The First Law Gurkish Empire / Characters

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The Empire

Emperor Uthman-ul-Dosht

Uthman-ul-Dosht

The current Emperor of the Gurkish Empire, also known as Uthman the Merciless.

Cain and Abel: It's said that Uthman personally strangled his older brothers so that he could obtain the throne.
The Emperor: He's the current Emperor of Gurkhul. When several regions tried to take advantage of his ascension to leave the Empire, Uthman responded by crushing the rebellions and taking their people as slaves in punishment.
The Evil Prince: He murdered his brothers so he could assume the throne.
The Ghost: Six books in and he has yet to make a personal appearance. Nor will he as he's dead by the time of A Little Hatred.
Killed Offscreen: Prior to the events of A Little Hatred, Uthman-ul-Dosht is said to have been killed by a she-demoness and his prophet Khalul has gone missing.
Pragmatic Villainy: Uthman's more than fine with bloodshed, but when the Siege of Dagoska resulted in far more casualties than he anticipated, Uthman defies Khalul in a bid to make peace with the Union instead.
Red Baron: He's called Uthman the Merciless following an incident where he crushed the regional rebellions that sprung up following his ascension and enslaving their people.
Youngest Child Wins: He was the youngest son of the previous Emperor. It's said he handled the problem of the line of succession by murdering all the brothers that stood in his way.

The Church

Khalul

Khalul "The Prophet"

The second of the Magi The religious leader of the Gurkish Empire and the true power behind the Emperor.

Archenemy: He's Bayaz's nemesis, the two having been rivals then enemies for centuries.
Big Bad Ensemble: While Bethod, Arch Lector Sult and Tolomei are other threats during the original trilogy, the biggest threat comes from Khalul's armies coming to conquer the Union and Bayaz who is much more evil than he first appears.
Dark Messiah: He's the religious leader of the Gurkish Empire and is called the Prophet, believed to be the voice of God by his people. He's used religion to manipulate the Gurkish Empire for centuries, all to advance his goal of vengeance against Bayaz.
Evil Versus Evil: It's revealed his war against Bayaz boils down to this. A cannibalistic theocrat obsessed with revenge versus a self-righteous megalomaniac who wants power.
The Ghost: Despite the massive threat his forces pose and how far-reaching his influence is felt, Khalul has never personally appeared in the first six books released.
He Who Fights Monsters: In his quest to bring down Bayaz, he has become little better than him.
I Am a Humanitarian: Khalul has openly defied the Second Law that forbids eating the flesh of men, and actually has an army of cannibalistic mages at his beck and call.
Jumping Off the Slippery Slope: Khalul had noble intentions at first, but he has become an unequivocal villain despite his initial pursuit of justice.
The Man in Front of the Man: While an Emperor officially leads Gurkhul, Khalul is the true power behind the throne. Whereas Bayaz controls the Union through economics and commerce, Khalul controls his empire through religion, acting as the Prophet and the Voice of God, effectively making him the theocrat.
Orcus on His Throne: Even when his army comes to conquer the Union and bring Bayaz to justice, Khalul remains in the Gurkish capital of Sarkant, relying on his Dragon Mamun to act in his place.
Rival Turned Evil: Khalul and Bayaz were Juvens' first apprentices and have been rivals ever since they first met centuries ago. Khalul eventually went on to blame Bayaz for their master's death, and has fallen into villainy in an attempt to bring his rival to justice for his perceived crimes. It's unclear whether Bayaz is guilty of the crime Khalul accuses him of, but Bayaz is definitely just as evil as Khalul, possibly moreso.
Sinister Minister: Khalul is the religious leader of the Church of Gurkhul and a cannibalistic monster obsessed with getting vengeance on Bayaz.
The Unfought: Though he initially seems set to be the Big Bad, or at least one of them, he disappears some time between the spinoff novels and the start of the second trilogy. Though he was seemingly attacked by someone, possibly Ferro, the conflict is not shown in the books and thus far his ultimate fate is unknown.
What Happened to the Mouse?: It's reported in A Little Hatred that, after a "she-demoness" killed the Emperor of Gurkhul, Khalul went missing, his ultimate fate unknown.
Well-Intentioned Extremist: All the evil Khalul has done is to bring his evil brother Mage to justice for his crimes.
You Killed My Father: Everything he's done has been in an effort to bring Bayaz to justice for the murder of Juvens, which Khalul believes Bayaz committed.

The Hundred Words

Mamun

The first apprentice taken by Khalul. Together, the two of them broke the Second Law and ate the flesh of men.

Affably Evil: Mamun is surprisingly cordial when dealing with Jezal before his army attacks Adua. Even moreso in Sharp Ends: whilst leading a strike force of his fellow murderous cannibals to storm Dagoska, he treats the priest Kahdia with respect bordering on reverence for his willingness to sacrifice himself for the good of his congregation, and follows through on his end of the deal even though he could have killed them with zero consequences had he chosen to.
Alternative Character Interpretation: Bayaz despises Mamun, describing him as arrogant, power-hungry and deceitful. Mamun in person is quite humble, gracious and merciful, believing he is on the right side of the war and very reluctant to shed any blood he does not need to. Whether he is Faux Affably Evil or Bayaz simply slanders him is unclear, or perhaps the truth lies somewhere in between.
Anti-Villain: We don't know much of the prophet's teachings or Mamun's motivations for serving Khalul and eating flesh, but what little we see of Mamun suggests he genuinely believes in the righteousness of his cause. He honors enemy surrender and has a deep distaste for needless killing. His only true aim is to kill Bayaz, and if he truly believes Khalul's version of history (or if said version is true) he may be quite justified in that. Every other opponent he faces is given the opportunity to surrender or flee, and he keeps his word to spare those he vows to.
Determinator: Even after nearly being eradicated by a Fantastic Nuke which took out most of his army, Mamun still doesn't give up trying to kill Bayaz. It takes Ferro crushing his skull in her hands to put him down for good.
The Dragon: He is Khalul's first apprentice, most trusted enforcer and leader of the Hundred Words. Khalul sends Mamun to personally oversee the destruction of Adua and Bayaz's death.
Even Evil Has Standards:
- Mamun is horrified when he learns Bayaz has the Seed and plans on using it. Even though he and his master have broken the Second Law, he's still against breaking the First Law.
- In Sharp Ends, when a holy man offers himself to Mamun to save a group of innocents, Mamun treats him with respect, honors the deal and vows he will 'reach the Prophet's table with honor.'
Faux Affably Evil: If Bayaz is to be believed, it was Mamun who talked Khalul into breaking the second law, resulting in Khalul becoming an Evil Overlord over The Empire and an army of eaters. Mamun seems perfectly reasonable and just when he appears in Adua, but if Bayaz's talk is more than personal contempt he may well be far more sinister than he appears.
Lightning Bruiser: Like all (or perhaps most, as their powers differ) Eaters, Mamun hits like a truck and moves faster than one. Logen, who has fought just about every manner of battle there is, is completely baffled by his speed.
Mouth of Sauron: Khalul sends Mamun to speak in his stead when negotiating with the Union. In The Last Argument of Kings, Khalul does not directly attack Adua, leaving Mamun to do it in his stead.
Not Quite Dead: He manages to survive Bayaz wiping out his army with the Seed and ambushes Ferro, whom he plans on killing and replacing to get close to Bayaz and kill him. Instead Ferro kills him for good.
Pet the Dog: When a priest sacrifices himself for his followers, knowing he will become Khalul's next meal, Mamun honors his bargain, despite there being zero reason he has to besides giving his word.
Oh, Crap!: His reaction when he finds out that Bayaz has the Seed and is ready to use it to wipe out him and his army of Eaters.
Religious Bruiser: First and foremost among the Eaters, an army of superhuman cannibals in service to Khalul. In other words, a high priest to Crystal Dragon Jesus with powers rivaling and perhaps exceeding the (currently diminished) abilities of Bayaz himself. He prefers not to fight, but is easily one of the most physically and magically powerful beings in the entire series.
Your Head Asplode: Ferro uses her newfound power from her exposure to the Seed to crush his skull in her hands.
Villain Respect: Mamun is nothing but respectful towards a priest who offers his life to save his flock.

Ishri

One of Khalul's most dangerous disciples, she works to further his interests in Styria and the North against Bayaz.

For more information see Zuri

Affably Evil: She's pleasant and relaxed despite being an evil Eater and when Monza spurns her offer to work with Khalul, Ishri treats it with charming relaxation.
Badass Longcoat: She's often dressed in a long coat.
Black Eyes of Evil: She's a cannibal with pure black eyes.
Chekhov's Gunman: She's mentioned in the original trilogy, but doesn't appear in person until later.
Combo Platter Powers: Aside from the enhanced strength and speed that all Eaters possess, she's able to teleport and read people's minds. In The Heroes, it's implied that she also has some kind of influence over the weather.
The Dragon: Seems to have taken over as Khalul's right hand after Mamun's death at the end of the original trilogy.
I'm a Humanitarian: Comes with being an Eater.
Lean and Mean: She's tall and impossibly thin.
Mouth of Sauron: Serves as Khalul's representative in Best Served Cold and The Heroes, backing his interests in Styria and the North.
Mysterious Backer: She offers support to Grand Duke Rogont and Monza Murcatto in their wars against Grand Duke Orso in Styria, and then Black Dow against the Union in the North, all to further Khalul's interests abroad.
Red Baron: Also known as "the East Wind."
Scary Black Woman: Her dark skin makes her stick out among the white Northmen in The Heroes.
Screw This, I'm Outta Here: In The Heroes, she angrily leaves Black Dow after he agrees to fight Calder in a duel, regarding it as a barbaric custom and an unnecessary risk.
Telepathy: It's implied that she can read people's minds.
Troll: It's clear Ishri enjoys using her powers to mess with people.
Villain Teleportation: Seems to be able to appear out of nowhere, and disappear just as easily.

Shickel

One of Khalul's Eaters sent to spy for the Gurkish in Dagoska.

Creepy Child: She still looks like a child, but is one of Khalul's Eaters.
Forced into Evil: She didn't have any choice in becoming evil, Khalul's priests forced her to cannibalize her mother, and she only gave in because she was afraid to die. She's personally disgusted with her current existence but doesn't have any other choice but to cannibalize others if she wants to survive.
Kill It with Fire: Glokta overcomes her healing factor by ordering her burned to death.
Major Injury Underreaction: Glokta's Practicals torture her using every method they can think of, but since she doesn't feel pain and her body heals itself, she just smiles the entire time.
The Mole: She's a spy for the Gurkish, posing as a servant for Davoust, the former Inquisition Superior for Dagoska.
Non-Action Guy: For an Eater, she is relatively meek in physical prowess, much stronger than any human but weak enough to be subdued by three practicals with great effort. Her role is that of spy and assassin, not Frontline warrior, and it is she who explains that the powers of her kind vary from Eater to Eater, with some stronger or faster than others.
Not Afraid to Die: She says she's not afraid to die and knows that she deserves it. Glokta grants her wish by having her burned alive.
Reluctant Psycho: She's disgusted and horrified at what she's become but she has to keep eating human flesh to survive and she believes Khalul truly is the voice of God so his victory is inevitable.
Self-Made Orphan: Khalul's priests forced her to cannibalize her mother. She tried to resist them, but she was too scared of dying and gave in.

Others

Ferro Maljinn*

Ferro Maljinn

POV: The Blade Itself, Before They are Hanged, Last Argument of Kings

An ex-slave of the Gurkish Empire, now the most feared rebel in Gurkhul.

Axe-Crazy: Killing people is generally her first impulse, though she's not completely unreasonable.
Bow and Sword in Accord: Uses her archery skills to kill enemies from a distance and switches to a scimitar in close combat.
Catchphrase: "Fucking pinks!", uttered whenever she's frustrated with her light-skinned travel companions (which is quite often).
Commonality Connection: She feels a certain degree of kinship with Glokta, as they're both victims of the Gurkish Empire.
Deconstructed Character Archetype: Of the She Who Fights Monsters, Pay Evil unto Evil, and Revenge Before Reason tropes. Ferro was horribly treated by the Gurkish and is left with intense emotional scars. But her lust for revenge has cost her the ability to form genuine relationships with anyone, and she eventually (though inadverently) helps an even bigger monster in Bayaz to 'end the war', and by that meaning dropping a Fantastic Nuke and killing thousands of people in the process.
Don't You Dare Pity Me!: While no one is safe from Ferro's contempt and anger, she lashes out particularly hard against those who try to empathize with her.
Empowered Badass Normal: Though she was never really normal in the first place due to her demonic heritage, her abilities are significantly increased after she comes into contact with the Seed.
Establishing Character Moment: Her introductory scene has a Gurkish soldier she had fatally wounded begging her for a sip of water as he slowly died in the desert sun. Realizing she has a rare surplus of water, she guzzles it sloppily right in front of him and pours some on her hands and face, but gives him none.
Everyone Has Standards: She hates the Gurkish with every fiber of being, but at least sees them as "people". To her, the Union's secularism and Northmen's vaguely Pagan agnosticism are signs of their savagery and ignorance. She doesn't worship God herself, but she thinks it's folly not to believe He's there.
- Zigzagged in this case, but she is genuinely horrified by Bayaz's use of The Seed and realizes that her vengeance has only wrought destruction, but continues on with her revenge anyway.
Fantastic Racism: She has no respect or empathy for anyone north of Gurkul, who she derisively calls "pinks". She hates the Gurkish with a burning passion, but she did suffer much at their hands, and at least still considers them fundamentally human. She sees the Union's atheistic secularism as alien and ignorant, and muses that she wouldn't give a damn if all the pinks in the whole world were conquered amd enslaved so long as the "real people" went free.
Half-Human Hybrid: She is mostly human, but has some distant demon ancestry that gives her special powers.
Hates Being Touched: She is very reluctant to engage in physical intimacy, which is understandable, given her background as a former sex slave.
Hates Everyone Equally: She has nothing but utter contempt for everyone she meets. The entire Gurkish Empire is her enemy, the Union are a load of soft godless pinks, the Northmen are savage brutes, etc. Even people she grows close to over time are barely tolerated with immense disdain.
Honor Among Thieves: Introduced burying a couple of her companions, fellow bandits who she generally despised, because you bury your companions when they die.
Ignored Epiphany: There are numerous times when she genuinely seems to consider giving up her crusade against the Gurkish and start a new life in peace, but she always finds herself unable to let go of her grudge and never actually does it.
I Thought Everyone Could Do That: Ferro barely feels pain, rarely sleeps, recovers quickly and cleanly from injures, and has Improbable Aiming Skills with a bow. When she's informed of her devil blood, she realizes she never really thought about how she was so tough and lethal compared to everyone else.
Misanthrope Supreme: She has immediate contempt and hostility for every single person she meets. Even people she spends months with are rarely trusted and never respected. She disdains friendship and actually takes comfort in the sense of purpose of having an enemy and derives something close to pleasure from the certainty of fighting. The horrors she suffered as a child and the rough life she has been forced to live ever since would make anyone a bitter cynic, but it's implied that her devil heritage is partially to blame when an Eater muses that "her kind" are always prone to violence and rage.
Misplaced Retribution: She has no problem with indiscriminately killing conscripted soldiers who have never done her any harm, despite the fact that many soldiers in the Gurkish military, like Ferro herself, hail from countries that were conquered by the Empire.
Moral Myopia: Oh boy, is she ever. She lusts for revenge against The Gurkish, yet she never considers the numerous people she's killed or the lives she has ruined.
Nay-Theist: She doesn't worship the Gurkish God, but she does acknowledge He must exist. She'll shout "fuck your god!" at the Gurkish, yet is appalled that the Union is godless.
No Social Skills: Her traumatic experiences as a slave ( and possibly her devilish blood) have left her deeply distrustful of everybody and unable to interact with others in a non-hostile manner.
Off Screen Moment Of Awesome: Possibly. At the end of the first trilogy, Ferro makes off with The Seed and loose plans to use it against the Gurkish. At the start of the second trilogy, Khalul is either dead or in-hiding after being attacked by a "she-demon". It is thus far unconfirmed, but quite likely, that Ferro managed to scare, hurt, or even kill the Prophet himself.
Pet the Dog: She has a very rare and somewhat strange moment of empathy when she catches Severard spying on her and asks him to give her a good reason not to kill him. He tells her that he likes to feed birds in his spare time, and after some deliberation, she decides that's a good enough reason to let him off.
Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Her sole motivation is to kill every Gurkish she sees as revenge for the abuse she suffered as a slave. Despite being aware that her personal vendetta is pointless in the grand scheme of things and ultimately self-destructive (and repeatedly being told so by various other characters), she still goes on with it because she believes she has nothing else to live for.
Self-Harm: When Logen and Brother Longfoot are comparing scars from their past adventures, they ask Ferro how she got the nasty scar on her face. They're shocked when she admits to having mutilated herself purely to spite the slave trader who intended to sell her as a pleasure slave and takes great pride in the fact that she managed to drive down her value to a quarter of the original price by doing so.
She Who Fights Monsters: By the end of the series, she's little better than the people who victimized her.
Sinister Scimitar: Lifts a scimitar off a Gurkish soldier early on and wields it for much of her adventure. The Union characters, who associate curved swords with their enemies to the south, and Northmen, who have never seen such a strange blade, find it quite sinister indeed.
Sociopathic Hero: Due to her hostile personality and complete lack of empathy, Ferro is by far the most ruthless and violent of the protagonists, which, given the series' bleak tone, is no small feat.
The Spook: Although she is a wanted criminal with a fearsome reputation, no one in the Gurkish Empire knows what she looks like because she is very hard to track down, and those who have actually managed to find her don't survive long enough to tell of it.
Supernatural Gold Eyes: Her yellow eyes indicate her demonic ancestry.
Trauma Conga Line: She spent most of her life prior to the books in slavery and was horrifically abused by her various masters.
Troll: There's a large part of Ferro that just enjoys provoking people.
Verbal Tic: She hisses when angry, which is written out as "Ssssss."

Characters / The First Law Gurkish Empire

The Empire

Uthman-ul-Dosht

The Church

Khalul "The Prophet"

The Hundred Words

Mamun

Ishri

Shickel

Others

Ferro Maljinn

POV: The Blade Itself, Before They are Hanged, Last Argument of Kings

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Characters / The First Law Gurkish Empire

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The Empire

Uthman-ul-Dosht

The Church

Khalul "The Prophet"

The Hundred Words

Mamun

Ishri

Shickel

Others

Ferro Maljinn

POV: The Blade Itself, Before They are Hanged, Last Argument of Kings

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Index

Next