This is for the characters from the book.
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Main Duo
Talos "Kleidimos" Kleomenides
The protagonist of the story. When he was a baby, he was abandoned by his father, due to his deformed foot. He miraculussly survived and he was rescued by a helot shepherd and raised as one. During his boyhood, he was trained by his adoptive grandpa to free his nation. At the First Part, he joined the 300 as his brother's steward. Him, alongside with Brithos and Agias, were the only ones who returned alive from Thermopylaes. He helped Brithos retrieve back his glory at the battle of Plattea. There, he learnt about his secret heritage and became a Spartan hoplite. At the Second Part, he fought alongside Pausanias in Persia. After his death and the reveal that he worked for the city that it always wanted his family dead, he chose to free the Helots all alone.
- Action Dad: Becomes one after Antinea gives birth to his son.
- Action Duo: Him and Brithos after they join forces. They go around attacking Persians who threaten enslaved Greeks and ensure their safety.
- Alliterative Name: Kleidimos Kleomenides.
- Ambiguous Situation: The dilhema that he has to face at the end of the story. On the one hand, if he chooses to remain a Spartan hoplite, he won't fulfill the promise that he had kept to his grandpa, that he will free their nation. On the other hand, if he chooses to free the Helots, then not only the Kleomenides family will disappear (since he is the only one left), but he will also feel like he betrayed it, since both his father and brother sacrificed themselves for the city-state.
- Animal Motifs:
- Wolves. He was nicknamed the "Young Wolf", he has been associated with them and a wolf is crafted upon his shield.
- Dragons, as it's the symbol crafted to the Kleomenides' shield.
- Badass Boast: Back in Persia, when a Spartan made fun for his weak foot, he replied: "I am here to fight, not to run away!". He was surprised to see that, in Sparta, they still remembered it.
- Battle Butler: He is Brithos' steward during the Thermopylae fight and he knows martial arts.
- Blood Knight: Becomes one when he follows Pausanias' army to Persia.
- Character Development: Used to be a shy boy that believed he couldn't do anything, due to his disability. Thanks to Kritolaos' training and the experience he gained from the battle at Persia, he becomes more sure about himself and an excellent leader who led his people to freedom.
- Need evidence? He went from "I am Talos, the cripple", to
"I am Talos, the Wolf"!
- Need evidence? He went from "I am Talos, the cripple", to
- Child of Two Worlds: Well, rather obviously! He was born from a noble Spartan family, but the city-state neglected him for his deformed foot and he was raised by Helots.
- The Chosen One: According to a prophecy, the one who will free the Helots will love this nation so much that he will stifle the voice of his blood. It, of course, talks about him…
- Curtains Match the Window: He has black hair and black eyes.
- Friend to All Living Things: A rare example with boy. He gets along pretty well with Krios, his dog and his sheeps (justified, since he grew up with them) and with his horse. He was able to calm it down when it sensed the Earthquake.
- Handicapped Badass: He has a deformed foot, but don't let his weakness fool you. He knows how to fight and he will kick your ass if you try to harm the ones he loves.
- Happily Adopted: He tells to Laghal that he was happy living with his family, his dog and his sheeps back when he was at Mount Taygetus. This, of course, goes against his views at the early chaptets.
- Happily Married: With Antinea at the end of the novel.
- Heterosexual Life-Partner: A bit with Brithos.
- In the End, You Are on Your Own:
- After his adoptive grandpa dies.
- He is the only left from the Kleomenides family.
- Like Mother, Like Son: Shares a Strong Family Resemblance with his biological mother.
- Long-Lost Relative: Him and Brithos.
- Made a Slave: He was abandoned by his father, but he was found by Helots, the Real Life Slave Race of Ancient Sparta and became a shepherd.
- Meaningful Rename: Kritolaos renamed him Talos, from a giant robot built by the gods which, although it was powerful, its main weakness lied on his feet, just like his.
- Moses in the Bulrushes: His story kinda resembles the one of Moses'. Abandoned as a baby but rescued? Check! Grows up and discovers his true heritage? Check! Has a hard time deciding, but at the end, he chooses to free the Slave Race? Double check!
- Never Found the Body: The novel ends with him mysteriously disappearing and leaving his weapons behind.
- Nice Guy: He won't harm you, if you don't attack him or his friends.
- Ship Tease: With Antinea.
- Sibling Rivalry: With Brithos at the beginning of the story.
- Shrinking Violet: As a teenager, he didn't have any friends. Besides his shy personality, it was also because he lived on an isolated place of the mountain. As he grows up, he starts to be more open.
- Strong Family Resemblance: Looks like his biological mother.
- Youngest Child Wins: The youngest son of the Kleomenides and the one who survives and frees the Helots.
Brithos Kleomenides
Talos' older brother, former rival and the deuteragonist of the First Part. He was raised to become a soldier. He only made an appearance at the First Part. He met his long-lost brother when him and his friends attempted to rape Antinea and Talos came to rescue her. After that, a Sibling Rivalry between those two ignited. Years later, he chose Talos as his steward to accompany him to the Hot Gates. When he returns, him and Agias are accused for cowardy, but with the help of Talos, he regains his glory at Platea, where he dies.
- The Ace: He is considered one of the best soldiers Sparta ever had.
- Action Duo: Him and Talos when they join forces. They go around attacking Persians who threaten enslaved Greeks and ensure their safety.
- Adaptation Name Change: His Real Life counterpart's name was Aristodhemos.
- Aggressive Categorism: Before he became fond of Talos, he referred to him by his status, "Helot", as an insult and as a way to show him that he doesn't see him equally.
- Animal Motifs: Dragons. A dragon is crafted to his family's shield.
- Anti-Hero: How he started. He had all the good traits of a Spartan, like the Heroic Build and the martial skills, but he was a a bully towards the Helots.
- Big Brother Bully: To Talos.
- Blood Knight: Raised to become one, just like every other Spartan boy.
- Blue Blood: His father is Leonidas' cousin, one of Sparta's kings.
- The Bully: To Antinea and to Talos, mainly to Antinea. It is hinted that him and his friends have assaulted her more than once in the past.
- Character Development: Used to view the Helots as inferiors over them and harass them whenever he liked. Thanks to The Power of Friendship and his Humiliaton Conga after the Hot Gates, he changed this opinion.
- Cool Big Bro: He is Talos' older brother and one of Sparta's best warriors.
- Gorgeous Greek: As stated in Heroic Build above.
- Hated by All: No one seemed to like him after he returned alive from Thermopyles and didn't want to accompany him in battle.
- Heroic Build: Kleidimos says that his body resembled that of Herakles.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Chooses to die at Plattea to defend his country and to retrieve back his glory.
- Heterosexual Life-Partner: With Agias and a bit with Talos.
- Hidden Depths: He shows signs of excellent leadership and he acts rational and wisely when he takes vital decisions, traits not usually found in Jerkass characters.
- Historical Domain Character: Based from Aristodhemos, a Real Life Spartan who was also accused for cowardly and died at the battle of Plattea.
- Humiliation Conga: He suffers from this after his return from the Hot Gates.
- Jerkass with a Heart of Gold: Likes to harass the Helots, but he cares about his friends and he has a deep bond with Agias.
- In the End, You Are on Your Own:
- Him, alongside Talos and Agias, were the only ones who returned alive from the Hot Gates.
- After his best friend commits suicide.
- Like Father, Like Son: Has a Strong Family Resemblance with his father and shares some of his traits, like his Heroic Sacrifice.
- Long-Lost Relative: Him and Talos.
- The Paragon: He is strong, healthy and a skilled soildier. A perfect example for a Spartan.
- Sibling Rivalry: With Talos.
- Strong Family Resemblance: With his father, Aristarkhos.
- Took a Level in Kindness: Changes completely his attitude towards the Helots after he is saved by Talos and Karas and realises that they are not some petty beings who only care about themselves. He even praises Talos for his bravery and calls him a "warrior".
- Like Father, Unlike Son: Despite their Strong Family Resemblance, Aristarkhos treats the Helots way better than him, who likes to make fun of them.
The Helots
Kritolaos
The helot who saved Talos. He acts as a Mentor Archetype to the young boy and trains him to become stronger, move without his crook and use the arc. He has a sterile daughter who acts as The Hero's adoptive mom.
- Blatant Lies: He never revealed Talos' true identity and instead, told him that his father died when he fought a bear and that he had a malformed foot because the midwife accidentally squezzed it when he was a baby.
- Cool Old Guy: Well, how many grandpas do you know who teach their adoptive grandsons martial arts?
- Doting Parent: Encourages Talos to try new things and to not be kept because of his weak leg.
- Hypocrite: He had promised Talos that one day, he will tell him the truth. He never does.
- I Just Want to Be Free: He wants his nation to be free from the Spartans and that's why he trains Talos. Although he didn't live long enough to see it, his adoptive grandson kept his promise.
- Mentor Archetype: He is this to Talos.
- Parental Substitute: To Talos. Since his biological parents abandonned him, he acts as one to him.
- Your Days Are Numbered: Ever since he had started training Talos, he had become weaker.
Antinea
A helot girl and Talos' love interest. She lives with her widowed father and helps him.
- Beauty Equals Goodness: She is pretty and a Nice Girl.
- Beautiful Slave Girl: She is a helot and she was described to be pretty.
- Damsel in Distress: When Brithos and his friends harass her.
- Flat Character: She is just a Nice Girl and a Satellite Love Interest.
- Gorgeous Greek: As stated in Beauty Equals Goodness and Beautiful Slave Girl above.
- Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: She is blonde and a Nice Girl.
- Happily Married: With Talos at the end of the novel.
- Missing Mom: Her mother is dead.
- Nice Girl: She cares for Talos.
- Rescue Romance: After she is rescued by Talos, she starts to develop feelings for him.
- Satellite Love Interest: She doesn't have that much impact on the story.
Pelias
Antineas' widowed father.
- StrugglingSingleFather: Him and his daughter have to work long hours to keep their masters satisfied.
Karas
Another helot who appears to guide Talos after his adoptive grandpa dies. He is massive, strong and almost resembles a giant.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Implied that he has one.Talos: I didn't know you fought with the Thraces.Karas: I have fought with everyone.
- Deadpan Snarker: Sometimes, he can be this.
- Eye Scream: He was tortured by the Crypteia and they burnt his eye with hot iron, leaving him half-blind.
- Gentle Giant: He is tough and serious, but he always supports Talos, even to things that he disagrees.
- Parental Substitute: Takes this role when Talos' adoptive grandpa dies.
The Spartans
Aristarkhos Kleomenides
Brithos and Talos' biological father and Ismene's husband. He is a Spartan hoplite.
- Doting Parent: Cares for both of his sons.
- Happily Married: His last words to Brithos is to tell to his wife that he always loved her.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Him, alongside Leonidas and 296 other men chose to die in Thermopylae to defend their country.
- In the Hood: Sometimes, he disgused himself and he went up to the mountain, just to catch a glimpse of his second son's life.
- Nervous Wreck: The abandonment of his second son left a bad impact on him.
Ismene
Brithos' and Talos' biological mother and Aristarkhos' wife.
- Died in Your Arms Tonight: After she reunites with her lost son, she dies from a strike of grief in his hands.
- Happily Married: Her husband's last words to her was that he always loved her.
- Nervous Wreck: Her loss of her second child had this effect towards her.
Agias
A Spartan hoplite and Brithos' best friend. He returned from the Hot Gates alive, as well.
- Adaptation Name Change: His Real Life counterpart's name was Pantites.
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Brithos.
- Historical Domain Character: Based one the Real Life Pantites, who also returned alive from the Hot Gates and commited suicide.
- Small Role, Big Impact: He only appears in a small number of chapters, but his death strucked Brithos deeply and almost comitted suicide.
Leonidas
One of Sparta's kings and Aristarkhos' cousin. After his death at the Hot Gates, his nephew takes the throne.
- Badass Boast: His infamous "Molōn labē" (which translates to "Come And Take Them") to the Persian messanger when he asked them to deliver their weapons.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Chose to stay and fight the Persian army at the Hot Gates, in order to slow them down, even though he could easily run away.
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Aristarkhos.
- Historical Domain Character: Based on the Real Life Leonidas.
- Royals Who Actually Do Something: He is Sparta's king and he fought bravely at Thermopylae in order to defend his country.
Pausanias
Sparta's regent and the Big Bad of the Second Part.
- Ambiguously Bi: He had romantic feelings for Laghal, but he had also sent a message to a Persian satrap, asking to marry one of his daughters.
- Big Bad: Of the Second Part.
- Blue Blood: He is Sparta's regent.
- Ephebophile: He was in love with 16-years old Laghal.
- Historical Domain Character: Based on the Real Life Pausanias.
- Love Makes You Dumb: He truly loved Laghal and didn't see that the boy was disgusted by him and his sexual harassments and he ended up betraying him.
- Lover and Beloved: The Lover to Laghal's Beloved.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: To be honest, Pausanias is not wrong on wanting to get rid of the Ephors and make the Helots citizens of Sparta, since Sparta suffers from a heavy underpopulation problem and the Ephors have the tendency to get rid of those who are against the Good Old Ways, like King Kleomenes, King Leonidas and Aristarkhos. The problem, however, is that he is too ambitious and too eager to ally with Persia, Greece's former enemy.
The Ephors
Exactly What It Says on the Tin. They serve as the Big Bad throughout the story. Possibly even more than Pausanias.
- Big Bad: Turns out they were this all along.
- No Name Given: With the exception of Episthenis.
- SleazyPoliticians: Plan on keeping the Good Old Ways and will slay everyone who is against that ( even the Kings and a whole familly)!
Others
Laghal
A slave boy that Keidimos meets while he is at Rhodos.
- Abusive Parents: More like Abusive Masters. They would beat him up if he failed at his tasks.
- Because You Were Nice to Me: It's implied that he likes Kleidimos, for being the only person he ever knew to treat him nice.
- Birds of a Feather: With Kleidimos. Their backstories are a bit similar, since they both started out as slaves, gained the affection of Pausanias, but ended up hating their jobs and wanted to return back to their old lives. Their personalities are similar, for both being akward teenagers.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Arguably, he had a rough childhood. All his life, he was harassed by men older than him, who only viewed him as a sex object.
- Easily Forgiven: Kleidimos easily forgives him when he learns that he back-stabbed him.
- Lover and Beloved: The Beloved to Pausanias' lover.
- Never Found the Body: After he betrays Pausanias, he disappears and no one never heards of him again.
- Sex Slave: He is Pausanias' bed-warmer, a job that he strongly dislikes.
- So Beautiful, It's a Curse: He expresses jealousy over his fellow slaves, who were not as harassed as him (due to not be as handsome).
Krios
Kritolaos and Talos' shepdog.
- Dogs Are Dumb: Not exactly, but this is how Kritolaos views him. It's true however that he tends to space out quite often.
- Foil: To Brithos' dog, Melas. As Talos corractly points out, Krios died while trying to protect his master, while Melas is just a bloodthirsty animal that only cares about killing.
- Heroes Love Dogs: Always there to help Talos.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Died while he tried to save his master from Melas.
- Punny Name: In Greece, "Krios" means "Cold".
Melas
Brithos' dog
