History Characters / TheNightUnfurls

[[/index]]
----
[[foldercontrol]]



!! Elves
[[folder:Celestine Lucross]]
See her folder above.
[[/folder]]



%%[[folder:Anna Florence]]
%%[[/folder]]

! Antagonists
[[folder:Orcs]]
* AlwaysChaoticEvil:
** Orcs, in classical fashion, are portrayed as this. Every single orc is a violent maniac and a rapist, with Kyril outright telling his soldier recruits that orcs exist to kill, so their job is to take them out without hesitation. Meanwhile, some people like Olga and Vault are shown to be able to ''bargain'' with orcs, which [[SubvertedTrope brings the extent of this trope being true into question]]... [[DoubleSubversion and then it quickly turns out]] that the orcs do get something in return for their alliance -- the prospect of [[RapePillageAndBurn raping, pillaging, and burning]] a place/region (Loraine for Olga's deal; all the dark elves in the Black Fortress, as well as the entire kingdom of Eostia for Vault's deal).
** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] at one point by Kyril in the remastered version.
--->''The Hunter found more small camps, and killed off more of the greenskins. He slaughtered them without mercy, their cries for their gods sounding piggish in the coming dusk. Were they truly so reprehensible? He wondered if the orcish gods even heard their pleas for their aid.''\\
''He thought this as he brought down another greenskin with an offhand swipe of the Holy Moonlight Sword. Did the gods of this world create such creatures fit only to be despised and cut down like vermin? He probably would never find out the answers, standing here in the gore of dead orcs.''
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast:
** Orcs are AlwaysChaoticEvil, so it is not a surprise that several infamous orc war-chiefs that Kyril had killed prior to the series have scary names like this, including the Defiler, Ozgriz the Mighty, and the Arsonist.
** The above list is altered a little in the remastered version. The very first chapter has Kyril finding the head of the Arch-Arsonist, one of the many orcs that he has slain including Ozgriz the Defiler, Gruzbad the Warlord, and the Eater of Men. He would later kill another orc chieftain named Thurog the Tall with his bare hands in Chapter 4.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Olga Discordia]]
See her folder above.
[[/folder]]

!! The Black Dogs
[[folder:General tropes]]
* ArmyOfThievesAndWhores: PlayedForDrama. Combine [[HiredGuns the biggest and most famous mercenary group]] in Eostia with any traditional AlwaysChaoticEvil fantasy races you can think of (orcs, goblins, ogres, you name it), you have a huge one of these that persists for more than 30 chapters of the story, not including the AbortedArc of Thorn and beyond. RapePillageAndBurn is the main M.O. of this army to realise Vault's dream of a Sex Empire.
* DarkIsEvil: The main antagonists of this fanfic are the ''Black'' Dogs. After [[EtTuBrute betraying their contract to Eostia]], the mercenary group devolves into an ArmyOfThievesAndWhores that would gladly engage in RapePillageAndBurn, for the purpose of creating a [[SexSlave Sex]] [[NoWomansLand Empire]]. As the story progresses, said army includes not just [[HiredGuns mercs]], but also [[AlwaysChaoticEvil standard "evil" fantasy races]] like orcs and goblins, as well as {{Mooks}} of [[BodyHorror many mutations and deformations]].
* NGOSuperpower: There ''is'' a reason why [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores the Black Dogs]] find staging a military coup to take the South to be a viable option. By the time [[DiscOneFinalBoss Olga]] is defeated, the military of the Black Dogs consists of not only a band of [[HiredGuns mercenaries]], but also the [[DecapitatedArmy legion of orcs and other fantasy "monsters" in the north]]. They also have the Black Fortress, its resources so many that it can presumably sustain said army, [[EasyLogistics so logistics are not a concern]]. Then [[EvilSorceror Shamuhaza]] comes to the picture, enhancing the Black Dogs' military power further via [[spoiler:delving into the [[ThingsManIsNotMeantToKnow Eldritch Truth]]]]. Being the most famous [[{{PMC}} mercenary group]] in Eostia, the Black Dogs, [[VillainWithGoodPublicity Vault]] especially, exploit this to the fullest to amass much political clout, enough for many prominent members of [[AristocratsAreEvil Eostian nobility]] to sponsor their actions of conquest. Combine the above factors altogether, and you have a {{PMC}} capable of going toe to toe with, or even overpowering regular armies of [[TheAlliance the Seven Shields Alliance]] (Eostia is assumed to be a medieval fantasy state). Needless to say, they'd probably [[CurbStompBattle succeed]] just like in ''Kuroinu'' canon if the [[OutsideContextProblem Outside Context Monstrosity]] that is Kyril Sutherland weren't here.
* StandardHeroReward: On the way to the [[SupervillainLair Black Fortress]], Kyril observes how the Black Dogs are eager to [[InvokedTrope invoke this trope]]. They are already planning what celebrations they will do when they return to Eostia as conquering heroes, which woman they are going to get, how many children they will have, and how they are going to live like kings with a hero's reward. Later PlayedForDrama as it [[{{Foreshadowing}} foreshadows]] their next course of action: to build a Sex Slave Empire.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Vault]]
* AppealToTradition: [[HeManWomanHater Vault]] uses this to justify his intention of building a [[NoWomansLand Sex Empire]]. He says, "back then, women did whatever the fuck we wanted them to".
* BigBad: Vault [[spoiler:(in the original version, that is)]] is [[VillainWithGoodPublicity Eostia's greatest champion]], as well as the leader of the biggest [[HiredGuns mercenary group]] in the land, known as the Black Dogs. His [[AmbitionIsEvil ambition]] to build a Sex Empire via RapePillageAndBurn, hence starting a new war after the end of the ForeverWar, serves as the main driving force of conflict.
* DiscOneFinalBoss: [[spoiler:Unlike the original version, where Vault dethrones Olga and becomes the BigBad, Vault in the remastered version is killed by Kyril in Chapter 6 as soon as his ambitions to build a Sex Empire become known. No "ultimate threat" is present as of now, but the remastered version of the story is incomplete.]]
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Vault, the BigBad of the story who wants to create a SexSlave [[TheEmpire Empire]], is appalled at EvilSorcerer Shamuhaza experimenting on the Leaping Lizards, who are on the same side as the Black Dogs (aka. his own men), even calling him "a crazy man". To him, it is fortunate that Shamuhaza did not arrive at the capital of Eostia, otherwise a similar disaster would occur in the place he is trying to conquer.
* EvilOverlord: What Vault becomes [[spoiler:in the original version]] after [[TheUsurper usurping]] Olga's role. A self-proclaimed king who wants to build a [[SexSlave Sex]] [[TheEmpire Empire]], he is the BigBad that resides in the Black Fortress, with TheHorde and his Black Dog mercenaries under his disposal. Unlike most examples, he ''does not'' have overwhelming power -- he would risk being on the receiving end of a CurbStompBattle courtesy of [[WorldsStrongestMan Kyril]] (which does happen twice), if he were to directly engage with TheAlliance. Therefore, he spends most of his time in the fortress plotting [[AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs invasions]], [[VillainWithGoodPublicity securing alliances with his supporters]], and [[RapeDiscretionShot helping himself with the female dark elves captured throughout Garan]].
* FalseReassurance: Vault gives one to his former comrade Maia in the original version after declaring his intention of [[NoWomansLand a Sex Empire]]. He tells her, "Don't worry, you'll [[NotIfTheyEnjoyedItRationalization enjoy]] it. You won't have to worry about starving or any more wars."
* HeManWomanHater: As Vault reveals his true colours after taking over the Black Fortress, so does his disdain towards women -- he wants to create [[NoWomansLand a Sex Empire]] due to his belief that women should StayInTheKitchen just like [[AppealToTradition "back then"]].
* {{Hunk}}: Vault is described as "huge, almost herculean in physique", with chiseled features. However, his appearance of a hero of old hides a [[AmbitionIsEvil nasty ambition]] to replace the current regime with a SexSlave [[TheEmpire Empire]], making him a rare villainous example. A perfect foil to the LeanAndMean, [[AntiHero anti-heroic]] {{protagonist}}, Kyril Sutherland.
* MotiveRant: Vault lays bare his [[AmbitionIsEvil ambitions]] of a [[SexSlave Sex]] [[TheEmpire Empire]] in the form of a rant, heated words on how the [[TheAlliance Seven Shields]] are useless, and that the Black Dogs will start a new world order where every man shall live like kings.
* NotIfTheyEnjoyedItRationalization: Vault [[FalseReassurance "reassures"]] Maia that she needn't worry about being a SexSlave under his Sex Empire, because she will enjoy it.
* NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist: When revealing his motives for building a Sex Empire, [[VillainHasAPoint Vault calls out both the Seven Shields and Olga for starting a century-old war that costs countless lives, including his own men]]. He claims that [[AristocratsAreEvil they have done nothing good to the people]], enjoying their riches while forgetting that men like the Black Dogs fight tooth and nail to bring peace. Despite his [[FalseReassurance reassurance that no one will have to worry about warfare and starvation]] under his future regime, his response is to [[AmbitionIsEvil stage a military coup to seize power for himself]], together with [[DisproportionateRetribution raping the Seven Shields into submission for men to live like kings]]. Besides, the fact that he leads armies who [[RapePillageAndBurn rape, pillage and burn]] inevitably devastates men and women alike.
* RankScalesWithAsskicking: Among the Black Dogs, TheLeader Vault is more capable in combat than the average merc in the group.
* RuggedScar: Vault has "a multitude of scars" with the look of a veteran.
* StayInTheKitchen: Vault holds the view that the Princess Knights should be doing what a man tells them, not the other way around. The normally [[TheStoic stoic and detached]] Kyril [[NotSoStoic breaks into a fit of laughter]] upon hearing this in the original version due to how ridiculous it sounds.
* StrawMisogynist: His StayInTheKitchen belief and motive of creating TheEmpire where every woman is a SexSlave are made blatantly clear. Him being the BigBad who kicks off the plot means that being "proven wrong" is not his one and only purpose in the story, making this a DownplayedTrope.
* UriahGambit: In the remastered version, Vault asks the OneManArmy Kyril to press on and fight Olga alone, while he and the Black Dogs fend off the other enemies. On one hand, Vault plans for Kyril to weaken Olga to the point where she can be [[StraightForTheCommander easily captured, thus securing victory]]. On the other hand, because Olga is a skilled LadyOfBlackMagic, Vault [[UnderestimatingBadassery doubts]] that Kyril would come out unscathed. Knowing the time to [[DeadlyEuphemism "deal with"]] the Hunter is approaching fast, he is certainly banking on the outcome where Kyril will "take the hits". Vault's remark after witnessing the actual result of their fight[[note]]The Hunter [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomps]] Olga[[/note]] says it all.
-->'''Vault''': Well, I'll be damned! And here I thought you'd be burned to a cinder.
* TheUsurper: Vault usurps Olga's position as EvilOverlord in control of the Black Fortress and the orcs after [[FallenPrincess her defeat]], even sitting on her vacant throne as she is ousted. Soon, he [[InvokedTrope invokes]] this trope as he makes his intention to conquer the South to build his SexSlave [[TheEmpire Empire]], an outcome that the protagonists [[DefiedTrope strive to avert]].
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Vault is an esteemed, charismatic warrior in Eostia, TheLeader of the equally renowned [[{{PMC}} Black Dogs]], and a favourite of [[TheAlliance the Seven Shields]]. His good publicity allows him to secretly gain sponsors from the nobility, plotting behind the scenes to overthrow the Seven Shields, to take over the country, and to build a SexSlave Empire with himself as king. This trope is panned out differently in both versions of the story.
** In the original version, Vault's ambitions become public knowledge, with the RapePillageAndBurn going on everywhere, therefore [[SubvertedTrope subverting the trope]].
** In the remastered version, [[spoiler:Vault is killed by Kyril after revealing his ambitions, but]] the "good publicity" part doesn't go away because only a small band of people know about said ambitions. People in general are still kept in the dark, Vault's supporters continue to advance his agenda [[spoiler:without the knowledge of his demise]], and Kyril is distrusted by five of the Seven Shields after DroppingTheBombshell that is [[spoiler:Vault's status as a traitor and Vault's murder]].
* WeCanRuleTogether: Vault offers Kyril to join his cause of building [[NoWomansLand a]] [[SexSlave Sex]] [[TheEmpire Empire]]. On the pragmatic side of things, it is always good to have a powerful [[OneManArmy warrior]] on his side. His reasoning, however, is heavily reliant on the assumption that AllMenArePerverts, thinking that Kyril, [[AManIsAlwaysEager a man]], would want "live like a king" to take and use as many partners as he pleased. [[EvilCannotComprehendGood Yeah, about that...]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Beasley]]
* ArcVillain: Beasley is the antagonist who kicks off the ''[[StoryArc Feoh and Ur Arc]]'' (Chapters 6-8 of the original version). Wanting a personal fiefdom among the [[SexSlave Sex]] Empire, he starts the conflict by taking measures to secure Feoh and Ur for the Black Dogs. Due to his actions, there is an increase in monster incursions at the two strongholds, with no army defending said incursions (because they are held back) and no message from the one in charge, Alicia (because she is subdued). In order to prevent Beasley from welcoming the Black Dogs into the fortress, Kyril and co. head there to investigate, fight the {{mooks}}, and free the captives. Beasley's death resolves the arc.
* DirtyOldMan: Beasley is an old man who wants to "do as much as he pleases" to Alicia. This VillainousCrush is a reason why he becomes a [[TheMole mole]] for the Black Dogs, joining their cause to build a [[SexSlave Sex]] [[TheEmpire Empire]].
* EvilChancellor: Beasley is the Prime Minister of the fortress Feoh. The ArcVillain of the ''[[StoryArc Feoh/Ur Arc]]'', he [[TheMole secretly works for]] the [[{{PMC}} Black]] [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores Dogs]], so that he would be [[AmbitionIsEvil the one in charge]], rather than Alicia, when they take over the fortress. Beasley's P.O.V indicates that not only he dislikes being ordered around by "some uppity royal brat" that is Alicia, [[DirtyOldMan he]] also wants to [[VillainousCrush do as much as he pleases to her]], and being part of the Black Dogs' [[SexSlave Sex]] [[TheEmpire Empire]] is a means to achieve this end.
* VillainHasAPoint: [[EvilChancellor Prime Minister Beasley]] is [[EvilCannotComprehendGood appalled]] of Kyril siding with [[TheAlliance the Seven Shields]], seeing them as "weak-willed women". He may be a DirtyOldMan with a VillainousCrush who sides with an ArmyOfThievesAndWhores who RapePillageAndBurn, but he is not wrong about how a couple members of the Seven Shields are "weak-willed".
** Alicia chooses to surrender the fortress she is supposed to defend, in exchange for a number of [[HostageSituation hostage]] nuns, who are [[RapeAsDrama raped]] anyway upon her surrender. What's worse is that an easy takeover happens despite the fortress being supposedly well-fortified, which shows that Alicia is weak-willed at best, and [[StupidSacrifice incom]][[DidntThinkThisThrough petent]] at worst.
** Despite Celestine's [[TheHighQueen benevolent]] rule of Eostia, she did [[GreatOffscreenWar engage in warfare]] with Olga [[ForeverWar for centuries]], which is contradictory to the more rational notion of [[Literature/TheArtOfWarSunTzu how wars ought to be brought to a conclusion as quickly as possible]]. Furthermore, the persistence of several problems ([[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil slavery]], [[HumanTrafficking dark elf trafficking]], as well as human-dark-elf FantasticRacism) indicates that her measures/policies to deal with them lack effectiveness (hence the "weak-willed" part). For this reason, several characters resolve to double down on their efforts in tackling these problems.
* VillainousBreakdown: Happens to Beasley, upon knowing that the Hunter is coming for him, with Kin [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness cancelling his deal with him and the Mortadella Brothers]] afterwards. It gets [[MookHorrorShow worse]] when the Hunter personally comes to butcher him up.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Michelle Pantielle]]
* AbhorrentAdmirer: GenderInverted. He is both a FatBastard and RoyalBrat who always attempts to hit on Maia any chance he gets, much to her displeasure. Chapter 5 of the original can attest to that, [[MadLove not that it stops him, though]].
-->'''Michelle:''' [[DoggedNiceGuy Maia, I can help with that]].\\
'''Maia:''' No, you can't. Seriously, just shut up. [[RageBreakingPoint Just]] [[BigShutUp shut up]]! I am tired of hearing your voice, you [[FatBastard fat fucking prick]]! I'm tired of your damn invitations, I'm tired of you trying to talk to me, I'm tired of your worthless existence!\\
'''Michelle:''' ''*reaches for Maia's hand*'' B-But, Maia-\\
'''Maia:''' ''*slaps Michelle's hand away*'' I said stop talking! And stop trying to hold my hand, you shit! Gods you can't even do that right!
* ArcVillain: Although Michelle isn't the only antagonist of the ''[[StoryArc Ansur Arc]]'' (Chapters 9-11 of the original version), the arc is resolved not only by stopping the Black Dogs from taking over Ansur, but also by tracking his whereabouts (which points towards where Maia is living), arresting him, and killing him.
* DoggedNiceGuy: Michelle is ''[[RoyalBrat not]]'' a NiceGuy, but him throwing a party to show his affection to Maia in Chapter 5 counts as the "spectacular displays" type. [[DeconstructedCharacterArchetype She finds his advances irritating]]. Later PlayedForDrama when he ditches the persistent part and joins the [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores Black Dogs]] to [[EntitledToHaveYou make her love him]].
* FatBastard: Michelle is spoiled, whiny and obsessed with Maia. His [[FatSlob obesity and sloppyness]] serve to accentuate his many unpleasant traits.
* FatSlob: He is a fat man who spits everywhere when speaking and reaches for Maia's hand with his own greased hand during a party meant for her.
* RoyalBrat: Michelle Pantielle fits squarely in the "spoiled rich kid" archetype. [[BlueBlood Blue-blooded]], obnoxious, looks down on people of lower status, and [[FatBastard has his gut hanging out like he's pregnant]].
* UndignifiedDeath: He, writhes in agony on the ground while [[IWantMyMommy crying for his mother]] after he's [[AgonizingStomachWound stabbed in the gut]]. His screams are only silenced when [[OffWithHisHead his head is cut off]]. To add insult to injury, he expects to face Sir Kyril during his TrialByCombat, but he lets his apprentice Hugh do the deed instead. Almost everyone who witnesses the trial cannot help to [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]] this trope. Kyril, in particular, is more irritated by this waste of time.
* YouExclamation: Michelle exclaims "Y-You!" as Kyril catches him red-handed [[IHaveYouNowMyPretty having his way with Maia]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Shamuhaza]]
* AlienBlood: In order to drive home that [[spoiler:Shamuhaza has gone OneWingedAngel during the climactic battle between him and the Hunters, he is shown to bleed white ichor when damaged]].
* AnimalEspionage: Some of the scouts that Shamuhaza uses to spy on the heroes are beast-like creatures that can turn [[{{Invisibility}} invisible]]. He can [[TouchTelepathy sift through their minds]] to know about their plans.
* ArcVillain: Shamuhaza is responsible for starting the conflict of the ''[[StoryArc Rad Arc]]'' (Chapters 14-16 of the original version) by breeding EliteMooks and other monstrosities to bolster the Black Dogs' power. Due to his actions, Kyril and co. have to contend with a threat bigger than usual. His retreat and hence Rad being denied to the Black Dogs resolves the arc.
* AxCrazy: Shamuhaza is so crazy [[spoiler:in his pursuit of [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow the Eldritch Truth]]]] that he goes from [[PlayingWithSyringes experimenting on innocent civilians]] (the gory result being bodies either drained of their blood or ripped apart due to [[ChestBurster things coming out of them]]) to experimenting on the Leaping Lizards, ''the people who are supposed to be on the same side''. [[spoiler:Any amount of his rational thought is thrown out of the window when he is [[EldritchTransformation transformed into an insect-like abomination]]]].
* BandageMummy: Shamuhaza is an atypical example. He's wrapped in bandages head to toe, yet he is not immobilised in any way, and the readers have no idea whether he was injured or not.
* BandagedFace: Shamuhaza is depicted like this. The reason is unclear, but it clearly makes him look like a creepy madman. [[BandageMummy Even his whole body is covered with bandages]].
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: Due to his belief that both are the same [[spoiler:in the sense that both had seen the Eldritch Truth]], Shamuhaza looks forward to fighting Kyril, whom he sees as a WorthyOpponent. [[spoiler:[[EvilCannotComprehendGood His inability to comprehend Kyril's decision]] to [[WillfullyWeak limit himself by retaining his humanity]] implies he wants to witness his "unrestrained" side.]] His wish is granted eventually when he faces off against Kyril, Sanakan and Hugh [[spoiler:as an EldritchAbomination, and he ends up getting [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomped]] after [[IAmNotLeftHanded Kyril decides to release a bit of his eldritch might]]. To top it off, he suffers a FateWorseThanDeath.]]
* ClippedWingAngel: [[spoiler:[[EldritchTransformation Transforming]] into a [[Characters/BloodBorneGreatOnes Rom]]-esque arthropod does not help Shamuhaza one bit during his battle with Kyril, Sanakan, and Hugh. The only reason why the creature [[CurbStompCushion manages to incapacitate the latter two]] with a surge of power is because the former thinks he doesn't need to [[IAmNotLeftHanded unleash]] a tiny bit of his eldritch power to stare him to a FateWorseThanDeath. When TheGlovesComeOff, Shamuhaza is done for]].
* DetrimentalDetermination: Shamuhaza's persistence in [[spoiler:exploiting [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow the Eldritch Truth]]]] to create a myriad of [[{{Mutants}} mutated]] EliteMooks nearly causes an ApocalypseHow, jeopardises the people on the same side as he is, [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity drives himself insane]], makes himself easier for the heroes to track down, and ultimately hastens his own demise.
* EvilSorceror: Though not the BigBad, Shamuhaza is still the ArcVillain of the two [[StoryArc story arcs]] that marks this fanfic's SerialEscalation. He ticks off most of, if not all, the boxes of this trope. Has a legion of mutated EliteMooks with BodyHorror? Check. Tampers with ThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow [[spoiler:(or in this case, the Eldritch Truth)]]? Check. [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity Strives to gain great power at the expense of his sanity and soul]]? Check. Oh, and he also [[spoiler:ends up [[EldritchTransformation turning into]] an EldritchAbomination himself]].
* FaceFullOfAlienWingWong: He [[InvokedTrope invokes]] this trope as part of his [[PlayingWithSyringes experiments]] on the citizenry of Rad to bolster the Black Dogs' ranks. [[EstablishingCharacterMoment His first appearance]] shows him overseeing a female [[HalfHumanHybrid half-ling]] giving birth to a monstrosity.
* GameChanger: A villainous example. His appearance during the war against the Black Dogs not only gives [[TheUsualAdversaries the Black Dogs]] an advantage in the war, but also results in the good guys' receiving their [[PyrrhicVictory Pyrrhic Victory of all Pyrrhic Victories]] in the story, with Rad, the fortress city they are supposed to reclaim, suffering an ApocalypseHow. Due to his presence, many later chapters would have the good guys' trying to blindside the enemy, rather than fending off an AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs situation.
* TheManBehindTheMonsters: Shamuhaza, a human EvilSorceror, is the source of the [[{{Mutants}} mutated]], [[BodyHorror deformed]], and [[MixAndMatchCritters mis-matched]] EliteMooks in the original version of the story.
* OneWingedAngel: [[spoiler:Shamuhaza is not the BigBad, but he still [[EldritchTransformation transforms]] into a great scuttling [[InsectoidAliens insect-like]] EldritchAbomination offstage, awaiting Kyril on a lake for one climactic battle. To [[WorldsStrongestMan the Good Hunter]], however, his opponent is nothing more than a giant beast, one amongst the many that he had slain in Yharnam. With a wry smile, the Hunter comments that [[ClippedWingAngel he doesn't know what he is anymore]], before telling Sanakan and Hugh to kill [[ItIsDehumanizing it]].]]
* PlayingWithSyringes: Pretty much Shamuhaza's M.O. as an EvilSorcerer -- the Neverborn experiments he conducts include: creating [[MixAndMatchCritters mix-and-match]] EliteMooks via subjecting InnocentBystanders to a FaceFullOfAlienWingWong; directly mutating {{mooks}} for them to be upgraded into more EliteMooks, and; delving into BlackMagic and [[spoiler:the [[ThingsManIsNotMeantToKnow Eldritch Truth]], which may or may not be research from the Healing Church or the School of Mensis]].
* VillainousBreakdown: [[ExaggeratedTrope Exaggerated]] for Shamuhaza, as he [[spoiler:suffers a FateWorseThanDeath curtesy of Kyril unleashing his Eldritch might.]]
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Shamuhaza is an EvilSorceror who [[spoiler:attempts to harness the power of the Eldritch Truth, and later [[EldritchTransformation turns into]] an EldritchAbomination himself]], throwing away his rational thought entirely. Of course this happens. [[spoiler:Compare him with his {{foil}}, Kyril Sutherland -- a far more powerful EldritchAbomination [[HumanoidAbomination in human form]], yet with tons more experience and restraint.]]
[[/folder]]

%%[[folder:Morgan]]
%%* ArcVillain: {{Subverted}}. Morgan is set up as the main obstacle of the ''[[StoryArc Hunt for Leaping Lizards Arc]]'' (Chapters 17-22 of the original version). Kyril and co. set off to Scathlocke Province to hunt down the Leaping Lizards, including the leader Morgan, for a number of reasons (to provide closure for Grace, to find out any connections the slaver has, to root out traitors). However, Shamuhaza later takes over his place as the main obstacle and is finally defeated in the end, while Morgan doesn't even get a proper introduction and is implied to have died off-screen due to Shamuhaza's machinations.
%%[[/folder]]

[[folder:Archbishop Grishom]]
* ArcVillain: The head of the Church kicks off the conflict of the ''[[StoryArc Rebellion in Ken Arc]]'' (or ''Rebel Scum Arc'', in Chapters 23-26 of the original version), being the one leading the uprising in the eastern district of Ken, rallying the supporters of the [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores Black Dogs]] and publicly denouncing [[TheHighQueen Celestine]]'s rule. The arc is resolved via his imprisonment and the end of the rebellion.
%%* DirtyOldMan: SinisterMinister Grishom thinks that should he bring Sir Kyril's head to Vault, he would be rewarded with plenty of women. The narration describes his face as filled with "bravado and lust".
* SinisterMinister: At first, the archbishop is an ObstructiveBureaucrat that blocks relief efforts. He then graduates into ArcVillain status by [[StagedPopulistUprising staging an uprising]], exhorting the common folk to join the [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores Black Dogs]], and putting the capital in a state of chaos.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Sir John Mandeville]]
%%* AbusiveParents: [[spoiler:John Mandeville]], to [[spoiler:[[HalfHumanHybrid Chloe]]]]. [[spoiler:He is a [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil slaver]] who raped her mother (thus [[ChildByRape giving birth to Chloe]]), and enslaved them the same way as other dark elves under him for [[SexSlave entertainment]], which led to her mother's death. Even after Chloe was rescued by Olga, Mandeville eventually finds his daughter and subjects her to prolonged ColdBloodedTorture]].
* ArcVillain: Mandeville is the antagonist who kicks off the ''[[StoryArc Hunt for Mandeville Arc]]'' (Chapters 27-30 of the original version) by kidnapping Chloe when she was following a lead into his location, prompting Kyril and co. to go find them. He is revealed to be one of the major players in sponsoring the rebellion and the Black Dogs' cause. Hunting him down is key to the arc's resolution.
%%*DirtyOldMan: .
* FauxAffablyEvil: He plays the kindly old man even as he [[spoiler:molests and tortures his daughter]].
* NotIfTheyEnjoyedItRationalization: This is John Mandeville's response to Kyril after he tells him that [[spoiler:his daughter Chloe can do whatever she wishes to him for the ColdBloodedTorture she suffered thanks to him]].
-->'''Mandeville:''' She won't harm me. Not after tasting the pleasures that I have given her.
* VillainousBreakdown: Mandeville loses whatever bravado he has after Kyril tells him that he can only sit and watch [[LaserGuidedKarma the wealth of his house being redistributed to the common people, some of whom are the dark elves he enslaved]].
[[/folder]]

! Characters that exclusively appear in the remastered version
[[folder:Boris]]
* CampCook: He is one of the cooks in the company of the [[{{PMC}} Black Dogs]], though he is the only one [[NominalImportance named]]. Boris eventually becomes a DefectorFromDecadence and joins Kyril's GreatEscape party to bring Olga to the capital. His role as cook doesn't change during the trek across the [[{{Mordor}} Badlands]], but the others have to help as well.
[[/folder]]

%%[[folder:Fredrick]]
%%* Breaking Point Swearing: Chapter 8 starts with Fredrick dropping a single F-bomb when he gets stuck in the mud while trekking in the Dead Marshes of Garan.
%%[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Rat]]
* GenuineHumanHide: The Rat wears robes made of human skin. Goes on to show that he is serious business.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: The [[IHaveManyNames many names]] of The Rat (e.g. King-Spawn of All Vermin, He Who Feasts on Ambition, etc.) sound anything but pleasing. Fitting for someone with an InUniverse reputation as a [[DealWithTheDevil malicious]] [[OurDemonsAreDifferent entity]].
[[/folder]]
----

* [[Characters/TheNightUnfurlsSevenShields Seven Shields]]

* AdaptationalJerkass: As much as how Olga feels that she [[IOweYouMyLife owes]] Kyril for saving her and her servant Chloe from the Black Dogs, she is more reluctant to feel that way in the remastered version. She is also less cordial to him, since he did best and imprison her personally, which does not happen in the original version.
* AllEncompassingMantle: Olga wears a rich dark cloak that covers her lean form, though according to the official artwork of ''Kuroinu'', the fabric is heavily slitted, such that she is covered in long, thick strips.
* AloofDarkHairedGirl: She is six feet tall, with ankle-length black hair and a bountiful form. Her pride and aloofness is backed up by her status as the Queen of the Dark Elves, along with [[LadyOfBlackMagic her exceptional talent in magic]].
* ArcVillain: The main obstacle of the first StoryArc, the ''Assault of the Black Fortress Arc'' (Chapters 1-3 of the original version). Kyril and co. are tasked to head to the North, capture her, bring her back to the South, and end the longtime war that's plaguing the lands.
* BreakTheHaughty: Olga Discordia is a sorceress equal to the [[GodEmperor Goddess Reborn]] in every measure, and the Queen of the Dark Elves, so she has a good reason to be as haughty as ever. She experiences a gradual one in the remastered version. First, she gets subjected into a CurbStompBattle thanks to [[LightningBruiser Kyril being faster, stronger, and more durable than she is]]. After said CurbStompBattle, she is locked up in a cell like a miserable prisoner, already a far cry from what she started as. [[GreatEscape Had Kyril decided not personally bring her back to Ken]], she would have suffered a far worse fate at the mercy of the Black Dogs. While she begrudgingly admits that she owes him her life, it is not until he [[spoiler:uses [[MagicMissileStorm A Call Beyond]] to [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill instantly kill Vault and his men]] that [[OhCrap she realizes not only Kyril is a better fighter, but also a magic user far beyond her level]]]]. All of the above, combined with her sensing the [[LivingShadow dead shadows]] hovering around him on an instinctive level, leaves her terrified of him, even grateful that he decided to bring her and Chloe back unspoiled instead of offing her. The cherries at the top? [[FallenPrincess Olga Discordia]], now a former queen and a prisoner on the run, has no choice but to help set up camp and [[PeelingPotatoes peel some potatoes]], [[HumiliationConga not to mention how she ends up catching a fever on the way back]].
* CoolCrown: She is the holder of [[OurGodsAreDifferent Haughty Garan's]] Jagged Crown, which indicates that she is the inheritor of that goddess's power. [[{{Irony}} Ironically]], the pale purple crown she wears is neither jagged nor covered with thorns.
* DarkActionGirl: Olga (pre-HeelFaceTurn) is the ArcVillain of the ''Assault of the Black Fortress [[StoryArc Arc]]'', as well as the second belligerent of the [[ForeverWar centuries-old war]] against Eostia due to a [[KillAllHumans burning hatred of the human race]]. Aside from wearing dark-coloured clothing, she once offered the AlwaysChaoticEvil orcs a city of her own kind, the dark elves, for their [[RapePillageAndBurn entertainment]] in order to have them join her ranks. Olga is [[RankScalesWithAsskicking the most powerful among her forces]] due to her [[LadyOfBlackMagic magical prowess]] capable of rivalling [[GodEmperor Celestine's]] own, so powerful that at least one of the battles between the two caused much devastation to the lands (which leads to the both of them wordlessly agreeing not to directly face each other in battle). The remastered version [[AdaptationalBadass buffs her up a bit]], allowing her to hold her own against the [[WorldsStrongestMan world's strongest]] LightningBruiser Kyril [[CurbStompCushion for a while]].
* DarkIsEvil: Olga Discordia is also known as the ''[[EvilOverlord Dark]]'' Queen, a LadyOfBlackMagic and the catalyst for the [[ForeverWar centuries-old war]] that has caused untold bloodshed. In order to strengthen her position in said war, she once sacrificed one of the cities under her reign to the AlwaysChaoticEvil orcs in exchange for their allegiance. Even after her defeat and HeelFaceTurn, people in general still hate her guts due to what she did in the past.
* DeathFromAbove: Combined with PlayingWithFire, she can do this via an arcane artillery strike.
* DeflectorShields: [[LadyOfBlackMagic Olga]] in the remastered version can generate magical barriers for defence. However, they get [[TheWorfEffect worfed]] pretty quickly thanks to [[SuperStrength Kyril]] making short work of them.
* DiscOneFinalBoss: Olga is the second belligerent of the [[ForeverWar centuries-old war]] that has caused untold suffering to Eostia's people. She is built up as the archetypal EvilOverlord, the person [[TheProtagonist Kyril]] must defeat in order to end the war and bring her back to Eostia so she can face justice. Olga is defeated in the first StoryArc, but the resources and [[DecapitatedArmy personnel she leaves behind]] give Vault the means of turning against the Seven Shields and cementing his status as the main threat.
* DispelMagic: In the remastered version, Olga can cast an enchantment to "pull [[OurGhostsAreDifferent wraiths]] into the physical world", so as to nullify their {{intangibility}}.
* DrowningMySorrows: During her HeroicBSOD in the original version, Olga is seen drinking, sorrowful about her servant, surrogate daughter, and LivingEmotionalCrutch Chloe being in critical condition. Kyril stops her from continuing by grabbing her wine bottle and [[NeverGetsDrunk down it entirely]].
* EvilFormerFriend: To [[TheHighQueen Celestine]]. They were close until they came to blows over the fate of humanity. Their friendship fell apart by the time Olga declared war on Celestine's kingdom, where she had been sending orc raiders and other monsters to her lands [[ForeverWar for centuries]]. Later {{subverted}} after their reconciliation, together with the Black Dogs stepping up to become the main antagonists of this fanfic.
* EvilOverlord: GenderInverted. Olga [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Discordia]], the Dark (Elf) Queen, is set up as this the old-fashioned way. She lurks in an [[EvilTowerOfOminousness intimidating fortress]] (the Black Fortress) amid a {{Mordor}} in [[GrimUpNorth the North]] (Garan), with the AlwaysChaoticEvil fantasy races [[TheWomanBehindTheMonsters under her command]]. She's [[RankScalesWithAsskicking the most powerful among her forces]] due to her [[LadyOfBlackMagic sorcerous powers]], yet [[OrcusOnHerThrone hangs behind the action]]. Moreover, she has attributes of a SatanicArchetype (e.g., {{Pride}}, [[MsFanservice beauty]], association with [[PlayingWithFire fire]] and [[DarkIsEvil dark]], rebellion against the [[CrystalDragonJesus Goddess Reborn]], [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and]] the [[IHaveManyNames many names]]). However, Olga ends up being a {{subversion}} over time. To begin with, she is actually the DiscOneFinalBoss since she is [[FallenPrincess ousted]] and later gets a HeelFaceTurn. As the readers see more about her character throughout the story ([[AdaptationExpansion especially]] in the remastered version), it is revealed that her motivation for starting the ForeverWar against Eostia is not some generic [[TakeOverTheWorld world domination]], or conquest for that matter. Rather, it is her wrath for the FantasticRacism and subsequent enslavement of the dark elves, which leads to her prejudiced hatred of humanity as a whole. Last but not least, for all her flaws, especially the time where she [[EtTuBrute sacrificed]] one of her cities to the orcs, she's neither a [[AGodAmI megalomaniac]] nor an [[MadeOfEvil incarnation of evil]].
* FallenPrincess: [[ExaggeratedTrope Exaggerated]] to "Fallen Queen". She starts off as TheDreaded Queen of the Dark Elves, only to suffer defeat in the hands of the Black Dogs, and is taken prisoner. She even goes through an extra BreakTheHaughty sequence in the remastered version.
* {{Hellfire}}: Olga's [[PlayingWithFire flames]] are referred to as hellfire. They are described in the remastered version as "hotter than hell itself". We don't know if some sort of "{{Hell}}" exists in the ''Kuroinu'' 'verse, though.
* IOweYouMyLife: After Kyril breaks Olga and Chloe out of prison, Olga says to Kyril that she owes him for saving their lives from the Black Dogs. The entire trope is played differently in both versions of the story.
** PlayedStraight in the original version. Olga eventually brings up the rescue many chapters later, pledging to assist Kyril should he need it, as payment.
** {{Subverted}} in the remastered version. Olga is grateful for the rescue, but she doesn't feel obligated to help him. It's not like she would suddenly forget that Kyril was the one who put her in a cell in the first place (because they were on opposing sides of a war). If anything, the fact that she is his prisoner irks her to no end.
* ImpossibleHourglassFigure: Olga is described by Kyril's P.O.V. to have a voluptuous body covered by a [[OfCorsetsSexy corset]]. Considering her design in ''Kuroinu'' canon (which encapsulates the entire package of big breasts, narrow waist, and wide hips), he is clearly understating her physical appearance.
* InformedAbility: Kin mentions that Olga is a {{necromancer}}, yet the readers never see her raising the dead.
* LadyOfBlackMagic: She is a haughty MsFanservice with magical prowess that rivals Celestine, the Goddess Reborn. Throughout both versions of the fanfic (moreso for the remastered one, courtesy of the additional fight between Olga and Kyril), she has shown a variety of magics, including: {{Mordor}} creation; [[PlayingWithFire fire manipulation]]; control over the Black Fortress; DeflectorShields; swiftness augmentation; [[BlownAcrossTheRoom knockback]]; [[DispelMagic anti]]-{{intangibility}}; and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking trivial abilities like catching a pillow mid-air and sound muffling]].
* LaughingMad: The original version has her giggling uncontrollably when she and Celestine are reading the contents of Kyril's journal, an ApocalypticLog that doubles as an ArtifactOfDoom. Luckily {{subverted}} later as she managed to stop rocking back and forth to pull herself together.
* LogicalWeakness: For all of Olga's arcane might, she needs a [[PowerCrutch staff]] in order to cast her spells. Therefore, she's helpless [[WreckedWeapon once the staff is lost or gets broken]].
* TheManBehindTheMonsters: While the brutish [[OurOrcsAreDifferent orcs]] have their chieftains, they are ultimately under the command of Olga Discordia, the [[OurElvesAreDifferent Dark Elf]] Queen. Naturally, she resembles a human, and a downright [[MsFanservice gorgeous]] one at that. Later {{subverted}} as she gets [[FallenPrincess ousted]] and replaced by Vault, a {{hunk}}-y mercenary leader who intends to lead both his own human mercenaries and non-human hordes to take over the South.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Olga's last name, ''Discordia''. She's set up as the EvilOverlord who has engaged in war, or rather, sown ''discord'' for [[ForeverWar centuries]].
* OfCorsetsSexy: Part of Olga's default outfit that covers her voluptuous body. One example of AdaptationalModesty in this fanfic, compared with her corset with the front and back parts missing as depicted in ''Kuroinu'' canon.
* OrcusOnHisThrone: [[JustifiedTrope Justified]]. During the centuries-old war before the events of the main plot, Olga, the Dark Queen, did not start off like this -- she used to take the field personally and fight Celestine head on. The two stopped doing that since their magics were destroying the lands, and her goal is not [[SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum "world destruction"]]. The most Olga did was to smote Garan into a {{Mordor}} via BlackMagic in order to deter enemy armies. Meanwhile, her fortress is well fortified, and she could send raiding parties down the south. There's also how a presumably long time was used to raise Chloe, her surrogate daughter and would-be vassal.
* PeelingPotatoes: In the remastered version, one misfortune of [[FallenPrincess Olga's]] BreakTheHaughty sequence involves peeling potatoes at the cook Boris's request. Rather than a PunishmentDetail, Olga and the rest of the GreatEscape crew [[JustifiedTrope need dinner]], so someone's gotta help out. Furthermore, she accepts his request because she imagines that [[TheDreaded Kyril]] would forbid her from eating if she were to pull some sort of stunt. On a [[PlayedForLaughs humorous]] note, Olga [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] her current predicament -- formerly [[EvilOverlord Dark Queen]], now a glorified potato peeler.
* RankScalesWithAsskicking: Among the [[GrimUpNorth northern]] faction, Olga, Queen of the Dark Elves, is a master [[LadyOfBlackMagic sorceress]], being way stronger than the [[{{Mooks}} fighters]] under her.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: She is a dark elf who has fought Celestine for centuries, and is described to have the appearance of a MsFanservice.
* SatanicArchetype: Known as the Dark Queen, she is a [[{{Pride}} prideful]] LadyOfBlackMagic who starts a ForeverWar by rebelling against the [[CrystalDragonJesus Goddess Reborn]], is associated with [[PlayingWithFire fire]] and [[DarkIsEvil dark]], and [[IHaveManyNames is known by various titles]]. Later {{subverted}} as she is merely the DiscOneFinalBoss, her motive for rebellion is portrayed in a sympathetic light, she gets a HeelFaceTurn, and her association with dark (dark elves) [[DarkIsNotEvil is not malicious]] in nature.
* ShipperOnDeck: She is the "shipper with a crush" type, often [[TheGadfly gleefully teasing]] Celestine about her feelings towards Kyril, while harbouring feelings to the man herself.
* StockLightNovelCalamityPrincess: Olga Discordia, Queen of the Dark Elves, resides in the [[SupervillainLair Black Fortress]] of [[{{Mordor}} Garan]] like a typical fantasy EvilOverlord. She's a prideful, talented LadyOfBlackMagic that can manipulate flames hotter than {{Hellfire}}, but her ColourMotif is associated with dark colours rather than the more common red, as evidenced by her midnight hair and [[AmbiguouslyBrown dusky]] skin. Fuelled with an intense [[ThePowerOfHate hatred]] of humanity, Olga rebelled against Celestine Lucross, the CrystalDragonJesus of Eostia, even waging war with the country for centuries, due to her {{wrath}} for the [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil enslavement]] of [[FantasticRacism her kind]]. Alas, the intervention of an OutsideContextProblem, [[AntiHero Kyril Sutherland]], led to the war effort playing against her favour, causing the Dark Queen to be [[FallenPrincess disgraced]] as a prisoner. As the story progresses, Olga cooperates with both Kyril and Celestine in the war against the [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores Black]] [[TheUsualAdversaries Dogs]], eventually confronting a past crime against her own people (sacrificing one of her cities to the orcs for them to RapePillageAndBurn).\\
The "LoveInterest" part is played in an unorthodox way compared to usual depictions of this archetype. While it's true that [[TheProtagonist the male protagonist]] Kyril eventually becomes the key for Olga to confront her demons, as well as one of the few people who takes a neutral stance in regards to said demons, Olga is the one that seeks for the protagonist's affections rather than the other way round, a persistent suitor among his UnwantedHarem no less. Kyril, despite being the [[LoveInterest object of affection]], is a CelibateHero whose "care" for her is due to him [[IGaveMyWord giving his word]] to [[{{Protectorate}} protect her from harm]] in the past and seeing her as a friend. Moreover, Olga certainly has [[MsFanservice the looks]], but she is neither [[LivingEmotionalCrutch dependent]] on the man, nor [[MagicContractRomance magically bound]] to him.
* TheUsurper: [[DiscussedTrope Discussed]] in the remastered version. Kyril learns from the books in Celestine's archives that Olga is described as a usurper. On the other hand, the story never reveals how exactly Olga inherited the power of [[OurGodsAreDifferent Garan]] and became the [[EvilOverlord Dark Queen]], making this notion an InformedAttribute. Even Kyril himself notes that the history there is a bit sketchy.

[[folder:Chloe]]
* AdaptationalJerkass: Chloe acts more hostile in the remastered version than the original version, because her FantasticRacism towards humanity is more pronounced in the former. Moreover, the remastered version includes additional members accompanying Kyril, Olga and Chloe in the journey from Garan to Eostia[[note]]only the trio is present in the original[[/note]], giving Chloe ample opportunity to start arguments.
* ApologisesALot: In the remastered version, she repeatedly apologises to Olga while crying quietly in shame due to being [[PrisonRape molested]] by the Black Dogs two nights ago.
* BerserkButton: Any remark or action that Chloe regards as an affront to her queen Olga ticks her off, even innocuous ones, like interrupting Olga, or requesting her to help set up camp.
* ChildByRape: [[spoiler:She is the result of a dark elf mother being raped by a human father, who is also one of the slavers who enslaved them along with many other dark elves. This [[FreudianExcuse explains]] her FantasticRacism against humanity, as well as her UndyingLoyalty to Olga, [[LikeADaughterToMe who raised her like a daughter]].]]
* ChainedToARock: Or rather, Chained To A Wall. This happens to Chloe [[spoiler:after her capture by her [[AbusiveParents father]] John Mandeville]]. Unlike typical examples where the victim is waiting to be a [[HumanSacrifice sacrifice]] of some sort, [[spoiler:she suffers a [[ColdBloodedTorture prolonged period of abuse]] in the dungeons, even [[EyeScream losing an eye]]]].
* DumbBlonde: The blonde-haired Chloe's (remastered version) HairTriggerTemper and FantasticRacism towards humans means that she is a bomb ready to go off if not for Olga and Kyril disciplining her. Kyril even says that Chloe is testing his patience by [[InsufferableImbecile needlessly antagonising other people]].
* FreudianExcuse: Chloe was [[spoiler:[[ChildByRape born of rape]], the [[HalfHumanHybrid product]] of a human father and a dark elf mother. She, along with other dark elves, were then taken as slaves to be entertainment by human slavers, while her mother was murdered by her own father]]. Fortunately, Chloe was saved by Olga, who, like herself, witnessed the enslavement of her kind. Growing up into Olga's loyal vassal, she would later develop jerkassery and FantasticRacism towards humanity, as well as a [[UndyingLoyalty fervour]] to her liege lady's [[AntiHumanAlliance cause]].
* HairTriggerTemper: Normally speaking, Chloe reacts with fury towards anyone or anything she considers an affront to her liege, making this instance more of a BerserkButton. [[AdaptationalJerkass Her counterpart in the remastered version]] magnifies this trait, together with a tendency to antagonize people and rant about how [[HumansAreBastards humans suck]]. Her FantasticRacism towards humans only fuels her fervor. It is quickly [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed]] to show how problematic her behaviour is -- Chloe comes across as an InsufferableImbecile whose lack of restraint is a source of discord among the GreatEscape party. Her antagonising [[WorldsStrongestMan Kyril]] also veers into BullyingADragon territory, something that Olga and Kyril himself have warned. The latter has explicitly stated that should Chloe be incapable of cooperating, he would "[[DeadlyEuphemism rescind his amnesty]]".
* HotBlooded: Chloe, [[AdaptationalJerkass especially in the remastered version]], has a HairTriggerTemper fueled by her [[FantasticRacism hatred towards humanity]], which causes her to come into blows with others easily. She is also immensely protective of her liege lady, Olga, even during captivity.
* MyEyesAreUpHere: Chloe scowls at Bergen when she notices him staring at her cleavage, wordlessly conveying this trope's message to him. Bergen [[DistractedByTheSexy tries to pretend he isn't staring]] by rubbing his forehead.
* WhoWouldBeStupidEnough: The remastered version has Chloe [[TemptingFate tempt fate]] by wondering who would "dare brazenly strike at the Black Fortress", right after her liege lady reminds her that a fortress is not invincible. Cue Kyril and the Black Dogs arriving moments later, even coming out victorious in the next chapter.

[[folder:Grace Campbell]]
* ActionSurvivor: Grace from the original version is a mere FanServiceWithASmile who works in a FantasyTavern. She finds herself to be one of the many InnocentBystanders that gets caught up in the invasion of Ansur by the Black Dogs. After being escorted by [[ActionHero Sir Kyril]] along with her friends to safety, she decides to sneak her way through the chaos in the streets to find him, because she knows of a [[AbsurdlySpaciousSewer secret entrance]] that Kyril can use to enter the mercenary compound and reach Maia. At first, this is [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed]]: Grace, ChastityDagger in hand, is obviously no match for a single {{mook}}, and as skilled as she is in sneaking around places, it can only take her so far, and she founds herself cornered by two mercs. On the other hand, she correctly figures out that Kyril, being a OneManArmy, would leave a trail of corpses behind, so she manages to end up in a place near him unharmed. Kyril, after dispatching said two mercs, would later coldly berate Grace [[DidntThinkThisThrough for putting herself in deep]], something that Grace herself [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]], but thanks to her information, he is able to successfully enter the compound, find Michelle Pantielle, and rescue Maia, though not without some difficulty. All in all, Grace's contribution in the Liberation of Ansur Arc allows this trope to be {{reconstructed}}, resulting in a DeconReconSwitch.
%%* Breaking Point Swearing: Grace rants to Kyril about how her past manages to come back and torment her with Olga's appearance in her friend's [[FantasyTavern inn]]. At one point, she whispers "three hundred ''fucking'' years" to emphasise this.
* ChastityDagger: Grace has one strapped to her thigh in case if some ruffian tries to put her down. The readers have never seen the knife being used in action, however.
* FanServiceWithASmile: PlayedStraight during her time as a barmaid. Like many others who work in [[FantasyTavern stock fantasy bars/inns/taverns]], she wears a [[{{Fanservice}} Fanservice-y]] outfit, namely a purple halterneck and a long sarong that accentuates her legs.
* HerHeartWillGoOn: As per her introductory narration in the remastered version below, Grace is a [[PlayedStraight straight]] example, though the pain of losing her husband never really faded away.
-->''Grace sighed as, for a moment, she felt every part of three hundred years catch up to her. No one, not even Annie who was twenty years her senior, would ever know what travails she had seen through in her three hundred years. Grace had come here from the [[GrimUpNorth North]], having [[YouCantGoHomeAgain lost her home]] a hundred years ago when the [[ForeverWar war]] between the Goddess Reborn and the Queen of the Jagged Crown began. She had seen terrible things during that journey, which included the loss of her dearest husband.''\\
\\
''Considering the fact that Grace was possibly the only Dark Elf in Baskerville, those travails would stay with her till the end of her days. Grace walked out, putting a cheery smile on her face. Still, life could be worse. She made people smile, laugh and forget that the world still needed to turn without anyone capable of stopping it.''
* IOweYouMyLife: Grace offers to become Kyril's retainer because she feels like she owes him for saving her and her friends' lives in Ansur. Kyril accepts.
* JerkassToOne: Grace Campbell is usually a NiceGirl, but it takes her considerable effort to be cordial to Olga Discordia. Her grudge towards the Dark Elf Queen stems from the time where Olga sacrificed Loraine, Grace's home, to the orcs, for them to RapePillageAndBurn. She [[YouCantGoHomeAgain lost both her home]] and [[TheLostLenore her husband]] because of that, and the grudge ceases to wane.
* MyEyesAreUpHere: Not said outright, but from how Grace feels glad that someone (Kyril) looks at her in the eye instead of leering, it's [[ImpliedTrope implied]] that she has been on the receiving end of this trope at least once, being a FanServiceWithASmile and all.
* ReadyForLovemaking: In the original version, Grace puckers up towards Kyril when he is about to inform her of her duties as his retainer. When asked about this, Grace says she thought she has to "warm his bed". Kyril, the CelibateHero he is, rejects her offer and quickly gets back to the main subject.
* RomancingTheWidow: {{Inverted}} to "The Widow Romances The Protagonist" in the original version. Grace Campbell lost her husband hundreds of years ago due to the war between Celestine and Olga. Judging from how she's pissed towards Olga because of her loss, it is clear that the pain has yet to fade. Despite this, she develops feelings for BlackKnight Kyril Sutherland, becoming a member of his UnwantedHarem eager to pursue for his affections, even though Kyril is neither romantically interested nor sexually interested in any of them.
* TheSocialExpert: This is one of her duties as Kyril's retainer to help gather info and intel, from interacting with the nobility, to attending meetings on Kyril's behalf.
* SubordinateExcuse: Aside from her joblessness due to the chaos in Ansur, the reason why she wishes to become Kyril's retainer in the original version is to [[IOweYouMyLife repay the knight who escorted her and her friends to safety]], [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys while getting close to the man beneath his exterior as a merciless killer]].
* YouCantGoHomeAgain: Grace had to flee from her DoomedHometown, Loraine, which was sacrificed to the orc war bands by Olga in order to have them fight under her cause. [[ItsPersonal This contributed to her animosity towards Olga]]. In the original version, she is forced to experience this a second time when her [[StartingANewLife new home]], Ansur, is ravaged by the war against the Black Dogs.

%%[[folder:Anna Florence]]
%%[[/folder]]

! Antagonists
[[folder:Orcs]]
* AlwaysChaoticEvil:
** Orcs, in classical fashion, are portrayed as this. Every single orc is a violent maniac and a rapist, with Kyril outright telling his soldier recruits that orcs exist to kill, so their job is to take them out without hesitation. Meanwhile, some people like Olga and Vault are shown to be able to ''bargain'' with orcs, which [[SubvertedTrope brings the extent of this trope being true into question]]... [[DoubleSubversion and then it quickly turns out]] that the orcs do get something in return for their alliance -- the prospect of [[RapePillageAndBurn raping, pillaging, and burning]] a place/region (Loraine for Olga's deal; all the dark elves in the Black Fortress, as well as the entire kingdom of Eostia for Vault's deal).
** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] at one point by Kyril in the remastered version.
--->''The Hunter found more small camps, and killed off more of the greenskins. He slaughtered them without mercy, their cries for their gods sounding piggish in the coming dusk. Were they truly so reprehensible? He wondered if the orcish gods even heard their pleas for their aid.''\\
''He thought this as he brought down another greenskin with an offhand swipe of the Holy Moonlight Sword. Did the gods of this world create such creatures fit only to be despised and cut down like vermin? He probably would never find out the answers, standing here in the gore of dead orcs.''
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast:
** Orcs are AlwaysChaoticEvil, so it is not a surprise that several infamous orc war-chiefs that Kyril had killed prior to the series have scary names like this, including the Defiler, Ozgriz the Mighty, and the Arsonist.
** The above list is altered a little in the remastered version. The very first chapter has Kyril finding the head of the Arch-Arsonist, one of the many orcs that he has slain including Ozgriz the Defiler, Gruzbad the Warlord, and the Eater of Men. He would later kill another orc chieftain named Thurog the Tall with his bare hands in Chapter 4.

[[folder:Olga Discordia]]
See her folder above.

!! The Black Dogs
[[folder:General tropes]]
* ArmyOfThievesAndWhores: PlayedForDrama. Combine [[HiredGuns the biggest and most famous mercenary group]] in Eostia with any traditional AlwaysChaoticEvil fantasy races you can think of (orcs, goblins, ogres, you name it), you have a huge one of these that persists for more than 30 chapters of the story, not including the AbortedArc of Thorn and beyond. RapePillageAndBurn is the main M.O. of this army to realise Vault's dream of a Sex Empire.
* DarkIsEvil: The main antagonists of this fanfic are the ''Black'' Dogs. After [[EtTuBrute betraying their contract to Eostia]], the mercenary group devolves into an ArmyOfThievesAndWhores that would gladly engage in RapePillageAndBurn, for the purpose of creating a [[SexSlave Sex]] [[NoWomansLand Empire]]. As the story progresses, said army includes not just [[HiredGuns mercs]], but also [[AlwaysChaoticEvil standard "evil" fantasy races]] like orcs and goblins, as well as {{Mooks}} of [[BodyHorror many mutations and deformations]].
* NGOSuperpower: There ''is'' a reason why [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores the Black Dogs]] find staging a military coup to take the South to be a viable option. By the time [[DiscOneFinalBoss Olga]] is defeated, the military of the Black Dogs consists of not only a band of [[HiredGuns mercenaries]], but also the [[DecapitatedArmy legion of orcs and other fantasy "monsters" in the north]]. They also have the Black Fortress, its resources so many that it can presumably sustain said army, [[EasyLogistics so logistics are not a concern]]. Then [[EvilSorceror Shamuhaza]] comes to the picture, enhancing the Black Dogs' military power further via [[spoiler:delving into the [[ThingsManIsNotMeantToKnow Eldritch Truth]]]]. Being the most famous [[{{PMC}} mercenary group]] in Eostia, the Black Dogs, [[VillainWithGoodPublicity Vault]] especially, exploit this to the fullest to amass much political clout, enough for many prominent members of [[AristocratsAreEvil Eostian nobility]] to sponsor their actions of conquest. Combine the above factors altogether, and you have a {{PMC}} capable of going toe to toe with, or even overpowering regular armies of [[TheAlliance the Seven Shields Alliance]] (Eostia is assumed to be a medieval fantasy state). Needless to say, they'd probably [[CurbStompBattle succeed]] just like in ''Kuroinu'' canon if the [[OutsideContextProblem Outside Context Monstrosity]] that is Kyril Sutherland weren't here.
* StandardHeroReward: On the way to the [[SupervillainLair Black Fortress]], Kyril observes how the Black Dogs are eager to [[InvokedTrope invoke this trope]]. They are already planning what celebrations they will do when they return to Eostia as conquering heroes, which woman they are going to get, how many children they will have, and how they are going to live like kings with a hero's reward. Later PlayedForDrama as it [[{{Foreshadowing}} foreshadows]] their next course of action: to build a Sex Slave Empire.

[[folder:Vault]]
* AppealToTradition: [[HeManWomanHater Vault]] uses this to justify his intention of building a [[NoWomansLand Sex Empire]]. He says, "back then, women did whatever the fuck we wanted them to".
* BigBad: Vault [[spoiler:(in the original version, that is)]] is [[VillainWithGoodPublicity Eostia's greatest champion]], as well as the leader of the biggest [[HiredGuns mercenary group]] in the land, known as the Black Dogs. His [[AmbitionIsEvil ambition]] to build a Sex Empire via RapePillageAndBurn, hence starting a new war after the end of the ForeverWar, serves as the main driving force of conflict.
* DiscOneFinalBoss: [[spoiler:Unlike the original version, where Vault dethrones Olga and becomes the BigBad, Vault in the remastered version is killed by Kyril in Chapter 6 as soon as his ambitions to build a Sex Empire become known. No "ultimate threat" is present as of now, but the remastered version of the story is incomplete.]]
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Vault, the BigBad of the story who wants to create a SexSlave [[TheEmpire Empire]], is appalled at EvilSorcerer Shamuhaza experimenting on the Leaping Lizards, who are on the same side as the Black Dogs (aka. his own men), even calling him "a crazy man". To him, it is fortunate that Shamuhaza did not arrive at the capital of Eostia, otherwise a similar disaster would occur in the place he is trying to conquer.
* EvilOverlord: What Vault becomes [[spoiler:in the original version]] after [[TheUsurper usurping]] Olga's role. A self-proclaimed king who wants to build a [[SexSlave Sex]] [[TheEmpire Empire]], he is the BigBad that resides in the Black Fortress, with TheHorde and his Black Dog mercenaries under his disposal. Unlike most examples, he ''does not'' have overwhelming power -- he would risk being on the receiving end of a CurbStompBattle courtesy of [[WorldsStrongestMan Kyril]] (which does happen twice), if he were to directly engage with TheAlliance. Therefore, he spends most of his time in the fortress plotting [[AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs invasions]], [[VillainWithGoodPublicity securing alliances with his supporters]], and [[RapeDiscretionShot helping himself with the female dark elves captured throughout Garan]].
* FalseReassurance: Vault gives one to his former comrade Maia in the original version after declaring his intention of [[NoWomansLand a Sex Empire]]. He tells her, "Don't worry, you'll [[NotIfTheyEnjoyedItRationalization enjoy]] it. You won't have to worry about starving or any more wars."
* HeManWomanHater: As Vault reveals his true colours after taking over the Black Fortress, so does his disdain towards women -- he wants to create [[NoWomansLand a Sex Empire]] due to his belief that women should StayInTheKitchen just like [[AppealToTradition "back then"]].
* {{Hunk}}: Vault is described as "huge, almost herculean in physique", with chiseled features. However, his appearance of a hero of old hides a [[AmbitionIsEvil nasty ambition]] to replace the current regime with a SexSlave [[TheEmpire Empire]], making him a rare villainous example. A perfect foil to the LeanAndMean, [[AntiHero anti-heroic]] {{protagonist}}, Kyril Sutherland.
* MotiveRant: Vault lays bare his [[AmbitionIsEvil ambitions]] of a [[SexSlave Sex]] [[TheEmpire Empire]] in the form of a rant, heated words on how the [[TheAlliance Seven Shields]] are useless, and that the Black Dogs will start a new world order where every man shall live like kings.
* NotIfTheyEnjoyedItRationalization: Vault [[FalseReassurance "reassures"]] Maia that she needn't worry about being a SexSlave under his Sex Empire, because she will enjoy it.
* NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist: When revealing his motives for building a Sex Empire, [[VillainHasAPoint Vault calls out both the Seven Shields and Olga for starting a century-old war that costs countless lives, including his own men]]. He claims that [[AristocratsAreEvil they have done nothing good to the people]], enjoying their riches while forgetting that men like the Black Dogs fight tooth and nail to bring peace. Despite his [[FalseReassurance reassurance that no one will have to worry about warfare and starvation]] under his future regime, his response is to [[AmbitionIsEvil stage a military coup to seize power for himself]], together with [[DisproportionateRetribution raping the Seven Shields into submission for men to live like kings]]. Besides, the fact that he leads armies who [[RapePillageAndBurn rape, pillage and burn]] inevitably devastates men and women alike.
* RankScalesWithAsskicking: Among the Black Dogs, TheLeader Vault is more capable in combat than the average merc in the group.
* RuggedScar: Vault has "a multitude of scars" with the look of a veteran.
* StayInTheKitchen: Vault holds the view that the Princess Knights should be doing what a man tells them, not the other way around. The normally [[TheStoic stoic and detached]] Kyril [[NotSoStoic breaks into a fit of laughter]] upon hearing this in the original version due to how ridiculous it sounds.
* StrawMisogynist: His StayInTheKitchen belief and motive of creating TheEmpire where every woman is a SexSlave are made blatantly clear. Him being the BigBad who kicks off the plot means that being "proven wrong" is not his one and only purpose in the story, making this a DownplayedTrope.
* UriahGambit: In the remastered version, Vault asks the OneManArmy Kyril to press on and fight Olga alone, while he and the Black Dogs fend off the other enemies. On one hand, Vault plans for Kyril to weaken Olga to the point where she can be [[StraightForTheCommander easily captured, thus securing victory]]. On the other hand, because Olga is a skilled LadyOfBlackMagic, Vault [[UnderestimatingBadassery doubts]] that Kyril would come out unscathed. Knowing the time to [[DeadlyEuphemism "deal with"]] the Hunter is approaching fast, he is certainly banking on the outcome where Kyril will "take the hits". Vault's remark after witnessing the actual result of their fight[[note]]The Hunter [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomps]] Olga[[/note]] says it all.
-->'''Vault''': Well, I'll be damned! And here I thought you'd be burned to a cinder.
* TheUsurper: Vault usurps Olga's position as EvilOverlord in control of the Black Fortress and the orcs after [[FallenPrincess her defeat]], even sitting on her vacant throne as she is ousted. Soon, he [[InvokedTrope invokes]] this trope as he makes his intention to conquer the South to build his SexSlave [[TheEmpire Empire]], an outcome that the protagonists [[DefiedTrope strive to avert]].
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Vault is an esteemed, charismatic warrior in Eostia, TheLeader of the equally renowned [[{{PMC}} Black Dogs]], and a favourite of [[TheAlliance the Seven Shields]]. His good publicity allows him to secretly gain sponsors from the nobility, plotting behind the scenes to overthrow the Seven Shields, to take over the country, and to build a SexSlave Empire with himself as king. This trope is panned out differently in both versions of the story.
** In the original version, Vault's ambitions become public knowledge, with the RapePillageAndBurn going on everywhere, therefore [[SubvertedTrope subverting the trope]].
** In the remastered version, [[spoiler:Vault is killed by Kyril after revealing his ambitions, but]] the "good publicity" part doesn't go away because only a small band of people know about said ambitions. People in general are still kept in the dark, Vault's supporters continue to advance his agenda [[spoiler:without the knowledge of his demise]], and Kyril is distrusted by five of the Seven Shields after DroppingTheBombshell that is [[spoiler:Vault's status as a traitor and Vault's murder]].
* WeCanRuleTogether: Vault offers Kyril to join his cause of building [[NoWomansLand a]] [[SexSlave Sex]] [[TheEmpire Empire]]. On the pragmatic side of things, it is always good to have a powerful [[OneManArmy warrior]] on his side. His reasoning, however, is heavily reliant on the assumption that AllMenArePerverts, thinking that Kyril, [[AManIsAlwaysEager a man]], would want "live like a king" to take and use as many partners as he pleased. [[EvilCannotComprehendGood Yeah, about that...]]

[[folder:Beasley]]
* ArcVillain: Beasley is the antagonist who kicks off the ''[[StoryArc Feoh and Ur Arc]]'' (Chapters 6-8 of the original version). Wanting a personal fiefdom among the [[SexSlave Sex]] Empire, he starts the conflict by taking measures to secure Feoh and Ur for the Black Dogs. Due to his actions, there is an increase in monster incursions at the two strongholds, with no army defending said incursions (because they are held back) and no message from the one in charge, Alicia (because she is subdued). In order to prevent Beasley from welcoming the Black Dogs into the fortress, Kyril and co. head there to investigate, fight the {{mooks}}, and free the captives. Beasley's death resolves the arc.
* DirtyOldMan: Beasley is an old man who wants to "do as much as he pleases" to Alicia. This VillainousCrush is a reason why he becomes a [[TheMole mole]] for the Black Dogs, joining their cause to build a [[SexSlave Sex]] [[TheEmpire Empire]].
* EvilChancellor: Beasley is the Prime Minister of the fortress Feoh. The ArcVillain of the ''[[StoryArc Feoh/Ur Arc]]'', he [[TheMole secretly works for]] the [[{{PMC}} Black]] [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores Dogs]], so that he would be [[AmbitionIsEvil the one in charge]], rather than Alicia, when they take over the fortress. Beasley's P.O.V indicates that not only he dislikes being ordered around by "some uppity royal brat" that is Alicia, [[DirtyOldMan he]] also wants to [[VillainousCrush do as much as he pleases to her]], and being part of the Black Dogs' [[SexSlave Sex]] [[TheEmpire Empire]] is a means to achieve this end.
* VillainHasAPoint: [[EvilChancellor Prime Minister Beasley]] is [[EvilCannotComprehendGood appalled]] of Kyril siding with [[TheAlliance the Seven Shields]], seeing them as "weak-willed women". He may be a DirtyOldMan with a VillainousCrush who sides with an ArmyOfThievesAndWhores who RapePillageAndBurn, but he is not wrong about how a couple members of the Seven Shields are "weak-willed".
** Alicia chooses to surrender the fortress she is supposed to defend, in exchange for a number of [[HostageSituation hostage]] nuns, who are [[RapeAsDrama raped]] anyway upon her surrender. What's worse is that an easy takeover happens despite the fortress being supposedly well-fortified, which shows that Alicia is weak-willed at best, and [[StupidSacrifice incom]][[DidntThinkThisThrough petent]] at worst.
** Despite Celestine's [[TheHighQueen benevolent]] rule of Eostia, she did [[GreatOffscreenWar engage in warfare]] with Olga [[ForeverWar for centuries]], which is contradictory to the more rational notion of [[Literature/TheArtOfWarSunTzu how wars ought to be brought to a conclusion as quickly as possible]]. Furthermore, the persistence of several problems ([[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil slavery]], [[HumanTrafficking dark elf trafficking]], as well as human-dark-elf FantasticRacism) indicates that her measures/policies to deal with them lack effectiveness (hence the "weak-willed" part). For this reason, several characters resolve to double down on their efforts in tackling these problems.
* VillainousBreakdown: Happens to Beasley, upon knowing that the Hunter is coming for him, with Kin [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness cancelling his deal with him and the Mortadella Brothers]] afterwards. It gets [[MookHorrorShow worse]] when the Hunter personally comes to butcher him up.

[[folder:Michelle Pantielle]]
* AbhorrentAdmirer: GenderInverted. He is both a FatBastard and RoyalBrat who always attempts to hit on Maia any chance he gets, much to her displeasure. Chapter 5 of the original can attest to that, [[MadLove not that it stops him, though]].
-->'''Michelle:''' [[DoggedNiceGuy Maia, I can help with that]].\\
'''Maia:''' No, you can't. Seriously, just shut up. [[RageBreakingPoint Just]] [[BigShutUp shut up]]! I am tired of hearing your voice, you [[FatBastard fat fucking prick]]! I'm tired of your damn invitations, I'm tired of you trying to talk to me, I'm tired of your worthless existence!\\
'''Michelle:''' ''*reaches for Maia's hand*'' B-But, Maia-\\
'''Maia:''' ''*slaps Michelle's hand away*'' I said stop talking! And stop trying to hold my hand, you shit! Gods you can't even do that right!
* ArcVillain: Although Michelle isn't the only antagonist of the ''[[StoryArc Ansur Arc]]'' (Chapters 9-11 of the original version), the arc is resolved not only by stopping the Black Dogs from taking over Ansur, but also by tracking his whereabouts (which points towards where Maia is living), arresting him, and killing him.
* DoggedNiceGuy: Michelle is ''[[RoyalBrat not]]'' a NiceGuy, but him throwing a party to show his affection to Maia in Chapter 5 counts as the "spectacular displays" type. [[DeconstructedCharacterArchetype She finds his advances irritating]]. Later PlayedForDrama when he ditches the persistent part and joins the [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores Black Dogs]] to [[EntitledToHaveYou make her love him]].
* FatBastard: Michelle is spoiled, whiny and obsessed with Maia. His [[FatSlob obesity and sloppyness]] serve to accentuate his many unpleasant traits.
* FatSlob: He is a fat man who spits everywhere when speaking and reaches for Maia's hand with his own greased hand during a party meant for her.
* RoyalBrat: Michelle Pantielle fits squarely in the "spoiled rich kid" archetype. [[BlueBlood Blue-blooded]], obnoxious, looks down on people of lower status, and [[FatBastard has his gut hanging out like he's pregnant]].
* UndignifiedDeath: He, writhes in agony on the ground while [[IWantMyMommy crying for his mother]] after he's [[AgonizingStomachWound stabbed in the gut]]. His screams are only silenced when [[OffWithHisHead his head is cut off]]. To add insult to injury, he expects to face Sir Kyril during his TrialByCombat, but he lets his apprentice Hugh do the deed instead. Almost everyone who witnesses the trial cannot help to [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]] this trope. Kyril, in particular, is more irritated by this waste of time.
* YouExclamation: Michelle exclaims "Y-You!" as Kyril catches him red-handed [[IHaveYouNowMyPretty having his way with Maia]].

[[folder:Shamuhaza]]
* AlienBlood: In order to drive home that [[spoiler:Shamuhaza has gone OneWingedAngel during the climactic battle between him and the Hunters, he is shown to bleed white ichor when damaged]].
* AnimalEspionage: Some of the scouts that Shamuhaza uses to spy on the heroes are beast-like creatures that can turn [[{{Invisibility}} invisible]]. He can [[TouchTelepathy sift through their minds]] to know about their plans.
* ArcVillain: Shamuhaza is responsible for starting the conflict of the ''[[StoryArc Rad Arc]]'' (Chapters 14-16 of the original version) by breeding EliteMooks and other monstrosities to bolster the Black Dogs' power. Due to his actions, Kyril and co. have to contend with a threat bigger than usual. His retreat and hence Rad being denied to the Black Dogs resolves the arc.
* AxCrazy: Shamuhaza is so crazy [[spoiler:in his pursuit of [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow the Eldritch Truth]]]] that he goes from [[PlayingWithSyringes experimenting on innocent civilians]] (the gory result being bodies either drained of their blood or ripped apart due to [[ChestBurster things coming out of them]]) to experimenting on the Leaping Lizards, ''the people who are supposed to be on the same side''. [[spoiler:Any amount of his rational thought is thrown out of the window when he is [[EldritchTransformation transformed into an insect-like abomination]]]].
* BandageMummy: Shamuhaza is an atypical example. He's wrapped in bandages head to toe, yet he is not immobilised in any way, and the readers have no idea whether he was injured or not.
* BandagedFace: Shamuhaza is depicted like this. The reason is unclear, but it clearly makes him look like a creepy madman. [[BandageMummy Even his whole body is covered with bandages]].
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: Due to his belief that both are the same [[spoiler:in the sense that both had seen the Eldritch Truth]], Shamuhaza looks forward to fighting Kyril, whom he sees as a WorthyOpponent. [[spoiler:[[EvilCannotComprehendGood His inability to comprehend Kyril's decision]] to [[WillfullyWeak limit himself by retaining his humanity]] implies he wants to witness his "unrestrained" side.]] His wish is granted eventually when he faces off against Kyril, Sanakan and Hugh [[spoiler:as an EldritchAbomination, and he ends up getting [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomped]] after [[IAmNotLeftHanded Kyril decides to release a bit of his eldritch might]]. To top it off, he suffers a FateWorseThanDeath.]]
* ClippedWingAngel: [[spoiler:[[EldritchTransformation Transforming]] into a [[Characters/BloodBorneGreatOnes Rom]]-esque arthropod does not help Shamuhaza one bit during his battle with Kyril, Sanakan, and Hugh. The only reason why the creature [[CurbStompCushion manages to incapacitate the latter two]] with a surge of power is because the former thinks he doesn't need to [[IAmNotLeftHanded unleash]] a tiny bit of his eldritch power to stare him to a FateWorseThanDeath. When TheGlovesComeOff, Shamuhaza is done for]].
* DetrimentalDetermination: Shamuhaza's persistence in [[spoiler:exploiting [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow the Eldritch Truth]]]] to create a myriad of [[{{Mutants}} mutated]] EliteMooks nearly causes an ApocalypseHow, jeopardises the people on the same side as he is, [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity drives himself insane]], makes himself easier for the heroes to track down, and ultimately hastens his own demise.
* EvilSorceror: Though not the BigBad, Shamuhaza is still the ArcVillain of the two [[StoryArc story arcs]] that marks this fanfic's SerialEscalation. He ticks off most of, if not all, the boxes of this trope. Has a legion of mutated EliteMooks with BodyHorror? Check. Tampers with ThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow [[spoiler:(or in this case, the Eldritch Truth)]]? Check. [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity Strives to gain great power at the expense of his sanity and soul]]? Check. Oh, and he also [[spoiler:ends up [[EldritchTransformation turning into]] an EldritchAbomination himself]].
* FaceFullOfAlienWingWong: He [[InvokedTrope invokes]] this trope as part of his [[PlayingWithSyringes experiments]] on the citizenry of Rad to bolster the Black Dogs' ranks. [[EstablishingCharacterMoment His first appearance]] shows him overseeing a female [[HalfHumanHybrid half-ling]] giving birth to a monstrosity.
* GameChanger: A villainous example. His appearance during the war against the Black Dogs not only gives [[TheUsualAdversaries the Black Dogs]] an advantage in the war, but also results in the good guys' receiving their [[PyrrhicVictory Pyrrhic Victory of all Pyrrhic Victories]] in the story, with Rad, the fortress city they are supposed to reclaim, suffering an ApocalypseHow. Due to his presence, many later chapters would have the good guys' trying to blindside the enemy, rather than fending off an AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs situation.
* TheManBehindTheMonsters: Shamuhaza, a human EvilSorceror, is the source of the [[{{Mutants}} mutated]], [[BodyHorror deformed]], and [[MixAndMatchCritters mis-matched]] EliteMooks in the original version of the story.
* OneWingedAngel: [[spoiler:Shamuhaza is not the BigBad, but he still [[EldritchTransformation transforms]] into a great scuttling [[InsectoidAliens insect-like]] EldritchAbomination offstage, awaiting Kyril on a lake for one climactic battle. To [[WorldsStrongestMan the Good Hunter]], however, his opponent is nothing more than a giant beast, one amongst the many that he had slain in Yharnam. With a wry smile, the Hunter comments that [[ClippedWingAngel he doesn't know what he is anymore]], before telling Sanakan and Hugh to kill [[ItIsDehumanizing it]].]]
* PlayingWithSyringes: Pretty much Shamuhaza's M.O. as an EvilSorcerer -- the Neverborn experiments he conducts include: creating [[MixAndMatchCritters mix-and-match]] EliteMooks via subjecting InnocentBystanders to a FaceFullOfAlienWingWong; directly mutating {{mooks}} for them to be upgraded into more EliteMooks, and; delving into BlackMagic and [[spoiler:the [[ThingsManIsNotMeantToKnow Eldritch Truth]], which may or may not be research from the Healing Church or the School of Mensis]].
* VillainousBreakdown: [[ExaggeratedTrope Exaggerated]] for Shamuhaza, as he [[spoiler:suffers a FateWorseThanDeath curtesy of Kyril unleashing his Eldritch might.]]
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Shamuhaza is an EvilSorceror who [[spoiler:attempts to harness the power of the Eldritch Truth, and later [[EldritchTransformation turns into]] an EldritchAbomination himself]], throwing away his rational thought entirely. Of course this happens. [[spoiler:Compare him with his {{foil}}, Kyril Sutherland -- a far more powerful EldritchAbomination [[HumanoidAbomination in human form]], yet with tons more experience and restraint.]]
[[/folder]]

%%[[folder:Morgan]]
%%* ArcVillain: {{Subverted}}. Morgan is set up as the main obstacle of the ''[[StoryArc Hunt for Leaping Lizards Arc]]'' (Chapters 17-22 of the original version). Kyril and co. set off to Scathlocke Province to hunt down the Leaping Lizards, including the leader Morgan, for a number of reasons (to provide closure for Grace, to find out any connections the slaver has, to root out traitors). However, Shamuhaza later takes over his place as the main obstacle and is finally defeated in the end, while Morgan doesn't even get a proper introduction and is implied to have died off-screen due to Shamuhaza's machinations.

[[folder:Archbishop Grishom]]
* ArcVillain: The head of the Church kicks off the conflict of the ''[[StoryArc Rebellion in Ken Arc]]'' (or ''Rebel Scum Arc'', in Chapters 23-26 of the original version), being the one leading the uprising in the eastern district of Ken, rallying the supporters of the [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores Black Dogs]] and publicly denouncing [[TheHighQueen Celestine]]'s rule. The arc is resolved via his imprisonment and the end of the rebellion.
%%* DirtyOldMan: SinisterMinister Grishom thinks that should he bring Sir Kyril's head to Vault, he would be rewarded with plenty of women. The narration describes his face as filled with "bravado and lust".
* SinisterMinister: At first, the archbishop is an ObstructiveBureaucrat that blocks relief efforts. He then graduates into ArcVillain status by [[StagedPopulistUprising staging an uprising]], exhorting the common folk to join the [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores Black Dogs]], and putting the capital in a state of chaos.

[[folder:Sir John Mandeville]]
%%* AbusiveParents: [[spoiler:John Mandeville]], to [[spoiler:[[HalfHumanHybrid Chloe]]]]. [[spoiler:He is a [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil slaver]] who raped her mother (thus [[ChildByRape giving birth to Chloe]]), and enslaved them the same way as other dark elves under him for [[SexSlave entertainment]], which led to her mother's death. Even after Chloe was rescued by Olga, Mandeville eventually finds his daughter and subjects her to prolonged ColdBloodedTorture]].
* ArcVillain: Mandeville is the antagonist who kicks off the ''[[StoryArc Hunt for Mandeville Arc]]'' (Chapters 27-30 of the original version) by kidnapping Chloe when she was following a lead into his location, prompting Kyril and co. to go find them. He is revealed to be one of the major players in sponsoring the rebellion and the Black Dogs' cause. Hunting him down is key to the arc's resolution.
%%*DirtyOldMan: .
* FauxAffablyEvil: He plays the kindly old man even as he [[spoiler:molests and tortures his daughter]].
* NotIfTheyEnjoyedItRationalization: This is John Mandeville's response to Kyril after he tells him that [[spoiler:his daughter Chloe can do whatever she wishes to him for the ColdBloodedTorture she suffered thanks to him]].
-->'''Mandeville:''' She won't harm me. Not after tasting the pleasures that I have given her.
* VillainousBreakdown: Mandeville loses whatever bravado he has after Kyril tells him that he can only sit and watch [[LaserGuidedKarma the wealth of his house being redistributed to the common people, some of whom are the dark elves he enslaved]].
[[/folder]]

! Characters that exclusively appear in the remastered version
[[folder:Boris]]
* CampCook: He is one of the cooks in the company of the [[{{PMC}} Black Dogs]], though he is the only one [[NominalImportance named]]. Boris eventually becomes a DefectorFromDecadence and joins Kyril's GreatEscape party to bring Olga to the capital. His role as cook doesn't change during the trek across the [[{{Mordor}} Badlands]], but the others have to help as well.
[[/folder]]

%%[[folder:Fredrick]]
%%* Breaking Point Swearing: Chapter 8 starts with Fredrick dropping a single F-bomb when he gets stuck in the mud while trekking in the Dead Marshes of Garan.
%%[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Rat]]
* GenuineHumanHide: The Rat wears robes made of human skin. Goes on to show that he is serious business.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: The [[IHaveManyNames many names]] of The Rat (e.g. King-Spawn of All Vermin, He Who Feasts on Ambition, etc.) sound anything but pleasing. Fitting for someone with an InUniverse reputation as a [[DealWithTheDevil malicious]] [[OurDemonsAreDifferent entity]].
[[/folder]]

!!
[[folder:General tropes about the Hunters]]
* TheApprentice: The end of Chapter 4 of the original marks the beginning of Kyril recruiting for his Workshop. Sanakan and Hugh are his initial students. Later on, Lily joins after the ''Feoh/Ur Arc'', while Soren joins after the ''Ansur Arc''. Rigorously trained as adept Hunters far stronger than almost every living being in the land, the four of them plus their master form a nigh-unstoppable BadassCrew.
* BadassCrew: The Hunters are all heavy-hitting badasses, stronger than any [[RedShirt soldiery]], and as per Sanakan's words, "a big happy family of misfits". [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], because the four apprentices are TalentedButTrained, and their mentor is StrongAndSkilled.
* BadassLongcoat: The longcoat is a common feature of the Good Hunter and his band of apprentices' attire, all of whom form a BadassCrew who provide the bulk of the action in the original version by kicking tons of butt with [[MixAndMatchWeapon trick weapons]].
* BadassesWearBandanas: All Hunters save for Lily wear a bandana to conceal their noses and mouths like a mask, instead of wearing it on their heads like a headband. All of them are good at combat and rack up a high body count.
* CoolSword: All Hunters have at least one ImpossiblyCoolWeapon that can switch between two forms, called a trick weapon. One of the forms resemble a sword.
** Kyril currently possesses the Holy Moonlight Sword, once the "guiding moonlight" of [[Characters/BloodborneCharactersFromTheOldHunters Ludwig, the Holy Blade]]. It is the only known sword in the story that can [[PowerGlows glow]], shoot [[SwordBeam beams of energy]], and [[EmpathicWeapon have a will of its own]].
** Sanakan's first weapon is the Kirkhammer, a silver sword that can combine with a stone block to form a large [[DropTheHammer hammer]]. Her current weapon, the Holy Blade, is a silver sword (similar to the one for Kirkhammer) that transforms into a {{BFS}} by combining it with its sheath. Both are [[BifurcatedWeapon Bifurcated Weapons]].
** Hugh has two: a katana with a [[BloodMagic blood rite]] (Chikage), and a curved sword that can switch into a bow (Simon's Bowblade).
** The Church Pick, wielded by Lily, has an unusual appearance. It has a broad blade, a long hilt, and no guard. It can also transform into a polearm.
** Soren's current weapon is a rapier-gun hybrid, named the Reiterpallasch.
* FiveManBand: Later on in the original story, [[MentorArchetype Kyril]] gains [[TheApprentice four apprentice Hunters]] -- Sanakan, Hugh, Lily, and Soren. The five are the best heavy-hitters tasked to root out the [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores Black Dogs]]. This trope is {{downplayed}} because there are other characters who cooperate and/or form bonds with the team, but the five Hunters have closer ties with each other as a BadassCrew.
* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Kyril and his four apprentices demonstrate these traits:\\
'''Melancholic''': Kyril Sutherland. Despite being both the [[MentorArchetype mentor]] and leader of all four apprentices, he is a [[TheStoic stoic]] and brooding ShellShockedVeteran who aims to end the war against the Black Dogs as quick as possible, highlighting his straightforward and task-oriented nature.\\
'''Choleric''': Sanakan. The [[ScreamingWarrior loud]], brash {{tomboy}} of the bunch who [[BrutalHonesty speaks her mind freely]]. Always restless and [[BloodKnight eager to fight]].\\
'''Phlegmatic''': Hugh. Being mute is hardly an impediment to his [[NiceGuy pleasantness]] and [[{{Pollyanna}} optimism]]. In fact, it perfectly complements his elegant yet deadly hunting style.\\
'''Sanguine''': Lily. [[GoodIsNotSoft One must not equate her relative peacefulness absent from typical sanguines with compliancy]]. Not only she is the most [[TheDeterminator focused and committed]] of the group, the fact that she is able to [[TheFace strike up conversations]] and [[TheHeart deescalate tensions]] highlights her people-oriented nature. She also enjoys [[TheGadfly teasing]] Sanakan about her relationship with Hugh.\\
'''Eclectic''': Soren. He doesn't fit in any of the four temperaments, seeing that he neither possesses the seriousness of a melancholic, the [[HotBlooded passion]] of a choleric, the [[NiceGuy pleasantness]] of a phlegmatic, nor the sociability of a sanguine. Rather, he is characterised as [[NervousWreck nervous]] and lacking in confidence, yet [[WellDoneSonGuy willing to prove himself towards his master]], even if it means taking risks.
* GlassCannon: Kyril's four apprentices [[{{Deconstructed}} deconstruct]] this trope [[LighterAndSofter in a nice way]]. ''On paper'', Sanakan, Hugh, Lily and Soren are empowered Hunters with both [[SuperStrength strength]] and [[SuperReflexes reflexes]] above the average sentient being. The four are more than capable of severing body parts, even killing most enemies in [[OneHitKill one hit]] thanks to their [[MixAndMatchWeapon trick weaponry]] and firearms. However, they lack armour and shields, so they are in risk of incapacitation or even death should they take damage directly. In fact, the former case does happen to three out of the four apprentices once[[note]]Hugh suffers a broken arm and a head injury after being caught in one sudden explosion; Sanakan gets knocked out after getting hit by one shockwave; Soren suffers a broken arm after fighting ten {{mooks}}[[/note]]. ''In practice'', the inability to tank hits is compensated by the emphasis of mobility (dodging), with the occasional usage of stealth and support healing (aka. HP recovery). Adding to how the four are rigorously trained in the way of a typical ''VideoGame/BloodBorne'' [[PlayerCharacter player Hunter]], the result is that these four Hunters turn out to be ''absolute powerhouses'' in battle, their defence be damned, simply because they are NOT going to get hit in the first place. In other words, ''The Night Unfurls'' takes apart the negative aspect of the GlassCannon trope (the "poor defence" part), showing how this aspect, hence the trope, is not as bad as one would think.
* GoodIsNotSoft: Hugh, Lily and Soren are the more [[NiceGuy pleasant]] members among Kyril's apprentices, but don't let this trait overshadow the fact that they are Hunters who are more than capable of hunting, injuring and killing their prey.
* GunsAreWorthless: Notably {{averted}} in a fantasy setting where the Hunters' firearms are used alongside swords and spears. Remember how in ''VideoGame/BloodBorne'', guns are practically peashooters? In this fanfic, they '''[[OneHitKill hit like a friggin truck]]'''. The only downside of these guns is that they have to be reloaded every time a bullet is fired (because they are different from modern ones in RealLife). Since the gun users often fight in close-quarters combat, they have to rely on their melee weapons just as much.
* GuysSmashGirlsShoot: {{Inverted}} to "Guys Shoot, Girls Smash" for Kyril and his band of apprentices. While all five are more than capable of close quarters with their [[MixAndMatchWeapon trick weapons]], only the male Hunters (Kyril, Hugh, Soren) are shown to regularly use firearms or the ranged mode in their trick weapon, like [[BowAndSwordInAccord Simon's Bowblade]] and Reiterpallasch.
* ImprobableAimingSkills: Kyril, Hugh, and Soren, all Hunters that use firearms, have yet to miss a single shot. It helps that many of their targets are at close range, which facilitates their SwordAndGun combat style. Special mention goes to Hugh, who manages to [[ImpromptuTracheotomy shoot someone in the throat]] from a mile away.
* JustifiedCriminal: Applies to the backgrounds of three out of four apprentice Hunters. [[StreetUrchin Street Urchins]] Sanakan and Hugh were [[OrphansOrdeal orphaned]] pickpockets, stealing to live another day. Soren turned to thieving in hopes of supporting the [[OrphanageOfLove orphanage]] that was also his childhood home. Fortunately, all three of them eventually become Sir Kyril's [[TheSquire squires]] / [[TheApprentice apprentices]] due to being RecruitedFromTheGutter, finally able to get some real food in their stomachs and a paycheck.
* KidHero: {{Reconstructed}}. Three out of five Hunters (Sanakan, Hugh and Soren) are kids (they are referred to as such) who TakeALevelInBadass and fight hordes of orcs, mercs, brutes, soldiers and other monstrosities over the course of the story as skilled Hunters alongside the good guys. It is [[VagueAge unknown whether they aged]], given how long they have to train in the Hunter's Dream before swooping into the real battlefield. Whereas [[DeconstructedCharacterArchetype deconstructions of this character archetype]] portray "kids saving the day" as problematic[[note]]i.e., these kids are no different from ChildSoldiers and they are susceptible to trauma and manipulation as a result of their youth[[/note]], ''The Night Unfurls'' asserts that with sufficient training and guidance, the kids are able to gain the strength, health, agency, and motivation needed to right as many wrongs as possible in a hazardous world, a feat beyond their reach if they remain civilians. There is a reason why the KidHero persists in fiction despite being torn apart countless times.
* KilledMidSentence: They often off their targets before they finish speaking [[CombatPragmatist so as to draw first blood and get the upper hand as quick as possible]]. Having firearms certainly helps a lot.
* KillingIntent:
** The narration occasionally describes [[TheDreaded Kyril]] manifesting "malice", either via an aura, a gaze, or his SoftSpokenSadist voice. People around him feel a chill, a sense of dread, knowing that he is capable of killing everyone in his vicinity if he so chooses. Kaguya even refers to this as "malevolent ki" in the original version.
** The Hunters are able to detect killing intent due to their training, combat experience and superhuman capabilities. For example, while having a meal at Talon Bar, the five are able to sense that someone is about to attack or ambush them and, the moment they see their attackers rushing in, instantaneously draw their weapons and end their attackers before they could even begin a fight.
* MultiMeleeMaster: A Hunter typically carries more than one melee weapon with them in a hunt, using them with equal proficiency.
** Kyril's most common setup is the [[SerratedBladeOfPain Saw Cleaver]] for close range, and the [[SpellBlade Holy Moonlight Sword]] for long-ranged crowd control. Other weapons at his disposal include the [[ChainsawGood Whirlgig Saw]], the [[PileBunker Stake Driver]], and the Hunter's Axe.
** Hugh uses both the [[WhipSword Threaded]] [[CaneFu Cane]] and [[BloodMagic the]] [[KatanasAreJustBetter Chikage]] -- the former for crowd control, and the latter for close-ranged firepower. He eventually replaces the cane with [[BowAndSwordInAccord Simon's Bowblade for additional adaptability]].
** After training with [[SerratedBladeOfPain serrated blades]] for a while, Sanakan opts for two longswords that [[BifurcatedWeapon can join with a detachable larger weapon]] ([[DropTheHammer Kirkhammer]] and [[{{BFS}} Ludwig's Holy Blade]]), Lily wields a blade that can be extended to become a polearm (Church Pick), and Soren goes for a [[RoyalRapier rapier]]-[[{{Handguns}} gun]] hybrid (Reiterpallasch).
* TheOathbreaker: [[DefiedTrope Defied]]. Kyril makes it clear to his cadre of Hunters that they will receive a death sentence should they break their oaths to serve under his command. Consider the opening quote of Chapter 31 of the original, as shown below.
-->''"Take heed. The moment a Hunter turns his back on his oath, he becomes less than nothing. He is nothing more than a blood addled beast. Break this oath, my Hunters... and my blade comes for you regardless of your pleadings for mercy."''
* TheSquire: Sanakan, Hugh, Lily, and Soren are this to BlackKnight Kyril Sutherland in name only. In practice, they play the role of [[MentorArchetype Kyril]]'s [[TheApprentice apprentices]] who either conduct operations by themselves or fight alongside their mentor, rather than servants who shines his armor, sharpens his sword, or anything like that.
* StrongAndSkilled:
** Kyril is a LightningBruiser and CombatPragmatist, with way more combat experience than anyone else in the story.
** His four [[TheApprentice apprentices]] are trained to become this. [[spoiler:[[TookALevelInBadass Empowered]] by the Good Hunter's blood]] aside, the end-game level ''VideoGame/BloodBorne'' weapons (or rather, hand-me-downs) they possess provide the bulk of their strength and the damage they deal to enemies.
* SuperReflexes: All five empowered Hunters have heightened reflexes to dodge hits, giving them the mobility needed to survive in the battlefield [[ArmorIsUseless without armour]].
* SuperStrength: [[{{Downplayed}} Not to the extent of making craters or destroying mountains]], but from how the Hunters are able to sever [[OffWithHisHead heads]], [[AnArmAndALeg limbs]], and even [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe entire bodies]] consistently during any fight scene, it is evident that they have above human strength. Even orcs, who are noted to be tougher than most beings, find themselves to be subjected to the same fate, especially when [[TheLeader Kyril]], [[TheLancer Sanakan]], and [[TheBigGuy Hugh]] are involved.
* SuperhumanTransfusion: Chapter 7 of the original reveals that Sanakan and Hugh are given [[spoiler:their mentor [[HumanoidAbomination Kyril's]] blood]] to become [[SuperStrength empow]][[SuperReflexes ered]] Hunters. Presumably, this also applies to Lily and Soren.
* TalentedButTrained: All four of Kyril's apprentices qualify. Each apprentice specialises on a certain asset used in combat: strength builds[[note]]investing in the "strength" stat in the [[VideoGame/BloodBorne game]][[/note]] for Sanakan, skill/bloodtinge[[note]]investing in the "skill" and "bloodtinge" stats in the [[VideoGame/BloodBorne game]][[/note]] builds for both Hugh and Soren, and arcane builds[[note]]investing in the "arcane" stat in the [[VideoGame/BloodBorne game]][[/note]] for Lily. At the same time, the four of them still have to train in order to hone their respective assets, together with gaining more combat experience.
* TookALevelInBadass: Kyril's four apprentices (Sanakan, Hugh, Lily, Soren) go from being weak, lowly, and desperate commoners to four of the deadliest Hunters after he took them under his wing, became their mentor, and gave them strength.
* TwoGirlsToATeam: The Hunters end up with a 3:2 male-female ratio, the two female Hunters being [[TomboyAndGirlyGirl Sanakan and Lily]] respectively.
* WeaponBasedCharacterization: The five Hunters, a [[RuleOfCool cool]] BadassCrew, use [[MixAndMatchWeapon mix-and-match weaponry]]. The following are member-specific examples.
** Kyril has a number of [[MultiMeleeMaster melee]] and [[MultiRangedMaster ranged]] weapons at his disposal, symbolising his vast mastery and combat experience. His primary weapon, the [[SerratedBladeOfPain Saw Cleaver]], compliments his nature as a [[{{Gorn}} brutal]], [[TheDreaded dreaded]], and [[AntiHero anti-heroic]] combatant.
** Sanakan is a HotBlooded ScreamingWarrior. Naturally, she wields the Kirkhammer (a BifurcatedWeapon of sword and [[DropTheHammer large hammer]]), later exchanging it with Ludwig's Holy Blade (a BifurcatedWeapon of sword and {{BFS}}). With a twist, she's actually TheLancer of the five hunters rather than TheBigGuy.
** The weaponry currently under Hugh's possession includes a [[CaneFu cane]] that can transform into a WhipSword, a katana with a [[BloodMagic blood rite]], an intricately designed pistol, and a curved sword that can transform into a bow. All these weapons are associated with grace and elegance, and fittingly, Hugh is a DaintyCombatant. With ''another'' twist, he's actually TheBigGuy due to his [[TheSpeechless muteness]] and specialisation in combat.
** Lily, formerly a nun, is a GirlyBruiser CombatMedic. Her melee weapon is the Church Pick, a broad-bladed sword with a long hilt that can transform into a polearm. This, as well as her [[FireBreathingWeapon Flamesprayer]], are weapons once used by members of the Healing Church, as per ''VideoGame/BloodBorne'' lore.
** The Saw Spear has a tendency to be used by Hunters in training, symbolising inexperience. Sanakan, Lily and Soren are shown to have used it at least once. The former two later exchange it with other weapons, which shows their growth; Soren, despite having the Reiterpallasch (a rapier-gun hybrid) as his new weapon, still opts to keep the Saw Spear as a backup, and becomes a full fledged Hunter later than the former two. This shows how green he is compared to the other three apprentices.
* WeaponSpecialization: Compared to the other combatants, who tend to use regular, mass-produced weapons, what makes the Hunters stand out is their exclusive [[MixAndMatchWeapon trick weaponry]], weapons running on RuleOfCool with the ability to switch into two modes.

[[folder:The Hunter / Kyril Sutherland]]
Has his [[Characters/TheNightUnfurlsTheHunter own page]].

[[folder:The Plain Doll / Evetta]]
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Evetta is a sweet, gentle doll through and through, seemingly without a violent bone in her body. Threaten her in any way, and she'll give them a friendly reminder that she chooses to be passive by [[spoiler:sending an impassive glance to ''make them'' change their mind]]. If that doesn't work, then [[spoiler:[[MindOverMatter strangling or maiming them with her mind]] should do]].
* TheConfidant: The Plain Doll is considered to be the only person Kyril could open up to, even if his [[UnwantedHarem suitresses]] tried their hardest to make him feel comfortable. She listens, counsels, and provides him [[{{Pun}} plain]] comfort. Being the only one who has full knowledge of [[DarkAndTroubledPast whatever the hell happened to Kyril during the Night of the Hunt]] ''and'' has stood by him since then also helps.
* CreepyHousekeeper: An unorthodox example, Evetta/The Plain Doll shows that as the caretaker of the Hunter's Dream, it is possible to be creepy and [[KindlyHousekeeper kindly]] at the same time. To those who have met her for the first time, she comes across as [[CreepyDoll uncanny]] from how [[TheStoic still and impassive]] she is for an AnimateInanimateObject, together with the fact that she towers over them a lot. The "kindly" part leans towards CreepyGood since she's actually quite [[NiceGirl nice]], and that Kyril treasures her presence highly.
* DispelMagic: We don't explicitly see her doing this via, say, a spell or a gesture, but from how [[HearingVoices the maddening whispers in Celestine's mind]] seem to have stopped after their interactions, we can [[ImpliedTrope infer]] that the Plain Doll is capable of this. It says a lot about her capabilities when even Celestine, a {{seer|s}} of great arcane prowess, is unable to make the whispering stop through any means.
* FriendlyTarget: Evetta is TheProtagonist Kyril's dearest companion. For some odd reason, the original version of the story really loves teasing the prospect of something unpleasant happening to her, as well as Kyril's [[UnstoppableRage likely reaction]] to such an event[[note]]The notion, "Kyril gets mad if something happens to Evetta", is mentioned in a total of ''five'' times by the narrations of different characters, including Kyril himself[[/note]]. [[spoiler:This is meant to make Kyril's faith in his friend, the moment where Evetta proves to be just as dangerous as her friend, and ultimately, the [[SubvertedTrope subversion of this trope]] all the more salient.]]
* KindlyHousekeeper: Overlapping with CreepyHousekeeper, Evetta is the caretaker of the Hunter's Dream who tends to the Workshop, the gravestones, and her Good Hunter. Her serene and kindhearted nature as a maternal figure, however, is overshadowed by the fact that she is, well, [[CreepyDoll a living doll]]. For bonus points, she's also very tall.
* MindOverMatter: [[spoiler:How she keeps her hands clean when maiming, [[PsychicStrangle strangling]] and mangling. Unlike typical examples of this trope, it is PlayedForHorror due to a rare {{aversion}} of JustHitHim[[note]]the victims on the receiving end of whatever power she holds are ''not'' tossed around in the slightest[[/note]]. Moreover, this fanfic is supposed to be a standard DarkFantasy setting, where there should be elements like swords and magic, not people who move stuff with their mind. Just the fact that even the main EldritchAbomination is not shown to possess this power, and yet this [[AnimateInanimateObject animated porcelain doll]] is [[NothingIsScarier somehow]] capable of crushing someone without eye contact or lifting a finger is clearly shown as unexpected and very, very ''[[LovecraftianSuperpower wrong]]''.]]
* MysticalWhiteHair: The Plain Doll is the only character with silver hair. She is also a sentient porcelain doll [[spoiler:with an [[LovecraftianSuperpower ancient power]] stirring within]].
* TheNotLoveInterest: To Kyril. The Doll is Kyril's [[UndyingLoyalty stalwart]], longtime companion, as well as the one person who can easily put the normally vigilant Hunter at ease. Kyril treasures her presence, worries that the Doll might be lonely staying in the Dream by herself (even though he himself is a solitary person), and his P.O.V. indicates he would spend the rest of his life [[BecauseYouWereNiceToMe repaying her kindness]] (i.e., perpetually, because he has ResurrectiveImmortality). While the Doll’s relationship with the Hunter seemingly suggests that she plays the role of a LoveInterest, the two are never shown to be in love with each other, not to mention the fact that Kyril [[LoveHurts doesn’t have a high opinion on romance]].
* PsychicStrangle: [[spoiler:The sudden reveal of the Doll's [[MindOverMatter telekinetic powers]] is accompanied by two traitorous guards slowly choking, gagging, and finally dying]].
* StealthHiBye: [[spoiler:How Evetta takes her first step to the waking world in the original version. Asked to deliver a message from Kyril to Celestine, she appears all of a sudden in her quarters.]] Celestine and Claudia, who are in the room at the time, are understandably freaked out.
* YamatoNadeshiko: Evetta may not have the Japanese appearance or hobbies, but she behaves like one with her soothing voice and deliberately graceful movements. Her manner of dress (a bonnet, a small hair ornament, and a dress with intricate patterns sewn on it) is feminine and modest. As [[KindlyHousekeeper caretaker]] of [[PocketDimension the Dream]], Evetta has the domestic ability to match. She's [[NiceGirl polite, peaceful]], [[TheStoic unruffled]], and [[UndyingLoyalty devoted]] to her Good Hunter as well as her duties in the Dream (or Kyril's ''office'') whenever he is away. As for the essential SilkHidingSteel trait (or rather, ''[[AnimateInanimateObject Porcelain]]'' Hiding Steel), [[spoiler:Evetta doesn't hesitate to utilise her [[LovecraftianSuperpower "ancient power"]] when threatened, either to make her belligerents behave, or to [[PsychicStrangle rend]] them outright]], maintaining her poise all the while. The cherry on top? She kindly [[DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu makes tea for Cthulhu]] [[spoiler:(the very same [[HumanoidAbomination Good Hunter]])]] as many times as she wants.

[[folder:Sanakan]]
A young girl who survives the Black Dogs' assault on Navarus Village. She, along with Hugh, become Kyril's first two apprentice Hunters.
----
* AchievementsInIgnorance: The reason why Sanakan manages to be the first person to [[StaringDownCthulhu lock eyes with]] ''and'' [[WowingCthulhu impress]] [[spoiler:the [[BloodSplatteredWarrior blood-splattered]], [[HumanoidAbomination humanoid monstrosity]] that is [[RedBaron Sir Kyril the Bloody]]]] is because she thinks that the murderous entity in front of her is a random thug who wants to take her, as well as the other female villagers, all to himself.
* BoyishShortHair: Sanakan's short black hair frames a fair face with a [[PerpetualFrowner perpetual scowl]]. Despite having RavenHairIvorySkin, she is a coarse, HotBlooded KidHero and Hunter in [[TheApprentice training]], with a preference for [[DropTheHammer big-ass hammers]] and [[{{BFS}} big-ass swords]].
* CountryMatters: Though she doesn't say it all the time, Sanakan is fond of using this word to describe anyone who is a JerkAss. In particular, she calls [[SinisterMinister Grishom]] "a flabby old cunt" during a meeting in the council chamber. The narration described this phrase as something that is on everyone's minds at the moment.
* DropTheHammer: It is also One of Sanakan's weapons of choice is the Kirkhammer, a sword as the haft that [[BifurcatedWeapon can attach itself onto a great stone head]] to form a large hammer.
* HotBlooded: Sanakan [[BrutalHonesty speaks her mind freely]], described as "a smack in the mouth waiting to happen". In battle, she is a ScreamingWarrior who always [[AttackAttackAttack goes on the offensive]]. As aggressive as she is, Sanakan is by no means [[LeeroyJenkins impulsive]], as a result of her [[TrainingMontage training]] in the Dream, and she does have occasional moments of GeniusBruiser (e.g. stealth, eavesdropping, etc.).
* TheLadette: Sanakan may not be an adult, but she is tactless, aggressive, quite vulgar, and eats with her mouth open. In combat, [[ScreamingWarrior she]] charges towards the enemy while swinging a [[DropTheHammer large hammer]] or {{BFS}}.
* TheLancer: [[TheApprentice Sanakan]] is the [[NumberTwo second-in-command]] of Kyril Sutherland, her [[MentorArchetype master]] and TheLeader of the [[FiveManBand five Hunters]]. The [[RedOniBlueOni Red Oni to his Blue]], her [[HotBlooded tactless and headstrong]] personality contrasts Kyril's [[TheStoic level-headed]] approach. Aside from being his representative when he is away, she is also expected to inherit the title of First Hunter from her master should he decide to retire.
* RavenHairIvorySkin: Sanakan is described as pale-skinned with jet black hair. The narration notes that she is a beauty by any right if she scowled less.
* ScreamingWarrior: She yells and snarls a lot during combat. She fights rough after all.
* StaringDownCthulhu: Sanakan stares up defiantly at Kyril, the grey-coated OneManArmy [[spoiler:and HumanoidAbomination]] who has just [[{{Gorn}} slaughtered]] all the Black Dog mercs who were busy committing RapePillageAndBurn, while the other villagers can do nothing but behold the [[BloodSplatteredWarrior blood-splattered entity]] with fear. The reason being that she (mistakenly) thinks he wants to have all of the women, herself included, to himself. Kyril internally notes that the young girl's hardened eyes "[[WowingCthulhu amazed]] and saddened him".
* TakeMeInstead: Upon witnessing the Hunter savagely killing all the Black Dog mercs [[TheWomenAreSafeWithUs who are busy enjoying themselves with the female villagers]] in a church, Sanakan comes to the conclusion that [[AlwaysABiggerFish he is one of the Black Dogs who wants all of the women to himself]]. Her response is to demand the grey-coated killer to take her first and leave the others alone. Luckily, the Hunter is obviously not here for that, instead calling for a sergeant to get a healer and defend them, though he does "take her" as [[TheApprentice his apprentice]] afterwards.

[[folder:Hugh]]
A young mute who ends up unconscious during the Black Dogs' assault on Navarus Village. After his recovery, he is taken by Kyril as an apprentice Hunter.
----
* TheBigGuy: Hugh is an unorthodox example, given his lean physique, his usage of skill-based weapons ([[WhipSword Threaded]] [[CaneFu Cane]], [[KatanasAreJustBetter Chikage]], [[BowAndSwordInAccord Simon's Bowblade]]) rather than power-based ones like {{BFS}}s, axes or [[DropTheHammer hammers]], and his graceful fighting style instead of brute force all the way. What makes him firmly this trope is that he is mute ("dumb", but [[GeniusBruiser not stupid]]), and that among the [[FiveManBand Five-Hunter Band]], he specialises in both swordsmanship and marksmanship that allows adaptability in close-quarters and long-ranged fights respectively.
* BloodMagic: Hugh's katana, the Chikage, has a rite that coats the blade with blood, extending it. It also [[CastFromHitPoints feeds on the life force of its user]] and [[HungryWeapon the blood of his enemies]] to enhance the damage dealt.
* BowAndSwordInAccord: Starting from Chapter 13 of the original, Hugh wields the Simon's Bowblade, a [[SinisterScimitar scimitar]] [[MixAndMatchWeapon that can turn into a bow]], for adapting to both short and long range.
* CaneFu: Hugh uses the Threaded Cane as a starter MixAndMatchWeapon to bludgeon foes. Also useful as a walking stick to support oneself when injured from a fight.
* CuteMute: Hugh is a young boy who is [[TheSpeechless mute]] and ThePollyanna. He can still [[KidHero kick ass]], though, and he is [[GeniusBruiser definitely not stupid]].
* TheCutie: While Hugh is not described to have a "generically cute" appearance, the kid's eyepatch, [[CuteMute muteness]], and cheerfulness are meant to be endearing qualities that convey a hint of vulnerability. He often shares awkward, comical moments with Sanakan via his gestures and facial expressions.
* FriendlySniper: Hugh is ThePollyanna, as well as the sharpshooter of [[FiveManBand the five Hunters]] (he also uses melee weapons, but he specialises in ranged combat).
-->''The mute looked up at them and gave an easy smile, absolutely terrifying as he was surrounded by orc corpses that were riddled with arrows. Not one had managed to get within fifty paces of him.''
* HandicappedBadass: Hugh lost his voice and one of his eyes, but these handicaps do not stop him from being a fighter, a marksman, and a KidHero that racks up a huge bodycount during the war against the Black Dogs.
* IaijutsuPractitioner: His first onscreen usage of the Chikage involves an iajutsu move to [[OffWithHisHead behead]] a goblin (i.e., drawing the blade and beheading in one go).
* IntelligibleUnintelligible: He is [[TheSpeechless mute]], yet Sanakan, his partner in crime, can somehow read his mind.
* KatanasAreJustBetter: Whenever he feels like dishing out damage, Hugh would brandish his katana, named the Chikage, to blur through his foes. It is the most frequently used melee weapon among his [[MultiMeleeMaster arsenal]]. Considering the [[BloodMagic blood rite]] it possesses, it's not nicknamed "the Murder Sword" for nothing.
* LadyOfWar: GenderInverted, making him more of a "Gentleman of War". He's dressed in the fancy Yharnam Hunter Set, he's an expert marksman with an elegantly designed flintlock, the weapons he uses[[note]]they include: a cane that can transform into a whip, a katana with BloodMagic, and a curved sword that can transform into a bow[[/note]] are associated with grace, and his fighting style leans towards speedy finesse or "delicate" moves (e.g., blurs and flourishes) rather than "hack-and-smash" brute force. Despite being a {{Pollyanna}} at heart, he is perfectly capable of fighting in a composed, dignified way.
* MadnessMantra: Despite being unable to speak, Hugh finds himself repeatedly mouthing the word "Boss" upon witnessing [[spoiler:Shamuhaza thrashing in agony and seemingly dying under Kyril's literal DeathGlare]]. Lucky for him, [[DownplayedTrope it is only a minor breakdown]] with no signs of FreakOut during the later chapters, though he definitely feels that his master seems to be far above him.
* ThePollyanna: Hugh was [[StreetUrchin orphaned and malnourished]]. He [[TheSpeechless lost his voice]] from a SlashedThroat, and is LeftForDead [[EyeScream without an eye]] during his debut chapter in the story. He remains bright, cheerful and eager to please, persisting even as he blurs in war-torn battlefields and [[EldritchLocation Eldritch Locations]] as a KidHero, nary a HeroicBSOD or a BreakTheCutie situation whatsoever. He did miraculously survive at least two [[NearDeathExperience Near-Death Experiences]] after all, meaning that despite the cruelty he receives, fortune is on his side.
* RuggedScar: Hugh is an unorthodox example. The terrible scars on his throat are due to a horrific mutilation by a bandit. He miraculously survived, of course, but at the cost of his voice.
* SinisterScimitar: Hugh is an {{inverted}}, heroic example -- one of his weapons, the [[BowAndSwordInAccord Simon's Bowblade]], is a curved sword when in blade [[MixAndMatchWeapon form]].
* SlashedThroat: He miraculously [[SubvertedTrope subverts this trope]] by surviving such an attempt on his life prior to his introduction[[note]]TruthInTelevision as there have been cases where victims survive this[[/note]]. It does render him [[TheSpeechless mute]], though.
* TheSpeechless: Hugh cannot speak as a result of having his throat mutilated by a [[WouldHurtAChild bandit]]. Only Sanakan can somehow know what he's thinking via facial expressions, so he has to use a charcoal stick and parchment[[note]]pencil and paper[[/note]] as a means of communication.
* TokenMinority: Hugh, a [[TheSpeechless mute]], is the only handicapped Hunter.

[[folder:Celestine Lucross]]
See her folder below.

[[folder:Lily]]
* BrokenTears: Lily is seen bawling in her tent as she relives her and her friends' PrisonRape. She eventually stops crying and falls asleep after Kyril lets her [[CryIntoChest cry into his chest]].
* CombatMedic: Lily is a cleric in the healer tents, as well as [[TheApprentice an apprentice hunter]] in the battlefield.
* CrisisOfFaith: Lily, a former nun of the Church, loses faith in the Goddess Incarnate as a result of being captured and raped by the Black Dogs along with her fellow sisters. Notably, she ''does not'' regain her faith over the course of the story, after she is taken in as an apprentice by Kyril, together with fulfilling her duties as a hunter. If anything, she decides to only believe in her own strength, instead of believing in the power of the Goddess Incarnate.
* TheFace: When she isn't fulfilling her duties as [[CombatMedic healer]], Lily serves as the affable presence among the [[FiveManBand five hunters]]. Especially so when one is a [[TheSpeechless mute]], another is a NervousWreck, and the other two (TheLeader included) are [[BrutalHonesty blunt]] to a fault. If there is anyone who can manage [[TheSocialExpert the social elements]] for TheTeam (e.g., mediating, relaying, etc.), that's Lily.
* FieryRedhead: {{Inverted}}. She has long red hair, but is a demure peacemaker among the main characters. It is worth noting that prior to becoming an apprentice hunter, she worked as a [[NobleProfession nun]] in the Church.
* FireBreathingWeapon: In Rad, she uses a flamethrower-esque weapon named the Flamesprayer to hold back a horde of {{mutants}} and cook them alive.
* GirlyBruiser: Lily starts out as a [[NobleProfession nun]] of TheChurch, polite and soft-spoken. Highly proficient with the Church Pick, she proves to be a [[ActionGirl fighter]] just as capable as her {{Tomboy}} peer [[TheLadette Sanakan]], even rocking a long skirt all the while.
* JerkassToOne: Lily is generally respectful to people, except Alicia. Ever since the ''[[StoryArc Feoh/Ur Arc]]'', she loathes the Knight of Iris for surrendering her fortress because she ''[[DidntThinkThisThrough thinks]]'' that can save Lily and her sisters from being taken hostage. Considering how Lily and her sisters end up being [[RapeAsDrama raped]], she sees Alicia as an AccompliceByInaction for that atrocity.
* MyMasterRightOrWrong: Lily acknowledges that her master, Kyril, [[IDidWhatIHadToDo has to occasionally do terrible things]], and hence hates himself as much as the enemy. Nonetheless, she declares that he has earned her loyalty, because he would protect the people even if they were to hate him for it.
* TheNotLoveInterest: To Kyril. Lily is rescued from captivity and [[RapeAsDrama rape]] thanks to Kyril (and two others), and shares a CryIntoChest moment with her rescuer in the next chapter. However, the two do not become romantically involved. Lily is Kyril's third [[TheApprentice apprentice]], the [[AloofLeaderAffableSubordinate Affable Subordinate to his Aloof Leader]]. She does gradually develop a MyMasterRightOrWrong attitude to him, though.
* NunTooHoly: Lily is a rare case where the elements of this trope are {{inverted}} as many ways as possible. Rather than being "impure" out of her own will like many examples, she is [[DefiledForever deemed tainted]] by the Archbishop due to [[RapeAsDrama trauma]]. Rather than continuing her job, she leaves the clergy two chapters later to [[TheApprentice train]] under [[BlackKnight Kyril Sutherland]] as a [[TheSquire squire]] after her introduction, making her a ''former'' nun. In spite of all of this, the redhead notably looks and acts like a nun, as evidenced by her white vestments, her distaste towards "dirty" things (e.g., swearing and alcohol), and her decent, sincere personality. Lily upholds the moral standards of her NobleProfession while TheChurch decays, even after her [[CharacterDevelopment development]] into a GoodIsNotSoft NayTheist.
* RescueIntroduction: Lily is introduced in Chapter 7 of the original via a rescue by [[TheProtagonist Kyril]], Hugh and Harriet while she and her sisters are being [[PrisonRape raped in the Feoh dungeons]]. She later becomes Kyril's third [[TheApprentice apprentice]] via RecruitmentByRescue, participating in the war against the Black Dogs (aka the {{plot}}).
* ShipperOnDeck: She ships [[PuppyLove Sanakan/Hugh]], though this is more of a case of wanting the two to make their relationship official, instead of getting the two together.
* TheSocialExpert: Other than [[ActionGirl combat]], Lily displays talent in mediating and emotional support. She may not be some [[ManipulativeBastard ridiculous master manipulator]] (they don't really exist in this setting), but she shines when it comes to mundane, less fantastic social elements, compared with other members of Kyril's cadre of apprentice hunters. Lily is often responsible for de-escalating the situation when Kyril comes into blows with other people, given that her aloof, brusque master is more than capable of offing them without consideration.
* TomboyishPonytail: As Lily begins her training as an [[TheApprentice apprentice]] [[ActionGirl hunter]], her red hair is tied into a ponytail. {{Subverted}} as she [[TookALevelInBadass develops]] into a CombatMedic GirlyBruiser, neither {{Tomboy}} nor TheLadette.
* WhiteMagicianGirl: Clad in white vestments with a hood and a skirt (aka. the White Church Set), Lily is a [[TheMedic cleric / healer]] who treats the wounded in the tents and uses healing spells to support the other Hunters during combat. Contrary to what her role would suggest, she is also adept at stabbing her foes with the Church Pick, a bladed weapon, and setting TheHorde on fire. During the Rad Incursion, she is shown to be capable of switching between healing the heavy hitters and destroying her enemies (i.e., multitasking). Personality-wise, the former [[NobleProfession nun]] treats her allies with respect and tenderness.

[[folder:Olga Discordia]]
See her folder below.

[[folder:Soren]]
%%* Breaking Point Swearing: Soren delivers one of these to curse Mandeville and [[YourMom his mother]], when he is preparing for a LastStand in Chapter 30.
%%-->'''Soren:''' Fuck you and your mother.
* DistractedByTheSexy: {{Downplayed}} for Soren, who notably stutters a lot or [[LuminescentBlush turns red]] whenever any MsFanservice is around, like Grace and Anna. Both of them have made fun of him for this at least once. Luckily, he has yet to screw up and do things like tripping over or dropping stuff.
* HormoneAddledTeenager: {{Downplayed}}. Soren is a KidHero who is easily flustered around physically attractive women, ranging from those who simply look pretty (e.g. Lily) to those who are MsFanservice level (e.g. Grace). In the original version, he is very eager to shadow Grace as per Kyril's instructions, with him thinking about the dark elf's charms more than once. His tendency to stare is often laid bare and PlayedForLaughs. Nonetheless, this trait is not a prominent part of his characterisation, and Soren has yet to say or do anything lewd.
* NervousWreck: Soren has yet to be reduced to spouting incoherent gibberish, but being hesitant and nervous is his defining trait, especially towards people having authority over him (e.g. [[MentorInSourArmor Kyril]] and [[TheHighQueen Celestine]]).
-->'''Lily''': Stop fidgeting, Soren.\\
'''Soren''': I'm not, Lily. I'm... freaking nervous. I'm going to see the [[GodEmpress Goddess Incarnate]] herself!
* NewMeat: In the original version, Soren is the most recent addition to the [[FiveManBand five Hunters]]. Due to his status as a beginner, he doesn't get to participate in important combat missions until much later in the story. Contrary to usual depictions, the more seasoned members actively help him in his transition to become a part of the squad, instead of looking down or bullying him. Rather than being deadweight or unceremoniously killed off, Soren throws himself into every opportunity to improve, just like the others. However, he is still not as hardened as his peers. Although his mentor Kyril finally dubs him a full-fledged Hunter 17 chapters after his debut, Soren has to be given a pep talk about how one must have the courage to make hard choices in war.
* RoyalRapier: {{Inverted}} in the original version. He is a low-born thief who is RecruitedFromTheGutter to become a [[TheSquire squire]] under the [[TheApprentice apprenticeship]] of [[BlackKnight Sir Kyril]]. He later picks the Reiterpallasch, a rapier-gun [[MixAndMatchWeapon hybrid]], as his weapon.
* TheSmartGuy: He fits the StreetSmart archetype to a T, excelling most in sneaking, spying, lock-picking, and gaining intel for the heroes.

!! Seven Shields
[[folder:General tropes]]
* AdaptationalModesty: ''Big time''. With the exception of Maia, [[TheAlliance the Seven Shields]] in the remastered version either wear armour or outfits that tone down the heavy {{fanservice}} present in the ''Kuroinu'' canon.
* TheAlliance: The Seven Shields Alliance, or Seven Shields in short. The representatives, known as Princess Knights or Shields, are responsible for governing their respective territories in Eostia, with [[TheHighQueen Celestine]] as [[TheHighKing leader]]. The Seven Shields, along with [[{{PMC}} the Black Dogs]], have been working together closely for a long while during the war against the [[EvilOverlord Dark Queen of the Jagged Crown]].
* AlphabeticalThemeNaming: The swordswomen of the Seven Shields (Alicia, Claudia, Maia) have names that end with "ia".
* AristocratTeam: All seven members from [[TheAlliance the Seven Shields]] are people of high social status.
* ModestRoyalty:
** The aversion of RequisiteRoyalRegalia means that the seven Princess Knights would qualify... [[{{Subverted}} if one overlooks]] how their outfits seem to be designed for [[MsFanservice showing off their bodies/assets]].
** The remastered version tones down the {{fanservice}}, putting several of the Princess Knights closer to this trope.
*** For [[PlayedStraight straighter]] cases, there's [[TheHighQueen Celestine]], who wears a shawl and a white robe; [[{{Hobbits}} Luu-Luu]], who is clad in raw animal hide; and Kaguya, who looks like a {{Miko}}.
*** Prim is a {{subversion}}. She wears a white and pink dress during her first appearance, but the narration describes her dress as "the work of the finest tailors of Feoh and Ur", meaning that she falls into SimpleYetOpulent. Later [[DoubleSubversion double subverted]] as she wears a more practical white dress during the ride to Ken, which would take approximately three to five days.
%%* MsFanservice: The shields' attractiveness can range from cute to gorgeous and while their attire is not as revealing as their original counterparts, they are still eye-catching.

[[folder:Celestine Lucross]]
* AngerBornOfWorry: Worried that her friend would've gotten hurt, [[TheHighQueen Celestine]] grabs Olga by the ear after the Liberation of Ansur, upset over her marching out to a battlefield without telling her. [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness Quite the spectacle]].
* BewareTheNiceOnes: A non-action example. Celestine is TheHighQueen, benevolent and compassionate. The rebels in the ''Rebel Scum Arc'' clearly think that she would pay any price for appealing for peace. Being Black Dog supporters, they are more than willing to take advantage of that and set a price as high as possible. Her response is to give out the order, to meet them with fire and sword, to scour them from the capital without hesitation. Proving that she has come a long way, Celestine doubles down on the punitive measures imposed on the nobility, censuring those who have sponsored the rebellion and the Black Dogs.
%%* Big Good:
* BrokenTears: She weeps uncontrollably as she is assailed by explicit imagery depicting Kyril's [[DarkAndTroubledPast ordeal in Yharnam]] (in breadcrumbs, not the entire thing) due to reading [[ArtifactOfDoom Kyril's journal]].
* TheConfidant: Celestine becomes Claudia's confidant as the story of the original version progresses, willing to listen and keep to herself regarding Claudia's beef with Kyril, which worsened due to Claudia's husband under suspicion of being a traitor (this information is deemed so sensitive that it must be kept secret to avert a scandal).
* CoolCrown: Wears a chaplet, indicating her authority over [[TheAlliance the Seven Shields]].
* FaintingSeer: {{Downplayed}}. She has yet to experience a [[FreakOut severe breakdown]] from her visions, but there isn't a single moment where she reacts positively. The other half of her vision regarding Kyril, which depicts a BloodSplatteredWarrior AtopAMountainOfCorpses, leaves her chilly and frightened. Particularly, Celestine's P.O.V. in the remastered version reveals that she feels burdened from her oftentimes painful visions.
* GodEmpress: The High Elf Queen of Eostia is also known as the Goddess Reborn, the Goddess Incarnate, or simply [[CrystalDragonJesus the Goddess]]. She is a rare non-villainous example who rules her country via a literal case of DivineRightOfKings, which grants her the [[RoyaltySuperpower power]] to [[{{Seers}} see visions of the future]].
* GodInHumanForm: Celestine is the reincarnation of a goddess named gentle Laurendau, though her mortal shell is that of a [[OurElvesAreDifferent high elf]] that looks like a human rather than an actual human.
* GoldAndWhiteAreDivine: Her blond hair and [[ModestRoyalty modest]] white robe compliments her status as the Goddess Reborn.
* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: Celestine has long blond hair and she is TheHighQueen.
* HarpOfFemininity: Playing the harp is a pastime of hers, as shown in Chapters 23 and 30 of the original, where Kyril visits her personal quarters. Those moments accentuate her grace as both a [[OurElvesAreDifferent high elf]] and TheHighQueen.
* HearingVoices:
** How the bad voodoo that comes with Kyril's journal catches up to Celestine, with her mind constantly bombarded by whispers that have no sign of ceasing. This, combined with several visions depicting the horrors Kyril has been through, [[HeroicBSOD leaves her a whimpering wreck unable to sleep soundly]], her room in a mess and her belongings scattered all over the place. Thankfully, this stops after her accidental arrival in the Hunter's Dream.
** She has to go through this trope ''again'' as a result of eldritch forces clashing with each other in a distant place, where [[spoiler:Kyril confronts Shamuhaza, the latter twisted into an EldritchAbomination]]. She's probably not alone in this regard, if we consider the riots and the sense of dread permeating the capital due to said event. The whispers are so severe that [[spoiler:the Plain Doll has to personally intervene by [[StealthHiBye entering her chambers]], which puts her to sleep while freeing her from this trope.]]
* TheHighKing: She is the first among equals of [[TheAlliance the Seven Shields Alliance]], being the one who chose all seven Princess Knights, herself included, to govern their respective territories in Eostia.
* TheHighQueen: Known for her beauty and warmth, she has ruled with benevolence throughout her centuries-long reign as queen, especially during the period of the ForeverWar between her and her [[EvilFormerFriend former friend]] Olga. [[DeconstructedCharacterArchetype Deconstructed]] as those attributes do not make her a UniversallyBelovedLeader (because it is simply not possible for ''everyone'' to like a person, just like in RealLife) like common depictions, the [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores Black Dogs]] and any [[TheMole traitors]] affiliated with them being the prime dissidents. Moreover, having a "good ruler" does not magically solve every problem in the country -- the ongoing warfare, and the FantasticRacism, hence enslavement of dark elves (the latter being the underlying cause for a [[ForeverWar centuries-old war]] in the past) prove exactly that. Chapter 24 has Celestine coming into terms with this, resolving to step up her game.
* InformedAbility: Celestine is said to be a person of great magical strength, and [[LadyOfBlackMagic Olga]] is the only one known InUniverse capable of matching her in combat. Several characters mention that Celestine is capable of impressive offensive magic (Olga suggesting Celestine to bombard the currently infested Rad with holy spells, Soren fearing that Celestine could simply blast him into oblivion without lifting a finger, etc.). However, not a single scene depicting Celestine in battle is ever shown in the story. Furthermore, the remastered version has Celestine's P.O.V. noting that she and Olga fought each other numerous times directly in the past, to the point where the two stopped taking the fields personally due to the destructiveness of their magics. Yet, the readers never see any sort of {{flashback}} about such events.
* TheKirk: In the original, Celestine has to balance the philosophies of [[HonorBeforeReason Claudia]] and [[NoNonsenseNemesis Kyril]] respectively.
%%* Necessarily Evil: She views Kyril as this.
%%* Only Sane Man: Out of the seven, she's the only one who knows how capable Kyril really is.
* PowerEchoes: Celestine can produce this effect by magically amplifying her voice to be more echo-y.
* ProperLady: [[TheHighQueen Celestine]] is praised by commoner and noble alike for her warmth and humility towards her people. Even TheCynic Kyril sees her as "pure", though he does note that her [[BeautyEqualsGoodness beauty and grace]] put her on a pedestal, attracting many who admire her for the wrong reasons. Her disdain for gaudiness and extravagance compliments her vision for prosperity and peace for all people. Both versions of the story have at least one moment that showcases her resolution and strength of mind to resist panicking (e.g., leaving her palace to experience the chaos in her city in the original version, and her confrontation with [[RatMen The Rat]] in the remastered version).
* RankScalesWithAsskicking: {{Subverted}}. Among the southern faction, the Goddess Reborn is said to possess great arcane strength comparable to that of Olga, hence intuitively more formidable than the subjects under her, but she is more concerned about running her country than fighting anyone with her magic (or showcasing offensive spells of any kind) over the course of the series.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: She's a high elf who is over a thousand years old, and, due to being the Goddess Reborn, has the [[HotGoddess appearance]] to match.
* RoyaltySuperpower: She rules her country as TheHighQueen with the ability to [[{{Seers}} see visions of the future]], a gift that has kept the lands safe for centuries. The reason is that she [[DivineRightOfKings received a favour from the Goddess Laurendau]], which allowed her to hold the title of [[GodEmperor Goddess]] [[GodInHumanForm Incarnate]].
* {{Seers}}: Celestine, as the [[GodInHumanForm reincarnation of the goddess Laurendau]], can see prophetic visions. While she is not {{omniscient}}, this power, along with her [[LongLived lifespan]] as an elf, allowed her to rule Eostia and keep the land safe for centuries. Alas, she could not foresee that the Black Dogs would [[MilitaryCoup plan to take over]].
* ShuttingUpNow: After [[ShipperOnDeck Olga]] teases Celestine about the latter's spiel on how [[BlackKnight Kyril]] is "important" to her, Celestine tries to defend herself by saying the knight has been loyal and tirelessly working to help them win the war, so that's why he's important. Olga merely [[FascinatingEyebrow raises one of her eyebrows further]], and Celestine promptly gives up in embarrassment.
* StellarName: '''Celestine''' Lucross ("heavenly" or "pertaining to the sky").
* TerribleTicking: Happens to Celestine whenever she is in proximity to Kyril, due to her high Insight. The sound that only she can hear is described as a constant, maddening rumble, akin to the sound of thunder and waves crashing against the shore. When Kyril displays TranquilFury in Chapter 12 and 13 of the remastered version, the sound intensifies into a noice heard in the midst of a storm. Though she has not been driven mad by the sound, it does frighten her every time this happens.

[[folder:Maia]]
* BoyishShortHair: Maia sports short [[FieryRedhead red]] hair. The boyish aspects are evident from how the Princess Knight wears a tunic that shows a NavelDeepNeckline, prefers ale over the "prissy" drink that is wine, is comparatively less refined than her BlueBlood peers, is an agile [[DualWielding dual-blades]] [[ActionGirl user]], and [[OneOfTheBoys fought alongside]] Vault and the Black Dogs (an all-male {{PMC}} group) in the past as a fellow mercenary.
%%* Breaking Point Swearing: Maia calls [[AbhorrentAdmirer Michelle]] a "[[FatBastard fat]] fucking prick" to show she is irritated by his advances.
* BrokenTears:
** Happens in the original version, after Maia suffers a FreakOut due to being [[RapeAsDrama raped]] by Michelle Pantielle, something that Vault, her beloved former comrade, allowed to happen. She wipes away her tears as she tries to [[DrowningMySorrows drink]], walks out to the streets after only managing a few sips of her ale, and finds herself sobbing again.
** In the remastered version, Celestine notes that Maia could be heard sobbing in her quarters after the reveal of Vault being a traitor, Vault [[spoiler:being dead]], and her defeat at the hands of Kyril during his TrialByCombat.
* DrowningMySorrows: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] in the original version. She tries to dull her [[PastExperienceNightmare Past Experience Nightmares]] from her [[RapeAsDrama traumatic rape]] with a tankard of ale. She manages only a few sips.
* FieryRedhead: Maia the Mercenary Queen is a {{downplayed}} example. In spite of the absence of a HairTriggerTemper, she is the most outgoing among the Seven Shields, matching her red, BoyishShortHair. Her sarcastic and confident personality, together with her preference for frequenting a bar for some ale, bring to mind a [[TheLadette lad-ette]] in all but a short temper. This is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] by her [[OneOfTheBoys fighting alongside the Black Dogs]] in the past, which explains why she shows a more passionate side when Vault is concerned. Later {{subverted}} as the [[RapeAsDrama events]] of Chapter 11 of the original has made her [[BrokenBird less fiery and more melancholic]].
* FreakOut: Maia goes from outgoing to withdrawn as a result of her RapeAsDrama. The personality change is so potent that despite signs of steady recovery, she occasionally descends into a more [[BrokenBird melancholic]] state.
* HeroesWantRedheads: {{Inverted}} to "the redhead wants the hero". The redhead Maia is attracted to AntiHero Kyril Sutherland. Unfortunate for her, he is [[CelibateHero celibate]].
* TheLadette: Dubbed "the Queen of Mercenaries", she is the technical ruler of [[WretchedHive Ansur]] who used to be a fellow mercenary who fought alongside the Black Dogs, an all-male {{PMC}} group. She is outgoing, speaks in an informal, "dude-ish" way, and likes to hit the bar for an ale (to her, wine is a "prissy" drink). Later {{subverted}} as she develops into a melancholic BrokenBird over time, something that is PlayedForDrama.
* NavelDeepNeckline: Maia's outfit from the original version is [[ImpliedTrope implied]] to be identical to that of ''Kuroinu'' canon, being a red tunic cut to show her cleavage and her stomach.
* OneOfTheBoys: [[FieryRedhead Maia]] used to be like this, for she was recruited by the all-male {{mercenary}} group that is the Black Dogs, and fought alongside [[TheLeader Vault]] and their merc comrades a long while ago. The Black Dogs' [[EtTuBrute betr]][[MilitaryCoup ayal]] hits her hard.
* TroubledFetalPosition: While coping with her RapeAsDrama in the hands of Michelle Pantielle, one of the things Maia does is to hug her knees to her chest while [[ThousandYardStare gazing emptily ahead]].

[[folder:Claudia Levantine]]
* TheConfidant: Celestine's P.O.V. reveals that Claudia is the only person who had been told of the full story regarding [[{{Seers}} Celestine's latest vision]] -- a [[BloodSplatteredWarrior bloodstained]] stranger that possesses enough power to either save or destroy her kingdom (aka. the GodzillaThreshold Kyril). This indicates that Celestine trusts no one but Claudia about the specifics of her visions, especially when they prove to be troubling.
* JerkassToOne: Claudia Levantine is on good terms with the people she meets, except Kyril Sutherland, mainly because she sees him as a dangerous presence, as well as her disapproval of his [[UnscrupulousHero brutality]].
* TheMcCoy: Claudia puts HonorBeforeReason, who acts as a contrast to the PragmaticHero [[TheSpock Kyril]] and the [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure mediator]] [[TheKirk Celestine]].
* TheRival: To Kyril Sutherland in the original version. The two fight each other via TrialByCombat due to the former wanting to punish the latter for leaving an ArtifactOfDoom in her liege lady's halls, which ended with Kyril winning. Furthermore, Claudia strongly disapproves of his tendency for brutality and [[LeaveNoSurvivors leaving no prisoners]], a grievance that only festers as Kyril uses gradually unscrupulous means to win the war against the Black Dogs. Whenever both people are present, they often come into blows due to differing ideologies. It is worth noting that Kyril is known as the "Bloody Left Hand of the Goddess", in contrast to Claudia being Celestine's second-in-command and Right Hand.

[[folder:Alicia Arcturus]]
The leader of the Iris Knights (or the Knights of Iris) and the daughter of King Eos. Alicia rules over Feoh, one of the seven kingdoms that made up the Seven Shields Alliance.\\
\\
Has a larger presence in the remastered version than in the original version, where she is given a task by the Goddess to find the most trustworthy agents to end the war against Olga Discordia. The search leads her to a man in a strange, tattered hat, whose demeanour and combat prowess fill her with disgust.
----
* AdaptationalJerkass: Alicia's JerkassToOne attitude to Kyril is explored in further detail in the remastered version, due to their [[AdaptationExpansion increased interaction with each other]].
* AlliterativeName: '''A'''licia '''A'''rcturus.
* BlueIsHeroic: Alicia and the knights under her command have been defending the common folk from marauding orcs for some time. Fittingly, both her eyes and her armor are blue.
* BreakTheHaughty: Alicia Arcturus is the celebrated [[KnightInShiningArmour Princess Knight]] of Feoh, prideful about her [[MasterSwordsman swordsmanship]]. In the remastered version, this image gradually fractures as she is forced to confront the reality that some foreigner in a weird-looking, tattered hat (aka. Kyril) turns out to be [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter way stronger than she is]]. She finds this very, very difficult to accept, nor could she accept the stranger's [[{{Gorn}} brutality in battle]] and apathy towards her higher social status, not to mention how her cousin [[PrincessClassic Prim]] somehow finds the man trustworthy while she clearly believes the opposite. Then comes Kyril's TrialByCombat, where Alicia sees this as the perfect chance to settle accounts, to restore her honour... and she ends up being left ''untouched'' during the fight, yet [[CurbStompBattle soundly defeated]] anyway. And then Kyril deems her NotWorthKilling, deems her a "weakling". A single word so filled with contempt that [[HeroicBSOD her pride comes tumbling down]], which leads to her [[spoiler:recklessly assaulting Soren as RevengeByProxy, an action that would most likely increase hostilities between Alicia and Kyril]].
* CavalryOfficer: Alicia is the leader of the Iris Knights, the finest light cavalry forces of Feoh. Her first appearance in the remastered version depicts her as a celebrated figure riding atop a barded warhorse, just to drive it home. She looks upon herself as a KnightInShiningArmour, and disdains people who don't care about her social station (e.g. Kyril).
* DumbBlonde:
** In the original version, this blonde Princess Knight is responsible for the largest [[DidntThinkThisThrough tactical blunder]] presented in the story: giving up her entire, well-defended fortress to the Black Dogs in exchange for a number of [[HostageSituation hostage]] nuns. And the nuns themselves were even willing to let the goblins/imps keep raping them for the greater good.
** While the above has yet to happen in the remastered version, Alicia continuously [[BullyingADragon sending]] [[JerkassToOne barbs]] to Kyril, who can slaughter an entire orc band [[OneManArmy by himself]] while she cannot, would definitely qualify for this trope.
* FauxActionGirl: PlayedForLaughs in the remastered version. When first introduced, the Princess Knight of Feoh is described as a celebrated figure who looks like the ideal, noble knight in every way. Except that the protagonist Kyril is not impressed in the slightest, internally remarking how "it wouldn't take much to knock her off her horse". His observation proves to be spot on when Alicia and her two subordinates accompany Kyril to clear out an orc den. She proves her "might" as a knight by stabbing her sword into a greenskin's gut... and getting her blade stuck. To rub salt in the wound, it turns out that Alicia performs worse than her own two subordinates (i.e., minor characters), a fact the ''narration'' points out as if to subtly mock her underperformance.
-->''"Lady Alicia are you hurt!?" Kendra approached Alicia already reaching for the healing supplies on her belt. Vera watched their rear, head on a swivel as she held her bloody sword. They had made a good accounting of themselves having slain two orcs each. Kyril had slain the rest, while Alicia only got one.''[[note]]She only "got one" because Kyril shot it in the head while her sword is still stuck.[[/note]]
* InferioritySuperiorityComplex: She develops this over the course of the remastered version. While Alicia isn't a braggart, like how most portrayals of this trope do, she prides herself on maintaining her reputation as a KnightInShiningArmor, and she takes that seriously. This is why Alicia is JerkassToOne towards Kyril, a foreigner with an aloof demeanour who doesn't show respect to her and the Goddess she believes in, like one would towards a noble of her station, yet is [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter inexplicably more powerful than she could ever be]], and is inexplicably able to gain her cousin Prim's trust -- she feels that her honour as a knight is insulted, and she [[ItsPersonal takes that personally]]. As the story progresses, Alicia is increasingly eager to prove her superiority, that she is better than Kyril. His TrialByCombat in Chapters 12-13 provides an opportunity for her to do so, yet she ends up suffering an effortless defeat at Kyril's hands, with the man even calling her a weakling upon her defeat. Her pride is injured. The next time the readers see Alicia, she does not take her loss well. Any reminder of her loss, weakness, or even Kyril's name infuriates her, [[spoiler:to the point of violently lashing out at Soren, one of Kyril's companions, leaving the young man unconscious]].
* ItsAllMyFault: In the remastered version, Alicia blames herself for her failure to rescue two more villagers from their fates during her hunt for an orc den with Kyril, even if those two are beyond saving by the time they arrived.
--->'''Alicia''': I still failed to rescue two others. It was my fault for not doing enough.\\
'''Village leader''': ''[sighs]'' The Goddess protects all, but we must be careful when we venture out into the wild.
* JerkassToOne: Alicia (remastered version) is on good terms with her colleagues of TheAlliance, as well as a respected figure among the populace, judging from the way the crowds cheer and wave at her during her arrival at Ken. The one person she heaps scorn on is TheProtagonist Kyril, due to the following reasons: his aloofness, his [[DudeWheresMyRespect disrespect]] towards people of higher status (including herself), and him being a [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter better]] fighter. [[spoiler:Her later assault of Soren is because of his association with Kyril, rather than something Soren himself did.]]
* TheMcCoy: Alicia qualifies in both versions of the story.
** In the original version, this trope is the reason why Alicia [[DidntThinkThisThrough screws up big time]] in the ''Feoh/Ur [[StoryArc Arc]]''. To illustrate, she sacrifices the fortress she is supposed to defend in exchange for a number of hostage nuns (despite them even pointing out that TheNeedsOfTheMany outweigh the needs of the few), which allows the Black Dogs [[AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs an easy win]]. [[StupidSacrifice Yeah]].
** In the remastered version, Alicia has this trope written all over her face when she, her seconds, and Kyril arrive at an orc den. Believing that there are innocents inside the cave, Alicia resolves to rescue them even without Kyril's help. On a humorous note, she is surprised that he nods his head, since she expects that TheSpock next to her would leave the captives to their fates.
* TheRival: The remastered version sets her up as Kyril's primary rival, as [[AdaptationExpansion the two interact a lot more in this version]]. A brooding, sinister foreigner who is indifferent to status and reputation, his behaviour [[DudeWheresMyRespect earns the ire]] of the HotBlooded Knight of Iris, who sees it as [[ItsPersonal an insult to her honour as a knight]]. Much to her dismay, she can only tolerate his demeanour because he can cut down orcs with ease, as well as him being the potential agent in Celestine's visions that could end the ForeverWar that has plagued the country for centuries. Later events, where he gains her cousin Prim's respect, [[spoiler:kills [[VillainWithGoodPublicity Vault]] after the Assault of the Black Fortress]], and is supported by [[OurDemonsAreDifferent The]] [[RatMen Rat]] only intensified her distrust towards him. Then comes Kyril's TrialByCombat, an event Alicia views as an opportunity to settle accounts, and she loses the match. She doesn't take her loss well.
* StellarName: Alicia '''Arcturus''' (the third-brightest individual star in the night sky).

[[folder:Prim Fiorire]]
* CoolCrown: She wears a golden tiara with a red jewel in the middle, like how a PrincessClassic would.
* TheCutie: She is a young, [[RoseHairedSweetie pink-haired]] PrincessClassic ready to enter adulthood, with a meek voice and a positive attitude. Even the resident [[TheCynic cynic]] Kyril respects her and treats her cordially -- she's really something else.
* InnocentBlueEyes: Prim is one of the youngest in Celestine's court, characterised as TheCutie, RoseHairedSweetie and PrincessClassic, all of which are character tropes related to youth, optimism and innocent sweetness. The remastered version switches her eye colour from purple to bright blue to reinforce this impression.
* TheKirk: Prim qualifies in the remastered version, soothing the choler between the more [[TheMcCoy emotional]] Alicia and the more [[TheSpock distant]] Kyril.
* PrincessClassic: Prim Fiorire is a teenage version. The basics are there: female, [[RoyalBlood royal]], and TheIngenue. Additional traits include being part of TheBeautifulElite that is [[TheAlliance the Seven Shields]], the long [[RoseHairedSweetie pink]] hair, the [[CoolCrown tiara]], and the preference of SimpleYetOpulent clothing in either white or pink. Prim straddles the line between the traditional and modern take of this archetype. She's described as [[DelicateIsBeautiful delicate]], because she wasn't groomed to be a KnightInShiningArmor like her cousin Alicia. Nonetheless, she proves to be quite opinionated in the belief that [[NinetiesAntiHero the Hunter]] is actually not a bad person and is able to contribute to Eostia's cause. Astonishingly, the resident [[TheCynic cynic]] of the story (the aforementioned Hunter) has never [[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids mocked Prim for her idealism]].
* ProperLady: Prim is a shy, demure PrincessClassic so unironic that she would get along with her [[Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon Disney]] counterparts. Apart from being the only female character that's described by the narration as [[DelicateIsBeautiful "delicate"]], the increased characterisation in the remastered version accentuates her sharp mind, thoughtfulness, and belief in the good in the sinister, DarkIsNotEvil stranger that is [[NinetiesAntiHero the Hunter]].
* RoseHairedSweetie: [[PurityPersonified A kind, polite, and gentle girl]] with wavy pink hair, Prim definitely qualifies. She is a WideEyedIdealist and the [[TomboyAndGirlyGirl Girly Girl to her cousin Alicia's Tomboy]]. This pays off in the remastered version, for she is the first Shield to successfully earn Kyril's favour. Within a single chapter.
* SimpleYetOpulent: [[PrincessClassic Princess]] Prim Fiorire's white and pink dress is not extravagant, but finely made regardless. Described as the work of the finest tailors of Feoh and Ur, it should cost a lot.

[[folder:Luu-Luu]]
* AlliterativeName: '''L'''uu-'''L'''uu.
* AloofDarkHairedGirl: {{Inverted}}. She's a tiny GenkiGirl with short, curly ginger hair.
* DyingAsYourself: [[spoiler:BrainwashedAndCrazy Luu-Luu when she is stabbed through the chest by the Holy Moonlight Sword of a reluctant Kyril. She thanks him for [[MercyKill doing the deed]] as he [[CradlingYourKill holds her hand]] during her final moments.]]
* GenkiGirl: Flippant, enthusiastic, and constantly wearing a toothy grin on her face, Luu-Luu is the hyper one among the Seven Shields. These traits [[spoiler:[[SubvertedTrope are lost]] once she gets subjected to FaceFullOfAlienWingWong thanks to [[EvilSorceror Shamuhaza]], remaining a husk of her former self.]]
* PintSizedPowerhouse: She has a child-like body frame, but she is strong enough to lift up her huge axe. Her combat prowess is best shown in [[spoiler:Chapter 16 of the original, where Luu-Luu, as a [[BrainwashedAndCrazy husk]], manages to keep up with [[LightningBruiser the Good Hunter]] in speed. She also has enough strength to push him back and throw him aside a considerable distance.]]
[[/folder]]

!! Elves
[[folder:Celestine Lucross]]
See her folder above.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Olga Discordia]]
* AdaptationalJerkass: As much as how Olga feels that she [[IOweYouMyLife owes]] Kyril for saving her and her servant Chloe from the Black Dogs, she is more reluctant to feel that way in the remastered version. She is also less cordial to him, since he did best and imprison her personally, which does not happen in the original version.
* AllEncompassingMantle: Olga wears a rich dark cloak that covers her lean form, though according to the official artwork of ''Kuroinu'', the fabric is heavily slitted, such that she is covered in long, thick strips.
* AloofDarkHairedGirl: She is six feet tall, with ankle-length black hair and a bountiful form. Her pride and aloofness is backed up by her status as the Queen of the Dark Elves, along with [[LadyOfBlackMagic her exceptional talent in magic]].
* ArcVillain: The main obstacle of the first StoryArc, the ''Assault of the Black Fortress Arc'' (Chapters 1-3 of the original version). Kyril and co. are tasked to head to the North, capture her, bring her back to the South, and end the longtime war that's plaguing the lands.
* BreakTheHaughty: Olga Discordia is a sorceress equal to the [[GodEmperor Goddess Reborn]] in every measure, and the Queen of the Dark Elves, so she has a good reason to be as haughty as ever. She experiences a gradual one in the remastered version. First, she gets subjected into a CurbStompBattle thanks to [[LightningBruiser Kyril being faster, stronger, and more durable than she is]]. After said CurbStompBattle, she is locked up in a cell like a miserable prisoner, already a far cry from what she started as. [[GreatEscape Had Kyril decided not personally bring her back to Ken]], she would have suffered a far worse fate at the mercy of the Black Dogs. While she begrudgingly admits that she owes him her life, it is not until he [[spoiler:uses [[MagicMissileStorm A Call Beyond]] to [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill instantly kill Vault and his men]] that [[OhCrap she realizes not only Kyril is a better fighter, but also a magic user far beyond her level]]]]. All of the above, combined with her sensing the [[LivingShadow dead shadows]] hovering around him on an instinctive level, leaves her terrified of him, even grateful that he decided to bring her and Chloe back unspoiled instead of offing her. The cherries at the top? [[FallenPrincess Olga Discordia]], now a former queen and a prisoner on the run, has no choice but to help set up camp and [[PeelingPotatoes peel some potatoes]], [[HumiliationConga not to mention how she ends up catching a fever on the way back]].
* CoolCrown: She is the holder of [[OurGodsAreDifferent Haughty Garan's]] Jagged Crown, which indicates that she is the inheritor of that goddess's power. [[{{Irony}} Ironically]], the pale purple crown she wears is neither jagged nor covered with thorns.
* DarkActionGirl: Olga (pre-HeelFaceTurn) is the ArcVillain of the ''Assault of the Black Fortress [[StoryArc Arc]]'', as well as the second belligerent of the [[ForeverWar centuries-old war]] against Eostia due to a [[KillAllHumans burning hatred of the human race]]. Aside from wearing dark-coloured clothing, she once offered the AlwaysChaoticEvil orcs a city of her own kind, the dark elves, for their [[RapePillageAndBurn entertainment]] in order to have them join her ranks. Olga is [[RankScalesWithAsskicking the most powerful among her forces]] due to her [[LadyOfBlackMagic magical prowess]] capable of rivalling [[GodEmperor Celestine's]] own, so powerful that at least one of the battles between the two caused much devastation to the lands (which leads to the both of them wordlessly agreeing not to directly face each other in battle). The remastered version [[AdaptationalBadass buffs her up a bit]], allowing her to hold her own against the [[WorldsStrongestMan world's strongest]] LightningBruiser Kyril [[CurbStompCushion for a while]].
* DarkIsEvil: Olga Discordia is also known as the ''[[EvilOverlord Dark]]'' Queen, a LadyOfBlackMagic and the catalyst for the [[ForeverWar centuries-old war]] that has caused untold bloodshed. In order to strengthen her position in said war, she once sacrificed one of the cities under her reign to the AlwaysChaoticEvil orcs in exchange for their allegiance. Even after her defeat and HeelFaceTurn, people in general still hate her guts due to what she did in the past.
* DeathFromAbove: Combined with PlayingWithFire, she can do this via an arcane artillery strike.
* DeflectorShields: [[LadyOfBlackMagic Olga]] in the remastered version can generate magical barriers for defence. However, they get [[TheWorfEffect worfed]] pretty quickly thanks to [[SuperStrength Kyril]] making short work of them.
* DiscOneFinalBoss: Olga is the second belligerent of the [[ForeverWar centuries-old war]] that has caused untold suffering to Eostia's people. She is built up as the archetypal EvilOverlord, the person [[TheProtagonist Kyril]] must defeat in order to end the war and bring her back to Eostia so she can face justice. Olga is defeated in the first StoryArc, but the resources and [[DecapitatedArmy personnel she leaves behind]] give Vault the means of turning against the Seven Shields and cementing his status as the main threat.
* DispelMagic: In the remastered version, Olga can cast an enchantment to "pull [[OurGhostsAreDifferent wraiths]] into the physical world", so as to nullify their {{intangibility}}.
* DrowningMySorrows: During her HeroicBSOD in the original version, Olga is seen drinking, sorrowful about her servant, surrogate daughter, and LivingEmotionalCrutch Chloe being in critical condition. Kyril stops her from continuing by grabbing her wine bottle and [[NeverGetsDrunk down it entirely]].
* EvilFormerFriend: To [[TheHighQueen Celestine]]. They were close until they came to blows over the fate of humanity. Their friendship fell apart by the time Olga declared war on Celestine's kingdom, where she had been sending orc raiders and other monsters to her lands [[ForeverWar for centuries]]. Later {{subverted}} after their reconciliation, together with the Black Dogs stepping up to become the main antagonists of this fanfic.
* EvilOverlord: GenderInverted. Olga [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Discordia]], the Dark (Elf) Queen, is set up as this the old-fashioned way. She lurks in an [[EvilTowerOfOminousness intimidating fortress]] (the Black Fortress) amid a {{Mordor}} in [[GrimUpNorth the North]] (Garan), with the AlwaysChaoticEvil fantasy races [[TheWomanBehindTheMonsters under her command]]. She's [[RankScalesWithAsskicking the most powerful among her forces]] due to her [[LadyOfBlackMagic sorcerous powers]], yet [[OrcusOnHerThrone hangs behind the action]]. Moreover, she has attributes of a SatanicArchetype (e.g., {{Pride}}, [[MsFanservice beauty]], association with [[PlayingWithFire fire]] and [[DarkIsEvil dark]], rebellion against the [[CrystalDragonJesus Goddess Reborn]], [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and]] the [[IHaveManyNames many names]]). However, Olga ends up being a {{subversion}} over time. To begin with, she is actually the DiscOneFinalBoss since she is [[FallenPrincess ousted]] and later gets a HeelFaceTurn. As the readers see more about her character throughout the story ([[AdaptationExpansion especially]] in the remastered version), it is revealed that her motivation for starting the ForeverWar against Eostia is not some generic [[TakeOverTheWorld world domination]], or conquest for that matter. Rather, it is her wrath for the FantasticRacism and subsequent enslavement of the dark elves, which leads to her prejudiced hatred of humanity as a whole. Last but not least, for all her flaws, especially the time where she [[EtTuBrute sacrificed]] one of her cities to the orcs, she's neither a [[AGodAmI megalomaniac]] nor an [[MadeOfEvil incarnation of evil]].
* FallenPrincess: [[ExaggeratedTrope Exaggerated]] to "Fallen Queen". She starts off as TheDreaded Queen of the Dark Elves, only to suffer defeat in the hands of the Black Dogs, and is taken prisoner. She even goes through an extra BreakTheHaughty sequence in the remastered version.
* {{Hellfire}}: Olga's [[PlayingWithFire flames]] are referred to as hellfire. They are described in the remastered version as "hotter than hell itself". We don't know if some sort of "{{Hell}}" exists in the ''Kuroinu'' 'verse, though.
* IOweYouMyLife: After Kyril breaks Olga and Chloe out of prison, Olga says to Kyril that she owes him for saving their lives from the Black Dogs. The entire trope is played differently in both versions of the story.
** PlayedStraight in the original version. Olga eventually brings up the rescue many chapters later, pledging to assist Kyril should he need it, as payment.
** {{Subverted}} in the remastered version. Olga is grateful for the rescue, but she doesn't feel obligated to help him. It's not like she would suddenly forget that Kyril was the one who put her in a cell in the first place (because they were on opposing sides of a war). If anything, the fact that she is his prisoner irks her to no end.
* ImpossibleHourglassFigure: Olga is described by Kyril's P.O.V. to have a voluptuous body covered by a [[OfCorsetsSexy corset]]. Considering her design in ''Kuroinu'' canon (which encapsulates the entire package of big breasts, narrow waist, and wide hips), he is clearly understating her physical appearance.
* InformedAbility: Kin mentions that Olga is a {{necromancer}}, yet the readers never see her raising the dead.
* LadyOfBlackMagic: She is a haughty MsFanservice with magical prowess that rivals Celestine, the Goddess Reborn. Throughout both versions of the fanfic (moreso for the remastered one, courtesy of the additional fight between Olga and Kyril), she has shown a variety of magics, including: {{Mordor}} creation; [[PlayingWithFire fire manipulation]]; control over the Black Fortress; DeflectorShields; swiftness augmentation; [[BlownAcrossTheRoom knockback]]; [[DispelMagic anti]]-{{intangibility}}; and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking trivial abilities like catching a pillow mid-air and sound muffling]].
* LaughingMad: The original version has her giggling uncontrollably when she and Celestine are reading the contents of Kyril's journal, an ApocalypticLog that doubles as an ArtifactOfDoom. Luckily {{subverted}} later as she managed to stop rocking back and forth to pull herself together.
* LogicalWeakness: For all of Olga's arcane might, she needs a [[PowerCrutch staff]] in order to cast her spells. Therefore, she's helpless [[WreckedWeapon once the staff is lost or gets broken]].
* TheManBehindTheMonsters: While the brutish [[OurOrcsAreDifferent orcs]] have their chieftains, they are ultimately under the command of Olga Discordia, the [[OurElvesAreDifferent Dark Elf]] Queen. Naturally, she resembles a human, and a downright [[MsFanservice gorgeous]] one at that. Later {{subverted}} as she gets [[FallenPrincess ousted]] and replaced by Vault, a {{hunk}}-y mercenary leader who intends to lead both his own human mercenaries and non-human hordes to take over the South.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Olga's last name, ''Discordia''. She's set up as the EvilOverlord who has engaged in war, or rather, sown ''discord'' for [[ForeverWar centuries]].
* OfCorsetsSexy: Part of Olga's default outfit that covers her voluptuous body. One example of AdaptationalModesty in this fanfic, compared with her corset with the front and back parts missing as depicted in ''Kuroinu'' canon.
* OrcusOnHisThrone: [[JustifiedTrope Justified]]. During the centuries-old war before the events of the main plot, Olga, the Dark Queen, did not start off like this -- she used to take the field personally and fight Celestine head on. The two stopped doing that since their magics were destroying the lands, and her goal is not [[SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum "world destruction"]]. The most Olga did was to smote Garan into a {{Mordor}} via BlackMagic in order to deter enemy armies. Meanwhile, her fortress is well fortified, and she could send raiding parties down the south. There's also how a presumably long time was used to raise Chloe, her surrogate daughter and would-be vassal.
* PeelingPotatoes: In the remastered version, one misfortune of [[FallenPrincess Olga's]] BreakTheHaughty sequence involves peeling potatoes at the cook Boris's request. Rather than a PunishmentDetail, Olga and the rest of the GreatEscape crew [[JustifiedTrope need dinner]], so someone's gotta help out. Furthermore, she accepts his request because she imagines that [[TheDreaded Kyril]] would forbid her from eating if she were to pull some sort of stunt. On a [[PlayedForLaughs humorous]] note, Olga [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] her current predicament -- formerly [[EvilOverlord Dark Queen]], now a glorified potato peeler.
* RankScalesWithAsskicking: Among the [[GrimUpNorth northern]] faction, Olga, Queen of the Dark Elves, is a master [[LadyOfBlackMagic sorceress]], being way stronger than the [[{{Mooks}} fighters]] under her.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: She is a dark elf who has fought Celestine for centuries, and is described to have the appearance of a MsFanservice.
* SatanicArchetype: Known as the Dark Queen, she is a [[{{Pride}} prideful]] LadyOfBlackMagic who starts a ForeverWar by rebelling against the [[CrystalDragonJesus Goddess Reborn]], is associated with [[PlayingWithFire fire]] and [[DarkIsEvil dark]], and [[IHaveManyNames is known by various titles]]. Later {{subverted}} as she is merely the DiscOneFinalBoss, her motive for rebellion is portrayed in a sympathetic light, she gets a HeelFaceTurn, and her association with dark (dark elves) [[DarkIsNotEvil is not malicious]] in nature.
* ShipperOnDeck: She is the "shipper with a crush" type, often [[TheGadfly gleefully teasing]] Celestine about her feelings towards Kyril, while harbouring feelings to the man herself.
* StockLightNovelCalamityPrincess: Olga Discordia, Queen of the Dark Elves, resides in the [[SupervillainLair Black Fortress]] of [[{{Mordor}} Garan]] like a typical fantasy EvilOverlord. She's a prideful, talented LadyOfBlackMagic that can manipulate flames hotter than {{Hellfire}}, but her ColourMotif is associated with dark colours rather than the more common red, as evidenced by her midnight hair and [[AmbiguouslyBrown dusky]] skin. Fuelled with an intense [[ThePowerOfHate hatred]] of humanity, Olga rebelled against Celestine Lucross, the CrystalDragonJesus of Eostia, even waging war with the country for centuries, due to her {{wrath}} for the [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil enslavement]] of [[FantasticRacism her kind]]. Alas, the intervention of an OutsideContextProblem, [[AntiHero Kyril Sutherland]], led to the war effort playing against her favour, causing the Dark Queen to be [[FallenPrincess disgraced]] as a prisoner. As the story progresses, Olga cooperates with both Kyril and Celestine in the war against the [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores Black]] [[TheUsualAdversaries Dogs]], eventually confronting a past crime against her own people (sacrificing one of her cities to the orcs for them to RapePillageAndBurn).\\
The "LoveInterest" part is played in an unorthodox way compared to usual depictions of this archetype. While it's true that [[TheProtagonist the male protagonist]] Kyril eventually becomes the key for Olga to confront her demons, as well as one of the few people who takes a neutral stance in regards to said demons, Olga is the one that seeks for the protagonist's affections rather than the other way round, a persistent suitor among his UnwantedHarem no less. Kyril, despite being the [[LoveInterest object of affection]], is a CelibateHero whose "care" for her is due to him [[IGaveMyWord giving his word]] to [[{{Protectorate}} protect her from harm]] in the past and seeing her as a friend. Moreover, Olga certainly has [[MsFanservice the looks]], but she is neither [[LivingEmotionalCrutch dependent]] on the man, nor [[MagicContractRomance magically bound]] to him.
* TheUsurper: [[DiscussedTrope Discussed]] in the remastered version. Kyril learns from the books in Celestine's archives that Olga is described as a usurper. On the other hand, the story never reveals how exactly Olga inherited the power of [[OurGodsAreDifferent Garan]] and became the [[EvilOverlord Dark Queen]], making this notion an InformedAttribute. Even Kyril himself notes that the history there is a bit sketchy.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Chloe]]
* AdaptationalJerkass: Chloe acts more hostile in the remastered version than the original version, because her FantasticRacism towards humanity is more pronounced in the former. Moreover, the remastered version includes additional members accompanying Kyril, Olga and Chloe in the journey from Garan to Eostia[[note]]only the trio is present in the original[[/note]], giving Chloe ample opportunity to start arguments.
* ApologisesALot: In the remastered version, she repeatedly apologises to Olga while crying quietly in shame due to being [[PrisonRape molested]] by the Black Dogs two nights ago.
* BerserkButton: Any remark or action that Chloe regards as an affront to her queen Olga ticks her off, even innocuous ones, like interrupting Olga, or requesting her to help set up camp.
* ChildByRape: [[spoiler:She is the result of a dark elf mother being raped by a human father, who is also one of the slavers who enslaved them along with many other dark elves. This [[FreudianExcuse explains]] her FantasticRacism against humanity, as well as her UndyingLoyalty to Olga, [[LikeADaughterToMe who raised her like a daughter]].]]
* ChainedToARock: Or rather, Chained To A Wall. This happens to Chloe [[spoiler:after her capture by her [[AbusiveParents father]] John Mandeville]]. Unlike typical examples where the victim is waiting to be a [[HumanSacrifice sacrifice]] of some sort, [[spoiler:she suffers a [[ColdBloodedTorture prolonged period of abuse]] in the dungeons, even [[EyeScream losing an eye]]]].
* DumbBlonde: The blonde-haired Chloe's (remastered version) HairTriggerTemper and FantasticRacism towards humans means that she is a bomb ready to go off if not for Olga and Kyril disciplining her. Kyril even says that Chloe is testing his patience by [[InsufferableImbecile needlessly antagonising other people]].
* FreudianExcuse: Chloe was [[spoiler:[[ChildByRape born of rape]], the [[HalfHumanHybrid product]] of a human father and a dark elf mother. She, along with other dark elves, were then taken as slaves to be entertainment by human slavers, while her mother was murdered by her own father]]. Fortunately, Chloe was saved by Olga, who, like herself, witnessed the enslavement of her kind. Growing up into Olga's loyal vassal, she would later develop jerkassery and FantasticRacism towards humanity, as well as a [[UndyingLoyalty fervour]] to her liege lady's [[AntiHumanAlliance cause]].
* HairTriggerTemper: Normally speaking, Chloe reacts with fury towards anyone or anything she considers an affront to her liege, making this instance more of a BerserkButton. [[AdaptationalJerkass Her counterpart in the remastered version]] magnifies this trait, together with a tendency to antagonize people and rant about how [[HumansAreBastards humans suck]]. Her FantasticRacism towards humans only fuels her fervor. It is quickly [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed]] to show how problematic her behaviour is -- Chloe comes across as an InsufferableImbecile whose lack of restraint is a source of discord among the GreatEscape party. Her antagonising [[WorldsStrongestMan Kyril]] also veers into BullyingADragon territory, something that Olga and Kyril himself have warned. The latter has explicitly stated that should Chloe be incapable of cooperating, he would "[[DeadlyEuphemism rescind his amnesty]]".
* HotBlooded: Chloe, [[AdaptationalJerkass especially in the remastered version]], has a HairTriggerTemper fueled by her [[FantasticRacism hatred towards humanity]], which causes her to come into blows with others easily. She is also immensely protective of her liege lady, Olga, even during captivity.
* MyEyesAreUpHere: Chloe scowls at Bergen when she notices him staring at her cleavage, wordlessly conveying this trope's message to him. Bergen [[DistractedByTheSexy tries to pretend he isn't staring]] by rubbing his forehead.
* WhoWouldBeStupidEnough: The remastered version has Chloe [[TemptingFate tempt fate]] by wondering who would "dare brazenly strike at the Black Fortress", right after her liege lady reminds her that a fortress is not invincible. Cue Kyril and the Black Dogs arriving moments later, even coming out victorious in the next chapter.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Grace Campbell]]
* ActionSurvivor: Grace from the original version is a mere FanServiceWithASmile who works in a FantasyTavern. She finds herself to be one of the many InnocentBystanders that gets caught up in the invasion of Ansur by the Black Dogs. After being escorted by [[ActionHero Sir Kyril]] along with her friends to safety, she decides to sneak her way through the chaos in the streets to find him, because she knows of a [[AbsurdlySpaciousSewer secret entrance]] that Kyril can use to enter the mercenary compound and reach Maia. At first, this is [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed]]: Grace, ChastityDagger in hand, is obviously no match for a single {{mook}}, and as skilled as she is in sneaking around places, it can only take her so far, and she founds herself cornered by two mercs. On the other hand, she correctly figures out that Kyril, being a OneManArmy, would leave a trail of corpses behind, so she manages to end up in a place near him unharmed. Kyril, after dispatching said two mercs, would later coldly berate Grace [[DidntThinkThisThrough for putting herself in deep]], something that Grace herself [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]], but thanks to her information, he is able to successfully enter the compound, find Michelle Pantielle, and rescue Maia, though not without some difficulty. All in all, Grace's contribution in the Liberation of Ansur Arc allows this trope to be {{reconstructed}}, resulting in a DeconReconSwitch.
%%* Breaking Point Swearing: Grace rants to Kyril about how her past manages to come back and torment her with Olga's appearance in her friend's [[FantasyTavern inn]]. At one point, she whispers "three hundred ''fucking'' years" to emphasise this.
* ChastityDagger: Grace has one strapped to her thigh in case if some ruffian tries to put her down. The readers have never seen the knife being used in action, however.
* FanServiceWithASmile: PlayedStraight during her time as a barmaid. Like many others who work in [[FantasyTavern stock fantasy bars/inns/taverns]], she wears a [[{{Fanservice}} Fanservice-y]] outfit, namely a purple halterneck and a long sarong that accentuates her legs.
* HerHeartWillGoOn: As per her introductory narration in the remastered version below, Grace is a [[PlayedStraight straight]] example, though the pain of losing her husband never really faded away.
-->''Grace sighed as, for a moment, she felt every part of three hundred years catch up to her. No one, not even Annie who was twenty years her senior, would ever know what travails she had seen through in her three hundred years. Grace had come here from the [[GrimUpNorth North]], having [[YouCantGoHomeAgain lost her home]] a hundred years ago when the [[ForeverWar war]] between the Goddess Reborn and the Queen of the Jagged Crown began. She had seen terrible things during that journey, which included the loss of her dearest husband.''\\
\\
''Considering the fact that Grace was possibly the only Dark Elf in Baskerville, those travails would stay with her till the end of her days. Grace walked out, putting a cheery smile on her face. Still, life could be worse. She made people smile, laugh and forget that the world still needed to turn without anyone capable of stopping it.''
* IOweYouMyLife: Grace offers to become Kyril's retainer because she feels like she owes him for saving her and her friends' lives in Ansur. Kyril accepts.
* JerkassToOne: Grace Campbell is usually a NiceGirl, but it takes her considerable effort to be cordial to Olga Discordia. Her grudge towards the Dark Elf Queen stems from the time where Olga sacrificed Loraine, Grace's home, to the orcs, for them to RapePillageAndBurn. She [[YouCantGoHomeAgain lost both her home]] and [[TheLostLenore her husband]] because of that, and the grudge ceases to wane.
* MyEyesAreUpHere: Not said outright, but from how Grace feels glad that someone (Kyril) looks at her in the eye instead of leering, it's [[ImpliedTrope implied]] that she has been on the receiving end of this trope at least once, being a FanServiceWithASmile and all.
* ReadyForLovemaking: In the original version, Grace puckers up towards Kyril when he is about to inform her of her duties as his retainer. When asked about this, Grace says she thought she has to "warm his bed". Kyril, the CelibateHero he is, rejects her offer and quickly gets back to the main subject.
* RomancingTheWidow: {{Inverted}} to "The Widow Romances The Protagonist" in the original version. Grace Campbell lost her husband hundreds of years ago due to the war between Celestine and Olga. Judging from how she's pissed towards Olga because of her loss, it is clear that the pain has yet to fade. Despite this, she develops feelings for BlackKnight Kyril Sutherland, becoming a member of his UnwantedHarem eager to pursue for his affections, even though Kyril is neither romantically interested nor sexually interested in any of them.
* TheSocialExpert: This is one of her duties as Kyril's retainer to help gather info and intel, from interacting with the nobility, to attending meetings on Kyril's behalf.
* SubordinateExcuse: Aside from her joblessness due to the chaos in Ansur, the reason why she wishes to become Kyril's retainer in the original version is to [[IOweYouMyLife repay the knight who escorted her and her friends to safety]], [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys while getting close to the man beneath his exterior as a merciless killer]].
* YouCantGoHomeAgain: Grace had to flee from her DoomedHometown, Loraine, which was sacrificed to the orc war bands by Olga in order to have them fight under her cause. [[ItsPersonal This contributed to her animosity towards Olga]]. In the original version, she is forced to experience this a second time when her [[StartingANewLife new home]], Ansur, is ravaged by the war against the Black Dogs.
[[/folder]]

%%[[folder:Anna Florence]]
%%[[/folder]]

! Antagonists
[[folder:Orcs]]
* AlwaysChaoticEvil:
** Orcs, in classical fashion, are portrayed as this. Every single orc is a violent maniac and a rapist, with Kyril outright telling his soldier recruits that orcs exist to kill, so their job is to take them out without hesitation. Meanwhile, some people like Olga and Vault are shown to be able to ''bargain'' with orcs, which [[SubvertedTrope brings the extent of this trope being true into question]]... [[DoubleSubversion and then it quickly turns out]] that the orcs do get something in return for their alliance -- the prospect of [[RapePillageAndBurn raping, pillaging, and burning]] a place/region (Loraine for Olga's deal; all the dark elves in the Black Fortress, as well as the entire kingdom of Eostia for Vault's deal).
** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] at one point by Kyril in the remastered version.
--->''The Hunter found more small camps, and killed off more of the greenskins. He slaughtered them without mercy, their cries for their gods sounding piggish in the coming dusk. Were they truly so reprehensible? He wondered if the orcish gods even heard their pleas for their aid.''\\
''He thought this as he brought down another greenskin with an offhand swipe of the Holy Moonlight Sword. Did the gods of this world create such creatures fit only to be despised and cut down like vermin? He probably would never find out the answers, standing here in the gore of dead orcs.''
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast:
** Orcs are AlwaysChaoticEvil, so it is not a surprise that several infamous orc war-chiefs that Kyril had killed prior to the series have scary names like this, including the Defiler, Ozgriz the Mighty, and the Arsonist.
** The above list is altered a little in the remastered version. The very first chapter has Kyril finding the head of the Arch-Arsonist, one of the many orcs that he has slain including Ozgriz the Defiler, Gruzbad the Warlord, and the Eater of Men. He would later kill another orc chieftain named Thurog the Tall with his bare hands in Chapter 4.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Olga Discordia]]
See her folder above.
[[/folder]]

!! The Black Dogs
[[folder:General tropes]]
* ArmyOfThievesAndWhores: PlayedForDrama. Combine [[HiredGuns the biggest and most famous mercenary group]] in Eostia with any traditional AlwaysChaoticEvil fantasy races you can think of (orcs, goblins, ogres, you name it), you have a huge one of these that persists for more than 30 chapters of the story, not including the AbortedArc of Thorn and beyond. RapePillageAndBurn is the main M.O. of this army to realise Vault's dream of a Sex Empire.
* DarkIsEvil: The main antagonists of this fanfic are the ''Black'' Dogs. After [[EtTuBrute betraying their contract to Eostia]], the mercenary group devolves into an ArmyOfThievesAndWhores that would gladly engage in RapePillageAndBurn, for the purpose of creating a [[SexSlave Sex]] [[NoWomansLand Empire]]. As the story progresses, said army includes not just [[HiredGuns mercs]], but also [[AlwaysChaoticEvil standard "evil" fantasy races]] like orcs and goblins, as well as {{Mooks}} of [[BodyHorror many mutations and deformations]].
* NGOSuperpower: There ''is'' a reason why [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores the Black Dogs]] find staging a military coup to take the South to be a viable option. By the time [[DiscOneFinalBoss Olga]] is defeated, the military of the Black Dogs consists of not only a band of [[HiredGuns mercenaries]], but also the [[DecapitatedArmy legion of orcs and other fantasy "monsters" in the north]]. They also have the Black Fortress, its resources so many that it can presumably sustain said army, [[EasyLogistics so logistics are not a concern]]. Then [[EvilSorceror Shamuhaza]] comes to the picture, enhancing the Black Dogs' military power further via [[spoiler:delving into the [[ThingsManIsNotMeantToKnow Eldritch Truth]]]]. Being the most famous [[{{PMC}} mercenary group]] in Eostia, the Black Dogs, [[VillainWithGoodPublicity Vault]] especially, exploit this to the fullest to amass much political clout, enough for many prominent members of [[AristocratsAreEvil Eostian nobility]] to sponsor their actions of conquest. Combine the above factors altogether, and you have a {{PMC}} capable of going toe to toe with, or even overpowering regular armies of [[TheAlliance the Seven Shields Alliance]] (Eostia is assumed to be a medieval fantasy state). Needless to say, they'd probably [[CurbStompBattle succeed]] just like in ''Kuroinu'' canon if the [[OutsideContextProblem Outside Context Monstrosity]] that is Kyril Sutherland weren't here.
* StandardHeroReward: On the way to the [[SupervillainLair Black Fortress]], Kyril observes how the Black Dogs are eager to [[InvokedTrope invoke this trope]]. They are already planning what celebrations they will do when they return to Eostia as conquering heroes, which woman they are going to get, how many children they will have, and how they are going to live like kings with a hero's reward. Later PlayedForDrama as it [[{{Foreshadowing}} foreshadows]] their next course of action: to build a Sex Slave Empire.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Vault]]
* AppealToTradition: [[HeManWomanHater Vault]] uses this to justify his intention of building a [[NoWomansLand Sex Empire]]. He says, "back then, women did whatever the fuck we wanted them to".
* BigBad: Vault [[spoiler:(in the original version, that is)]] is [[VillainWithGoodPublicity Eostia's greatest champion]], as well as the leader of the biggest [[HiredGuns mercenary group]] in the land, known as the Black Dogs. His [[AmbitionIsEvil ambition]] to build a Sex Empire via RapePillageAndBurn, hence starting a new war after the end of the ForeverWar, serves as the main driving force of conflict.
* DiscOneFinalBoss: [[spoiler:Unlike the original version, where Vault dethrones Olga and becomes the BigBad, Vault in the remastered version is killed by Kyril in Chapter 6 as soon as his ambitions to build a Sex Empire become known. No "ultimate threat" is present as of now, but the remastered version of the story is incomplete.]]
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Vault, the BigBad of the story who wants to create a SexSlave [[TheEmpire Empire]], is appalled at EvilSorcerer Shamuhaza experimenting on the Leaping Lizards, who are on the same side as the Black Dogs (aka. his own men), even calling him "a crazy man". To him, it is fortunate that Shamuhaza did not arrive at the capital of Eostia, otherwise a similar disaster would occur in the place he is trying to conquer.
* EvilOverlord: What Vault becomes [[spoiler:in the original version]] after [[TheUsurper usurping]] Olga's role. A self-proclaimed king who wants to build a [[SexSlave Sex]] [[TheEmpire Empire]], he is the BigBad that resides in the Black Fortress, with TheHorde and his Black Dog mercenaries under his disposal. Unlike most examples, he ''does not'' have overwhelming power -- he would risk being on the receiving end of a CurbStompBattle courtesy of [[WorldsStrongestMan Kyril]] (which does happen twice), if he were to directly engage with TheAlliance. Therefore, he spends most of his time in the fortress plotting [[AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs invasions]], [[VillainWithGoodPublicity securing alliances with his supporters]], and [[RapeDiscretionShot helping himself with the female dark elves captured throughout Garan]].
* FalseReassurance: Vault gives one to his former comrade Maia in the original version after declaring his intention of [[NoWomansLand a Sex Empire]]. He tells her, "Don't worry, you'll [[NotIfTheyEnjoyedItRationalization enjoy]] it. You won't have to worry about starving or any more wars."
* HeManWomanHater: As Vault reveals his true colours after taking over the Black Fortress, so does his disdain towards women -- he wants to create [[NoWomansLand a Sex Empire]] due to his belief that women should StayInTheKitchen just like [[AppealToTradition "back then"]].
* {{Hunk}}: Vault is described as "huge, almost herculean in physique", with chiseled features. However, his appearance of a hero of old hides a [[AmbitionIsEvil nasty ambition]] to replace the current regime with a SexSlave [[TheEmpire Empire]], making him a rare villainous example. A perfect foil to the LeanAndMean, [[AntiHero anti-heroic]] {{protagonist}}, Kyril Sutherland.
* MotiveRant: Vault lays bare his [[AmbitionIsEvil ambitions]] of a [[SexSlave Sex]] [[TheEmpire Empire]] in the form of a rant, heated words on how the [[TheAlliance Seven Shields]] are useless, and that the Black Dogs will start a new world order where every man shall live like kings.
* NotIfTheyEnjoyedItRationalization: Vault [[FalseReassurance "reassures"]] Maia that she needn't worry about being a SexSlave under his Sex Empire, because she will enjoy it.
* NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist: When revealing his motives for building a Sex Empire, [[VillainHasAPoint Vault calls out both the Seven Shields and Olga for starting a century-old war that costs countless lives, including his own men]]. He claims that [[AristocratsAreEvil they have done nothing good to the people]], enjoying their riches while forgetting that men like the Black Dogs fight tooth and nail to bring peace. Despite his [[FalseReassurance reassurance that no one will have to worry about warfare and starvation]] under his future regime, his response is to [[AmbitionIsEvil stage a military coup to seize power for himself]], together with [[DisproportionateRetribution raping the Seven Shields into submission for men to live like kings]]. Besides, the fact that he leads armies who [[RapePillageAndBurn rape, pillage and burn]] inevitably devastates men and women alike.
* RankScalesWithAsskicking: Among the Black Dogs, TheLeader Vault is more capable in combat than the average merc in the group.
* RuggedScar: Vault has "a multitude of scars" with the look of a veteran.
* StayInTheKitchen: Vault holds the view that the Princess Knights should be doing what a man tells them, not the other way around. The normally [[TheStoic stoic and detached]] Kyril [[NotSoStoic breaks into a fit of laughter]] upon hearing this in the original version due to how ridiculous it sounds.
* StrawMisogynist: His StayInTheKitchen belief and motive of creating TheEmpire where every woman is a SexSlave are made blatantly clear. Him being the BigBad who kicks off the plot means that being "proven wrong" is not his one and only purpose in the story, making this a DownplayedTrope.
* UriahGambit: In the remastered version, Vault asks the OneManArmy Kyril to press on and fight Olga alone, while he and the Black Dogs fend off the other enemies. On one hand, Vault plans for Kyril to weaken Olga to the point where she can be [[StraightForTheCommander easily captured, thus securing victory]]. On the other hand, because Olga is a skilled LadyOfBlackMagic, Vault [[UnderestimatingBadassery doubts]] that Kyril would come out unscathed. Knowing the time to [[DeadlyEuphemism "deal with"]] the Hunter is approaching fast, he is certainly banking on the outcome where Kyril will "take the hits". Vault's remark after witnessing the actual result of their fight[[note]]The Hunter [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomps]] Olga[[/note]] says it all.
-->'''Vault''': Well, I'll be damned! And here I thought you'd be burned to a cinder.
* TheUsurper: Vault usurps Olga's position as EvilOverlord in control of the Black Fortress and the orcs after [[FallenPrincess her defeat]], even sitting on her vacant throne as she is ousted. Soon, he [[InvokedTrope invokes]] this trope as he makes his intention to conquer the South to build his SexSlave [[TheEmpire Empire]], an outcome that the protagonists [[DefiedTrope strive to avert]].
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Vault is an esteemed, charismatic warrior in Eostia, TheLeader of the equally renowned [[{{PMC}} Black Dogs]], and a favourite of [[TheAlliance the Seven Shields]]. His good publicity allows him to secretly gain sponsors from the nobility, plotting behind the scenes to overthrow the Seven Shields, to take over the country, and to build a SexSlave Empire with himself as king. This trope is panned out differently in both versions of the story.
** In the original version, Vault's ambitions become public knowledge, with the RapePillageAndBurn going on everywhere, therefore [[SubvertedTrope subverting the trope]].
** In the remastered version, [[spoiler:Vault is killed by Kyril after revealing his ambitions, but]] the "good publicity" part doesn't go away because only a small band of people know about said ambitions. People in general are still kept in the dark, Vault's supporters continue to advance his agenda [[spoiler:without the knowledge of his demise]], and Kyril is distrusted by five of the Seven Shields after DroppingTheBombshell that is [[spoiler:Vault's status as a traitor and Vault's murder]].
* WeCanRuleTogether: Vault offers Kyril to join his cause of building [[NoWomansLand a]] [[SexSlave Sex]] [[TheEmpire Empire]]. On the pragmatic side of things, it is always good to have a powerful [[OneManArmy warrior]] on his side. His reasoning, however, is heavily reliant on the assumption that AllMenArePerverts, thinking that Kyril, [[AManIsAlwaysEager a man]], would want "live like a king" to take and use as many partners as he pleased. [[EvilCannotComprehendGood Yeah, about that...]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Beasley]]
* ArcVillain: Beasley is the antagonist who kicks off the ''[[StoryArc Feoh and Ur Arc]]'' (Chapters 6-8 of the original version). Wanting a personal fiefdom among the [[SexSlave Sex]] Empire, he starts the conflict by taking measures to secure Feoh and Ur for the Black Dogs. Due to his actions, there is an increase in monster incursions at the two strongholds, with no army defending said incursions (because they are held back) and no message from the one in charge, Alicia (because she is subdued). In order to prevent Beasley from welcoming the Black Dogs into the fortress, Kyril and co. head there to investigate, fight the {{mooks}}, and free the captives. Beasley's death resolves the arc.
* DirtyOldMan: Beasley is an old man who wants to "do as much as he pleases" to Alicia. This VillainousCrush is a reason why he becomes a [[TheMole mole]] for the Black Dogs, joining their cause to build a [[SexSlave Sex]] [[TheEmpire Empire]].
* EvilChancellor: Beasley is the Prime Minister of the fortress Feoh. The ArcVillain of the ''[[StoryArc Feoh/Ur Arc]]'', he [[TheMole secretly works for]] the [[{{PMC}} Black]] [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores Dogs]], so that he would be [[AmbitionIsEvil the one in charge]], rather than Alicia, when they take over the fortress. Beasley's P.O.V indicates that not only he dislikes being ordered around by "some uppity royal brat" that is Alicia, [[DirtyOldMan he]] also wants to [[VillainousCrush do as much as he pleases to her]], and being part of the Black Dogs' [[SexSlave Sex]] [[TheEmpire Empire]] is a means to achieve this end.
* VillainHasAPoint: [[EvilChancellor Prime Minister Beasley]] is [[EvilCannotComprehendGood appalled]] of Kyril siding with [[TheAlliance the Seven Shields]], seeing them as "weak-willed women". He may be a DirtyOldMan with a VillainousCrush who sides with an ArmyOfThievesAndWhores who RapePillageAndBurn, but he is not wrong about how a couple members of the Seven Shields are "weak-willed".
** Alicia chooses to surrender the fortress she is supposed to defend, in exchange for a number of [[HostageSituation hostage]] nuns, who are [[RapeAsDrama raped]] anyway upon her surrender. What's worse is that an easy takeover happens despite the fortress being supposedly well-fortified, which shows that Alicia is weak-willed at best, and [[StupidSacrifice incom]][[DidntThinkThisThrough petent]] at worst.
** Despite Celestine's [[TheHighQueen benevolent]] rule of Eostia, she did [[GreatOffscreenWar engage in warfare]] with Olga [[ForeverWar for centuries]], which is contradictory to the more rational notion of [[Literature/TheArtOfWarSunTzu how wars ought to be brought to a conclusion as quickly as possible]]. Furthermore, the persistence of several problems ([[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil slavery]], [[HumanTrafficking dark elf trafficking]], as well as human-dark-elf FantasticRacism) indicates that her measures/policies to deal with them lack effectiveness (hence the "weak-willed" part). For this reason, several characters resolve to double down on their efforts in tackling these problems.
* VillainousBreakdown: Happens to Beasley, upon knowing that the Hunter is coming for him, with Kin [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness cancelling his deal with him and the Mortadella Brothers]] afterwards. It gets [[MookHorrorShow worse]] when the Hunter personally comes to butcher him up.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Michelle Pantielle]]
* AbhorrentAdmirer: GenderInverted. He is both a FatBastard and RoyalBrat who always attempts to hit on Maia any chance he gets, much to her displeasure. Chapter 5 of the original can attest to that, [[MadLove not that it stops him, though]].
-->'''Michelle:''' [[DoggedNiceGuy Maia, I can help with that]].\\
'''Maia:''' No, you can't. Seriously, just shut up. [[RageBreakingPoint Just]] [[BigShutUp shut up]]! I am tired of hearing your voice, you [[FatBastard fat fucking prick]]! I'm tired of your damn invitations, I'm tired of you trying to talk to me, I'm tired of your worthless existence!\\
'''Michelle:''' ''*reaches for Maia's hand*'' B-But, Maia-\\
'''Maia:''' ''*slaps Michelle's hand away*'' I said stop talking! And stop trying to hold my hand, you shit! Gods you can't even do that right!
* ArcVillain: Although Michelle isn't the only antagonist of the ''[[StoryArc Ansur Arc]]'' (Chapters 9-11 of the original version), the arc is resolved not only by stopping the Black Dogs from taking over Ansur, but also by tracking his whereabouts (which points towards where Maia is living), arresting him, and killing him.
* DoggedNiceGuy: Michelle is ''[[RoyalBrat not]]'' a NiceGuy, but him throwing a party to show his affection to Maia in Chapter 5 counts as the "spectacular displays" type. [[DeconstructedCharacterArchetype She finds his advances irritating]]. Later PlayedForDrama when he ditches the persistent part and joins the [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores Black Dogs]] to [[EntitledToHaveYou make her love him]].
* FatBastard: Michelle is spoiled, whiny and obsessed with Maia. His [[FatSlob obesity and sloppyness]] serve to accentuate his many unpleasant traits.
* FatSlob: He is a fat man who spits everywhere when speaking and reaches for Maia's hand with his own greased hand during a party meant for her.
* RoyalBrat: Michelle Pantielle fits squarely in the "spoiled rich kid" archetype. [[BlueBlood Blue-blooded]], obnoxious, looks down on people of lower status, and [[FatBastard has his gut hanging out like he's pregnant]].
* UndignifiedDeath: He, writhes in agony on the ground while [[IWantMyMommy crying for his mother]] after he's [[AgonizingStomachWound stabbed in the gut]]. His screams are only silenced when [[OffWithHisHead his head is cut off]]. To add insult to injury, he expects to face Sir Kyril during his TrialByCombat, but he lets his apprentice Hugh do the deed instead. Almost everyone who witnesses the trial cannot help to [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]] this trope. Kyril, in particular, is more irritated by this waste of time.
* YouExclamation: Michelle exclaims "Y-You!" as Kyril catches him red-handed [[IHaveYouNowMyPretty having his way with Maia]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Shamuhaza]]
* AlienBlood: In order to drive home that [[spoiler:Shamuhaza has gone OneWingedAngel during the climactic battle between him and the Hunters, he is shown to bleed white ichor when damaged]].
* AnimalEspionage: Some of the scouts that Shamuhaza uses to spy on the heroes are beast-like creatures that can turn [[{{Invisibility}} invisible]]. He can [[TouchTelepathy sift through their minds]] to know about their plans.
* ArcVillain: Shamuhaza is responsible for starting the conflict of the ''[[StoryArc Rad Arc]]'' (Chapters 14-16 of the original version) by breeding EliteMooks and other monstrosities to bolster the Black Dogs' power. Due to his actions, Kyril and co. have to contend with a threat bigger than usual. His retreat and hence Rad being denied to the Black Dogs resolves the arc.
* AxCrazy: Shamuhaza is so crazy [[spoiler:in his pursuit of [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow the Eldritch Truth]]]] that he goes from [[PlayingWithSyringes experimenting on innocent civilians]] (the gory result being bodies either drained of their blood or ripped apart due to [[ChestBurster things coming out of them]]) to experimenting on the Leaping Lizards, ''the people who are supposed to be on the same side''. [[spoiler:Any amount of his rational thought is thrown out of the window when he is [[EldritchTransformation transformed into an insect-like abomination]]]].
* BandageMummy: Shamuhaza is an atypical example. He's wrapped in bandages head to toe, yet he is not immobilised in any way, and the readers have no idea whether he was injured or not.
* BandagedFace: Shamuhaza is depicted like this. The reason is unclear, but it clearly makes him look like a creepy madman. [[BandageMummy Even his whole body is covered with bandages]].
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: Due to his belief that both are the same [[spoiler:in the sense that both had seen the Eldritch Truth]], Shamuhaza looks forward to fighting Kyril, whom he sees as a WorthyOpponent. [[spoiler:[[EvilCannotComprehendGood His inability to comprehend Kyril's decision]] to [[WillfullyWeak limit himself by retaining his humanity]] implies he wants to witness his "unrestrained" side.]] His wish is granted eventually when he faces off against Kyril, Sanakan and Hugh [[spoiler:as an EldritchAbomination, and he ends up getting [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomped]] after [[IAmNotLeftHanded Kyril decides to release a bit of his eldritch might]]. To top it off, he suffers a FateWorseThanDeath.]]
* ClippedWingAngel: [[spoiler:[[EldritchTransformation Transforming]] into a [[Characters/BloodBorneGreatOnes Rom]]-esque arthropod does not help Shamuhaza one bit during his battle with Kyril, Sanakan, and Hugh. The only reason why the creature [[CurbStompCushion manages to incapacitate the latter two]] with a surge of power is because the former thinks he doesn't need to [[IAmNotLeftHanded unleash]] a tiny bit of his eldritch power to stare him to a FateWorseThanDeath. When TheGlovesComeOff, Shamuhaza is done for]].
* DetrimentalDetermination: Shamuhaza's persistence in [[spoiler:exploiting [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow the Eldritch Truth]]]] to create a myriad of [[{{Mutants}} mutated]] EliteMooks nearly causes an ApocalypseHow, jeopardises the people on the same side as he is, [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity drives himself insane]], makes himself easier for the heroes to track down, and ultimately hastens his own demise.
* EvilSorceror: Though not the BigBad, Shamuhaza is still the ArcVillain of the two [[StoryArc story arcs]] that marks this fanfic's SerialEscalation. He ticks off most of, if not all, the boxes of this trope. Has a legion of mutated EliteMooks with BodyHorror? Check. Tampers with ThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow [[spoiler:(or in this case, the Eldritch Truth)]]? Check. [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity Strives to gain great power at the expense of his sanity and soul]]? Check. Oh, and he also [[spoiler:ends up [[EldritchTransformation turning into]] an EldritchAbomination himself]].
* FaceFullOfAlienWingWong: He [[InvokedTrope invokes]] this trope as part of his [[PlayingWithSyringes experiments]] on the citizenry of Rad to bolster the Black Dogs' ranks. [[EstablishingCharacterMoment His first appearance]] shows him overseeing a female [[HalfHumanHybrid half-ling]] giving birth to a monstrosity.
* GameChanger: A villainous example. His appearance during the war against the Black Dogs not only gives [[TheUsualAdversaries the Black Dogs]] an advantage in the war, but also results in the good guys' receiving their [[PyrrhicVictory Pyrrhic Victory of all Pyrrhic Victories]] in the story, with Rad, the fortress city they are supposed to reclaim, suffering an ApocalypseHow. Due to his presence, many later chapters would have the good guys' trying to blindside the enemy, rather than fending off an AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs situation.
* TheManBehindTheMonsters: Shamuhaza, a human EvilSorceror, is the source of the [[{{Mutants}} mutated]], [[BodyHorror deformed]], and [[MixAndMatchCritters mis-matched]] EliteMooks in the original version of the story.
* OneWingedAngel: [[spoiler:Shamuhaza is not the BigBad, but he still [[EldritchTransformation transforms]] into a great scuttling [[InsectoidAliens insect-like]] EldritchAbomination offstage, awaiting Kyril on a lake for one climactic battle. To [[WorldsStrongestMan the Good Hunter]], however, his opponent is nothing more than a giant beast, one amongst the many that he had slain in Yharnam. With a wry smile, the Hunter comments that [[ClippedWingAngel he doesn't know what he is anymore]], before telling Sanakan and Hugh to kill [[ItIsDehumanizing it]].]]
* PlayingWithSyringes: Pretty much Shamuhaza's M.O. as an EvilSorcerer -- the Neverborn experiments he conducts include: creating [[MixAndMatchCritters mix-and-match]] EliteMooks via subjecting InnocentBystanders to a FaceFullOfAlienWingWong; directly mutating {{mooks}} for them to be upgraded into more EliteMooks, and; delving into BlackMagic and [[spoiler:the [[ThingsManIsNotMeantToKnow Eldritch Truth]], which may or may not be research from the Healing Church or the School of Mensis]].
* VillainousBreakdown: [[ExaggeratedTrope Exaggerated]] for Shamuhaza, as he [[spoiler:suffers a FateWorseThanDeath curtesy of Kyril unleashing his Eldritch might.]]
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Shamuhaza is an EvilSorceror who [[spoiler:attempts to harness the power of the Eldritch Truth, and later [[EldritchTransformation turns into]] an EldritchAbomination himself]], throwing away his rational thought entirely. Of course this happens. [[spoiler:Compare him with his {{foil}}, Kyril Sutherland -- a far more powerful EldritchAbomination [[HumanoidAbomination in human form]], yet with tons more experience and restraint.]]
[[/folder]]

%%[[folder:Morgan]]
%%* ArcVillain: {{Subverted}}. Morgan is set up as the main obstacle of the ''[[StoryArc Hunt for Leaping Lizards Arc]]'' (Chapters 17-22 of the original version). Kyril and co. set off to Scathlocke Province to hunt down the Leaping Lizards, including the leader Morgan, for a number of reasons (to provide closure for Grace, to find out any connections the slaver has, to root out traitors). However, Shamuhaza later takes over his place as the main obstacle and is finally defeated in the end, while Morgan doesn't even get a proper introduction and is implied to have died off-screen due to Shamuhaza's machinations.
%%[[/folder]]

[[folder:Archbishop Grishom]]
* ArcVillain: The head of the Church kicks off the conflict of the ''[[StoryArc Rebellion in Ken Arc]]'' (or ''Rebel Scum Arc'', in Chapters 23-26 of the original version), being the one leading the uprising in the eastern district of Ken, rallying the supporters of the [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores Black Dogs]] and publicly denouncing [[TheHighQueen Celestine]]'s rule. The arc is resolved via his imprisonment and the end of the rebellion.
%%* DirtyOldMan: SinisterMinister Grishom thinks that should he bring Sir Kyril's head to Vault, he would be rewarded with plenty of women. The narration describes his face as filled with "bravado and lust".
* SinisterMinister: At first, the archbishop is an ObstructiveBureaucrat that blocks relief efforts. He then graduates into ArcVillain status by [[StagedPopulistUprising staging an uprising]], exhorting the common folk to join the [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores Black Dogs]], and putting the capital in a state of chaos.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Sir John Mandeville]]
%%* AbusiveParents: [[spoiler:John Mandeville]], to [[spoiler:[[HalfHumanHybrid Chloe]]]]. [[spoiler:He is a [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil slaver]] who raped her mother (thus [[ChildByRape giving birth to Chloe]]), and enslaved them the same way as other dark elves under him for [[SexSlave entertainment]], which led to her mother's death. Even after Chloe was rescued by Olga, Mandeville eventually finds his daughter and subjects her to prolonged ColdBloodedTorture]].
* ArcVillain: Mandeville is the antagonist who kicks off the ''[[StoryArc Hunt for Mandeville Arc]]'' (Chapters 27-30 of the original version) by kidnapping Chloe when she was following a lead into his location, prompting Kyril and co. to go find them. He is revealed to be one of the major players in sponsoring the rebellion and the Black Dogs' cause. Hunting him down is key to the arc's resolution.
%%*DirtyOldMan: .
* FauxAffablyEvil: He plays the kindly old man even as he [[spoiler:molests and tortures his daughter]].
* NotIfTheyEnjoyedItRationalization: This is John Mandeville's response to Kyril after he tells him that [[spoiler:his daughter Chloe can do whatever she wishes to him for the ColdBloodedTorture she suffered thanks to him]].
-->'''Mandeville:''' She won't harm me. Not after tasting the pleasures that I have given her.
* VillainousBreakdown: Mandeville loses whatever bravado he has after Kyril tells him that he can only sit and watch [[LaserGuidedKarma the wealth of his house being redistributed to the common people, some of whom are the dark elves he enslaved]].
[[/folder]]

! Characters that exclusively appear in the remastered version
[[folder:Boris]]
* CampCook: He is one of the cooks in the company of the [[{{PMC}} Black Dogs]], though he is the only one [[NominalImportance named]]. Boris eventually becomes a DefectorFromDecadence and joins Kyril's GreatEscape party to bring Olga to the capital. His role as cook doesn't change during the trek across the [[{{Mordor}} Badlands]], but the others have to help as well.
[[/folder]]

%%[[folder:Fredrick]]
%%* Breaking Point Swearing: Chapter 8 starts with Fredrick dropping a single F-bomb when he gets stuck in the mud while trekking in the Dead Marshes of Garan.
%%[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Rat]]
* GenuineHumanHide: The Rat wears robes made of human skin. Goes on to show that he is serious business.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: The [[IHaveManyNames many names]] of The Rat (e.g. King-Spawn of All Vermin, He Who Feasts on Ambition, etc.) sound anything but pleasing. Fitting for someone with an InUniverse reputation as a [[DealWithTheDevil malicious]] [[OurDemonsAreDifferent entity]].
[[/folder]]

* [[Characters/TheNightUnfurls Hunter's Dream Residents and Guests]]

* Characters/TheNightUnfurls Hunter's Dream Residents and Guests]]
** Characters/Characters/TheNightUnfurlsTheHunter The Hunter]]

!! Hunter's Dream residents and guests

See Characters/TheNightUnfurlsTheHunter.