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1The characters from ''Literature/TheLionsOfAlRassan''.
2
3[[foldercontrol]]
4
5!!Main Characters
6
7[[folder:Jehane bet Ishak]]
8
9Jehane is a young Kindath physician, the daughter of the famous Ishak ben Yonannon. She flees Fezana after the Cartadan purge, after keeping one of the men meant to die under her medical care during the event. She becomes a military doctor for Rodrigo Belmonte's company in Ragosa.
10
11%%* AloofAlly: downplayed.
12* AloofDarkHairedGirl: Somewhat of a [[TheSpock Spock.]]
13* AmicableExes: With Bakir, her former lover from Fezana.
14* ArmorPiercingQuestion: Jehane is quite versed in these, and manages to catch Rodrigo off guard more than once.
15* BetterAsFriends: With Alvar. [[spoiler:They sleep together once, as Jehane attempts to help Alvar get over his infatuation with her.]]
16* BrainyBrunette: a clever, sharp, brown-haired doctor.
17* BrokenBird: Downplayed [[spoiler:after Velaz dies]]. Eventually subverted, as ties call for to get her shit together.
18* BrutalHonesty: She knows it's one of her flaws.
19* DeadpanSnarker: A trademark which is frequently lampshaded. However, this is somewhat of a WorldOfSnark.
20* DeathGlare: She uses it many times, with varying degrees of success; it usually puts Alvar and Velaz in their place, but never works on Ammar or Rodrigo.
21* {{Determinator}}: Nothing will stop her performing her duties as a doctor, or in her way to save a life. [[spoiler:Or on her way to be with Ammar.]]
22* DistractedByTheSexy: Invokes this in the ambush in the valley, to Alvar's chagrin
23* GoodIsNotSoft: Jehane is a good, loyal person, but she is anything but soft.
24* HappilyMarried: [[spoiler:To Ammar in the epilogue.]]
25* HospitalHottie: A beautiful doctor.
26* LikeFatherLikeSon: Calm, collected professional FrontierDoctor, like her father, and a StepfordSnarker like her mother.
27* MarriedToTheJob: And that's just fine with her, thank you for asking.
28* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: After Ziri kills Parazor in Orvilla.
29* NearDeathExperience: [[spoiler:After the attempted assassination of Zabira's sons.]]
30* NervesOfSteel: A required trait of any successful field surgeon.
31* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Inspired in part by [[Literature/{{Ivanhoe}} Rebecca of York.]]
32* TheSmartGirl: A non-action BadassBookworm woman, surrounded by male warriors.
33* TeacherStudentRomance: With Ser Rezzoni, her teacher in Batiara.
34* StepfordSnarker: Lampshaded. She says it's merely her way of coping in an all-male environment. However, it's part AngstWhatAngst too -- it's her way to deal with [[CynicismCatalyst what happened to her father.]]
35* StrongFamilyResemblance: She inherited her father's blue eyes.
36* UnkemptBeauty: Her usual appearance is very modest and practical, but many men find her very attractive despite that. At one occasion (a dinner at the court of Badir of Ragosa), she wears an elegant gown and expensive jewelry bought for her and it's remarked that SheCleansUpNicely.
37
38[[/folder]]
39
40[[folder:Ammar ibn Khairan]]
41
42Cartadan military strategist, notorious former assassin and poet. Turns his back on Almalik the First of Cartada after the Fezana purge. He then kills him -- and is exiled for his crimes by his son, his own protege and accomplice Almalik the Second. He becomes a general-for-hire for Ragosa.
43
44* BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu: [[spoiler:His climactic duel with Rodrigo ends with his hard-won victory, but not before the latter inflicts a leg wound that leaves Ammar a cripple for the rest of his life.]]
45* TheCharmer: Not a [[TheCasanova Casanova]], but ladies fall at his feet. EvenTheGuysWantHim.
46* CulturedWarrior: Versed in poetry and history, on top of being a top duelist and a military strategist.
47* {{The Dandy}}: Has shades of this.
48* DeadpanSnarker: of the GentlemanSnarker variation.
49* HappilyMarried: [[spoiler:with Jehane in the epilogue.]]
50* IcyBlueEyes: built up, as he is an ActionHero version of the GentlemanSnarker. Eventually subverted when it turns out he's a good guy...ish.
51* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler: Arguably, considering how he served for many years as the NumberTwo for a ruthless tyrant and, if he'd had his way, would have done the same for said tyrant's equally unscrupulous son. In the end, he gets off relatively scot-free, sailing off to become HappilyMarried with Jehane.]]
52** Could be seen as a Downplayed case in that he [[spoiler: becomes exiled from his homeland, suffers a permanent leg wound that leaves him crippled for life, and (many years later) learns that the country he loved so much ultimately fell to the Jaddite kingdom, making everything that he did AllForNothing.]]
53* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: inspired by the historic Andalusian figure Ibn Ammar. See [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_Ammar other wiki]].
54* PragmaticHero: if not downright [[UnscrupulousHero unscrupulous]].
55* ProudBeauty: Lampshaded by Jehane.
56* TheStarscream: Inverted. He is loyal to both of his kings up until ''they'' decide to turn on him.
57* TheStrategist: And a brilliant one at that.
58* WarriorPoet: His two main skills.
59* WillTheyOrWontThey: with Jehane. [[spoiler: they do. duh.]]
60
61[[/folder]]
62
63[[folder:Rodrigo Belmonte]]
64
65Feared brave military captain of the Valledo horsemen. Sent to collect protection fees from Fezana in the name of King Ramiro of Valledo, he confront the Valledan men looting Orvillia after the Fezana purge. His actions during that night cost him his position in Valledo, and he is exiled. He and his company leave to Ragosa, to join King Badir's ranks.
66
67
68* AnimalMotifs: The eagle. His helmet is emblazoned with one, and it's the unofficial symbol of his company.
69* {{Berserk Button}}: Raimundo's death. Garcia de Rada can tell you all about that.
70* TheCaptain: A practically unbeatable one. [[spoiler: Until he isn't.]]
71* CaptainSmoothAndSergeantRough: With Lain.
72* CulturedWarrior: Not as fancy as Ammar, but very elegant and knowledgeable in the world outside of the battlefield.
73* {{Determinator}}: Part of what makes him a good soldier.
74* FatherToHisMen: They adore him, and he cares for them deeply. Lampshaded by Jehane.
75* HappilyMarried: To Miranda.
76* {{Has A Type}}: [[DeadpanSnarker Deadpan Snarkers]].
77* KnightKnaveAndSquire: The Knight to Alvar's squire and Lain's knave.
78* {{My Country Right or Wrong}}: Eventually.
79* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Inspired by Spanish national hero El Cid. See [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Cid the other wiki]].
80* {{Papa Wolf}}: Very much so. Though not as much as his wife.
81* TheGadfly: He enjoys getting a rise out of people, and often says things just to observe or test the people around him. Also has a touch of ThePrankster.
82* TheStrategist: On par with Ammar and Mazur as a military leader.
83
84[[/folder]]
85
86!!Rodrigo's Company
87
88[[folder:Lain Nunez]]
89
90* CaptainSmoothAndSergeantRough: The sergeant to Rodrigo's captain. However, is not a SergeantRock.
91* KnightInSourArmour: No one is safe from his sharp tongue.
92* KnightKnaveAndSquire: The Knave to Alvar's squire and Rodrigo's knight.
93* TheLancer: In Rodrigo's company.
94* NumberTwo: To Rodrigo.
95%%* SarcasticDevotee
96%%* SourSupporter
97[[/folder]]
98
99
100[[folder:Alvar de Pellino]]
101
102A young soldier in Rodrigo's company.
103
104* BetterAsFriends: With Jehane.
105* ButtMonkey: In universe, to the commanders of Belmonte's company. He doesn't seem to mind it much.
106* CultureClash: He experiences this in the big Asharite city Ragosa, as a FishOutOfWater.
107* DeadpanSnarker: Rodrigo and Lain give him hell for it.
108* DoggedNiceGuy: To Jehane.
109* HappilyMarried: [[spoiler: He's able to move on from his crush on Jehane and settles down with Sir Rezzoni's daughter.]]
110* HasAType: Alvar is very specific: [[spoiler:he fell in love twice, both were Kindath physicians, with dark hair and light eyes, and have a famous physician father. Could this be a RaceFetish?]]
111* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Despite being hopelessly in love with Jehane, he recognizes her feelings for Ammar and takes it in stride.
112* KnightKnaveAndSquire: The Squire to Lain's knave and Rodrigo's knight.
113* LikeFatherLikeSon: Alvar was surprised to hear his father used to be a hot-headed DeadpanSnarker like himself when he was younger.
114* TallDarkAndHandsome: Women tend to find him very attractive.
115
116[[/folder]]
117
118[[folder: Husari Ibn Musa]]
119
120An Asharite silk merchant from Fezana, Jehane's patient. Was meant to die in the purge. Fled Fezana to Valledo with Belmonte's company. After Rodrigo's exile, he arrives with the company to Ragosa.
121
122* BlitheSpirit: Jehane lampshades this, saying it's impossible to dislike him.
123%%* {{Deteminator}}
124* TookALevelInBadass: Goes from NonActionGuy to soldier and horseman.
125
126[[/folder]]
127
128
129!!In Ragosa
130
131[[folder:Mazur ben Avren]]
132
133The loyal and brilliant Kindath advisor of King Badir of Ragosa.
134
135
136* TheCasanova: Lampshaded by Jehane.
137* DeadpanSnarker: Most pronounced in his interactions with Jehane.
138* InUniverseNickname: "Prince of the Kindath".
139* TheLancer: To King Badir.
140* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Inspired by [[Samuel_ibn_Naghrillah Shmuel Hanagid]], a Jewish leader, military general, scholar and poet during the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_age_of_Jewish_culture_in_Spain Jewish Golden Age]].
141* SilverFox: Explicitly described as attractive and virile despite his age.
142%%* TheSmartGuy
143* TheStrategist: Seems to be the best among the best. However, he isn't a warrior.
144* WarriorPoet: Commands wars and writes poems, though he isn't as philosophical about it as Ammar.
145* WorthyOpponent: He considers the bandit Hassan ibn Tarif to be one. It's mutual.
146
147[[/folder]]
148
149[[folder:King Badir of Ragosa]]
150The beloved, clever king of Ragosa. Wishes to usurp Almalik as the most powerful king in Al-Rassan.
151
152
153* TheHedonist: the most hedonistic king in a book filled with hedonistic monarchs.
154* TheGoodKing: though he has some vices.
155* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Based on the Berber ruler of Granada, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habbus_al-Muzaffar Habbus al-Muzaffar]].
156* SilverFox
157
158[[/folder]]
159
160!!In Cartada
161
162[[folder: King Almalik the First, the Lion of Cartada]]
163The most powerful king in Al Rassan. Husband of Zabira, father of Almalik the Second, Hazem and Zabira's two sons.
164
165
166* TheCharmer: EvenTheGuysWantHim. Even though he is a JerkWithAHeartOfJerk.
167* CruelMercy: invoked on Ishak ben Yonannon.
168* DecadentCourt: rules one.
169* DiscOneFinalBoss: The early chapters of the book seem to be building him up as the principal antagonist. However, he is assassinated by Ammar and his own son, Almalik the Second, less than a third of the way through the story.
170* {{Jerkass}}: To his sons, his friends and his subjects (note the Fezana Purge). It seems the only one spared is Zabira.
171%%* TheHedonist:
172* TheMagnificent: ''The Lion''.
173
174[[/folder]]
175
176[[folder: Almalik the Second]]
177
178Almalik's eldest son, co-conspirator of his father's murder, and his successor on the throne. Aspires to become a greater king than his father, and increase Cartada's reign ''by all means necessary.''
179
180
181* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: With his father. Lampshaded by Ammar - he states that Almalik still measures himself in comparison to his father, even after said father was dead (see {{Patricide}} below).
182* AmbiguouslyBi: the book hints he used to sexually involved with Ammar, and he certainly seems rather infatuated with him.
183%%* AntagonisticOffspring
184* BigBad: The closest thing the book has to one. His schemes pose the most immediate threat to the three lead characters and are what drive the plot for the most part.
185* BigBadWannabe: What he ultimately is. His brief reign as king is marked by one mishap after another, with each of his plots either failing or blowing up in his face. His fate is sealed when the [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Muwardi]] desert tribesmen finally come in full force to Al-Rassan, [[DroppedABridgeOnHim unceremoniously execute him]], and install his younger brother as their PuppetKing.
186* CharacterTics: He develops a twitch in his eyebrow after the Fezana purge, and shows it whenever under stress for the rest of his life.
187* TheEvilPrince: While not as ruthless as his father, he stoops pretty low -- supporting Ammar's assassination of his father, then betraying him, as well as the attempted assassinations of [[spoiler:his brothers, Queen Ines and Rodrigo.]]
188* InSeriesNickname: Ammar and Zabira refer to him as 'Malik. Could be a childhood nickname.
189* Patricide: invoked on his father via Ammar.
190* PrinceCharmless: Especially in comparison to his father, who was notoriously [[TheCharmer charming.]]
191* RoyalBrat: It's implied by Zabira and his father that he used to be one, though Ammar doesn't seem to think so.
192* TheUsurper: Climbs to the throne of Cartada over his father's body. Literally.
193
194[[/folder]]
195
196[[folder: Zabira of Cartada]]
197
198King Almalik the First's third wife. Flees Cartada with Ammar to Ragosa, where she becomes Mazur's consort.
199
200
201* AloofDarkHairedGirl: A brunette FemmeFatale.
202* TheChessmaster: Sensing the threat in the air after the Fezana Purge, she sends her sons to Ragosa. After the assassination, she seduces Ammar -- her husband's killer -- and persuades him to escort her to Ragosa, to help her put her son on Cartada's throne. She then enlists Badir and Mazur to her cause.
203* TheFashionista: lampshaded sarcastically by Jehane. She is well dressed to impractical levels.
204* FemmeFatale: A talented seductress. Ammar suggested to her that she employ this tactic on Almalik the Second. Complete with a contralto. Also implied to be a case of BrainsAndBondage.
205* HotConsort: To Mazur.
206* MamaBear: Will do anything to protect her sons. She also aims to make the older one [[TheUsurper king of Cartada.]]
207* ProudBeauty: Implied. She definitely knows she's beautiful.
208* ShipperOnDeck: After the king's fest, she tells Mazur that Ammar seems to be bothered with emotional matters. It's left unclear if she refers to his feeling towards Jehane or towards Rodrigo.
209* WorldsMostBeautifulWoman: Shares the reputation with Miranda Belmonte.
210
211[[/folder]]
212
213!!In Fezana
214
215[[folder: Ishak ben Yonannon]]
216
217Famous Kindath doctor. Jehane's father and Eliana's husband. Almalik the First had him blinded and had his tongue removed after seeing Zabira naked while delivering her baby, in what is described in the novel as the first C-section ever in universe.
218
219* DisabilitySuperpower: Accomplishes an even more amazing feat of medicine after losing his eyesight (something that should have been a CareerEndingInjury): [[spoiler:He saves Diego Belmonte's life after a skull-breaking battle injury by performing, for the first time in history, a trepanning operation.]]
220* TheSilentBob: Though not willingly.
221* ThrowingOffTheDisability: His muteness. Jehane's declaration that she will set out in an attempt to bring vengeance on Almalik somehow makes him try to speak, for the first time in many years.
222
223[[/folder]]
224
225[[folder: Eliana bet Danel]]
226
227Ishak's wife and Jehane's mother.
228
229* AloofDarkHairedGirl: a [[TheStoic stoic]], very unapproachable brunette
230* BrainyBrunette: While not academically trained like Ishak and Jehane, she's knowledgeable and clever.
231* DefrostingIceQueen: After [[CynicismCatalyst what happened to her husband]], she crossed the line from TheStoic/TheSpock to seemingly EmotionlessGirl. When he regains his some ability to speak she starts defrosting. [[spoiler: only the attack of the Kindath of Fezana really shakes it out of her.]]
232* NervesOfSteel: She hides fugitives in her house with same calm demeanor of someone who is throwing a dinner party.
233* StepfordSnarker: Though it's hinted that's a new-ish development, caused by what was done to her husband.
234
235[[/folder]]
236
237
238[[folder: Velaz ben Ishak]]
239
240A servant for Ishak's family, a freed slave and converted Kindath. Leaves Fezana with Jehane after The Purge.
241
242* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Dies saving Rodrigo.]]
243* NiceGuy: A steady, loyal presence in Jehane's life.
244* NonActionGuy: According to Jehane, he has never done a violent thing in his life [[spoiler: until killing a Muwardi soldier attempting to kill Rodrigo.]]
245* TheQuietOne: He rarely speaks. When he does, he is describes as modest and soft spoken.
246
247[[/folder]]
248
249!!In Arbastro
250
251[[folder: Tarif ibn Hassan]]
252
253A notorious bandit who raids convoys in the areas around Cartada and Ragosa.
254
255* BanditClan: The head of one.
256* PapaWolf: He'll risk his life to save his sons.
257* WorthyOpponent: He considers Mazur ben Avren to be one. It's mutual.
258
259[[/folder]]
260
261[[folder: Idar ibn Tarif]]
262
263Tarif's son, second in command in the BanditClan.
264
265* FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling: Downplayed -- the Responsible one to Abir's Foolish one.
266* WellDoneSonGuy: Dreams of becoming like his father, but knows that he could never compare. Therefore, he seeks his father's approval constantly.
267
268[[/folder]]
269
270[[folder: Abir Ibn Tarif]]
271
272Tarif's younger son.
273
274* AnArmAndALeg: Jehane has to cut off his leg to save his life.
275* FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling: Downplayed -- the Foolish one to Idar's Responsible one. While not outright stupid, he is less mature, patient and reasonable.
276
277[[/folder]]
278
279
280!!In Valledo
281
282[[folder: Miranda Belmonte]]
283
284* ActionGirl: Very capable with a bow and arrow.
285* DeadpanSnarker: She out-snarks Rodrigo, which is quite the achievement.
286* FieryRedhead: You don't want to cross that redhead.
287* GuysSmashGirlsShoot: She is the only character depicted using a bow and arrow, and seems to wield them as capably as her husband wields a sword.
288* HappilyMarried: To Rodrigo, even though she gives him hell sometimes.
289* MamaBear: Nothing comes before her sons -- not the king, not her husband and not her friends.
290* WorldsMostBeautifulWoman: She is said to be the most beautiful woman in Valledo, if not in all of Esperania.
291
292[[/folder]]
293
294
295[[folder: Fernan Belmonte]]
296
297* CynicsmCatalyst: [[spoiler: Diego's injury.]]
298* LikeFatherLikeSon: He's said to have his father's talent in dueling and horseback riding.
299* RedOniBlueOni: Red to Diego's Blue.
300* SiblingYinYang: He is short-tempered, argumentative and bold -- the complete opposite of his twin.
301* TwinBanter: Most of his lines [[spoiler: before he and Diego join the military]] are this.
302* WellDoneSonGuy: Dreams of becoming a capable soldier, to please his father.
303
304[[/folder]]
305
306[[folder: Diego Belmonte]]
307
308* CombatClairvoyance: He has visions of his father's actions, especially when he is in danger or in battle. [[spoiler: This skill later becomes an asset to Ramiro's army.]]
309* LikeFatherLikeSon: He's calm and assured, like his father. He also has his smile, according to Miranda.
310* RedOniBlueOni: Blue to Fernan's Red.
311* TwinBanter: He usually outwits Fernan in these.
312* WellDoneSonGuy: He's not as intense about it as Fernan, but he clearly thinks the world of his father, and takes his opinion of him ''very'' seriously.
313
314[[/folder]]
315
316[[folder: King Ramiro of Valledo]]
317
318* AdiposeRex: In the DistantEpilogue he is reported to have become this, as his own father was.
319* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: He continues to resent the way his brother Raimundo effortlessly won people over, before he was killed.
320* TheCharmer: Ines always tries to put him in his place, and fails miserably because of his charming ways. However, it's implied he is not as charming as Raimundo used to be.
321* HappilyMarried: To his Queen, Ines.
322* TheHedonist: To a degree that Ines thinks almost heretical... and finds ''very'' distracting.
323* TheGoodKing: Valledo flourishes under his rule, and it's clear he is the most powerful and beloved Esperanian king.
324* NowItsPersonal: [[spoiler: He was already considering going to war against Cartada, but was hesitant. That is until the poisoned arrow that almost killed Ines was discovered to be of Cartadan origin.]]
325* PrayerIsALastResort: Ramiro is introduced as, if not an outright atheist, extremely cynical and pragmatic about his religion -- but things change [[spoiler: when religious war seems to be brewing at the horizon. Repeated after Ines is poisoned, and hangs between life and death.]]
326* SilverFox: Ines seems to like it.
327* TheUsurper: Originally the king of smaller Jalona, he invaded Valledo after his brother's untimely death. Given the tension between the brothers, Rodrigo always assumed that Ramiro had something to do with Raimundo's death. [[spoiler:He wasn't right. but he wasn't exactly wrong.]]
328
329[[/folder]]
330
331[[folder: Queen Ines of Valledo]]
332
333* FieryRedhead: She is one stubborn redhead.
334* HappilyMarried: To Ramiro.
335* NotSoAboveItAll: Despite having invited the High Clerics of Ferrieres to come to the Valledan court, she doesn't hesitate to put the arrogant clergymen in their place when they start acting like this gives them the right to command Ramiro's cooperation.
336* ProudBeauty: Consciously self-subverted; while she admits to herself that she's proud of her own beauty, her devout faith leads her to consider this vanity and a sin, so she usually tries to play her appearance down by binding and covering her hair.
337* RebelliousPrincess: Subverted. She wished to become a nun, and was originally reluctant to marry Ramiro. However, she eventually complies.
338* SpiritedYoungWoman: used to be one as a princess.
339* WhenSheSmiles: She is mostly stern, but when she lets loose, she is very beautiful.
340
341[[/folder]]
342
343
344[[folder: Count Gonzalez de Rada]]
345
346* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: With Rodrigo. He knows he would never have reached his current position of power if it weren't for the bad blood between Ramiro and Rodrigo over Raimundo's death. He is consequently very competitive with Rodrigo, to the point that their families are on the edge of blood feud, and makes sure to put Rodrigo in his place whenever he can.
347* TheDandy: His description is bordering on prissy.
348* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:He dies protecting Diego and Fernan Belmonte, having vowed to give his life to do so if need be.]]
349%%* ServileSnarker: a loyal, snarky advisor of Ramiro's.
350* WorthyOpponent: Despite the bad blood between him and Rodrigo, Rodrigo nonetheless respects his honour enough to ask only that he swear to protect Rodrigo's family during his exile, and asks the king to lift the sanction that Gonzalez be executed should he fail.
351---> '''Rodrigo:''' I need not like you, de Rada, to trust your word.
352

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