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Ishtar
The Heroine of the story, an eleven-year-old with an unbriddled imagination and no sense of ridicule who ends up in an alternate dimension, courtesy of her mysterious grandmother's shenanigans.
- Buffy Speak: She tends to use her own words to describe the new things she encounters in Ki. She never fully grows out of it, though, so it's not so much a matter of not remembering the right terms, but not bothering to use them.
- The Empath: As part of her inherent abilities, Ishtar develops a high level of extrasensorial empathy. It shines the brightest when she comes across the xibit colony and, deeply moved by their grief, steps in to save the life of their dying member. The bond they establish with her is so strong that the xibits start following her across the world throughout multiple adventures.
- The moment when Ishtar reached the highest level of Empathy was also a show of strength and power, being able to detect a flimsy threat of anger from many days past and finding it's present match in the whirpool of feelings that is the whole city of Shapla in order to identify the person who felt it originally.
- Fluffy Tamer: The Tidnums are being attacked by a giant beast, a freakish fuzz of fur and fangs the size of a hill... And all of a sudden in comes Ishtar, a tiny Ziti cub, who easily subdues the monster and starts giving it a belly rub! It certainly helps that said monster was in fact Grati, Ishtar's cat, who has fallen by accident into a fawlty dimensional portal that has increased her size tenfold.
- Genki Girl: She certainly qualifies, what with having way more energy she knows what to do with.
- Identical Grandson: Everyone Ishtar meets in Ki remarks how similar she looks to her grandmother Nírgal, to the point that it becomes a running gag. That includes appearance, personality and wardrobe taste, but not raw power, as Nírgal was a once-in-a-generation child prodigy and Ishtar struggles to keep up with her training.
- Kid Hero: Her eleventh birthday kicks off the plot of the series, since it starts a countdown to pass the Oracle's Trial so that she can inherit her legacy.
- The Nicknamer: Professor Satam becomes "Satan", Lord Vansai becomes "Lord Bonsai", Monsieur Babette becomes Mr. Drooly... note . No one can be too ofended by any of this, though, because she is the queen.
- Power Incontinence: Ishtar's arrival in Ki awakens her latent abilities, including Telepathy, which she can't control at first. Thusly, she starts hearing the thoughts of random strangers, which she can't even understand because they speak a different language, but the problem comes when they start mounting up and become a hurricane of words she can't run away from.
- Screw Learning, I Have Phlebotinum!: Part of her Psychic Powers training involve leaning to read and speak the language of Ki. She gained this knowledge in the nick of time, narrowly escaping from a killer Tidnum, all because Nakki flat-out told her to figure out the way to escape on her own.
Nakki
The MentorClick here to see his adorable form
Ishtar's no-nonsense hyper-competent Mentor who guides her in the newfound dimension. He has spent the last eleven years trapped in the shape of a teddy bear, courtesy of Ishtar's grandmother, so that he would be always by her side no matter what.
- Catchphrase: He often uses the word "Exactly", which reflects his precision and efficient nature.
- The Comically Serious: Always keeps a stony face, no matter how strange the situation he finds himself in.
- Godzilla Threshold: He is a big fan of the "Desperate times call for desperate measures" mentality, and acts accordingly to tackle problems; what constitutes a "deseperate time" according to him is a bit debatable, though...
- The Good Chancellor: He's the head chancellor of the Zitis, and therefore Ishtar's main adviser and mentor. He is very loyal, extremely competent and always has her best interest at heart.
- Hiding Your Heritage: Ishtar accuses him of this at one point for not embracing his teddy bear past, to what Nakki hotly retorts his heritage has nothing to do with plushies.
- I Did What I Had to Do: He has an extensive record of these when it comes to handling problems, since he usually only focuses on the immediate results with little regard for consequences; so long it can be repaired or rebuild later on, no property damage is too great a risk in his book.
- The Mentor: As royal head chancellor, he is this to Ishtar, much to his charging. He also was Nírgal's mentor in their youth.
- No Sense of Humor: Nakki spends the whole of The Lord of Zapp reminding everyone who questions his crazy plans that he never jokes.
- Once Done, Never Forgotten: Many characters, and especially Ishtar, will never let him forget he used to be an adorable teddy bear.
- Person of Mass Destruction: A lifetime of ruthlessly achieving results by any means necessary, sometimes with explosive outcomes, has given Nakki such a reputation.
- The Plan: He's extremely good at coming up with plans on the spot. They often involve lots of explosions and property damage, but so long the goals are met he doesn't really care that much.
- Sealed Evil in a Teddy Bear: Gerard is convinced this is the case with him. After having spent 11 years trapped inside a teddy bear and realizing upon waking that he's still a plushie, Nakki is so pissed that he walks around the Sata house shouting and swearing in an incomprehensible language like he's been possessed by a very angry demon, which quite naturally scares the little boy halfway to death.
- Sink or Swim Mentor: His approach to tutoring Ishtar is to expose her to increasingly awkward and dangerous situations to see if she can manage.
- The Spock: Always very calm and composed, leading his actions through logic rather than emotion, even when all hell's breaking loose around him.
- Throw Down the Bomblet: He uses this tactic in a car chase while still on Earth, leaving behind a huge crater that The Men in Black have to hurry up to cover before the Earthlings notice somethin's off.
Usúmgal
The main antagonist of the Kadingir series. Usúmgal is the Lord of Zapp, the leader of the Musdagurs, who's been bent on world domination since Nírgal's youth.
- And I Must Scream: He was transformed into a teddy bear, but instead of being left dormant (like Nakki was), he's left awake, unable to move or use his powers.
- Astral Projection: He's an expert of this, using them for every battle and even giving a Balcony Speech from his own castle. Legend has it he's never left his castle ever since his coronation.
- Big Bad: Usúmgal, the lord of the Musdagurs, is the main antagonist throughout the series.
- Evil Overlord: Rules over Ganzer with an iron fist, and has an increasing number of rebelions knocking at his doorstep because of it.
- Evil Tower of Ominousness: The Castle of Zapp is a grim concrete fortress towering over the city where the Lord of Zapp plots his schemes, directs his armies and breaks his furniture when things don't go his way.
- Gentleman Adventurer: He poses as Lord Noish Vansai, amateur biologist and gentleman of leisure, in The Fourth Power in order to get close to Ishtar and exact his vengance... But due to the strange effect Nuzua has on him, he gradually loses his mind until he ends up fully Becoming the Mask.
- Lizard Folk: The King of the lizards!
- Sealed Evil in a Can: Golik traps him inside a pink, fluffy, tutu-wearing teddy bear at the end of The Lord of Zapp.
- Shoot the Messenger: Usúmgal's standard reaction to bad news.
- Surrounded by Idiots: He feels this way, sometimes with actually good reason.Usúmgal: Well? What do we have?Evil scientist #1: Cheese sandwiches and hard-boiled udusar for lunch, my lord.Usúmgal: IMBECILE! I meant about the plan!
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: It is heavily implied his Evil Overlord tendencies were an attempt to please his father.
Gàlam
Brainless genious
A genious scientist expert in the Kadingir technology, which the Zitis use to open interdimentional portals and go from Ki to Earth and back.
- Absent-Minded Professor: He's a brilliant scientist and the most forgetful person on Ki. When he infiltrated Usúmgal's evil lab to assess his level of understanding of the Kadingir technology, he concluded that the calculations were way off and proceded to correct them on the blackboard until Golik snapped him out of his scientific enthusiasm and made him realize that he was actually helping the bad guys.
- Cool Old Guy: He is an active member of The Team even though he could easily be Ishtar's grandpa.
- Einstein Hair: Unruly, unkempt and white as snow.
- Genius Sweet Tooth: He loves hot chocolate and will order some at anytime the occasion rises, often being told that there's no time or that they've just run out of it.
- The Klutz: He isn't particularly action-inclined and can be very clumsy when he's taken out of his element. By his own admission, he feels like a fish out of water whenever he steps out of his lab.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Ultimately averted, but he was willing to let the Lord of Zapp kill him if it meant letting his friends know where Nírgal was being held captive.
- Omnidisciplinary Scientist: Combine a brilliant mind, endless curiosity and a lifespan of over 400 years, and you have an expert on anything the plot requires.
Ullah
Head literally in the clouds
One of the members of The Team, belonging to the birdlike Anzud race. She's a brave friend, a happy-go-lucky explorer and a bit of an airhead.
- Action Girl: A renowned explorer, she fought alongside Nírgal and The Team in the Climate War and is always ready to kick ass when required. Her most daring exploit was rescuing Gàlam from certain death at the hands of Usúmgal, breaking through his throne room window in a perfect dive, carrying him away and flying all the way to Murguba with a swarm of musens in hot pursuit.
- Beak Attack: She delivers a couple of them on Ziu and Vizvi when they won't stop bickering about who gets to rescue Zuk from a building on fire, while still in the building, and even after he has already passed out.
- Bird People: She is an Anzud, the descendants of eagle-like birds.
- Claustrophobia: She is extremely uneasy during the whole Nuzua expedition because the jungle is so thick that she can't even open her wings, never mind take flight. Turns out flying in that fog was the more dangerous option, though...
- Flight: Her favourite method of transportation, despite Gàlam's complaints.
- Hero Secret Service: Acts as Ishtar's bodyguard a couple times.
Nímur
"WAR!! WAAAAAR!!! HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!!"
The King of the Tidnums, Nímur is a jolly and brave young tiger-man who tags in the adventure because it sounds fun to him.
- BFS: B.F.Axe, to be more precise. Which he wields with one hand and deadly speed.
- Boisterous Bruiser: He's loud, fun and happy to face an army heads-on all by himself.
- Cat Folk: The king of the Tidnums, an eight-foot-tall humanoid feline.
- Fun Personified: The youngest member of The Team, barring Ishtar, and also one of the most upbeat.
- No Indoor Voice: When Nakki asks about Mashua, Nímur stands up before they are done talking and starts roaring and shouting from his window for him to come over. He himself admits there is no point in giving yourself a headache with telepathy when your voice can reach as far as three hills away.
- Proud Warrior Race Guy: Like all the Tidnums, he enjoys war, carnage and a good nap.
- Rousing Speech: Shakes the nerves right out of Ishtar before she enters the Oracle's Cave.
- Unusually Uninteresting Sight: When Grati falls from the sky into lake Kashkal and starts wreaking havoc amongst the Tidnums, Nímur and Mashua merely sit up from their nap to comment how that's not exactly normal, and to wonder whether it might be good for eating.
Zuk
Always keep your cool
The Chancellor of King Kuzu and an old-time friend to Nakki, he brings order and logic to The Team as well as helping Ishtar in her training with his outsanding mental power.
- Fish People: Zuk is a Kuzubi, and as such can swim flawlessly, breath in and out of water and use sonar-like language in the ocean.
- Identity Amnesia: He suffers a massive trauma in The Shapla Case and spends half the book utterly lost and defenseless, having Ullah by his side to help him.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Despite his cool demeanour, if Ullah is in danger or hurt he becomes much more passionate. This is made appearent in the text because his usual telephatic dialogue is dropped in favour of out-loud speech.
- Psychic Powers: His speciality. As a kuzubi he has a higher affinity with his mental abilities than most of his teammates, and the Chancellor Scepter gives him an extra boost.
- The Spock: As per his species, he is always very calm and emotionless, using logic to decide his actions rather than emotion.
- Squishy Wizard: Averted. Despite prefering to dispatch enemies with his Psychic Powers, he has been shown to manage well enough in hand-to-hand combat.
- Staff of Authority: He ranks as second-in-command to King Kuzu, and as such has a sceptre which helps him channel his powers.
Golik
"Help you save the world? Nah, pass."
A shady, cunning musdagur who initially seems uninterested with the heroe's quest at best, or antagonistic at worst. However, Ishtar soon discovers that there is much more to him than what meets the eye, and he becomes a valuable member of The Team... even if it is on his own terms.
- Archnemesis Dad: The Queen of Kigal shows glimpses of his youth, and how much he hated his father for being a tyrannical, paranoid genocide who turned his citizens against the Sutums for being the wrong kind of reptile.
- Cool Shades: You'll never see him without them.
- The Cynic: He is very negative in regards to the world, and doesn't care who knows it.
- Iconic Outfit: In his attempt to distance himself as much as possible from his past and his people, Golik has long since ditched the traditional Musdagur dark tunics and cloaks in favour of eye-piercing colorful hawaiian-style shirt and pants, making him very easy to spot in a crowd... Unles he doesn't want to be found, that is.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He comes off as untrustworthy, rude and selfish, but he's never failed to help his friends either in a last-minute rescue or by puting his own plans in motion from the shadows.
- Lizard Folk: He's a Musdagur, and is very good at camouflage.
- Mysterious Informant: In his youth, he anonymously fed information to King Lúgal in regards to the Lord of Zapp's evil machinations.
- Odd Couple: Has this dynamic with Gàlam, when they are paired for a mission in The Lord of Zapp.
- Wild Card.
Detective Logan
"Nyè!"
A very clever detective with a double personality and a tendency to attract the most stupid kind of customers. He first appeared in Els casos del detectiu LoganEnglish in 2008, a radio show starring himself solving the Mystery of the Week. Later, he was added to the series via The Shapla Case, where he played a major role solving the titular murder.
- Amateur Sleuth: He may have solved more cases than the whole Zink Police Department, but he never gets paid for it, despite how much he likes to finish his deductions by announcing his fee.Logan: Ah! By the way... That'll be ten grand.
- Canon Immigrant: Despite being drafted out for The Shapla Case, Logan's personality, mannerisms and background were developed entirely on his spin-off radio show, which aired years before the book ever saw the light of day.
- Consulting Mister Puppet: His most famous trait. He has a sock puppet shoved on his tail that acts as an avatar for his split personality, an over-enthusiastic high-pitched sidekick named Goldric.
- Dirty Coward: When the goings get tough, the tough climb up to the ceiling and refuse to get down.
- Expy: Logan's mannerisms and extremely specific Verbal Tic is an homage to the Catalan dub of Rowan Atkinson's Blackadder.
- Lizard Folk: Logan is a Musdagur, the race descendant from the lizards. As such, he can camouflage and attach himself to the walls and ceiling.
- Phone-In Detective: He can solve most of his cases from his own office, based on the description his clients give and any details he notices about them.
- Private Detective: He's a trench coat-wearing, fedora hat-donning, classical private eye.
- Sock Puppet: Logan's split personality is represented by a sock with two button eyes and a sewn smile put at the tip of his tail. However, the sock itself is an added feature, since the tail alone also proved to be capable of "speech", even though it did complain it was cold and wanted its sock back on.
- Split Personality: Goldric, his tail. Logan gives it voice, movement and a sock with a smile sewn on, and often argues with it for petty reasons. Ishtar found out that, from an emotional perspective, there are indeed two people inside the detective.
- Talking to Themself: He frequently talks and argues with his tail, Goldric.
- Verbal Tic: Logan blurts out "Nyè!" almost every time he opens his mouth.
- Goldric always calls Logan "Sir!", in the most enthusiastic way possible.
