the DuelToTheDeath as a sign of honor - it’s just his chance to get his hands on Josua.
697* PaedoHunt: According to Vorzheva he is a Paedophile.
698* PreMortemOneLiner: [[spoiler:"Now Utvart kills you" - only to get his ass handed to him by Josua.]]
699* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: One of his many red flags.
700* {{Sadist}}: Additionally to all his other flaws, he'd rather have killed Josua slowly and without the ado of the duel.
701
702!'''Fremur'''
703
704A young, somewhat open-minded clan leader and most faithful follower of Shan Unver. Unver's story is told through his POV.
705
706* NumberTwo: Becomes this to Unver as he rises to become Shan of all the Thrithings clans.
707
708[[/folder]]
709
710[[folder: Qanuc]]
711
712!'''All Qanuc'''
713
714* LittlePeopleAreSurreal: Whenever someone meets a troll for the first time, expect them to be thoroughly weirded out by the sight.
715* MagicalNativeAmerican: The Qanuc, known as trolls to the Rimmersmen, have a culture very similar (except for riding sheep) to the Inuit.
716* MoodyMount: Qanuc use sheep for riding, whose recalcitrant nature generally makes them this.
717* OurTrollsAreDifferent: Though technically counted among humans and physically no different except for their height, Qanuc live in the mountainous far North seperate from the other human nations, many of whom have quite forgotten they exist, and are considered an oddity at best and a threat to be persecuted at worst.
718
719!'''Binabik'''
720
721Apprentice to Ooquequk, one of the original members of the League of the Scroll, the diminutive troll Binibiquegabenik (Binabik for short) wanders the lands far more than most members of his isolationist race. Together with his wolf companion, Qantaqa, they make a formidable pair and form a fast friendship with Simon after Binabik rescues him from starvation in the wilderness.
722
723* BadassBookworm: In addition to being a skilled hunter, tracker, and combatant, he is a learned person among the trolls, and was apprenticed to Ooquequk, the tribe's singer (basically the resident [[TheSmartGuy smart guy]]) before the latter's death.
724* BigDamnHeroes: He has a knack for saving Simon's life in this fashion.
725* CanineCompanion: He raised his wolf companion Qantaqa from a pup, and she subsequently accompanies him everywhere he goes.
726* [[EloquentInMyNativeTongue Eloquent In My Other Nonnative Tongue]]: Apparently his Sithi is perfectly grammatically correct.
727* HitchhikerHeroes: Subverted, as he was instructed to look for Simon.
728* TheLancer: To Simon.
729* OverlyLongName: Like all trolls, he uses a shortened version to interact with foreigners.
730* PoisonedWeapons: His blowgun darts.
731* StrangeSyntaxSpeaker: Among other idiosyncracies, his speech tends to be overusing the present progressive tense.
732* WalkingTheEarth: He had traveled much of Osten Ard even prior to the events of the original trilogy.
733
734!'''Sisqi'''
735
736Sisquinanamook is daughter of the King of the Qanuc and is Binabik's betrothed. Along with her parents, she becomes irate when he fails to return for the ceremonies that commemorate the onset of spring among her people, but loves him enough to aid in his rescue when he is condemned to execution for his "crimes". She proceeds to join him in his embassy to the "big folk" to keep a watch on her investment.
737
738* ActionGirl: Leads a troop of Qanuc in the battle of the Stone of Farewell.
739* MyGirlBackHome: To Binabik.
740* OverlyLongName: Like all trolls.
741
742!'''Qina'''
743
744Binabik and Sisqi's daughter.
745
746!'''Little Snenneq'''
747
748The son of the hunter Snenneq from ''Literature/MemorySorrowAndThorn'', who is betrothed to Qina.
749
750* PintSizedPowerhouse: Shows rather impressive strength for his size by being a superb climber, and besting a random Rimmersman in armwrestling when he and Morgan are at tavern.
751* TallDarkAndHandsome: To trolls he ranks as this, but to humans, they only see another troll.
752
753[[/folder]]
754
755[[folder: Perdruinese]]
756
757!'''Sir Porto'''
758
759An elderly knight from Perdruin in the service of the High King and Queen and their Chancellor Pasevalles, later of Duke Osric. As a soldier he fought in the Storm King war, then was part of the campaign against the Norns and Nakkiga, in which he was knighted by Duke Isgrimnur. Now a drinking companion of Prince Morgan.
760
761* HeroOfAnotherStory: Of ''The Heart Of What Was Lost'', to be exact.
762
763!'''Count Streáwe'''
764The ruler of Perdruin. A lover of schemes and secrets that happens to save Miriamele and ends up supporting Prince Josua and his allies against the BigBad - even though Perdruin is fabled for its neutrality.
765
766* ButtMonkey: Often he is the target of Astrian’s and Olveris’ jests.
767* TheChessmaster: He uses the turmoil of the Storm King War for his own and Perdruin’s best advantage.
768* GoodAllAlong: He's a really shady one and will not ever make a move without any personal gain, yet ultimately he is not a bad guy. He helps Miriamele and ends up supporting the BigGood in winning the war.
769* MoneyIsNotPower: Streáwe prefers knowledge - it's the bargaining chip with which he is bought by Prince Josua.
770* PlayingBothSides: For the benefit of tiny island Perdruin.
771* PoisonousCaptive: Benigaris thinks he's holding Streáwe captive in Nabban - while Streáwe is actually undermining Benigaris’ rule and snatching away his naval force.
772* WeakButSkilled: He'd have a problem swatting a fly, so he outsmarts his enemies instead.
773* TrueNeutral: Perdruin is basically Switzerland, thus Streáwe keeps neutral as well - at least as long as he can.
774
775!'''Countess Yissola'''
776
777Bastard daugther of Count Streáwe whom he choose as his heir dispite all his (bastard) sons. Now ruler of Perdruin in her own right.
778
779!'''Lady Faiera'''
780As the daughter of a Baron, she inherited a lot of money and used it for her studies. After the Storm King's War she became a member of the League of the Scroll. She was very interested in divination and eventually purchased a dangerous toy to advance her research.
781
782* ArtifactOfDoom: Her Sithi Mirror. She screwed herself up with it royally.
783* BlueScreenOfDeath: For several years until she slowly regains her memory.
784* {{Bookworm}}: Books, her first love.
785* ConfirmedBachelor: Or rather 'Bachelorette'. She did not want to marry as there was no one that fulfilled her expectations. Enter: [[spoiler: Prince Josua.]]
786* TheDarkArts: Divination - should carry a warning sign as to only study it in theory, never try it for real.
787* DespairEventHorizon: [[spoiler: Has hers when she realizes she can't have Josua, leading to her using the Sithi Mirror and then [[FireMeansChaos setting her own home ablaze]].]]
788* EncyclopaedicKnowledge: As all the other members of the League of the Scroll she's a walking compendium of wisdom.
789* FalseSoulmate: [[spoiler:Believes Josua is hers. He begs to differ.]]
790* TheHermit: [[spoiler: Retired to some small hut in the mountains to live out the end of her life in peace - and perhaps find some oblivion from her memories.]]
791* TheILoveYouStigma: She makes an AnguishedDeclarationOfLove to [[spoiler:Josua]] when they had an argument. He tells her gently but firmly that [[IDontWantToRuinOurFriendship he is her friend and colleague]]. Nothing more.
792* LetsJustBeFriends: Exactly what [[spoiler:Prince Josua]] tells her, when she confesses her love to him.
793* LoveMakesYouCrazy: Oh dear, and she was one of the truly wise and smart ones!
794* MarriedToTheJob: In her youth she was more into books than men, even though she had many suitors. But she did not want to marry to not lose her freedom to study at her own discretion.
795* {{Retgone}}: [[spoiler:Her house burned down, the plague raged through the city and she was believed dead. In fact she had lost her memory and only regained it years later. Then she decided to stay in hiding and was only found through the severe efforts of Brother Etan over twenty years later.]]
796* TheRival: Her and [[spoiler:Vorzheva for Prince Josua’ affection - which is firmly with the latter.]]
797* RulesOfOrphanEconomics: The untimely death of her parents left her wealthy and ended their demands of her to marry and have a child to uphold the family name.
798* ShelteredAristocrat: Somewhat. She grew up with money and the freedom to live by her own standards and ideals.
799
800[[/folder]]
801
802[[folder: Sithi]]
803
804!'''All Sithi'''
805* TheAgeless: They are hinted to have long ago discovered the secret of immortality, which secret they declined to share with their servants and allies. In fact, they don't live forever. Instead, they merely age very, ''very'' slowly.
806* TheFairFolk: They're immortal, beautiful, graceful... it's not hard to understand why humans keep wanting them dead... or worshiping them.
807** When he joins Simon & co. in the search for Thorn in the latter part of the first book, Prince Jiriki spells out that he's not doing this because of any love for mortals, it's only because he's interested in their quest, and he still owes Simon for saving his life. At that point in the story, he doesn't even really care if Ineluki the Storm King wants to wipe out humanity: Ineluki wasn't the one who shattered his people's civilization and drove them into the wilderness. [[CantArgueWithElves The others have no counter-argument for this.]]
808* HiddenElfVillage: Most of them live in Jao e-Tinukai'i deep in the Aldheorte forest, which is their last remaining major settlement.
809* MysticalWhiteHair: All Sithi have white hair, although most of them dye it a variety of colors.
810* OldShame: [[invoked]] Amerasu believes their treatment of the Tinukede'ya, the other race that traveled with them from the fabled Lost Garden, some of which became the Niskies and the Dwarrows (see TheAgeless, above) was a crime for which the Sithi are still paying the price.
811* SpaceElves: There are hints that the Sithi may have come from another planet, as their trip to Osten Ard was across the "Dark Ocean", and the journey was long enough that it was implied to be generations (enough that the label of "ship-born" is used to distinguish those born on the journey).
812* WhoWantsToLiveForever: Being so long-lived, the Sithi and Norns acquire a lot of grudges and sorrow, and it's implied that all of them become afflicted by unbearable ennui as they get older. Amerasu secludes herself in her home rather than face a world that's not as beautiful as her memories, and Utuk'ku is so consumed by rage at the past and by disgust at her own very advanced aging that she wants to destroy everyone and everything.
813
814!'''Jiriki'''
815
816One of the youngest Sithi, Jiriki nevertheless has a place of distinction as a descendant of Amerasu and is her secret envoy with the humans. On one such trip, he becomes trapped in a woodsman's net and is about to be killed when Simon stumbles onto the scene and rescues him. Fleeing, Jiriki fires his White Arrow toward Simon, which is symbolic of the life-debt he now owes the young human. Despite his relative youth, Jiriki plays a major role in the conflict, as his understanding of and rapport with mortals leads him to drive his people to abandon their isolation and go on the offensive against the Storm King's forces. He returns in the sequels to aid Simon - and the human forces - once again.
817
818* AFriendInNeed: In the sequels, Jiriki works to convince his people to once again come to the aid of their former mortal allies, even though most Sithi cannot see why they shouldn't just let their cousins the Norns destroy the hated humans. In ''Into The Narrowdark'', he arrives just in time to [[spoiler:save Simon when the Hayholt is attacked.]]
819* CulturalRebel: Was already shown to be open-minded about working with mortals in ''Literature/MemorySorrowAndThorn'', and this is cemented by the time of ''Literature/TheLastKingOfOstenArd''.
820* IOweYouMyLife: He gives the White Arrow to Simon to symbolize the life-debt he owes. This arrow becomes immensely important later.
821* MayflyDecemberFriendship: With Simon - with Simon being the mayfly, of course.
822* ThePowerOfTrust: More than any other character, Jiriki comes to symbolize the chance that mortals and Sithi may some day come to trust one another and cooperate.
823* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Jiriki is among the most activist of all his people, leading hunting parties to defend their borders, pushing for greater intervention against the Norns, and generally refusing to go along with the Sithi's policy of of non-intervention.
824* WarriorPrince: Jiriki's position in ''Zida'ya'' society is roughly equivalent to that of a prince, and he does not shy away from combat when it's necessary.
825
826!'''Aditu'''
827
828Jiriki's younger sister, Aditu is less wise in the ways of mortals than he, but "adopts" Simon after she rescues him from the northern wilderness and brings him to Jao-é-Tinukai'i. She later acts as the Sithi emissary to Josua's forces. She returns in the sequels, where she becomes close with new character Tanahaya.
829
830* InnocentFanserviceGirl: She doesn't understand human taboos about nudity, and frequently goes unclothed or nearly so around Simon, much to his confusion.
831* MomentKiller: She interrupts Simon's would-be tryst atop the Stone of Farewell.
832* PregnantBadass: Is pregnant during the events of the sequels.
833* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: While she would deny being "royalty", she is Jiriki's sister and, though she doesn't agree with all of his ideas, ventures out on her own regularly.
834* {{Troll}}: Ironic, given she's an elf and the Qanuq are the trolls, but when she shows up on the Stone, she terrifies a girl by demanding to know "What are you doing with my husband!?", killing Simon's chances at a hookup.
835* WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove: She makes fun of and sometimes toys cruelly with Simon's mortal feelings.
836
837!'''Amerasu "Ship-Born"'''
838
839The eldest living Sitha and matriarch of the House of Year-Dancing, second in age only to Utuk'ku of the Norns, Amerasu is named "Ship-Born" because of her birth during the Sithi's voyage to Osten Ard from their lost homeland. As age confers wisdom and power, she is also second only to Utuk'ku in her mastery of the Art and of the Dream Road. She nearly manages to reveal the EvilPlan to the gathered folk of Jao-é-Tinukai'i, but [[spoiler:is silenced by Utuk'ku and killed by her huntsman]].
840
841* HisNameIs: [[spoiler:Gets killed by Utuk'ku's huntsman seconds before she can reveal their enemy's EvilPlan.]]
842* MentorOccupationalHazard: She can be considered the mentor of her entire tribe of Sithi, since she teaches them the species' ancient knowledge and traditions. She also assumes that position for Simon for a brief time. [[spoiler:She gets killed shortly after her introduction.]]
843* TimeAbyss: She is one of the oldest beings in Osten Ard, having been born aboard the vessels that brought the Sithi and Norn to the land. She is thousands of years old.
844* WhoWantsToLiveForever: To a lesser degree than Utuk'ku. She spends her time in her treehouse, living in the past.
845
846!'''Ineluki'''
847
848See "The Forces of the Storm King"
849
850!'''Hakatri'''
851
852Ineluki's older brother, dead for millenia. He has an important - if completely unwilling - part to play in Utuk'ku's plans in ''Literature/TheLastKingOfOstenArd''. The prequel novel ''Brothers of the Wind'' provides more insight into his story.
853
854* BackFromTheDead: [[spoiler: Is brought back from death by sorcery on Utuk'ku's order at the end of ''Empire of Grass'' in a ceremony at Naglimund. Considering the fact that the first thing he does upon his resurrection is unleash a terrible scream of anguish that knocks the surrounding host of Norns to their knees and kills a number of birds that were flying overhead, the implication is that he CameBackWrong. This is confirmed with brief interludes from his point of view in ''Into the Narrowdark''; he is ''not'' happy about being brought back from death to the unending pain that filled his final days.]]
855* CulturalRebel: Is actually concerned with the fate and well-being of mortals unlike the vast majority of ''Zida'ya'' and ''Hikede'ya''. Choosing Pamon Kes, a ''Tinukede'ya'', as his Armiger, also caused some eyebrows to be raised among his peers.
856* DoomedByCanon: Readers who have followed the entirety of the Osten Ard novels know that Hakatri is going to die in ''Brothers of the Wind'', but what the book reveals is the exact circumstances of his death and the aftermath, and more of what Hakatri was like as a person.
857* FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling: The Responsible to Ineluki's Foolish. Hakatri is more dutiful and contemplative than the rash, passionate Ineluki.
858* NiceGuy: What truly cements Hakatri as this trope is [[spoiler: after their plan to slay the dragon Hidohebhi goes awry and Hakatri is horrifically injured in the process of killing the terrible Great Worm, he is able to briefly fight through the pain of the burns from the dragon blood and tell Ineluki to let go of his hatred of mortals, as "anger breeds anger".]]
859* NiceToTheWaiter: Hakatri is much more considerate than the average ''Zida'ya'' of the concerns of humans, and uniquely among ''Zida'ya'' nobles has chosen a ''Tinukede'ya'' (Pamon Kes, the viewpoint character of ''Brothers of the Wind'') as his Armiger, a kind of manservant/squire.
860* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Recognizes that the Great Worm Hidohebhi is a problem that concerns everyone in Osten Ard and not just mortals, and when he is unable to sway Ineluki from his vow to slay the beast, he goes with him personally to find a way to carry out the deed.
861* TheUndead: [[spoiler: He is brought back to life at the end of ''Empire of Grass''. In his chapters in ''Into the Narrowdark'', Viyeki mentally refers to him as a [[RevenantUndead revenant]].]]
862* WoundThatWillNotHeal: Hakatri is horrifically burned in the process of killing Hidohebhi, when he is soaked with the dragon's blood. In addition to causing him near-constant pain, it also triggers haunting dreams, some of which are [[DreamingOfThingsToCome seemingly prophetic]], which start to fray at his sanity. The healers at Asu'a aren't able to help him and even Amerasu's use of the Art only provides temporary relief. He and Pamon Kes end up journeying across Osten Ard from Nakkiga to the Wran to find something that will cure Hakatri, to no avail.
863
864
865!'''Khendraja'aro'''
866
867
868!'''Tanahaya'''
869
870A young Sitha woman who has a calling as a scholar. She first appears in ''The Witchwood Crown'', when she is sent as an envoy to the humans, but is shot down by a poisoned arrow before she can complete her mission. She later rescues Prince Morgan when he is lost in Aldheorte forest. Tanahaya is also Jiriki's romantic partner.
871
872* BadassBookworm: She really only wants to spend her time studying ancient history and knowledge, but she's also very capable of climbing and fighting her way out of a Norn-infested ruined city.
873
874[[/folder]]
875
876[[folder: Other or unknown]]
877
878!'''Geloë'''
879
880A mysterious personage of unknown race and history, Geloë is held in mingled fear and respect by those few who know of her. Living in the midst of the wilderness in a Baba Yaga-esque hut, she could easily be mistaken for a witch but is in reality more of a Druidic figure with mastery of all sorts of lore including the art of shapeshifting. She aids Simon, Binabik, and Miriamele when they stumble upon her abode, and later joins Josua's party.
881
882* AmbiguouslyHuman: She looks like an old woman, but everything about her seems to hint at her being something more without ever saying what. [[spoiler: The character list in the sequel trilogy places her among the ''Tinukeda'ya'' characters.]]
883* DreamWeaver: One of the most experienced travelers on the Dream Road.
884* DyingAlone: [[spoiler:By choice. After being mortally wounded by Utuk'ku's assassins, she leaves so no one will see her die, using her connection to Leleth to relay one last message to Josua and his supporters before passing on.]]
885* TheFairFolk: With her long-livedness, reclusive nature, and mysterious magical powers, she plays on the trope. She specifically invokes certain elements of [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Literature/BabaYaga Baba Yaga]] (such as living in a hut in the forest described as having bird-like legs) though she is more benevolent than most versions.
886* VoluntaryShapeshifting: She's quite fond of turning into an owl, though she never does so on screen.
887
888!'''Pamon Kes'''
889
890A ''Tinukeda'ya'', Armiger to Hakatri of the House of Year-Dancing.
891
892* BattleButler: An Armiger is expected to wait on their master in everyday life and to protect them in battle. Kes is no slouch in combat, but since his master has the near-immortal vigor and agility of the ''Zida'ya'', it results in BodyguardingABadass.
893* MissingMom: Kes' mother died of an illness when he was very young.
894* ServantRace: Tinukeda'ya are this to the Sithi, at least to a certain extent. They are also known as "changelings" because they can change their bodies according to what is needed within a generation or two. Kes looks a lot like a Sitha himself because he works closely with them as an armiger. Many Sithi also purposefully keep the Tinukeda'ya uneducated. That his people in fact used to have their own history and culture is something Kes only learns eventually, when talking with other educated Tinukeda'ya.
895* UndyingLoyalty: To Hakatri, who, unlike nearly every other Sitha Kes has known, treats him like a person and not a servant only to be noticed when there is a task to be done.
896
897!'''Tzoja [[spoiler:/ Derra]]'''
898[[spoiler: The daugther of Prince Josua and Vorzheva. After her father disappeared and she was taken to her grandfather Fikolmij, she ran away, staying alive finding work here and there, then living with an order of women in the north for a while before she was made a slave of the Norns and taken to Nakkiga. There Viyeki fell in love with her and she had a half-blood daughter with him: Nezeru.]]
899* HealingHerb: Learned herb-lore from the Astaline Sisters in Rimmersgard as a young woman, and is apparently good enough with it be allowed to treat [[spoiler: the god-queen of the Norns herself, Utuk’ku Seyt-Hamakha]].
900* InsecureLoveInterest: She feels inferior to her immortal lover Viyeki and wonders if he thinks of her as anything other than an amusing pet. She also feels inferior to other Norns, due to their beauty and long lives. She wonders if Viyeki and Nezeru will forget her after she dies. This starts to change in later books.
901* MadeASlave: To the Norns.
902* RapeasBackstory: [[spoiler: The victim of sexual assault following the fall of the Asteline community.]]
903* TheRunaway: Ran away from her abusive Grandfather, and from various abusive employers. [[spoiler: At the end of ''The Witchwood Crown'' she runs away from Viyeki's estate to prevent Viyeki's wife Khimabu from killing her.]]
904* StarcrossedLovers: Her relationship with Viyeki has shades of this throughout Books One and Two.
905* TheWoobie
906
907!'''Unver [[spoiler:/ Deornoth]]'''
908[[spoiler: The son of Prince Josua and Vorzheva. After his father disappeared, him and his mother and sister were abducted by Thrithing-men and brought to Fikolmij, who sent his grandson away - threatening that he would kill him if he ever showed up again. Twenty years later he does return, nonetheless, now named Unver and quickly rises to be the master of all the Thithings.]]
909
910* DeadGuyJunior: He is named after his father's best friend and NumberTwo who died in the Storm King's War, in the battle at the Stone of Farewell.
911* DoNotCallMePaul: He does not want to be called by his birthname.
912* GeniusBruiser: And many of the [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy clansmen]] have no idea how to deal with it.
913* UsedtoBeaSweetKid: [[spoiler: Young Deornoth once hated confrontation and the sight of blood.]]
914* TheParagon: His ultimate plan after becoming the Shan of all the Thrithings is to take all the clans and mold them from a bunch of disparate groups into a ''nation'' that the stone-dwellers of Nabban and the rest of the High Ward will see as equals to be taken seriously, rather than as primitive barbarian nomads and raiders.
915
916!'''Goh Gam Gar'''
917A giant (Hunë), oldest of his kind. He is forced to join Makkho's Talon to get a living dragon to Queen Utuk'ku and becomes somewhat friendly with [[spoiler: Jarnulf]].
918
919* TheBigGuy: Well, he's a giant.
920* BruiserWithASoftCenter: Not really a nice guy but just not as bad one would expect from a monster.
921* MadeASlave: Captured by the Norns and compelled to work for them by means of a magic collar that can be triggered to cause him massive pain if he does anything they don't like.
922* StrongerWithAge: He is probably the biggest giant in the known world - and also the oldest.
923
924!'''The Red Thing'''
925Some sort of entity or creature living in the ruins of old Asu'a, that likes to keep people away from its domain with traps and poison [[spoiler: and is brought food and young women by Pasevalles.]]
926
927* EldritchAbomination: Even [[spoiler: Pasevalles]] who is otherwise pretty unshakeable knows to be very cautious around this thing.
928* GuardianEntity: Whether because it's in its domain or particularly because it's a Sithi Witness, the Red Thing guards the Mooncloud beneath Asu'a.
929* NightmareFuel: Lurking in the dark, using traps, spindly legs, red clothes, long claws - what more do you need?
930* ObviouslyEvil: Whatever it does to the young women who are brought to it, the fact that they are never seen again sounds ominous.
931* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: It is all dressed in red rugs.
932
933!'''Father'''
934A nameless, wandering priest that is Jarnulf's mentor for several years. He later disappears. Who he truly is remains unknown.
935
936* ChekhovMIA: Possibly, he is still alive.
937* IdentityAmnesia: Probably, given the little information Jarnulf had even after some years.
938* MentorOccupationalHazard: Jarnulf does not know what happened to Father but the man's disappearance sparks his killing spree against the Norns.
939* NeverFoundTheBody: Jarnulf searched for weeks but never found a trace of the man.
940* PreacherMan: He was an Aedonite priest once and wanders around now preaching.
941* UnknownCharacter: There is very little information about him but he was very important to Jarnulf.
942
943
944[[/folder]]
945
946[[folder: The Forces of the Storm King]]
947
948!'''Ineluki/The Storm King'''
949
950Ineluki was said to be the brightest flame that the Sithi had ever known, and had the depredations of humanity not come to Osten Ard, he might well have led them out of their exile to a new golden age. Unfortunately, his power and ambition turned to defending his people against the onslaught of the Black Rimmersmen, and he went down dark paths in search of forbidden knowledge, which eventually led him to forge in secret the dread sword Sorrow, devourer of light and hope. He sought to destroy the armies invading his home of Asu'a with a mighty spell, but instead cast himself and his servants into the realms beyond death, where his spirit burned for five centuries in search of a way back. He is the Devil of Osten Ard, a being of fire and ice who seeks nothing less than the total destruction of all mortals and the consumption of the world by Unbeing.
951
952* BigBad: The main antagonist of the first trilogy behind all the world's woes. His hatred and pain has turned him into a being whose existence threatens reality itself.
953* CainAndAbel: An oblique example. The jealous and headstrong Ineluki swears a vow to kill a monstrous dragon, and his more dutiful, and more favored by most people, brother Hakatri feels compelled to help him carry out the oath as he realizes a dragon running loose is a major problem (and also because he fears for Ineluki's safety if Ineluki were to attempt the task alone), but he ultimately is killed for doing so. Also a less typical example as Ineluki is the young sibling of the pair.
954* DangerousForbiddenTechnique: The forging of Sorrow and the dark magics he wielded in the defense of Asu'a both count. He was warned against both but did so anyway.
955* EldritchAbomination: His mere existence is such a ''wrongness'' that simple exposure to it can drive mortal minds insane.
956* EvilIsDeathlyCold: Paralyzing cold is how he freezes Simon's will and forces him to obey the call of Bright-Nail.
957* {{Expy}}: As Ineluki, he bears a striking resemblance to Fëanor of ''Literature/TheSilmarillion''. After becoming the Storm King, he's essentially a more sympathetic [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Sauron]].
958* IGaveMyWord: When Prince Cormach of the Hernsmen (the ancestors of those who would become the Hernystiri by the time of ''Literature/MemorySorrowAndThorn'') comes to Asu'a to beg assistance from the Zida'ya in dealing with the dragon Hidohebhi, Ineluki rashly vows to slay the beast himself. Multiple people try to sway him from this, and later he himself realizes he's made a terrible mistake, but can't bring himself to renounce his oath, which leads to tragedy.
959* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope: His backstory is a quintessential example of what happens when you go too far in pursuit of an idealistic vision of the world.
960* KnightTemplar: With respect to mortals. He has no sympathy for them and wishes them all utterly destroyed. ''Brothers of the Wind'' details the primary incident that led him to feel contempt for mortals: many of the Hernsmen assisting Ineluki and Hakatri with their plan to slay the Great Worm Hidohebhi panic and flee when they see the massive dragon charging over the hill as their prince, luring in the dragon, is thrown from the saddle and injured when the horse he's riding steps into a hole.
961* LoadBearingBoss: His destruction triggers the collapse of Green Angel Tower.
962* MoodSwinger: In ''Brothers of the Wind'', Ineluki himself comments on his emotional troubles and the peculiarities of his personality that he doesn't know how to deal with. It sounds a ''lot'' like he suffers from a form of bipolar disorder.
963* NeverMyFault: Played with during ''Brothers of the Wind''. Ineluki actually ''does'' admit and accept personal culpability for the Hidohebhi fiasco and getting his brother seriously injured. In his depression and despair, however, Ineluki nonethless ends up projecting some of that guilt onto the Hernsmen who fled the final battle (which will then fester and bloom into Ineluki's undying hatred of mortals).
964* OmnicidalManiac: This is where Ineluki ended up after going down the slope from a MessianicArchetype to WellIntentionedExtremist to dead and hating all living beings.
965* OneWingedAngel: He turns [[spoiler:the possessed King Elias]] into a [[EldritchAbomination terrifying being]] of fire and shadow.
966* TheResenter: ''Brothers of the Wind'' reveals that, while he loved his older brother Hakatri dearly, he chafed at how Hakatri was more popular and well-loved by everyone else generally.
967* SealedEvilInACan: In this case, ''time'' is the can, which Pryrates' spell seeks to undo.
968* SelfMadeOrphan: After Ineluki made Sorrow, his father called it an abomination and ordered him to destroy it. This broke the last vestiges of his sanity and he murdered the king on the spot, taking his antlered crown.
969* StartOfDarkness: He already disliked humans before the start of ''Brothers of the Wind'' and believed that one day, they would push the ''Zida'ya'' out of Osten Ard, but seeing Prince Cormach's men flee after he falls and is knocked flying by the rampaging Great Worm, and his brother Hakatri's subsequent maiming, pushes Ineluki into full-blown hatred. He then spends a great deal of time with the sorcerous Norn healer Jikkyo, and Jikkyo's silent and creepy apprentice Ommu, with the implication that it is their influence that would put him into the mindset to use forbidden magics to craft [[EvilWeapon Sorrow]] in a desperate attempt to turn back the invading Rimmersmen in the backstory to ''Literature/MemorySorrowAndThorn''.
970* TheUndead: He's never embodied except at the very end, but he is described variously as "undead" and "beyond death".
971* WarriorPrince: Even among immortals, Ineluki was terrifyingly powerful. In his backstory, he slew a dragon, and almost single-handedly held off the army of humans invading Asu'a.
972* WellIntentionedExtremist: His campaign to save his people from the Black Rimmersmen started out as this, before [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope he went completely over the edge]].
973* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: His tragic backstory proves crucial to his defeat.
974
975!'''Utuk'ku'''
976
977Queen of the Norns and the oldest thinking creature in Osten Ard, Utuk'ku rests in the dark mountain of Stormspike like a spider in her web, manipulating events with her indomitable will. She is Ineluki's closest ally and the author of his schemes, and it is her magics that bind the dark forces that allow him to attempt to reenter Osten Ard. She is the last of the Gardenborn, the only being left alive who remembers the lost home of the Sithi and Norns. She is a being of unknowable age, wisdom, and power.
978
979* AngstComa: [[spoiler:She expended so much of her power and hope into Ineluki's victory that once he's vanquished, Utuk'ku falls into something called the keta-yi'indra, a kind of healing sleep almost as profound as death. It takes her thirty years to wake up from it.]]
980* BigBad: Of the sequel quadrilogy.
981* TheChessmaster: Though she doesn't hold a candle to Ineluki, she's quite capable of devising centuries long schemes on her own.
982* CultOfPersonality: The Norns worship her like a god, believing that failing her or betraying her are the greatest crimes imaginable, and that their own pain and suffering is nothing compared to Utuk'ku's, whom they say has given everything for the sake of her people. Contrast this with the ''Zida'ya''/Sithi leaders Shima'onari and Likimeya (and before them, Iyu'unigato and Amerasu), who hold hereditary positions of great authority and are revered for their wisdom, yet are not even truly monarchs in the human sense, and the nobles beneath them aren't necessarily obligated to do exactly as they say.
983* TheDragon: Ineluki's sidekick and the one who actually carries out most of his evil plan.
984* EvilCounterpart: To Amerasu. Both are the eldest and rulers of their people, both spend their time in seclusion living in their memories, mourning their dead children. But Utuk'ku also happens to want to kill everyone and die.
985* EvilIsDeathlyCold: She lives in the dark heart of a mountain in the frozen wastes.
986* TheFaceless: She wears a beautiful silver mask, an image of her own face. [[spoiler:Because underneath it she looks like an old woman.]]
987* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen: The Queen of the Norns who wishes to exterminate humankind and has conditioned her subjects to be fanatically devoted to her.
988* MalevolentMaskedWomen: She's a genocidal queen who always wears a beautiful silver mask to conceal her true face.
989* MeaningfulName: In real life, the name utukku refers to a type of demonic spirit in Sumerian mythology.
990* OmnicidalManiac: She really wants to destroy the world.
991* OutlivingOnesOffspring: Her son Drukhi went mad when his wife was accidentally killed by a human archer. He swore to kill all mortals and when his wife's clan confined him, Drukhi made himself die. The fallout from her son's death led to Utuk'ku's desire to wipe out all mortals and the split between the Norns and the Sithi.
992* SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum: Aditu theorizes that though she wants to die, she can't bear the idea that others will live on with her gone. So she wants to arrange the greatest cataclysm imaginable to [[TakingYouWithMe take as many people with her as possible.]]
993* WhoWantsToLiveForever: Turns out the Sithi/Norn gift of immortality really isn't all that great. She wants to die.
994* WinterRoyalLady: Utuk'ku is the Queen of the Norns and is located in the snowy mountain of Stormspike. She's closely associated with snow and coldness.
995* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: She's played with a certain degree of sympathy; her desire to destroy the world comes from the dreadful ennui of eternal life coupled with a hatred of humanity stemming from the death of her son.
996
997!'''Ingen Jegger'''
998
999A Black Rimmersman who serves Utuk'ku as her Huntsman. He hounds Simon and his friends in the first book and is defined by his loyalty to his mistress.
1000
1001* TheBeastmaster: He's the master of the monstrous Norn hounds and frequently employs them in his hunts.
1002* BoomerangBigot: There is something to be said about the fact that he has UndyingLoyalty to a non-human who wants to wipe out his entire species.
1003* {{Determinator}}: Say what you will about the man, but he will not give up. Best shown following the aftermath of the first book when he's nearly killed by a dragon, but still manages to drag himself off a mountain and back to his Queen.
1004* TheDragon: Serves as this to Utuk'ku in the first two books, being her primary agent.
1005* GoOutWithASmile: He dies smiling at Simon's hands, happy that he had succeeded in fulfilling his task of [[spoiler:assassinating Amerasu.]]
1006* PsychoSupporter: He may be human, but he's completely devoted to the genocidal Norn Queen.
1007* ScarilyCompetentTracker: He manages to track Simon and his friends all over the kingdom.
1008* UndyingLoyalty: Despite being a human, his only desire is to serve the Norn Queen.
1009* YouHaveFailedMe: Inverted. Following his defeat in the first book, he actually begs Utuk'ku to kill him for failing her. Instead, she, painfully, peers into his memories and decides the failure wasn't his fault, restoring his status and giving him a new mission to redeem himself.
1010[[/folder]]
1011
1012[[folder: Norns]]
1013
1014!'''All Norns'''
1015
1016* TheAgeless: Same as their cousins the Sithi, they long ago discovered the secret of immortality, which has to do with witchwood. In fact, they don't live forever. Instead, they merely age very, ''very'' slowly.
1017* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: Norn society is centered entirely around their queen, who is the Norns' political, cultural and religious leader and considered infallible. One's status and chances of advancement are completely dependent on one's favor with the queen and her family as well as one's compliance with the rules, which results in an abundance of spies (called "whisperers") and a constant risk to be deemed recalcitrant, which carries extremely harsh penalties. Essentially, life in Nakkiga is like a mixture of a religious cult and a highly authoritarian political system such as that of North Korea.
1018* FeudingFamilies: With the Sithi.
1019* IceQueen: Not only their queen, the entire Norn species is like this. Considered the norm.
1020* MysticalWhiteHair: All Norns have white hair, which they usually wear long.
1021* TheProudElite: What all Norns aspire to be.
1022* TheStoic: Stoic composure is a staple of Norn society.
1023
1024!'''Akhenabi'''
1025
1026The chief of the Norn Singers and a highly regarded (and feared) advisor to Queen Utuk'ku.
1027
1028* TheDreaded: Even among the Norns he's regarded with fear.
1029* EvilSorceror: Singers are essentially magicians, and Akhenabi is their cruel and ruthless leader.
1030* OneSceneWonder: In ''Literature/MemorySorrowAndThorn'', where he leads the Norns occupying Naglimund and uses necromancy to reanimate a number of dead human soldiers.
1031* TimeAbyss: One of the "Landborn", the first generation of ''Keida'ya'' born after their arrival in Osten Ard from the fabled Lost Garden.
1032
1033!'''Viyeki sey-Enduya'''
1034
1035High Magister of the Order of Builders, father of Nezeru, husband of Khimabu and lover of Tzoja.
1036
1037* HiddenHeartOfGold: Which he only shows to Tzoja.
1038* PunchClockVillain: Serves his Queen (who is prosecuting a war of genocide on mortals) with devotion, but has yet to do anything especially villainous himself.
1039* StarcrossedLovers: His relationship with Tjoza has shades of this throughout Books One and Two.
1040
1041!'''Nezeru Seyt-Enduya'''
1042
1043Daughter of Lord Viyeki and his mistress Tzoja, member of Makho’s Talon sent out by Queen Utuk'ku. She is the grand-daughter of [[spoiler: Prince Josua]].
1044
1045* DefrostingIceQueen: Begins to undergo this when Jarnulf asks her some hard questions about Norn society (which ends up softening her a little towards mortals), [[spoiler: and is accelerated after spending time with Prince Morgan when she takes him prisoner in Da'ai Chikiza.]]
1046* HalfHumanHybrid: Her mother is the human slave Tzoja and her father is the Norn noble Viyeki. She is one of the results of the Norns' repopulation scheme.
1047* InterspeciesRomance: [[spoiler:Attempted with Jarnulf. Consumated with Morgan]]
1048* LossOfIdentity: Admits to Morgan that she hasn't been sure of her role in the world since leaving her Talon.
1049* PatrioticFervor: For the Hikeda'ya and their Queen, at least at first.
1050* HalfBreedAngst: Despises her mother's "mortal weakness".
1051* NotSoStoic: When she is hurt and at her wits end when she and Morgan are lost in Narrowdark Valley.
1052* SexualTension: Has this with both [[spoiler:Jarnulf and Morgan]]
1053* WouldntHurtAChild: She spares the life of a child even though she knows the kid will alert its village to the approach of Nezeru and her comrades.
1054
1055!'''Khimabu'''
1056
1057Wife of Viyeki.
1058
1059* TheBaroness: The wife to Viyeki and daughter of an old family, she's envious and not too reluctant to use force or scheme to achieve her goals.
1060
1061!'''Muyare sey-Iyora'''
1062
1063High Magister of the Order of Sacrifice.
1064
1065* ForcedToWatch: As his granddaughter is sacrificed.
1066
1067!'''Jijibo the Dreamer'''
1068
1069A relative of Utuk'ku, who is a seer and seems to have some designs of his own. Called "The Dreamer".
1070
1071* MadOracle: Seems like this because of his odd ways and lack of "verbal filter".
1072
1073!'''Prince Templar Pratiki'''
1074
1075A nephew of Utuk'ku, a well-regarded Norn noble.
1076
1077* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Some of his conversations with Viyeki seem to indicate that he isn't fully satisfied with how ''Hikede'ya'' society is run, and is worried about the future. He also values Viyeki's input even though the Order of Builders isn't afforded the same respect as the Order of Song (essentially mages) and the Order of Sacrifice (warriors).
1078
1079!'''Saomeji'''
1080
1081A half-breed and member of the Order of Song, as well as a favorite of Akhenabi and member of Makho’s Talon that is sent out to capture a living dragon.
1082
1083* HalfHumanHybrid: A half-breed between a Norn and a human, same as Nezeru.
1084
1085!'''Makho'''
1086* TheStoic: Mostly excepts for some fits of anger.
1087* UngratefulBastard: Does not show the slightest gratitude to Nezeru or [[spoiler: Jarnulf.]]
1088
1089!'''Kemme'''
1090
1091Friend of Makho and a member of his Talon sent out by Queen Utuk'ku.
1092
1093* NumberTwo: To Makho.
1094* OldSoldier: Almost all Norns are ancient by human standards. Kemme in particular fulfills the troupe due to his service in the first failed War of Return and his involvement in the defense of Nagakia gate.
1095* HotBlooded: If he had his say, Nezeru would be dead, but his loyality to Makho stays his hand.
1096
1097[[/folder]]

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