The Rising & Solar Republic | Darrow's Family | House Barca | House Telemanus | The Howlers | The Sons of Ares | The Rim Dominon | House Raa | The Society | House Lune | House Grimmus | House Bellona | House Augustus | The Boneriders | The Gorgons | The Institute | The Obsidians | Criminals and Terrorists
Due to the prevalence of Late Arrival Spoilers and First Episode Twists in both the Red Rising and Iron Gold series, spoilers from Red Rising, Golden Son, and Morning Star may be unmarked. Read at your own risk.
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The Gorgons
Formally known as Legio Zero Pavor Nocturnus, the Gorgons are an elite black-ops Society military unit that specialize in psychological warfare using tactings that range from guerilla ambushes and torture to sowing discord and division with False Flag Operations.Gorgon Leadership
Atlas au Raa
The Fear Knight of the Society Remnant and a close friend of Lysander's father. Shortly after the death of Lysander's parents, he was sent to the Kuiper belt to combat the Ascomanni as a means of keeping him out of the way.
- Best Served Cold: He orchestrates a grand revenge against the Rim Dominion for its betrayal of the Society in Light Bringer.
- The Chessmaster: An incredibly successful one. Before dying, he almost succeeds in orchestrating the destruction of all of the Society's enemies: the Republic, the Rim Dominion, the Daughters of Athena and the Ascomanni.
- Disc-One Final Boss: Serves as the main antagonist for the majority of Light Bringer. His death in the climax serves as Lysander's final transition from to Big Bad.
- Determinator: One of his key qualities, showcased both by his years-long plans and his high tolerance for pain.
- The Dreaded: Feared by many, even on his own side.
- Genius Bruiser: Atlas is possibly the best strategist of the worlds - even Darrow fears his schemes - and in Light Bringer, he proves capable of going toe to toe with Cassius, a razor master, with inferior equipment. Cassius gets the better of him, but only by the thinnest of margins.
- Greater-Scope Villain: Fills this role in Dark Age alongside Atalantia, with Light Bringer revealing that he was involved in setting up the events that happened in Iron Gold as well.
- The Heavy: In Light Bringer. He is acting under Atalantia's orders but she is not directly involved and leaves him to direct much of the villains schemes.
- Knight Templar: Atlas genuinely believes that the Color Hierarchy is necessary to keep humanity from destroying itself and that all of his atrocities are just him doing what is needed to keep civilization intact.
- Reassigned to Antarctica: He was unofficially exiled by being sent out to the Far Rim to wipe out the Ascomanni, an impossible task.
- The Social Darwinist: Atlas believes this, viewing civilization as being incapable of self-regulation and needing the intervention of people like him.Atlas: The body of worlds is made sick by our division. Our most noble families are rife with desire for vengeance. For power. Division is a cancer, Lysander, and I am excising the affected tissue.
- The Strategist: One of the greatest ones of the Society in the sequel series.
- Torture Technician: His primary role in the Society Remnant's war against the Republic.
- Villainous Friendship: With Volsung Fa, who he describes as being like a brother to him.
- Villainous Valor: Atlas has this in spades.
Other Gorgons
Xenophon
A White who serves as Sefi's chief adviser in the creation of the Obsidian Alltribe, later revealed to be a deep-cover Gorgon operative working to undermine her rule and pry the loyalty of the Obsidians away from Darrow and the Republic.
- Failed a Spot Check: Didn't think to make sure that Ephraim still had the heartspike Sefi had implanted before trying to use it to kill him.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Tried to use Ephraim's heartspike in order to kill him, only to die because Ephraim had snuck it into Xenophon's pocket with a bomb attached.
- The Mole: In reality they're a deep cover Gorgon Agent working on behalf of Atlas au Raa.
Volsung Fa/ Vagnar Hefga
The mythical king of the Ascomanni who arrives on Mars to challenge Sefi's title as Queen of the Obsidians In reality a Gorgon agent taking direct orders from Atlas au Raa.
- And Show It to You: How he kills Ephraim.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: He does have a genuine affection for his granddaughter Volga.
- Dirty Coward: He might be a fearsome warrior, but that's only because he's so strong he normally wipes the floor with anyone he fights, so when Darrow starts beating him he starts panicking and flies off as fast as he can while screaming at his men to kill Darrow and when cornered he publicly admits that he's been working for Atlas to try to get Darrow to spare him.
- Fountain of Youth: He's one of the only Obsidians known to have ever used Golds' age rejuvination therapy drugs.
- Genius Bruiser: He is noted for his awesome size, strength and speed, but is also an extremely cunning strategist and politician who has a near peer relationship with Atlas.
- Happiness in Slavery: Is perfectly content with serving the whims of Atlas au Raa and the Society.
- I'm a Humanitarian: Eats Sefi's heart after he kills her. The same with Ephraim.
- Luke, I Am Your Father: His real identity is Vagnar Hefga, the father of Ragnar and Sefi.
- Offing the Offspring: When he kills Sefi.
- Older Than They Look: The reason that his claims of being Ragnar and Sefi's father are treated with skepticism by many are because of this, as he's over eighty years old but looks decades younger.
- Undying Loyalty: To Atlas au Raa, having served with him since Atlas' banishment to the Kuiper belt during the original trilogy. He also refuses to betray Atlas, even while begging for his life..
- Villainous Breakdown: At the end of his duel with Darrow.
- Vocal Dissonance: He initially seems to have a deep baritone like Ragnar did. This is revealed to be a fabrication of a voice changing device. His actual voice is surprisingly gentle and posh.
- The Warlord: After Volsung takes over the Obsidians he becomes a fearsome warlord and briefly takes over Ilium.
Xanthus
