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The character list for the Record of Lodoss War universe, which spans across novels, manga, OVA, TV series, and games.

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     Main Characters 

Parn

Voiced by: Takeshi Kusao (JP, OVA), Nobutoshi Canna (JP, TV series), Bill Timoney (EN)

A simple village boy whose father Tessius was once a famous knight, who became disgraced. He decides to take up his father's sword and armor and joins his best friend Etoh on a journey.


  • Arrested for Heroism: His early attempts at heroism get him exiled from his home town, as the townspeople feared that all his rescuing people from goblins would accomplish would be to inspire them to retaliate.
  • Attack! Attack! Attack!: Parn's standard form of combat. His companions eventually show him that defense is just as important as well.
  • Badass Cape: Gets a cape as part of his outfit later in the series once he becomes a more serious warrior.
  • Badass Normal: As he's supposed to represent the Fighter class, he has no magical abilities, but he doesn't really need them.
  • Chaste Hero: Parn is almost, but not quite, Oblivious to Love, having a very hard time at first realizing that Deedlit is attracted to him and is flirting with him. He does come to reciprocate, though, and eventually makes his feelings clear with the romantic gesture of a white rose.
  • Cool Sword: Parn wields his father's sword when he first sets out on his journey, later acquiring the holy sword of Valis after King Fahn dies.
  • Daddy Had a Good Reason for Abandoning You: His father Tessius is a disgraced knight from the kingdom of Valis who was expelled from the knighthood. It's later revealed that the "disgrace" was actually a cover story and political fiction: rather than allow King Fahn's infant daughter to be sacrificed because of a treaty, Tessius instead deliberately broke ranks in order to rescue her, such that all of the blame would fall squarely upon himself. He then fought and died in the war that resulted from that broken treaty.
  • Determinator: Parn isn't the most skilled fighter to start with, but he has determination in spades and will bravely throw himself into whatever needs to be done to save Lodoss, no matter how outclassed he is.
  • Demoted to Extra: In the TV series, Parn passes on the main protagonist role to Spark, whereas Parn was the central protagonist in the original OAV.
  • The Exile: He's exiled from his hometown because of his early attempts of heroism lead to a retaliatory attack by goblins that causes many of the villagers to get killed.
  • The Hero: The main character of the original RPGs, light novels, and the OVA series.
  • Hot-Blooded: Parn thinks with his heart, not his head, and is quick to leap into action.
  • Idiot Hero: At first. Parn's blatantly reckless and charges into everything without thinking. However, unlike most examples of this trope, he is not a particularly good fighter until he gets some training under his belt and learns to use his head a bit, leading him to constantly need to be bailed out.
  • Interspecies Romance: He develops a romantic relationship with the high elf Deedlit.
  • Kid Hero: He is sixteen years old at the beginning of the story.
  • Knight Errant: Although his deeds lead him to be officially recognized as a knight of Valis, he chooses not to swear allegiance to any particular ruler and instead devotes his life to traveling the land battling evil and helping those in need.
  • The Load: Pre-Character Development, he's the guy who the rest of the party constantly need to rescue from his own naivete and recklessness.
  • Oblivious to Love: He doesn't recognize Deedlit's love, much to the latter's annoyance (at least at first). Later in the OVA he shyly brings her a flower.
  • Took a Level in Badass: Over the course of the OVA. He starts as a wet-behind-the-ears kid but becomes a seasoned warrior.
  • Walking the Earth: At the end of the series, after rescuing Deedlit, the two of them set off to have more adventures.
  • Yin-Yang Bomb: At the end of the OVA he makes use of both the light and dark sword to save Deelit from becoming the sacrifice for Kardis' resurrection.
  • You Can't Go Home Again: He decides to burn down his home and leaves on his journey after an encounter with goblins attacking his hometown.

Deedlit

Voiced by: Yumi Touma (JP, OVA), Lisa Ortiz (EN, OVA), Shiho Niiyama & Junko Noda (JP, TV series), Lisa Ortiz & A.J. Parks (EN, TV series)

A female high elf who leaves the Forest of No Return in order to explore the world. She is quite young for an elf, being 160 years old, and is believed to be the last hope for the high elves.


  • Action Girl: Especially in the TV series, where she kills Shooting Star.
  • Breakout Character: Basically the series' mascot, being in every adaptation, getting her own Metroidvania Spin-Off game and becoming the Trope Codifier for elvish designs in Japanese media.
  • Badass Cape: She constantly wears a long, flowing cape, which swirls dramatically with her movements and helps make her look all the more badass.
  • Chaste Hero: Although she's very clearly interested in Parn, she keeps her flirtations relatively subtle and chaste, except for when she's getting annoyed at how clueless he is about her feelings.
  • Demoted to Extra: In the TV series, Deedlit receives a lot less screen time than she did in the OAV due to the increased presence of the other two adventuring parties.
  • Elemental Powers / Summon Magic: Deedlit is a shaman who specializes in summoning the spirits of nature for various effects.
    • Dishing Out Dirt: An invocation to the spirits of Earth allows her to shape stone and earth.
    • Blow You Away: By invoking air spirits, such as Djinn, she can manipulate the air.
    • Making a Splash: Calling upon a water spirit, like Undine, allows her to shape and manipulate water.
    • Playing with Fire: She can create fire to attack her foes by invoking the fire spirits.
  • Elves Versus Dwarves: Played for laughs; she and Ghim are constantly bickering, mocking each other over their perceived "racial foibles". That said, there's no real animosity behind their jeers and they are loyal companions.
  • Go-Go Enslavement: After having been captured by Wagnard in the OVA, he changes her from her usual clothes to a black dress.
  • Interspecies Romance: As an elf, she's in a relationship with the human Parn.
  • Lady of War: Deedlit is very feminine and fights gracefully in battle with her rapier and usage of elemental magic.
  • Law of Inverse Fertility: Despite being with Parn for over fifty years they were never able to conceive a child. Despite that she now comes to see the people of Lodoss itself as her children.
  • Legendary in the Sequel: Being one of the heroes of Lodoss, Deedlit's name carries a lot of weight a century later to the point where Lyle is seeking her out in Crown of the Covenant hoping she can help bring peace to Lodoss.
  • The Lancer: Being the Love Interest to Parn and the character with the most focus besides him.
  • Magic Knight: Fights with both Summon Magic and a Royal Rapier
  • Mayfly–December Romance: Being an elf, it's inevitable that she outlives Parn. The sequel series Crown of the Covenant and the video game Deedlit in Wonder Labyrint confirm Deedlit ended up outliving him and all of her old friends, save for the half-elf Leaf.
  • Minidress of Power: Wears a simple green jerkin which shows a lot of thigh.
  • Our Elves Are Different: She has a lot of traits typically associated with the Wood Elves type, like being a child of the forest, using magic, and being long-lived. Unlike most elf characters, she's also a Genki Girl who's curious about the outside world.
  • Pointy Ears: She has pointed ears in typical elf fashion, but they stand out by also being extremely long. A character tic she has is to wiggle them.
  • Royal Rapier: Her sword is so thin it looks like it could snap in two from a stiff breeze, but she can poke an enemy full of holes just fine.
  • She Cleans Up Nicely: She looks beautiful in a Pimped-Out Dress, but is clearly unused to such tight and restricting clothing so she's seen complaining about it.

Etoh

Voiced by: Kappei Yamaguchi (JP, OVA), Shinichirō Ōta (JP, TV series); Ted Lewis (EN)

Parn's best friend and a priest of Falis, the Supreme God. Although he left the village as part of his training, he eventually returned to ask Parn to join his group of companions.


  • Babies Ever After: Itoya, a son born quite soon after his marriage to Fianna, and a daughter by the name of Elianna.
  • Carry a Big Stick: In keeping with RPG cleric tradition.
  • Healing Hands: He has this ability as a priest of Falis, though when he was a novice it was limited.
  • Demoted to Extra: Mostly in the TV series with the rest of Parn's group in order to make way for Spark's, instead.
  • Unexpected Successor: When Princess Fianna married him for love, it caused a bit of a stink among the knighthood of Valis, as the king had traditionally been chosen from among them rather than via bloodline. The priesthood of Falis however, pulled strongly for the highly talented and accomplished young priest, and so he was crowned.
  • White Mage: As an RPG-type cleric.

Slayn Starseeker

Voiced by: Hideyuki Tanaka (JP, OVA), Mitsuru Miyamoto (JP, TV series), Al Muscari (EN, OVA & TV series)

An experienced wizard who lives in the same village as Parn. He sometimes serves as a mentor to Parn, as well.


  • All of the Other Reindeer: Slayn is seen as an eccentric even among other mages due to his interest in astronomy.
  • Big Brother Mentor: He often teaches Parn on his journey.
  • Beta Couple: With Leylia, after she's freed from Karla's possessing circlet.
  • Happily Married: He ends up marrying Leylia after the defeat of Karla.
  • Magic Staff: His weapon of choice.
  • The Smart Guy: The most wise and level-headed of Parn's group as a counterpoint to Ghim's brashness and the impulsiveness of Parn's youth.

Ghim

Voiced by: Yoshisada Sakaguchi (JP, OVA), Greg Wolfe (EN, OVA)

A dwarven warrior who is devoted to the priestess Neese, whose daughter Leylia has disappeared under mysterious circumstances. He recruits his friend, the wizard Slayn on a journey to help find her.


  • The Big Guy: The most physically powerful warrior and the one with the most combat experience in Parn's group.
  • Big Guy Fatality Syndrome: He's a bulky, burly, powerful and experienced dwarf warrior who is killed while ifghting against Karla.
  • Character Death: He dies in the battle against Karla; Big Guy Fatality Syndrome at work.
  • Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Ghim is nowhere to be seen in the TV series, but he is mentioned once.
  • Determinator: In the OVA, at least. Walks through Karla's spell, a geyser of force that tears at his body and spirit, whilst still calling to Leylia to resist her possession. He still clings to life despite the beating this inflicts on him long enough to free Leylia by throwing his axe and knocking Karla's circlet from her head, with a distraction from the rest of the party.
  • Elves Versus Dwarves: Ghim has a playful rivalry with Deedlit, but the two respect each other as traveling companions.
  • Have I Mentioned I Am a Dwarf Today?: He's quick to bring up the great deeds of the dwarves, usually in response to Deedlit's teasing or her boasting about the elves.
  • Heroic Sacrifice: Sacrifices his life to free Leylia from Karla's control.
    • In the OVA, this takes the form of him wading through Karla's stream of killing force whilst calling upon Leylia to fight back against Karla's control, ultimately succeeding in bringing her back to consciousness. He then knocks off Karla's circlet phylactery with a throw of his axe, but this uses up the last of his strength and he dies of his injuries moments later.
  • Honor Before Reason: Marches off to confront Karla and free Leylia despite having no real plan on how to actually accomplish his goal outside of trying to reawaken Leylia's spirit and encourage her to throw off her possessor. Karla calls him out on how foolish a plan this is when he confronts her.
  • "I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight: When he finally confronts Karla, his plan boils down to calling out to Leylia and trying to reawaken her fighting spirit. In the OVA, he momentarily achieves this when she spots the comb he carved for her; with Woodchuck, Parn and Deedlit providing a distraction, Ghim is then able to knock the circlet from Leylia's head with his thrown axe, ending Karla's hold over her.
  • My Greatest Failure: Ghim takes Leylia's mysterious disappearance very personally, feeling it is his responsibility to find out what happened to her and rescue her, because Leylia's mother Neesa was away from her temple tending to Ghim's wounds when Karla kidnapped her.
  • Our Dwarves Are All the Same: Your standard axe-wielding dwarven warrior. According to Japanese supplementary material, he actually is named after Gimli from the Lord of the Rings.
  • Throwing Your Sword Always Works: In the OVA, his special trick is that he can throw his axe as a boomerang-style projectile to attack from a distance. He uses this to detach the circlet that holds Karla's spirit from her host, Leylia, thus freeing the girl.

Woodchuck

Voiced by: Norio Wakamoto (JP, OVA), Jacques LeCan (EN, OVA)

A thief that the group encounters when they're thrown into prison for a short time. He is the last companion to join the group.


  • Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: He doesn't appear in the TV series despite playing a major role in the OVA.
  • Fate Worse than Death: His body is taken over by Karla, making him the latest in her centuries-long string of disposable hosts, forced to watch as his body moves to her whims. Downplayed in the novels and manga, where he chooses to become Karla's new host body.
  • Grand Theft Me: After removing Karla's influence from Leylia, the witch finds a way to live on by possessing Woodchuck.
  • Improbable Aiming Skills: Puts a throwing knife through a dragon's eye in the first episode.
  • Loveable Rogue: He's an unrepentant thief who is constantly looking to enrich himself, but he's also loyal to the party and fights bravely at their side rather than even considering fleeing.
  • Sixth Ranger: Happens to be the last member of Parn's group, who the party meets in jail.
  • Token Evil Teammate: Steals, cheats, gambles, and has no qualms about killing.
  • You All Meet in a Cell: The party meets him in the cell he's been in for twenty years due to petty theft.
  • Took a Level in Kindness: In the books, Woodchuck is considerably greedier and purposely allows himself to be taken by Karla. But in the OVA he's shown to be a loyal companion who tags along with Parn and his friends and is quite horrified when Karla's circlet comes toward him. ("No! NO! NOOOOOO!!!!")
  • What Happened to the Mouse?: The OVA never really elaborates what happens to Karla after she possesses Woodchuck. The TV series doesn't even mention him, showing a completely different woman serving as the vessel for Karla. In the novel series, he is eventually freed by Parn, and the second volume, which never got an Animated Adaptation, specifically focuses on Parn and Deedlit trying to find and save him.

     Other Heroes and Allies 

Shiris

Voiced by: Minami Takayama (JP, OVA), Yuu Asakawa (JP, TV series), Karen Smith (EN)

A female mercenary with a fiery temper who travels with her companion, Orson. In the original roleplay, she is the daughter of an aristocrat and eventually becomes queen of the Kingdom of Moss.


  • Action Girl: One of the only women who takes part in combat in the series.
  • Boyish Short Hair: She has very short red hair that only frames her face.
  • Dragon Rider: In the original roleplay and Chronicles of the Heroic Knight, she becomes a wyvern rider from the kingdom of Moss and helps out Spark.
  • Faux Action Girl: Sadly she is downgraded to this role in Chronicles of the Heroic Knight. In this series, she loses almost every fight she gets into, including the Designated Girl Fight.
  • Fiery Redhead: She has a strong-willed and tomboyish personality, often butting heads with her fellow mercenary Orson.
  • Impoverished Patrician: Despite being an aristocrat from the country of Kanon, Shiris was deposed from her country by Marmo and Ashram's forces. Together, with the help of Parn and Deedlit, they are eventually able to liberate Kanon.
  • Lady of War: Being a female warrior does not diminish any of her femininity or beauty.
  • Minidress of Power: Seems to be the standard outfit for action girls in Lodoss.
  • Ship Tease: With Orson, despite her protestations that they're just friends. She also develops a crush on Parn.
  • Spell My Name With An S: In some of the Japanese novels, her name is romanized as Sielis.

Orson

Voiced by: Show Hayami (JP, OVA), Nobuyuki Hiyama (JP, TV series), Chris Yates (EN, OVA), Oliver Gregory (EN, TV series)

A strong and silent mercenary who hides all of his emotions from the world. He can become an unstoppable force if he flies into his berserker rage.


  • Berserk Button: He flies into his berserker rage whenever women are in danger, particularly Shiris. The TV series reveals that the reason for this is because Orson's village was raided by bandits and they killed his older sister when she tried to protect him, leaving him as the Sole Survivor. Afterwards he was possessed by Hyuri, the spirit of rage.
  • The Berserker: He became one after being possessed by Hyuri.
  • Blank White Eyes: When Orson's eyes turn all-white, get the hell away!
  • The Dreaded: Even skilled elven warriors like Deedlit and Pirotess are wary of fighting Orson once they realize he's possessed by the spirit of rage.
  • Dying Moment of Awesome: In the TV series, he takes the spirit of rage back within himself to save Shiris from a Dark Action Girl. He then takes out a necromancer and all his skeleton minions despite being skewered multiple times. It's only when every enemy is dead that he does collapse in front of Shiris and succumb to his wounds.
  • I Let Gwen Stacy Die: His beloved sister's death is what caused him to become a berserker.
  • Ship Tease: With Shiris. Orson confesses his love for her in the TV series when he regains his emotions, but that doesn't go over well...
  • Spared by the Adaptation: Orson dies in the novels (and the TV series), but is alive in well by the end of the OVA.
  • The Stoic: By necessity, otherwise he risks becoming a danger to everyone around him.

Kashue Arnague

Voiced by: Shūichi Ikeda (JP, OVA), Chris Yates (EN, OVA), Joji Nakata (JP, TV series), Anthony Cruise (EN, TV series)

Known as the Mercenary King, Kashue became famous for uniting the desert kingdom of Flaim using only his sword. During the War of Heroes, he staves off the invasion of the forces of Marmo and takes up leadership after King Fahn's death.


  • Ambiguously Brown: Comes from the desert kingdoms of Lodoss, is noticeably more tan than most of the cast, and is sometimes illustrated wearing vaguely Arabian-styled clothing.
  • Asskicking Leads to Leadership: He's a badass fighter who became a mercenary king in uniting Flaim.
  • Badass Cape: Part of his regalia is a sweeping, impressive-looking cape that he wears over his armor, which serves as a visual cue that he's a badass fighter.
  • Hero of Another Story: Has been off on his own adventures long before the start of the story.
  • Reasonable Authority Figure: He has a reasonable judgment and is willing to listen to Parn and his allies.
  • Supporting Leader: After the death of King Fahn, he becomes the most important leader on the side of the heroes fighting against the forces of Marmo.

Leylia

A priestess of the goddess Marfa and the daughter of Neese, one of the Six Heroes who defeated the Demon King 30 years prior. In the backstory, she became possessed by the Grey Witch Karla, leading to the events at the beginning of the story.
  • The Atoner: After being freed from the possession of Karla. She also feels guilty because it led directly to Ghim's death, as well as mass death and suffering. This is possibly the reason she joins the heroes’ party at the end of the OVA.
  • Beta Couple: With Slayn. Most of their relationship is developed offscreen and they eventually get married.
  • Beware the Nice Ones: She's an incredibly powerful priestess, not to mention being possessed by the wicked Naneel.
  • The Chosen One An evil kind due to being the reincarnation of Naneel.
  • The Corruptible: By the start of the series, she's already corrupted by Karla's influence.
  • 11th-Hour Ranger: Joins the heroes’ party at the tail end of the OVA, after being freed from Karla. She doesn’t do anything significant, but she’s there.
  • Generation Xerox: Like her mother Neese, joins a party of adventurers as a healer to battle a great evil in Marmo.
  • Grand Theft Me: Spends most of the story in the OVA being possessed by the Karla.
  • Happily Adopted: In the backstory, she was adopted by Neese and raised to believe she was her actual blood daughter. Neese hoped that by raising her as her own, she would be able to prevent Leylia from being used to resurrect the goddess Kardis.
  • Happily Married: Eventually with Slayn.
  • Healing Hands: She's a priestess of Marfa, god of creation, so this is one of her powers.
  • Virgin Power: She's the incarnation of Naneel, an incredibly powerful evil priestess of Kardis, and the key to Kardis's resurrection and return to power. Or she would be if she hadn't gone and married Slayn and borne "Little" Neese.
  • White Magician Girl: Fits the archetype the most, being a kindhearted priestess and is well-loved by her companions and friends.

Neese

Voiced by: Tomoko Munakata (JP, OVA), Gara Takashima (JP, TV series)

A talented priestess of the goddess Marfa and one of the Six Heroes who fought in the War of the Demon King many years ago. She had high favor with the goddess, causing her to be nicknamed "Marfa's Beloved Daughter". After the war, Neese went on to raise Leylia, who would also become a priestess just like her.

  • Badass Preacher: As a priestess of the goddess Marfa, she went on many adventures throughout her life, being particularly known as one of the Six Heroes.
  • Hero of Another Story: Was one of the Six Heroes who defeated the Demon King decades ago. Some of her adventures are chronicled in the Lady of Pharis manga.
  • Retired Badass: She lives a mostly peaceful life afterwards.
  • Red Baron: During the War of the Demon King, she lifted a curse placed on the dragon Bramd and she gained the title of "Dragon Tamer".
  • White Mage: Served as one of the healers in the party of the Six Heroes, using her powers to lift a curse placed on the ice dragon Bramd.
  • Willing Channeler: During the War of the Demon King, Neese offered her body to become a vessel for her goddess Marfa in order to drive away an army of demons. Very few are said to ever survive an ordeal, but due to Neese's favor with Marfa, she went on to live for many years afterwards.

Flaus

A warrior priestess of the god Falis/Pharis who fought alongside the Six Heroes during the War of the Demon King. She dreams of seeing Lodoss united without bloodshed. During the final battle with the Demon King, she sacrificed herself and became known as the Saint of Falis.

  • Battle Couple: With Beld. The two shared the same dream of a united Lodoss.
  • Carry a Big Stick: Her weapon of choice is a spiked morningstar.
  • Hero of Another Story: The eponymous Lady of Pharis. Although she was the seventh companion, she is not included as one of the six since she died in the labyrinth during the final battle and was sainted instead.
  • Heroic Sacrifice: She died sacrificing herself in the battle against the Demon King by allowing herself to become a vessel for Faris.
  • The Cameo: An apparition of Flaus summoned by Karla appears as a boss in the Deedlit in Wonderland game.
  • Throwing Your Shield Always Works: Flaus can throw her buckler as a projectile in Deedlit in Wonderland. It always returns back to her hand.
  • Warrior Monk: She became a priestess of the goddess Falis at the age of 15 and fought in many battles during the War of the Demon King.

     New Adventurers 

Spark

Voiced by: Kenji Nojima (JP, TV series), Crispin Freeman (EN, TV series)

An aspiring young warrior from the desert kingdom of Flaim. He is the cousin of Nardia, the former chief of the Flaim tribe and the only remaining male of the family. Due to his lineage, he may become king of Flaim one day, but he still has a lot to learn.

  • Ambiguously Brown: From the same tribe as King Kashue and is noticeably more tanned than the other characters.
  • Attack! Attack! Attack!: Due to his youth and relative inexperience, he acts impulsively and recklessly in battle.
  • Changing of the Guard: Spark takes over the role of main protagonist in the TV series from Parn.
  • '80s Hair: He has a long blue mullet that reaches down nearly to his waist.
  • The Hero: The main protagonist in the latter half of the TV series.
  • Hero-Worshipper: He greatly admires both Parn and King Kashue due to their heroic accomplishments.
  • Hot-Blooded: Acts impulsively due to his youth. It's one of the reasons he was passed over for the knighthood.
  • My Greatest Failure: Spark aspired to be one of King Kashue's knights, but he was turned down due to an impetuous mistake he made to fight dark elves.
  • Suspiciously Similar Substitute: Spark ends up going through a lot of the same story beats as Parn and even happens to go through similar character development.

Greevus

Voiced by: Kazuhiko Kishino (JP, TV series), Gregory Wolfe (EN, TV series)

A veteran warrior priest of the god Myrii who is extremely skilled in combat. He insists on joining Spark and his party in order to rescue Little Neese. At 110 years, he is still quite young for a dwarf.

  • Bash Brothers: In battle, he often attacks in combination with Garrack.
  • Combat Medic: Greevus is no stranger to melee combat and often uses his healing powers to aid his companions.
  • Magic Knight: He's good at both calling upon the powers of Myrii and with his huge axe.
  • Pointy Ears: As a dwarf, he has these but they are not nearly as long or pronounced as those of the elves in the series.
  • Red Baron: In the original Japanese, he has the nickname "Myrii's White Dwarf".
  • The Smart Guy: Greevus happens to be the most level-headed and mature of Spark's group, being the eldest.
  • Spell My Name With An S: In some Japanese promotional materials, his name is spelled as "Grievas".
  • Technical Pacifist: Despite being a strong and experienced warrior, Greevus actually detests violence and only views it as necessary when all other options have been exhausted.
  • White Mage: A warrior priest of the god Myrii who has healing powers like the other priests in the series.

Garrack

Voiced by: Masaya Takatsuka (JP, TV series), Michael Gerard (EN, TV series)

A nobleman from the Flaim tribe who has been training as a warrior all of his life. He was hired by King Kashue to act as Spark's bodyguard and keep an eye on him.

  • Ambiguously Brown: More tan than most of the characters in the series due to hailing from the same desert kingdom as Kashue and Spark.
  • Bash Brothers: In battle, he and Greevus often attack in combination.
  • Beta Couple: In the novel series, he falls in love with the female thief Ryna and the two marry.
  • Big Brother Mentor: Acts as one to Spark since the two are from the same tribe.
  • The Big Guy: Happens to the most physically powerful amongst Spark's group.
  • Good Scars, Evil Scars: He has a long scar running down the left side of his face.
  • Red Baron: In the original Japanese, he has the nickname "Blue Shooting Star" due to the scar on his face.
  • Royals Who Actually Do Something: Actually a nobleman, but has trained in combat since youth and was specifically chosen by King Kashue to watch over Spark may become the king of Flaim someday.
  • Ship Tease: In the TV series, he has some romantic tension with Ryna, but nothing more ever develops beyond that. The two of them actually marry in the novels.

Little Neese

Voiced by: Chie Sawaguchi (JP, TV series), Roxanne Beck (EN, TV series)

The daughter of the priestess Leylia and the sorcerer Slayn Starseeker. A young, soft-spoken girl who possesses a strong sense of courage.

  • Ascended Extra: Goes from the cute little girl that spends most of the first part of the show sleeping in the arms of several of the older characters, to a member of the main band and one of the keys to either damning or saving the world.
  • Famous Ancestor: Doubly so since her grandmother was one of the original six heroes and her parents are Slayn and Leylia.
  • White Mage: As you'd expect of the daughter of one powerful priestess and granddaughter of another, with a powerful sorcerer for a father, she's a potent magic user specialized in the curative and protective arts.
  • Virgin Power: Like her mother she's a reincarnation of Naneel and the key to bringing back Kardis.

Leaf

Voiced by: Maaya Sakamoto (JP, TV series), Debora Rabbai (EN, TV series)

A young female half-elf who works as a mercenary and is shunned by both elves and humans due to her heritage. Her father was an elf who died defending her from dark elves. She is good friends with Deedlit, who doesn't act prejudiced against her.

  • Action Girl: One of the few women who take part in battle in the series.
  • Born Unlucky: In the original RPG that the series was based on, Leaf happened to have the lowest Luck stat of the entire party. And it's not difficult to see that she has encountered a lot of misfortune in her young life.
  • Double Weapon: Her weapon of choice is a double-ended spear.
  • Elemental Powers: Possesses shamanistic powers to call upon spirits of nature much like Deedlit.
  • Half-Breed Discrimination: She was shunned by both human and elven society due to being a half-elf.
  • Half-Human Hybrid: She is a half-elf, with an elven father and a human mother.
  • Hide Your Otherness: Initially, when she found herself in the Forest of No Return as a refugee, Leaf hides her ears that would give away her elven heritage.
  • Magic Knight: Much like Deedlit, she has access to elemental powers but still makes use of her spear in battle.
  • Parental Abandonment: After her father's death, Leaf's mother set off to get revenge on the dark elves who killed him and left Leaf to be raised by her aunt, but she never returned.
  • Shipper on Deck: She's totally enthralled by the idea that Spark and Little Neese, who has a crush on him, are made for each other.
  • Summon Magic: Her elvish ancestry grants her access to the ability to call upon elemental spirits of nature.

Aldonova

Voiced by: Tamotsu Nishiwaki (JP, TV series), Steve Patterson (EN, TV series)

A novice in magic and the apprentice of the sorcerer Slayn Starseeker. A loyal and compassionate soul who believes that fighting is wrong.

  • Afraid of Their Own Strength: In his youth, Aldonova got into a wrestling match with an older boy and accidentally broke his neck due to his size and strength.
  • The Big Guy: He is the tallest and most built member of Spark's party, but he happens to be a spellcaster, not a warrior.
  • Cowardly Lion: He was born into a prominent family and was expected to be a warrior, but he ended up studying magic instead and developed a timid personality.
  • Eyes Always Shut: In the anime series at least, he's always seen with his eyes closed.
  • Flat Character: Of all of Spark's companions, he seems to have the least amount of development as most of his character is centered around caring about Little Neese.
  • Gentle Giant: He's a friendly giant and he cares deeply for his mentor's daughter, Little Neese.
  • Spell My Name With An S: In some adaptations, including the original Japanese, his name is spelled as Aldo Nova.

Ryna

Voiced by: Chizu Yonemoto (JP, TV series), AJ Parks (EN, TV series)

A female thief who disguises herself as a mercenary and joins Spark's group with the intention of robbing them blind.She and fellow thief Randy were being pursued by dark elves when they encounter Spark.


  • Action Girl: Initially disguises herself as a mercenary, but when the truth is found out, she joins Spark's group as a thief.
  • Dark and Troubled Past: Ryna has been lying, cheating, and stealing all of her life in order to get by and she even has a death warrant out against her.
  • Loveable Rogue: Although she initially joined Spark's group with devious intentions, Ryna has a change of heart and decides to help out in earnest in order to rescue Little Neese.
  • Minidress of Power: Naturally wears one, like every other female adventurer in the series.
  • Revenge: Her main reason for joining Spark's group is to get revenge on the dark elves who killed her lover Randy.
  • Second Love: In the light novels, she eventually falls in love with and marries Garrack.
  • Sixth Ranger: She joins the group much later in the series.
  • Spell My Name With An S: In some adaptations, such as the manga, her name is spelled as Laina. Japanese promotional materials romanize her name as Lyna.
  • Stripperiffic: Her outfit is little more than a tube top and a miniskirt with boots, and in some illustrations, she wears some fishnet on her arms and legs.
  • Tsundere: In the TV series, she has a bit of romantic tension with Garrack, but she insists she's not attracted to a muscular gorilla like him. Despite this, the two eventually fall in love and marry in the novels.
  • Weapon Specialization: Her weapon of choice is a whip, fitting for a female thief.

     Holy Kingdom of Valis 

Fahn

Voiced by: Osamu Saka (JP, OVA), J.W. Gunther (EN, OVA)

The king of the Holy Kingdom of Valis. 30 years before the story, he was one of the Six Heroes that saved Lodoss, along with his former companion Beld.


  • Asskicking Leads to Leadership: He's a well-known hero who became the king of Valis.
  • Badass Cape: On the battlefield, he's easily recognized by his sweeping and impressive cape.
  • Character Death: He dies during the battle with Beld.
  • Cool Sword: The Holy Sword, which serves as a counterpart to Beld's Soul Crusher.
  • Hero of Another Story: One of the Six Heroes who fought in the War of the Demon King. His adventures are chronicled in the Lady of Pharis manga.
  • Knight in Shining Armor: Per tradition, before Etoh, he was drawn from the Knighthood of Valis to become king.
  • Precursor Heroes: One of the six legendary heroes who slayed the Demon King 30 years prior to the main story.
  • Reasonable Authority Figure: He's a king who favors diplomacy, treaties and talk over violence and bloodshed. Although he dreamed of unifying Lodoss, he wanted to do it through treaties of peace, not through conquest.
  • Supporting Leader: As the ruler of Valis, the largest of the kingdoms as-yet unconquered by Beld, he is integral to the resistance against the armies of Marmo, despite not being a member of the main adventuring parties.

Princess Fianna

Voiced by: Michie Tomizawa (JP OVA)

     Kingdom of Marmo 

Beld

Voiced by: Tarō Ishida (JP, OVA), Bob Barry (EN, OVA)

The emperor of Marmo, who was once a close companion to King Fahn. He was one of the Six Heroes who saved Lodoss from evil 30 years ago. He was touched by darkness afterwards and eventually gained the evil sword, Soul Crusher.


  • Asskicking Leads to Leadership: After the war with the Demon King, he became the lord of Marmo island and does not shy away from taking part in battle alongside his subjects.
  • Badass Cape: Beld wears a long, fur-lined black cape along with his black plate armor.
  • Battle Couple: With the warrior priestess Flaus. Their relationship is told in the Lady of Pharis manga.
  • The Corruption: In the backstory, Beld's soul and his sword became tainted after it was baptized by the blood of the Demon King the heroes defeated.
  • Even Evil Has Loved Ones: In the Lady of Pharis manga, Beld falls in love with Flaus. The two share a dream of seeing Lodoss united without bloodshed, but it is never achieved due to her death.
  • Evil Sounds Deep: He has a low voice befitting for a king.
  • Evil Weapon: His Soul Crusher can cut down anything. In the original Japanese, it's even known as the Demon Sword.
  • Face–Heel Turn: In the backstory, he was one of the original Six Heroes alongside King Fahn and the others before becoming corrupted.
  • Fallen Hero: He was a beloved hero who saved Lodoss in the past who eventually turned to evil.
  • Good Scars, Evil Scars: Has a long scar running down the left side of his face.
  • Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: After killing King Fahn in a duel, he is killed by the Grey Witch Karla, believing that no one side should grow too powerful.
  • Precursor Heroes: One of the six legendary heroes who defeated the Demon King 30 years prior to the story.
  • Tin Tyrant: Always seen decked out in his full suit of black plate armor.

Ashram

Voiced by: Akira Kamiya (JP, OVA), Show Hayami (JP, TV series), John Knox (EN, OVA & TV series)

A highly skilled warrior and lieutenant of Emperor Beld, known as the Black Knight. After Beld's death, he inherits the sword Soul Crusher and leads the people of Marmo.


  • Anti-Villain: He's shown as having a soft spot for Pirotess and his main ambitions consist of finding safe haven for the people of Marmo.
  • Badass Cape: Wears a long, flowing one over his dark armor.
  • Black Knight: His moniker among the people of Marmo.
  • Even Evil Has Loved Ones: He grows to care deeply for Pirotess, particularly in the OVA. Parn is shocked since he believed Ashram was nothing more than a ruthless villain.
  • Evil Counterpart: To Parn, even down to similar romantic interests.
  • Evil Sounds Deep: He has a deep voice befitting for a villain.
  • Evil Weapon: Soul Crusher, which originally belonged to Beld.
  • Mutual Kill: In the OVA he manages to kill Wagnard but ends up dying from the wounds he sustained in the fight.
  • Never Found the Body: In the OVA series, Parn believes that he perished in the Fire Dragon Mountain, but one of Wagnard's followers manages to save him.
  • Shoulders of Doom: His broad shoulders doesn't hide the fact that he's a villain.
  • The Rival: To Parn.
  • Tall, Dark, and Handsome: Notably one of the only attractive characters on the villains' side.
  • Tin Tyrant: He's almost never seen without his imposing suit of black armor, much like Emperor Beld.
  • Villain: Exit, Stage Left: In the TV series, he and Pirotess simply leave before the main plot is resolved. Their later adventures are detailed in the Legend of Crystania series.

Wagnard

Voiced by: Takeshi Aono (JP, OVA), Bruce Winant (EN, OVA), Chikao Ohtsuka (JP, TV series), Oliver Wyman & Bruce Winant (EN, TV series)

A powerful dark sorcerer and priest of the goddess of chaos, Kardis. He plans to resurrect Kardis, hoping that she will grant him immortality in return.


  • Beard of Evil: He has a pointy black goatee and happens to be the most evil character in the story.
  • Big Bad: The main antagonist of the OVA.
  • Black Magic: He was actually kicked out of the same magic school that Slayn attended due to his interest in dark magic. Part of his ultimate goal is to rule over Lodoss as an immortal king.
  • Die Laughing: He gives out a final Evil Laugh before he succumbs to his wounds from Ashram.
  • Dragon with an Agenda: Seems to be biding his time under Beld while he gains enough arcane power to accomplish his own goals.

Pirotess

Voiced by: Sakiko Tamagawa (JP, OVA), Kumiko Nishihara (JP, TV series), Meg Frances (EN)

A female dark elven noble and a follower of Wagnard. Although she planned to kill Ashram as revenge for her brother's death, she eventually learns that he was not responsible and joins his army.


  • Anti-Villain: Although Pirotess fights on the side of the conquering, monster-allied armies of Marmo, she's not an evil person herself, she merely has goals that make such an alliance worthwhile to her.
  • Bad Powers, Bad People: Pirotess is a shaman like Deedlit, but she calls upon spirits of darkness that the high elves won't associate with.
  • Casting a Shadow: As a dark elf shaman, she has power over spirits of darkness.
  • Canon Immigrant: Created for the OVA series. She does not appear in the novels that the OVA covers, but Mizuno liked her character and decided to add her to later novels, starting with the sixth one.
  • Combat Stilettos: Her white thigh-high boots have high heels.
  • Cute Monster Girl: All of the other dark elves in the series are quite ugly compared to Pirotess.
  • Dark Action Girl: She's the only noteworthy female warrior on the villains' side.
  • Dark Mistress: To Ashram, to whom she is fully devoted to. She is nearly always shown at his side after joining him, particularly in promotional art and images.
  • Evil Counterpart: To Deedlit in nearly every way. She's a dark elf whereas Deedlit is a high elf, she can summon spirits of darkness vs. Deedlit's spirits of nature, and she becomes Ashram's lover while Deedlit and Parn fall in love.
  • Heroic Sacrifice: Only in the OVA, where she sacrifices herself to protect Ashram from Shooting Star's fiery breath.
  • Lady of War: She's very feminine and quite graceful in combat when she uses her rapier and whip.
  • Meaningful Name: She's named after a minor Greek goddess named Philotes (Φιλότης) who was the daughter of Erebus, the primordial deity of darkness and Nyx, the goddess of night.
  • Minidress of Power: Seems to be the standard for all female warriors in Lodoss.
  • Navel-Deep Neckline: Her outfit has a big cutout in the middle of her chest, showing off most of her cleavage and midriff.
  • Religious and Mythological Theme Naming: Pirotess’ is probably named after the minor Greek goddess Philotes, a goddess personifying affection, friendship, and sex.
  • Revenge: Her original goal was to kill Ashram in revenge for her brother Altas's death, but she has a change of heart.
  • Royal Rapier: She favors the use of a rapier as her weapon of choice, furthering her similarities to Deedlit, and is a noblewoman amongst the dark elves.
  • Spared by the Adaptation: She only dies sacrificing herself for Ashram in the OVA. When she was added to the novels, she survives.
  • Stripperiffic: Her short minidress leaves little to the imagination since it just barely covers her nipples.
  • Villain: Exit, Stage Left: In the novels and TV series, she and Ashram exit before the conclusion of the main plot unlike the OVA. Their further adventures take place in the Legend of Crystania series.
  • Weapon Specialization: Pirotess's weapons of choice alongside her magic spells are a rapier and a whip.

Karla

Voiced by: Yoshiko Sakakibara (JP, OVA), Simone Grant (EN)

An enigmatic sorcerer of incredible power. Her true origins and goals are shrouded in mystery.


  • Balance Between Good and Evil: Is absolutely obsessed with this. Karla believes that the scale tipping one way or the other will destroy Lodoss.
  • Balance of Power: The lesson she took from the fall of Cashull is that Lodoss should never be unified under a single power, whether it's through conquest or treaty. So, she's spent the next several centuries playing off the various kingdoms and other powers against each other so it never happens again.
  • Chaos Is Evil: Parn and the other heroes make no bones of the fact that Karla's striving to keep Lodoss in a state of perpetual chaos only causes endless suffering and misery.
  • The Chessmaster: Karla has been playing the ultimate manipulator of Lodoss for over five centuries, goading and manipulating factions and individuals alike to thwart any attempts to create widespread stability or unification.
  • The Corruptor: She corrupts Leylia and eventually Woodchuck.
  • Face–Heel Revolving Door: Karla's ultimate allegiance is to herself and her insane plan to keep Lodoss disorganized and "safe". As a result, she will happily work with any faction, benevolent or malevolent, in order to prevent Lodoss from stabilizing, turning on her current "allies" as soon as she deems them useless.. It's revealed she was one of the Six Heroes who slew Maou the Demon King thirty years ago, but at the start of the story, she's backing the conquering ambitions of the monstrous forces of the Marmo Empire... and yet, when she confronts Parn or the other heroes, she casually offers to help them as well.
  • Grand Theft Me: Karla's spirit, contained in the circlet, can seize control of anyone who dons the circlet or even gets near it. She uses bodies to do her dirty work, then abandons them when they die or simply become disposable.
  • Hero of Another Story: Was Sixth Ranger of the Six Heroes who slew the Demon King.
  • Insane Troll Logic: Karla views her efforts to keep Lodoss in constant turmoil and chaos as preventing great suffering... whilst ignoring all the people who suffer directly or indirectly when kingdoms are constantly warring with each other.
  • The Kingslayer: Kills Emperor Beld in the OVA due to her obsession with balance.
  • Know When to Fold Them: In the OVA, once Wagnard taps into the power of Kardis, Karla retreats to the sidelines. Even a magical being of Karla's magnitude is no match for an evil god, it seems.
  • Order Is Not Good: Invoked. The destruction of Casull right as it was on the cusp of uniting all of Lodoss has left her convinced that allowing any single faction to dominate Lodoss will only bring about terrible suffering and destruction for all people.
  • Precursors: The last descendant of a race of inherently magical people.
  • Really 700 Years Old: She was born during the reign of Cashull, the ancient kingdom of sorcery that was destroyed over 500 years ago.
  • Stupid Neutral: Karla's worldview centers on keeping the factions of Lodoss "balanced", preventing any single faction from gaining in power by manipulation, assassination and deception, all in the nebulous belief that keeping Lodoss in a state of near-constant war and bloodshed is somehow "better".
  • Supervillain Lair: Likes hanging around in the ruins of Cashull, the ancient kingdom of sorcery, largely because it was her homeland.
  • Well-Intentioned Extremist: Karla believes that allowing a single power to dominate Lodoss will only cause destruction and death on a massive scale. So she thwarts any who attempt to unite Lodoss, regardless of their motivations, and ignores all those who suffer or die as a result of her machinations.
  • Who Wants to Live Forever?: Invoked in the OAV, where Wort tells Parn that having existed as a body-snatching spirit for five centuries has driven her insane, which he notes is why she has such a mad goal as she does.
  • Wild Card: Karla is her own faction in the struggle for Lodoss, no matter what side she is currently aligned with.
  • Wrong Context Magic: Unlike most magic users in the setting, Karla doesn't need to use incantations. In addition, her style of magic is unique; she can unleash destructive energies without channeling spirits or relying on enchanted tools.

     Dragons 
  • Attack of the 50-Foot Whatever: The ancient dragons are truly gigantic! The opening sequence of the TV series makes a point by showing Parn on horse riding on ground while a red dragon flies next to him, dwarfing him. Then said red dragon flies into the background towards Shooting Star, only to end up smaller than Shooting Star's eye; and we still have no idea how close the unnamed red dragon actually was to Parn.
  • Kaiju: The Ancient Dragons aren't merely the size of Godzilla, Godzilla himself looks like a dwarf next to them.
  • Our Dragons Are Different: There are the wingless firebreathing dragons, the two-legged wyvern mounts and the aforementioned Ancient Dragons.

Abram

Bramd

Mycen

  • Good Wings, Evil Wings: She has a pair of golden, bird-like wings in comparison to the bat-like wings of Narse or Abram. Even in the series.
  • Leave Him to Me!: She goes ahead of her wyvern-rider army in order to fight Narse one-on-one.

Narse

  • Bat Out of Hell: In both the OVA and TV show, Narse has a very bat-like look to him.

Shooting Star

  • The Dreaded: The most powerful of the Ancient Dragons and the one who protects the Scepter of Domination, the most powerful of the treasures of Lodoss.
  • For the Evulz: He makes regular attacks on Blade just for the hell of it.
  • Hero Killer: Well, more of an Anti-Hero Killer but he manages to kill Pirotess in the OVA.
  • Large and in Charge: As the most powerful and thus the leader of the Ancient Dragons, he is also decidedly the biggest. As mentioned above, conventional dragons are dwarfed by his eyes alone.
  • Law of Chromatic Superiority: He's a crimson-scaled Ancient Dragon, and he's the most fearsome and powerful of all the Ancient Dragons.
  • More Teeth than the Osmond Family: He's an enormous predatory beast with a comparably huge mouth full of razor-sharp fangs.
  • Playing with Fire: As a red-scaled dragon in a series descended from Dungeons & Dragons, he has a fiery Breath Weapon.
  • Super-Deformed: He shows up as the mascot of the Welcome to Lodoss Island shorts... as an adorable chibified pink dragon.
  • Taking You with Me: As he dies, he takes Ashram to the grave with him.
  • Vertebrate with Extra Limbs: In the OVA he has four wings.
  • Volcano Lair: Where he lives.

     Gods 

Falis

The God of Light, and the King of the Gods of Good.


  • God Is Dead: He died during the battle against the gods of evil. His ghost still provides magic and rules over the afterlife.
  • God of Good: He is the King of the Gods and their leader. He's also dead.

Kardis

The Goddess of Destruction and the goddess who cursed Lodoss.


Marfa

The Goddess of Creation and the goddess who slew Kardis.


  • Divine Intervention: During the War of the Demon King, Neese became a vessel for Marfa and helped drive away an army of demons. Due to Neese's high favor with the goddess, she was able to survive the ordeal.
  • God Is Dead: Was killed along with the other gods during the war.
  • God of Good: Marfa is the most benevolent deity in Lodoss.

Myrii

The God of War and worshiped by all sides.



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