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The characters of ''Literature/TheInkworldTrilogy''. Additions welcomed.

[[foldercontrol]]

!!Earth Characters

[[folder:Mortimer "Mo" Folchart]]
A bookbinder with the ability to "read" characters from books to life. Meggie's father.
----
%%* ActionDad
* ActionHero: Is this at the end of Inkspell and during the entirety of Inkdeath, out of necessity because of the enemies that threaten his family and countless innocent people.
* AffectionateNickname: His wife and daughter call him Mo. His full name is Mortimer.
%%* AllLovingHero
* AnOfferYouCantRefuse: Death’s death with Mo in ''Inkdeath''. He must bring her the Adderhead by springtime or she will kill him, Meggie and Dustfinger instead.
* BabiesEverAfter: Resa gives birth to her and Mo’s second child months after the events of ''Inkdeath''.
* BadassBookworm: After undergoing some CharacterDevelopment and taking on the role of the Bluejay, he gradually becomes more of a badass, including learning his way around a sword.
* BadassInDistress: Is captured by the Adderhead's men in ''Inkdeath'' and has to be rescued by Dustfinger and Resa. In ''The Colour of Revenge'' [[spoiler: he becomes trapped in a painted book as part of Orpheus' revenge.]]
* BadLiar: He’s not very good at lying, because his thoughts and emotions tend to show clearly on his face. Resa once said that his face is like an open book.
* BecomingTheMask: Mo becomes the Bluejay, much to the distress of his wife and daughter.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Mo is usually a very nice, goofy and nerdy guy with a kind heart but has a ruthless streak that only grows more noticeable in Inkdeath. However, he is also the one who kills Capricorn when Meggie can’t bring herself to do it, and he deliberately makes the Adderhead rot when he is binding the White Book for him.
%%* BigDamnHeroes: He, the Black Prince and Farid ride to Ombra and save Resa from being assaulted by thugs in ''Inkdeath''.
* BlessedWithSuck: How he views his powers, which robbed him of his wife years ago. He gets over it eventually, but he ''never'' reads out loud to Meggie.
* {{Bookworm}}: The first book notes that his house is stacked with books and they pile up everywhere. Of course, his job is repairing books, so a love for them is a given.
* CameBackStrong: In ''Inkdeath'', he's revived and is a lot stronger.
* CastingGag: Brenden Fraser is stated to be the vocal inspiration for him. Not only does he take up that role in the movie but also did the audio book for ''Inkspell''.
* CharacterDevelopment: Gets a whopping dose, especially in the last book. In the first book, he's a goofy and loving dad, if sad underneath, and while he may be physically imposing, he's a thoroughly nerdy Non-Action Guy. He starts to undergo some alarming changes in book 2, and by book 3 he is a complete badass, and sometimes just an ass. He finally does find a happy medium, though, going back to his old life as much as he can.
* {{Claustrophobia}}: Gains a fear of chains and prisons after his time imprisoned in the Castle of the Night.
* ColdBloodedTorture: Is brutally tortured by Orpheus--to the point of near-suicide--in the Castle on the Lake in ''Inkdeath''.
* CurtainsMatchTheWindow: Brown hair and brown eyes.
* {{Determinator}}: Refuses to give up even when it seems like finding the White Book and writing the three words in it is a lost cause. Justified as if he gives up he is dead anyway and so are Meggie and Dustfinger, due to the deal Death gave him.
* DrivenToSuicide: Almost happens to him in the dungeons of the Castle in the Lake, while he's being tortured by Orpheus.
* FamedInStory: In ''Inkspell'' and ''Inkdeath'', he becomes known as the Bluejay and chooses to literally take up the mantle and [[BecomingTheMask become the mask]].
* FireForgedFriends: With the Black Prince and Dustfinger.
* HappilyMarried: To Resa, before her disappearance and after her return.
%%* TheHero: Eventually, in Book 3.
* HeroicBSOD: Has this in a huge way in Inkdeath when he is being tortured by Orpheus.
* HeroicSacrifice: A non-fatal version. He gives himself up to the Piper in ''Inkdeath'' to save the children of Ombra from being sent to the mines.
* HopeBringer: Is this to the people of the Inkworld who are being terrorised by the Adderhead and his men.
* IChooseToStay: He grows to love the Inkworld during the three months between Inkspell and Inkdeath and doesn’t want to leave when Resa begs him. When he asks Orpheus to write words that will take his family home to Elinor’s house, he deliberately tells him to write words for Resa and Meggie and not for him.
* IntrepidFictioneer: Travels into Inkheart in ''Inkspell'', though not of his own volition.
* IWillWaitForYou: He never stopped believing that he would one day find his lost wife.
* MeaningfulName: His full name is Mortimer. Becomes very relevant once he becomes a robber and starts killing people nightly. He is also the one who kills Capricorn in Inkheart/the first book.
* NiceGuy: Compared to some of the other heroes - who can at times be petty and selfish - Mo is the straightest example of this.
* NonActionGuy: Despite being physically imposing (he was noted to be taller than Capricorn, much to the latter's distaste), he is peace-loving and opposed to violence. The sequels have him grow out of this of necessity.
* NoOneShouldSurviveThat: As said by multiple characters in Inkspell and Inkdeath, Mo should’ve died from the gunshot wound Mortola gave him. It’s likely the only reason he survived was because Meggie read aloud the words Fenoglio wrote to save him.
* ObliviousToLove: Does not realise that Violante is seriously attracted to him until she offers to make him Prince of Ombra and suggests he send away his wife so that they can be together.
* PapaWolf: He makes sure not to let anything happen to his daughter.
* PastExperienceNightmare: In ''Inkdeath'', Mo is said to have recurring nightmares. This isn't surprising, considering that he has been shot, imprisoned, threatened, and basically has had his whole life change in the space of a few months. Both he and Resa cannot stand closed spaces after being imprisoned in the Castle of Night.
* RetiredBadass: He officially lays his Bluejay role to rest and goes back to being a bookbinder post-''Inkdeath''.
* StartingANewLife: Eventually settles into a new life in the Inkworld with his family, becoming a famous bookbinder.
* {{Soulbond}}: Has one with Dustfinger after he brings him back from the dead. Mo can sense Dustfinger’s presence and telepathically communicate with him, while Dustfinger can read Mo’s heart like a book. It’s unknown whether this connection lasts after the events of ''Inkdeath''.
* SurprisePregnancy: He and Resa don’t find out about Resa’s pregnancy until they are living in the Inkworld. They are overjoyed about it.
* TallDarkAndHandsome: He is one of the tallest characters around, has dark brown hair and handsome features.
* ViolentlyProtectiveBoyfriend: Kills the Piper after he stabs at Resa-the-bird during the climax of ''Inkdeath''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Meggie Folchart]]
Daughter of Mo and Resa, and the hero of the story.
----
* BlessedWithSuck: Like her father, she's a Silvertongue.
* {{Bookworm}}: She loves reading so much that she reads by candlelight in the first book.
%%* CharacterDevelopment
* ClingyJealousGirl: A toned-down platonic version. Meggie is shown being jealous of her mother after she comes back because she takes her father’s attention away from her.
* ConditionedToAcceptHorror: Or Injustice. Implied to have happened to Meggie during the three months between Inkspell and Inkdeath. Lampshaded by Mo when he asks her if one can get used to the sight of a young boy trapped in a pillory.
* DaddysGirl: Loves her father dearly and always supports him.
* DemotedToExtra: Always prominent in the plot, Meggie nonetheless diminishes in significance after the first book, going from TheProtagonist to SupportingProtagonist. A common criticism of Book 3 is that her ''only'' {{Arc}} was "choosing between two suitors".
* TheHero: In Book 1, and arguably in Book 2 (which is more of an Ensemble piece). However, she's demoted in ''Inkdeath''.
* InSeriesNickname: Her real name is Margaret, but Mo and everyone else call her "Meggie".
* KidHero: She serves as this for the first two books.
* LittleMissBadass: She takes some bold risks with Capricorn and his men.
* MoralityPet: She becomes one for Dustfinger in the first book.
%%* PluckyGirl
* StrongFamilyResemblance: She looks just like her mother.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Dustfinger]]
A man with the ability to control fire from one of Mo's books. He is drawn to the real world, where he makes his living by busking.
----
* AdaptationDyeJob: He’s described as a redhead in the book series, but is made a blond in the film.
* AdaptationPersonalityChange: In the film, he's more ambitious about getting home than he was in the book. He's given a more villainous air when he tries to get Mo to read him back into the book.
* AntiHero: Type IV. He was willing to sell out Mo just to return home. However, he decides to help Mo and Meggie escape after Capricorn betrayed him.
* BackFromTheDead: Is brought back from the realm of death by Mo in ''Inkdeath'', after a bargain is reached with Death to let him go. However, there is a catch: if Mo does not kill the Adderhead by writing the special three words into the white book before spring comes, Dustfinger will die at the same time as Mo and Meggie.
* TheBigGuy: Somewhat, during the first two books before he ascends to TheLancer.
* CameBackStrong: Dustfinger acquires new abilities to play with fire after returning from death. [[spoiler: One, the ability to leave his body at will, comes in handy during the Inkdeath climax.]]
* CharacterDevelopment: Starting out as mysterious and decent, but easily scared and cowardish, he starts to grow more of a spine, especially when his daughter's life is on the line.
* CynicalMentor: To Farid. At first he doesn't even want to have him around, but due to the boys stubbornness he relents and starts tutoring him. He maintains a rough edge and tries his best to hide his growing fondness of him.
* DisappearedDad: He left two daughters (and his wife, Roxane) behind in the 'Inkworld' when Mo read him out. [[spoiler: One has since died of illness.]]
* FamedInStory: In his book he is popular for his exceptional skill with fire. They call him Fire-Dancer for good reason.
* GoodScarsEvilScars: Dustfinger has three scars stretching across his face in books one and two, a result of Basta's deadly jealousy and rage. After he comes back from death, however, his scars have been washed away. Dustfinger comments to Farid that surprisingly enough, Roxane actually seems to miss them.
* GuileHero: While he usually isn't much of a fighter, Dustfinger is clever and often knows how to play people (especially Basta) to get what he wants.
* HeroicSacrifice: In the actual story, Dustfinger gave up his life to save Gwin. [[spoiler:In ''Inkspell'', he does this to save Farid from being killed by Basta.]]
* IntergenerationalFriendship: He develops a close friendship with Meggie and Farid, both who are young enough to be his children. [[spoiler:His relationship with the latter causes him to perform a HeroicSacrifice.]]
%%* IntrepidFictioneer
* IWillWaitForYou: In all his time in our world, not once did he forget about Roxane. Well, unless you count his relationship with Resa.
%%* TheLancer: Becomes this to Mo in Book 3.
* LikeASonToMe: Dustfinger gradually warms up to Farid and eventually performs a HeroicSacrifice for him because he can't bare his loss.
* LovableTraitor: He's a pretty likable guy, even though he turns Mo and Meggie over to the BigBad. Justified, in that Dustfinger holds no true loyalty towards Capricorn but has been on earth for ten years now and became desperate enough to believe in Capricorn's promise. The moment he breaks his promise to Dustfinger he turns on him and frees the heroes instead.
* MrExposition: He provides his backstory to Meggie with a ''lot'' of dialogue.
* PapaWolf: His main motivation to get back in his story is so that he'll be with his family again. Dustfinger is devastated when he finds out his younger daughter died during his absence and is willing to die in order to protect his elder daughter. He also performs a HeroicSacrifice for Farid who basically became his adopted son.
* PlayingWithFire: Dustfinger is a fire-eater, and as such can play around with fire without getting burnt. He's called the 'Fire-Dancer' in the Inkworld and is held in high regard. After his return from death he gains otherworldly gifts which he uses when he is handling fire.
* ScarsAreForever: [[spoiler: Until ''Inkdeath'', where they're erased.]]
* TheStoic: Dustfinger is usually pretty good at hiding his true feelings from other people. However...
** NotSoStoic: [[spoiler: In ''Inkspell'', when Farid is killed, he can´t bear it and exchanges his life for Farid's.]]
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: After his fateful encounter with Basta he has a deep dislike for knives. While he owns one he only ever uses it for slashing tires and threatening people until he can make a run for it.
* WildCard: Because he keeps to himself and is primarily on his own side, no one knows what to expect from him.
* YouCannotFightFate: He tries to divert from his original fate when he reenters the book in ''Inkspell''. [[spoiler: He still follows through with his HeroicSacrifice, only for Farid instead of Gwin.]]
** It's suggested by Farid in the film adaptation that he does escape this since Gwin isn't there.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Elinor]]
Meggie's great-aunt, and Resa's aunt. She lives in a grand house in Italy which is filled with priceless and old books.
----
* {{Bookworm}}: She has a wide collection of books and deems every one of them to be extremely valuable.
* BreakTheHaughty: Goes through this after Capricorn burns her house and precious books down. However, she bounces back.
* CharacterDevelopment: She starts off as a crabby old woman who lived alone and starts to warm up to her niece's family.
* DeadpanSnarker: Several characters noted her sharp tongue, and Elinor tends to be quite outspoken even in the face of danger and lets everyone have a piece of her mind.
* DefrostingIceQueen: Starts off as an aloof old lady who wants to be left alone but opens up when she starts to care about her great-niece and her niece’s husband.
* FireForgedFriends: With Darius.
%%* HeroicBSOD: Descends into this after
* MaidenAunt: Never married or had children; she is also aunt to Resa.
* ParentalNeglect: Her father cared more about books than his family and constantly shut himself up in his library. When he died his daughters barely noticed his absence.
* ProperlyParanoid: When Dustfinger agrees to take Meggie to Capricorn's village, Elinor insists that she go with them because she doesn't trust Dustfinger. [[spoiler: Turns out she's right, as Dustfinger ends up betraying them to Capricorn.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Farid]]
A boy Mo read out of ''The Arabian Nights'' in ''Inkheart''. Dustfinger took him under his wing and taught him to play with fire.
----
%%* AntiHero: Type IV
* BackFromTheDead: Is resurrected from the dead after being fatally wounded at the end of ''Inkspell''. However it comes at the cost of Dustfinger's life.
%%* CharacterDevelopment
* HeroWorshipper: He admires Dustfinger a great deal. [[spoiler:His devotion to the man causes him to completely ignore Meggie, which leads to their breakup.]]
%%* TheLancer: To Meggie, especially during Book 2.
%%* NaiveNewcomer
* RomanticFalseLead: His interactions with Meggie imply that they will eventually develop a romance. [[spoiler: As of ''Inkdeath'', they have, but they break it off.]]
* TookALevelInJerkass: He becomes significantly unlikeable in ''Inkdeath'' after he has started dating Meggie. Rather than devote his attention and devotion to her, he goes after other girls and focuses all his attention on Dustfinger. [[spoiler: Unsurprisingly, this leads to Meggie leaving him for Doria.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Teresa "Resa" Folchart]]
Mo's wife and Meggie's mother who disappeared when Meggie was three years old.
----
* AbsenceMakesTheHeartGoYonder: Averted. Even though she is separated from Mo for ten years she never forgets him or moves on from him. She did have something with Dustfinger but she remained emotionally faithful to Mo.
* BabiesEverAfter: After the events of ''Inkdeath'', she and Mo have a son who remains nameless in the epilogue.
%%* {{Bookworm}}
* {{Claustrophobia}}: Has a fear of enclosed spaces and prisons after being held captive for so many years.
* CuteMute: Is a beautiful lady who lost her voice after being read out of the Inkworld by Darius. She regains it when she returns to the Inkworld in ''Inkspell''.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Was trapped in Inkheart because of her husband’s voice, and experienced a lot of pain and hardship during her time away.
* FireForgedFriends: With Dustfinger.
* HappyEndingOverride: Just because she is finally free and reunited with her family doesn’t mean everything went back to the way it would’ve been if she’d never left. Though Meggie does get to know Resa and likes her, she favours her father a lot more. Their relationship is not as strong as it would’ve been and gets broken after Mo disappears while trying to contact the White Women in ''Inkdeath'', as Meggie blames her for what happened to Mo.
* HappilyMarried: To Mo, before her disappearance and after her return.
* IntrepidFictioneer: Travels into Inkheart (voluntarily this time) in the second book, along with Mo, Mortola and Basta in ''Inkspell''.
* IWillWaitForYou: She remained faithful to her husband, even when separated from him for years.
* MadeASlave: Was enslaved by Mortola after she was discovered to be a woman.
* MissingMom: In Book 1, due to [[TrappedInAnotherWorld having been sucked into "Inkheart"]] years ago.
* MorningSickness: In Book 3, because she is pregnant with her and Mo’s second child.
%%* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Has this in a big way after
%%* PluckyGirl
* ShapeShifting: [[spoiler: Gains the ability to shapeshift into an animal after she obtains Mortola's berries and puts them in her mouth in ''Inkdeath''. Transformation type, she turns into a swift]].
* SweetPollyOliver: Disguised herself as a man for years after she was first trapped in the Inkworld.
* TrappedInAnotherWorld: Was sucked into “Inkheart” by her husband Mo nine years before the beginning of the series and didn’t have the means to get herself back out. After becoming one of Capricorn’s maids she was eventually read back into the real world by Darius.
* WhatTheHellHero: Gives one to Mo in ''Inkdeath''.
* WholesomeCrossdresser: Her first time in the Inkworld had her in men's clothing, which is fairly unusual there.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fenoglio]]
The author of the in-universe book ''Inkheart'', which he named after the black heart of Capricorn.
----
* AGodAmI: In a sense, he's kind of right. He's created several characters with their own unique backstories and he has designed each of their fates.
* BreakTheHaughty: He's very conceited and is proud of what his writing has accomplished. However, there are moments where he realizes that he and everyone are in danger because of his work.
* CharacterDevelopment
* CreatorBreakdown: In-universe. He used to be so proud of what he had done as a writer. Once he begins to look at his world, that pride slowly diminishes.
* HeroicBSOD: He descends further into one the more out of control his own story's plot goes.
* {{Jerkass}}: At times, and always appropriately called out on it.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He's a bit selfish, but he cares about his grandchildren and Meggie when they're in danger.
* MrExposition: He happily explains everything he knows about his characters, thus proving to them that he is indeed their creator.
%%* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Unfortunately for Fenoglio, the Stormtrooper Effect does not exist in the Inkworld...
%%* TheSmartGuy
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Darius]]
A shy Silvertongue with a stutter that damages the characters he reads out of books.
----
* {{Bookworm}}: A given; all people with his abilities are shown to be avid book readers.
* ShrinkingViolet: Darius is demure and timid.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Orpheus]]
A passionate {{Bookworm}} who uses his abilities for personal advancement.
----
* AGodAmI: Is very egomaniacal when he gets to the Inkworld, even comparing himself to a god.
* AWolfInSheepsClothing: Presents himself as an inoffensive and sensitive {{Fanboy}}. He's actually extremely entitled and one of the most dangerous people in the saga.
* AmbiguouslyBi: His interest for Dustfinger is ''very'' intense and seems romantic in nature. However, when he rejects him and Orpheus arrives in Inkheart he mainly pursues women.
%%* {{Bookworm}}: Like his peer Silvertongues.
* CampStraight: Is very fixated on his appearance, decoration and luxury, and he's very flamboyant and a bit feminine, but he only shows explicit love interest for women.
* CasanovaWannabe: Proposes to [[spoiler: Violante]] but is promptly rejected, and is implied to molest his maids.
* TheDandy: As soon as he gets money one of his priorities turns out to be fancy clothes.
* {{Fanboy}}: His love for Inkheart and Dustfinger is genuine, and the flip side, like with many real-life fandoms, is his entitlement over his beloved story.
* GreenEyedMonster: Is jealous of Dustfinger's affection for Farid and purposefully leaves the boy in Earth.
* HomoeroticSubtext: His obsession for Dustfinger and his reaction when he's faced with rejection are much more logical if seen in a romantic light.
* IJustWantToBeSpecial: He has an overblown ego due to being a Silvertongue and he truly believes that he's superior. Being compared to Meggie infuriates him to no end. He also uses his abilities and knowledge of Earth technology to achieve fame and power once he gets to the Inkworld.
* InferioritySuperiorityComplex: He has a very fragile ego and self-image, despite his grandiose demeanour and apparently overblown self-esteem.
* ItsAllAboutMe: He's extremely egotistical and self-centered.
* ManOfWealthAndTaste: Uses his powers to get power and money, and uses it to buy expensive things.
* {{Narcissist}}: The only time he thinks about other people is when he's trying to win their admiration or affection.
* SmallNameBigEgo: He wants recognition for himself and gets very upset if he feels slighted.
* SmugSnake: Although he is a force to be reckoned with, his delusions of grandeur and constant underestimating of his rivals are his greatest weaknesses.
* TheSociopath: Sees other people mostly as props to use for his own ends.
* TechnicianVsPerformer: Although every Silvertongue must have a genuine love and passion for books to have their power, Orpheus' use of his abilities is extremely technical. He catalogues and registers every word used in the novel to ensure not using out-of-place words and he always makes sure to write everything in the same style, which is partly why he could not introduce himself in the book. On the other side, Meggie's outside-of-the-box thinking and love for writing helps her discover new ways to use her power, without ever checking the original text or even reading the book.
* VillainousGlutton: As his wealth and ego grow, so does his appetite (and [[FatBastard girth]])
[[/folder]]

!!Capricorn and the Fire-Raisers

[[folder:Capricorn]]
The BigBad of ''Inkheart'' in a very literal sense.
----
* BadBoss: Despite the Fire-Raisers being unshakably loyal to him, Capricorn doesn't give a damn for any of them, stating that they're idiots for being loyal to him in the first place.
* BaldOfEvil: In the film, due to having shaved it off. It also shows there that he used to have a BeardOfEvil while living in the novel but is clean-shaven in the film itself. It's unclear how much of this holds true in the novel itself.
* BigBad: Of ''Inkheart'', both the first book and the [[NestedStory book within the book]].
* DirtyOldMan: Capricorn is implied to be one. When he first sees Meggie after 9 years he remarks that when she's 15 or 16 "She'll be a pretty little thing." Okay a little weird, but [[FromBadToWorse that's not all.]] He then makes a vague comment about how she'll be "useful to have around the place". [[FridgeHorror Uhhh... useful for what, exactly?]] But then it gets weirder, Capricorn the mentions that Meggie would have to be fattened up a little. So, this grown man sees a '''12-year-old girl''' and envisions her as a [[
%%* ConsummateLiar
%%* DiscOneFinalBoss
%%* EvilOverlord
* {{Expy}}: Of UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler ''himself'', according to WordOfGod. Holds true in-story, though it's not stated outright.
* FreudianExcuse: It's not used to ''excuse'' his actions though, just to explain them. Fenoglio even points out that while it always existed, he deliberately left it out of the story.
* FauxAffablyEvil: He can be polite and soft-spoken, but make no mistake, there is very little redeeming about him.
* IChooseToStay: Unlike Dustfinger, who wants to go back home to his family, Capricorn likes living in the real world, mostly due to their technological breakthroughs.
-->'''Capricorn:''' I love this world. Telephones, guns, and- what's that sticky stuff called?\\
'''Basta:''' Duct tape.'\\
'''Capricorn:''' Yes. Duct tape. I LOVE {{duct tape|for everything}}.
* KarmicDeath: He's destroyed by his own monster by the end of ''Inkheart''.
%%* LackOfEmpathy
* MeaningfulRename: After the constellation he was born under. His birth name is never revealed.
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: He underwent a MeaningfulRename, most likely because he wanted to recreate his identity.
* TheSociopath: He's cold and calculative, has no remorse for harming children and makes people bend to his will by using their loved ones.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Basta]]
One of Capricorn's fire-raisers, often forced to do his dirty work.
----
%%* AnimalMotifs: Foxes.
* ArchEnemy: To Dustfinger. They fought for Roxane's affections, only to have Roxane choose Dustfinger over him. He retaliated by cutting up his face.
%%* CameBackWrong: [[spoiler:Deliberately, thanks to [[SmugSnake Orpheus]].]]
* TheDragon: To Capricorn in Book 1, to Mortola onwards.
* DragonAscendant: Subverted, he doesn't actually lead Capricorn's fireraisers after his demise, due to the fact that most of them perished in Inkheart. He instead acts as TheHeavy, in terms of having a more active role on the frontline (compared to [[BigBadEnsemble Mortola and the Silver Prince]].)
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Unlike the other Fireraisers, Basta - despite his capacity for evil and cruelty - isn't really a sadist, nor does he KickTheDog (certainly not ForTheEvulz). Even Dustfinger acknowledges this. It may explain why he wasn't [[spoiler: erased/killed in the first book's climax]], as well.
* HeroKiller: In ''Inkspell'', he kills off [[spoiler:Cloud-Dancer, and later Farid. The latter is revived only by Dustfinger's HeroicSacrifice, and he in turn is only revived by Mo BalancingDeathsBooks and ensuring the Silver Prince dies as part of a bargain.]]
* KilledOffForReal: For emphasis, [[spoiler:he CameBackWrong in ''Inkdeath'' and was then defeated in a way that, at the very least, ensures he's dead for good.]]
* KnightOfCerebus: With the exception of sequences when he's incapacitated, he raised the threat level considerably. Though he doesn't actually harm anyone in the first book, in the second he kills [[spoiler:[[MauveShirt Cloud-Dancer]]]] mid-way through the book, before pulverising PlotArmour by [[spoiler:knifing Farid]]. In the third book, he is [[spoiler:brought back by Orpheus as a Night-Mare, and is more dangerous than ever until Dustfinger realises who he really is and uses it to put him down for good.]]
* PsychoKnifeNut: He really, ''really'' likes his knife.
* StartOfDarkness: According to Fenoglio, he has one of these, which is actually surprisingly sympathetic.
* TermsOfEndangerment: He frequently calls Meggie "sweetheart" in the books. In the film, he mockingly calls her "princess".
* WouldHurtAChild: He's not above hurting Meggie, Farid or Fenoglio's grandchildren.
* YouNeedABreathMint: He chews on mint leaves because a girl he tried to court complained about his breath.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Mortola the Magpie]]
Keeper of the keys for Capricorn. Oh, and also his mother.
----
* BerserkButton: Insult her son and you will regret it.
* BigBadEnsemble: With the Silver Prince in the second and third books, although she verges more on BigBadWannabe.
* DisneyVillainDeath: She averts one in the first book, but she, along with Basta, are killed in the second book.
** In the movie, she's one of the first people to die in the climax.
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: She loves her son, which is why she assists him in his plans. She also plots her revenge for Capricorn's death.
%%* EvilMatriarch
%%* EvilOldFolks
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: She wounds Mo for killing her son, Capricorn.
[[/folder]]

!!Inkworld Bandits

[[folder:Roxane]]
Dustfinger's beautiful wife. Once a minstrel woman, she is now a healer and lives on a farm not far away from Ombra.
----
* AbsenceMakesTheHeartGoYonder: By the time Dustfinger finally returns home, he's been gone a decade, and Roxane has a son (by another man) who is nearly that old, so she can't have waited for him very long.
* DudeMagnet: She attracted Basta and Dustfinger's affections prior to her backstory. During the time that her husband is gone, she formed another relationship.
* IWillWaitForYou: Somewhat straight. She fell in love with another man in the time that Dustfinger was gone. However, once he returns, she gradually accepts him back.
%%* RavenHairIvorySkin
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Black Prince]]
A hero in the Inkworld, and Dustfinger's oldest friend. He is the leader of the strolling players and is always followed by his faithful bear.
%%----
%%* BlackKnight: Somewhat.
%%* TheGhost: His two younger sisters.%%Are what?
%%* FamedInStory: Among the inhabitants of Inkworld.
%%* TheLancer: In Book 3.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Doria]]
A young member of the Black Prince's robber camp.
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* GadgeteerGenius: He's known for his knack for creating devices. It's implied by Fenoglio that he'll grow up to become a famous inventor, with many of his inventions inspired by [[spoiler:his wife Meggie's stories about the real world]].
* NiceGuy: He's always there when the others need a hand.
%%* SecondLove: [[spoiler:Becomes this for Meggie.]]%%Becomes what? How?
* SuperStrongChild: He's often stated to be rather strong for his age, stronger than Farid at least.
[[/folder]]

!!Inkworld Royalty

[[folder:Princess Violante]]
The princess of Ombra, daughter of the villainous Adderhead and wife of the heroic prince Cosimo. A cold young woman with a love for books and stories.
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* AbsurdlyYouthfulMother: At fourteen, she is the mother of a 5/6 year old. [[WritersCannotDoMath It doesn't add up quite well]].
%%* AChildShallLeadThem
* DaddysLittleVillain: Presented as this to Mo and Meggie, although she strives to be different from her father.
* TheGrotesque: Has a facial birthmark that disfigures her face. [[spoiler:It disappears in ''Inkdeath'', but it leads to an identity crisis on her behalf]].
* GuileHero: More like a Guile AntiHero, but she still tries to do the best for her people trough politics and cunning.
* HotGuyUglyWife: The scarred Violante was married to the handsome Cosimo.
* LivingEmotionalCrutch: Brianna is implied to be akin to this for her, and she struggles to keep her emotions in check without her.
* ParentalNeglect: Suffered it from her father and now does it to Jacopo.
* ToughLeaderFacade: Forces herself to appear emotionless in order to not be seen as fragile.
* WritersCannotDoMath: She's theoretically fourteen, which means that she must have given birth to her son when she was around nine years old.
** While unlikely, this is possible with early puberty. The youngest mother ever in real life was only five years old.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Prince Jacopo]]
The heir of Ombra, a cruel and capricious little boy who wants to be respected like his grandfather.
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* EnfantTerrible: He is prone to violence and tantrums, and has no qualms about threatening people with torture or death.
* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas: Jacopo desperately wants love and attention from his mum. [[spoiler:Seeing her suffer is one of the things that makes him betray the Adderhead]].
* KidsAreCruel: Jacopo is one of the most petty and violent characters in the saga.
* ParentalNeglect: Violante ignores Jacopo as much as she can, focusing on her reading.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Prince Cosimo]]
The prince of Ombra, who's dead by the time our protagonists get to the kingdom.
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* BackFromTheDead: [[spoiler:But not for long]]]
* BrainlessBeauty: Although he is not dumb per se, he was completely disinterested in any intellectual activity.
* HotBlooded: He was quite impulsive and jumped to decisions and actions without thinking them through.
%%* NiceJobBreakingItHero: His impulsive rebellion against the Adderhead gets him killed along with many of the kingdom's soldiers and conscripts.
* ParentalNeglect: Is implied to have had as little interest in Jacopo as his wife.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Brianna]]
Violante's maid and best friend, Brianna is the daughter of Dustfinger and fell in love with Cosimo.
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%%* DemotedToExtra: While she didn't appear much in ''Inkspell'', she has even less relevance in ''Inkdeath''.
* FriendVersusLover: Brianna is in love with her best friend's husband. Violante is very much hurt by this and is jealous of both Cosimo (who gets time and attention from Brianna) and Brianna (who gets the love from Cosimo Violante could never have).
* LivingEmotionalCrutch: Was implied to be a downplayed version of this for the quite emotionally stunted Violante, which is why she was so hurt by her affair.
* TheLostLenore: Cosimo is this for her.
* TheMistress: For Cosimo. They're implied to have had a stable relationship.
* SoBeautifulItsACurse: Brianna's beauty never ends up helping her, but it does attract trouble.
[[/folder]]
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