Characters / The Lumatere Chronicles

Note: All spoilers will be unmarked.

Lumateran Royal Family

King Carles

The old king of Lumatere, slain in the palace during the five days of the unspeakable. He is described as a kind person, but not very cunning. He is the father of Evestalina, Rosamund, Jasmina, Balthazar, and Isaboe.

• Forced to Watch: Had to watch his wife and three daughters be brutally raped and slain by assassins in the palace of Lumatere. It's reported that he was the last to die.
• Happily Married: To Tilda, before their deaths in the days of the unspeakable.
• Nice Guy: He is remembered by his people as an exceptionally kind monarch, though it's admitted that his kindness was often a weakness when it came to treating neighboring countries, such as Charyn.
• Posthumous Character: He is already dead when the main plot of Finnikin of the Rock starts.

Queen Tilda

Wife of Carles, and mother of Evestalina, Rosamund, Jasmina, Balthazar and Isaboe. She was slain in the palace by assassins during the five days of the unspeakable.

• Posthumous Character: She is already dead when the main plot of Finnikin of the Rock starts.

Princess Evestalina

Eldest daughter of King Carles and Queen Tilda, and sister to Rosamund, Jasmina, Balthazar and Isaboe. Nicknamed Vestie. She was raped and slain by assassins in the palace during the five days of the unspeakable.

• Posthumous Character: She is already dead when the main plot of Finnikin of the Rock starts.

Princess Rosamund

Daughter of King Carles and Queen Tilda, and sister to Evestalina, Jasmina, Balthazar and Isaboe. Nicknamed Rosie. She was raped and slain by assassins in the palace during the five days of the unspeakable.

• Posthumous Character: She is already dead when the main plot of Finnikin of the Rock starts.

Princess Jasmina

Daughter of King Carles and Queen Tilda, and sister to Evestalina, Rosamund, Balthazar and Isaboe. She was raped and slain by assassins in the palace during the days of the unspeakable.

• Posthumous Character: She is already dead when the main plot of Finnikin of the Rock starts.

Prince Balthazar

Son of King Carles and Queen Tilda, and brother to Evestalina, Rosamund, Jasmina and Isaboe. Was heir to the Lumateran throne before the events of the days of the unspeakable, and was also a childhood friend of Finnikin of the Rock and Lucian of the Monts.

• Heroic Sacrifice: Gave up his own life to protect Isaboe from the assassin who found them in the Forest of Lumatere.
• Nice Guy: He is remembered by Lucian and Finnikin as being exceptionally kind. Lucian, however, argues that Balthazar's kindness would have become his weakness if he had lived to become King of Lumatere, as it would have made it easier for neighbouring rulers to take advantage of him.
• Posthumous Character: He is already dead when the main plot of Finnikin of the Rock starts.
• True Companions: Was this with Finnikin and Lucian before the days of the unspeakable.

Queen Isaboe/Evanjalin of the Monts

The youngest daughter of the Lumateran royal family, she was presumed dead following the days of the unspeakable. In reality, she's the only survivor, and spent years living in a variety of places. She's found at the cloister in Sendecane by Finnikin and Sir Topher, who believe that she can lead them to Balthazar, the royal prince who they think is alive. In the end, she leads them back to Lumatere as their rightful queen.

• Action Girl: Finnikin is shocked to see this side of her. During the confrontation with the robbers in Sprie, she takes charge in moments by grabbing Finnikin's fallen sword and stabbing it into the man holding her captive.
• Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: Isaboe with her Mont cousins, in particular Lucian. Though they bicker a lot, at the end of the day they will always stand with each other and love each other very much.
• Babies Ever After: Played straight and then depressingly subverted. She has a daughter named Jasmina and later gives birth to a son... who is born dead, strangled by his umbilical cord.

• Bait-and-Switch: It was always believed that Isaboe had been slain in the Forest of Lumatere on the night of the assassination, because pieces of what everyone thought was her body was found there and a boy was said to have been seen fleeing the Forest that night. It turns out that it was really Balthazar who had died, and Isaboe who had fled into exile.
• Beware the Nice Ones: She murders the impostor king and the men who killed her family with poison.

• Dark and Troubled Past: Her entire family was killed during the days of the unspeakable, her people were trapped and put under tyranny while she was forced to flee into exile and go into hiding. She spent many years as a slave in Sorel, bearing memories from that time that she doesn't even speak to Finnikin about, and was witness to the massacre of the River exiles in Sarnak (and almost was killed herself). Upon reuniting with her yata, Isaboe breaks down into tears at the memory of her hard years in exile. It's a wonder she never has a complete and permanent meltdown, with all she has experienced.

• The Determinator: Nothing stops her, not even when all seems lost.
• Cunning Linguist: Knows the languages of every kingdom in the land. She uses her wits and cunning often to fight her way out of any situation.
• Deceased Parents Are the Best: Her parents were murdered by assassins during the days of the unspeakable.
• The Empath: A particularly horrifying form. She has the ability to walk through the sleep of other Lumaterans when she's on her period. Including every victim and perpetrator of rape, murder and other forms of abuse. Including the people who raped, tortured and murdered her family.
  • She also feels every single Lumateran's pain and can feel it when they die. It's why she refuses to let Finnikin revealed Charyn's plans to Belegonia and start a land-wide war involving all of their kingdoms.
• Faking the Dead: During the Sarnak massacre, Isaboe plunges an arrow into her chest just below her heart to convince the hunters that she is dead.
  • During the days of the unspeakable, Isaboe, with Seranonna's help, fakes her own death by making it seem as if she were mauled by the silver wolf instead of Balthazar.
• Fallen Princess: Is this during her ten years of exile, her family having been murdered and her rightful place as queen of Lumatere usurped by the impostor king.
• Good Parents: She and Finnikin are certainly this for their daughter, Jasmina.
• Green-Eyed Monster: She is very jealous when Finnikin sleeps with the prostitute in Speranza, though she doesn't openly express it.

  Evanjalin: And I will never forgive you for the whore!

• Happily Married: To Finnikin after the events of Finnikin of the Rock.

• The High Queen: Becomes this after the reunification of Lumatere.

• Intergenerational Friendship: With Sir Topher, Trevanion, Beatriss, Tesadora, and Lady Abian.
• Made a Slave: Was sold as a slave in Sorel when she was ten years old. She eventually escaped, with the help of Majorontai, a Yut woman.
• Marry for Love: Weds Finnikin for love after the events of Finnikin of the Rock.
• Meaningful Rename: Isaboe became Evanjalin, which was the name of Trevanion's mother.
• The Medic: She has some skill in healing and herbs.
• Mirror Character: She and Quintana. They're both Determinators who grew up in horrific circumstances and had to suffer for their people. They would both kill for their loved ones. And they're both Action Survivors.
• Near-Rape Experience: Froi tries to rape her in the first book, but Sir Topher stops him. In retaliation, she sells him to the slave traders of Sorel.
• Never Found the Body: All anyone found of Isaboe was a mess of clothes, hair, fingers, ears, and blood. The clothes and hair were actually hers... The rest wasn't. But it was enough to convince them.
• Not Quite Dead: She did not die on the night of her family's murder; instead she fled into exile and disguised herself as a novice named Evanjalin.
• Parental Abandonment: Isaboe's parents were killed during the days of the unspeakable, when she was only eight years old.

• Queen Incognito: In Finnikin of the Rock.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: Becomes this once she ascends to the throne.
• Rightful King Returns: In this case, Queen, at the end of Finnikin of the Rock.
• Royals Who Actually Do Something
• Secret Identity: In Finnikin of the Rock. She masquerades as a novice named Evanjalin, but she is really the rightful queen of Lumatere.
• Silk Hiding Steel: Is made of this trope. She may seem weak and defenseless, especially when disguised as a Lagrami novice and under a vow of silence, but she really isn't. Finnikin notices this when they are leaving Sendecane in the very first chapter, when he sees a flash of triumph in her eyes when he grabs at her to prevent her from being dragged away by the water's current, and later in Sprie when she helps him fight off the three robbers who are attacking them.
• Slave Brand: Has one on her shoulder, from her time as a slave in Sorel.
• Sole Survivor: She is the sole survivor of the massacre of her family during the days of the unspeakable. She's also the sole survivor of the Sarnak massacre.
• Starting a New Life: Is forced into this after the days of the unspeakable, and wanders in exile for ten years before being found by Sir Topher and Finnikin. Later, after the reunification of Lumatere, she returns to her rightful role as Queen of Lumatere and lives as royalty in Lumatere's royal palace.
• Strong Family Resemblance: She strongly takes after her mother's side of the family when it comes to physical appearance. Her yata called her "our little Mont girl" when she was little.

• True Companions: With Finnikin, Froi, Lucian, Sir Topher, and Trevanion.
• Universally Beloved Leader: Everyone in Lumatere loves Isaboe.
• Walking Spoiler: The revelation that Balthazar is Dead All Along and that his sister survived (and was travelling with Finnikin the whole time) is a massive plot twist towards the first book's climax, changing very much of what you think you know about... well, everything.
• Weak, but Skilled: She may not be physically strong, but she is able to use her wits to fight or think her way out of any situation.
• Wise Beyond Their Years: As Isaboe tells Finnikin, she's had to be, given her childhood.
• What the Hell, Hero?: Gives one to Finnikin, Sir Topher, and the Guard when she hears them planning to tell the Belegonians that Charyn had been trying to invade them via Lumatere.

Princess Jasmina (II)

Only daughter of Finnikin and Isaboe, and the current crown princess of Lumatere. Titled Jasmina of the River in honor of her grandfather.

• Dead Guy Junior: She is named after Isaboe's sister Jasmina, who was slain long ago by assassins in the palace of Lumatere.
• Spoiled Brat: Played with. She's not intentionally spoiled by Finnikin and Isaboe, but Finnikin's great-aunt Celestina fusses over her a lot. At one stage in Froi of the Exiles, Isaboe admits to Beatriss that Jasmina's tantrums can be heard from the Rock.

The Lumateran Guard

Captain Trevanion

One of the Lumateran River people and the captain of the King's Guard, Trevanion of the River is a loyal, strong soldier who was doing his best to be a good father to his son, while also balancing his job and his relationship with Beatriss. When the days of the unspeakable happened, Trevanion ended up far from home in a foreign prison.

• Action Dad: He's one of the most powerful fighters in Lumatere and Captain of the Lumateran Guard. He's also Finnikin's father.
• Dark and Troubled Past: His mother and sisters were murdered by barbarian raiders around the time Finnikin was born; at the same time his wife died in childbirth. Years later, he was sentenced to exile in a foreign prison for supposedly conspiring with Beatriss to assassinate the royal family and spent ten years in prison believing that his second wife Beatriss died giving birth to their babe in the palace dungeons on the day of her execution.
• Determinator: During the quest to reunify Lumatere, Trevanion refuses to return to the Valley of Tranquility until he is reunited with his men.
  • After re-entering Lumatere, Trevanion discovers that Beatriss is now the mother of another man's child and refuses to restart her relationship with him. Instead of accepting it, he just tells her that he'll wait until she's ready, no matter how long it may take.
    Trevanion: A man like me will wait for as long as it takes.
• Frame-Up: He was accused (along with Beatriss) of conspiring with the assassins to murder the royal family. It resulted in his imprisonment in exile.

• Happily Married: To Bartolina of the Rock, before her Death by Childbirth.
  • Later to Lady Beatriss of the Flatlands following the events of Froi of the Exiles.
• Heroic BSoD: By the time Finnikin reunites with him in the mines of Sorel, he has sunk deep into despair.
• Hot-Blooded: Though he is very level-headed, he can also be impulsive and hot-headed, especially when he's lost his temper.
• The Lost Lenore: Bartolina of the Rock is this for him. Beatriss becomes this as well, until Trevanion is told of her survival in Finnikin of the Rock.
• Papa Wolf: When Finnikin is imprisoned in the same place that he is, he enters the fights that decide where a new prisoner will be placed for the first time and nearly kills anyone who goes up against him. Nobody touches his kid.
• Second Love: With Lady Beatriss of the Flatlands.
• Star-Crossed Lovers: He and Beatriss. Everything goes fine until the days of the unspeakable, when he's trapped outside and she's inside. Even after Lumatere is rejoined, they're both traumatised by the experience, and he's especially shaken because she has borne a child by another man (but not by her choice).
• Undying Loyalty: To the royal family and the Lumateran Guard.

Perri the Savage

The second-in-command of the Guard, and its leader during their years of exile.

• Abusive Parents: His father hated all Forest-Dwellers and tried to teach Perri via abuse to do the same. It's said by Evanjalin that he actually placed Perri's hand into a fire and made him watch it burn, just to prove a point.
• Facial Horror: Has a long scar across the crown of his head, which was put there by Tesadora long ago.
• For Want Of A Nail: During the days of the unspeakable, Perri was sent to get Beatriss to safety in the Valley of Tranquillity so that she'd be safe from the impostor king. Instead, he went to warn Tesadora about the danger to the Forest-Dwellers. It's hard to say which choice was the right one.
• Jerkass: In Backstory, it's revealed that other Lumaterans saw him as this because of his reputation and his behavior. In reality, he was really a Jerk with a Heart of Gold.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: What he really was, in Backstory. Though he acted like a Jerkass, it was out of bitterness at his life and what he had become. Only Trevanion was able to see that he had a good heart and wasn't the monster everyone thought he was.
• Love at First Punch: Somehow, Perri and Tesadora went from fighting each other to falling in love.
• Star Crossed Romance: Is revealed to have had this with Tesadora, in Backstory. Since their people were enemies, they had grown up hating each other, and then all of a sudden they found themselves falling in love. Because of said reason, they had to be discreet about their romance, having trysts in the forest whenever they could. Then Tesadora discovered that she was pregnant, and she and Perri seriously began preparing to settle down and make a home together. Unfortunately, she miscarried their babe, and when she told Perri he cruelly accused her of doing away with the child, not realising that she was actually telling him the truth. This drove them apart, and they didn't fully reconcile and continue their relationship until over eighteen years later.
• True Companions: With Trevanion and the Guard.
• Undying Loyalty: To Trevanion, the Guard, and Lumatere.
  • Especially to Trevanion, as he was the only one (besides Tesadora) who saw past the savage monster everyone else saw and looked into his heart and saw the goodness Perri had. Trevanion was the first person to publicly treat him like a decent person and thought him worthy enough to be in the Guard, and because of that Perri is extremely loyal to him.

Moss of the River

A member of the Guard who originates from the Lumateran River People. He is a Gentle Giant who shared a close friendship with Balthazar and Isaboe during their childhood.

• Berserk Button: Never say that the Lumateran River People aren't the most superior fighters in Lumatere in front of Moss.
• Friend to All Children: He was very close to the royal children before the Unspeakable and was devastated at Isaboe's death and Balthazar's disappearance.
• Gentle Giant: For all his skill as a warrior and his muscular figure, he has a very soft heart.
• Pride: He prides himself on being of the River, whose people he claims are the strongest fighters in Lumatere.
• Undying Loyalty: To Trevanion, the Guard, and Lumatere.

Aldron of the River

A guard who comes from the Lumateran River People. He is cocky and arrogant, but generally a good guy. He and Finnikin don't get along well.

• Undying Loyalty: To Trevanion, the Guard, and Lumatere.

Lumateran Rock People

Finnikin of the Rock

Son of Trevanion, the Captain of the Guard, Finnikin lived a simple life as part of a Generation Xerox in the making: he was best friends with Crown Prince Balthazar and Lucian, the son of the Mont leader, Saro. All three expected to take their fathers' places eventually... Unfortunately, the five days of the unspeakable stopped that. They formed a pact to guide and protect the royal house of Lumatere, and after the days of the unspeakable, Finnikin travels with Sir Topher, trying to get the Lumateran exiles more rights and better treatment, while constantly looking for Balthazar, who he believes is still alive. Then he meets Evanjalin, and the rest is history.

• Babies Ever After: He and Isaboe have a daughter together, named Jasmina.
• Badass Boast: "I never miss." Though it's said in a bitter tone, and is not boastful in any way.
• Badass Normal: He's a competent fighter (justified, given his father is Captain of the Lumateran Guard) who can wield a sword and knives to good effect. On top of that, he is also very intelligent and cunning and knows every language in Skuldenore.
• ChildhoodFriends: With Balthazar and Lucian.
• The Chosen One: In Finnikin of the Rock, along with Evanjalin/ Isaboe.
• Cunning Linguist: Speaks the language of every kingdom in the land.
• Dark and Troubled Past: His father was exiled and imprisoned in a foreign land, leaving him fatherless as well as motherless, and his homeland was cursed and his people split in two.
• Determinator: He will not stop until Lumatere has a piece of land to call their own.
  • In the mines of Sorel Finnikin refuses to escape without Trevanion, which is what Trevanion is asking him to do, and doesn't give in until his father finally agrees with him.
• Green-Eyed Monster: Isaboe wakes up speaking Froi's name. Finnikin instantly concludes that they had an affair despite there being no evidence to prove it, has a fight with her, and later beats the crap out of Froi for it (he's called out on this). A point is made that he does not handle sharing very well—he has a jealous streak ten miles long and is just as stubborn to boot.
• Happily Married: In the later two books, to Isaboe.
• Hidden Heart of Gold: After the reunification of Lumatere, during diplomatic meetings with various neighboring kingdoms, Finnikin begins putting on an air of arrogance because it gives him an edge in negotiations.
• The Hero: He is the main protagonist of Finnikin of the Rock.
• Intergenerational Friendship: With Sir Topher, the king's First Man.
• Mercy Kill: Killed Seranonna, who was being burned at the stake at the time. He thought he was going to kill Beatriss, but Seranonna changed the plan and gave her life so Beatriss could live.
• Missing Mom: Finnikin's mother died giving birth to him.
• Nerves of Steel: He never falters or panics in a fight.
• Official Couple: With Isaboe.
• Parental Abandonment: His mother died giving birth to him, and his father was imprisoned.
• Parental Substitute: Sir Topher is this for him, after his father is imprisoned for life outside Lumatere.
• Starting a New Life: As a child he was forced to leave Lumatere and wander in exile with Sir Topher, the king's First Man.
• Tragic Keepsake: Finnikin's sword. It was once his father's and is a reminder of everything Finnikin lost when Seranonna cursed Lumatere.
• True Companions: With Balthazar and Lucian, before the days of the unspeakable. During the series, with Lucian, Evanjalin/ Isaboe, Trevanion, Sir Topher, and Froi.
• Undying Loyalty: To the Lumateran royal family, in particular Isaboe and their daughter Jasmina.
• Walking the Earth: What Finnikin spends most of his childhood doing.
• What the Hell, Hero?: Gets one himself from Froi in Quintana of Charyn, when he attacks him on the Charyn-Osterian border out of jealousy of Froi's closeness to Isaboe.

Rhiannon of the Rock

Jasmina's nursemaid.

Celestina of the Rock

Finnikin's great-aunt on his mother's side. She has a very fussy and caring personality.

Bartolina of the Rock

Finnikin's mother and Trevanion's first wife. She died giving birth to Finnikin long ago.

• Death by Childbirth: She died giving birth to her son, Finnikin.
• First Love: Is this for Trevanion.
• The Lost Lenore: Is this for Trevanion.
• Strong Family Resemblance: Finnikin is said to look a lot like her, as they both have berry-coloured hair and pale skin.

Lumateran Flatlanders

Sir Topher of the Flatlands

Sir Kristopher of the Flatlands, the king's First Man. Finnikin's teacher and guardian during the years of exile.

Lady Beatriss of the Flatlands

Daughter of the duke of Sennington and the nursemaid of the royal children, Beatriss became Trevanion's lover after throwing herself in the path of a bull to save the children. When the Unspeakable happened, she ended up stuck inside, and was subsequently beaten, raped and abused repeatedly to serve as an example and warning to others. Despite that, she remained a stalwart figure, encouraging and guiding her people.

• Badass Bookworm: Like all noble-born women she is educated and well-read. At the same time she's a determined woman who never gives up when others do.
• Berserk Button: Do not insult her daughter. Especially do not call her daughter an abomination within Vestie's hearing.
  • Beatriss snaps and slaps Makli across the face after the latter accuses her of having lied about the abuse and rape she endured and calls her a slut and a whore.
• Determinator: One of the best. Beatriss the Bold never stops planting.
  • She forced Tesadora to come up with a plan to save the girls of Lumatere by threatening to ban her from seeing Vestie (who was suspected to be connected to the missing heir to Lumatere). Tesadora quickly gave in.
• Heroic BSoD: Falls into a depression in the second book when dealing with several douchebag nobles, especially the one who raped her and fathered her daughter.
• Hope Bringer: Fills this role with Vestie in the eyes of the Lumateran people, after Vestie's birth.
• I Did What I Had to Do: Her response to the praise and respect she gets for caring for the well-being of other oppressed Lumaterans and working with Tesadora to break the curse over Lumatere despite being targeted, abused and raped by the Imposter King and his men.
• Mama Bear: She is very protective of Vestie, and will go berserk if anyone hurts her.
• Nice Girl: Is known for being very kind-hearted and warm.
• Rape as Backstory: She was raped time and again by the impostor king's men during Lumatere's ten-year-long curse. Most notably, Vestie was conceived when Lord Nettice was forcibly bedding Beatriss.
• Second Love: Is this for Trevanion.
• Silk Hiding Steel: She may look like a fragile blossoom, but deep inside she is strong and determined.
• Team Mom: Becomes this after Lumatere is reunified.
• Took a Level in Badass: While stuck inside Lumatere, she went from being simply the Lady of Sennington to the woman who gave hope back to the Lumateran people and refused to stop planting even when the impostor king's men tore down her crops over and over again. She was the one who blackmailed Tesadora into hiding the Lumateran girls and the Lagrami novices and conspired with her to try and break the curse over Lumatere.

Vestie of the Flatlands

Beatriss' daughter, Vestie is a beautiful young girl who managed to remain innocent during the curse (well, she did have Tesadora's help). She has a special connected with Isaboe and walks the sleep with her during Isaboe's time of bleeding.

• Cheerful Child: Is usually this, except when she's walking the sleep with Isaboe and Tesadora. It's one of the traits which others find very heartwarming, given how she was conceived and what she's had to endure while walking the sleep.
• Child by Rape: She is a result of Nettice's rape of Beatriss.
• Children Are Innocent: Only because Tesadora stepped in to ensure it.
• Disappeared Dad: Her father is nowhere in her life, and no one besides Beatriss knows who he is.
• The Empath: Walks the sleep alongside Tesadora and Isaboe.
• Psychic Dreams for Everyone: She walks the sleep with Tesadora and Isaboe.
• Wham Line: For the Lumaterans, years before the series begins: Vestie's first word was "Isaboe".

Tarah

A loyal friend of Beatriss.

Samuel

A loyal and protective friend of Beatriss.

Lord August of the Flatlands

The duke of Sayles. He is a close friend of Trevanion and extremely loyal to the Lumateran royal family. Husband of Abian, father of Celie, Talon, Duret, and Ren, and he takes Froi into his home.

• The Exile: Fled Lumatere with his family during the Days of the Unspeakable, and spent the majority of the ten years in Belegonia, working as the Belegonian king's ambassador.
• Nice Guy: He is decidedly nicer than his father or any of the other surviving Flatland lords (besides Lady Beatriss).
• Non-Action Guy: Decidedly so. Justified given his title as the duke of Sayles and a Flatland lord.
• Like a Son to Me: Froi is this to him.
• True Companions: With Trevanion.
• Undying Loyalty: To the Lumateran royal family.

Lady Abian of the Flatlands

August's wife, and the lady of Sayles. Wife of August, mother of Celie, Talon, Duret, and Ren, and she takes Froi into her home.

• The Exile: During the days of the unspeakable, she fled Lumatere with her family and spent the next ten years in Belegonia.
• Like a Son to Me: Treats Froi as if he were part of her family. She tells Isaboe to her face that she cares for Froi like a son.
• Undying Loyalty: To the Lumateran royal family.

Lady Celie of the Flatlands

The quiet, somewhat introverted daughter of August and Abian. In books two and three, she spends a great deal of time in Belegonia. Is the main character of the short story Ferragost.

• The Exile: Spent ten years in exile in Belegonia with her family.
• Undying Loyalty: To the Lumateran royal family.

Froi of Lumatere

An orphan found by Finnikin and Evanjalin on their travels. Taken in by Lord August and Lady Abian of the Flatlands after the curse is ended. See Other Charynites.

Lord Selric

The duke of Fenton, husband of Lady Milla, and father of Hera, Frana, and Lestra. The entire family died of plague in Charyn during the years of exile. The sale of his village, Fenton, becomes a major point of contention between Lady Beatriss and the other Flatland lords.

Lord Nettice

Vestie's biological father.

Lord Freychinet

One of Nettice's friends.

Lady Milla

The wife of a duke and a minor character. Was one of the exiles during the years of the curse. After the curse is ended, she is in league with Lords Nettice and Freychinet.

Makli

One of Fenton's villagers. Husband of Genova and father of Kie. Comes into conflict with Lady Beatriss.

Genova

One of Fenton's villagers. Wife of Makli and mother of Kie.

Lumateran River People

Trevanion of the River

See The Lumateran Guard.

Abian of the River

See Lumateran Flatlanders.

Lumateran Monts

Evanjalin of the Monts

A Lumateran Mont orphaned during the massacre of the exiles in Sarnak. Is intelligent, craft, and has many secrets. See Lumateran Royal Family.

Saro of the Monts

The leader of the Monts in Finnikin of the Rock. Father of Lucian, he was the brother of the deceased Queen of Lumatere, making him Isaboe's maternal uncle.

• Action Dad: Fights in the battle for Lumatere, where he perishes.
• Character Death: Dies during the exiles' return to Lumatere.
• Gentle Giant: He is a very tall man, and has one of the softest hearts shown in the series.
• Nice Guy: He is one of the kindest characters in the series. Anyone who has known him always recalls his gentle and fair personality.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: Is respected as a fair-minded leader of the Monts.
• Sacrificial Lion: In the first book's climax. He is killed by a Charynite during the battle to retake Lumatere.
• Undying Loyalty: To the Lumateran royal family.

Lucian of the Monts

Saro's son and Finnikin's best friend, Lucian takes up the mantle of Mont leader after his father's death. He spends most of the second book struggling to wield his power, having been completely unprepared for it and having to deal with the stress of having a large group of Charynite refugees turning up on his doorstep.

• Disappeared Dad: His father is killed during the battle for Lumatere in Finnikin of the Rock, leaving Lucian to lead their tribe.
• Fire-Forged Friends: With Tesadora, Rafuel and the Charynites in the valley.
• Hypocritical Humour: He complains that Phaedra pronounces his name wrong- 'Luci-en' instead of just 'Lucian', while she thinks she's pronouncing it perfectly. As it turns out, she thinks he's pronouncing her name wrong- 'Phedra' instead of 'Phaedra'.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: For all his hatred towards Charynites, his bluntness and other jerkass qualities, he truly cares about his people and wants to do the right thing.
• Nice Guy: Although as a child, he was more of a Jerk with a Heart of Gold, and he has several Kick the Dog moments.
• Perfectly Arranged Marriage: To Phaedra, but it takes a while for him to figure it out.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: Becomes this after becoming leader of the Monts.
• Undying Loyalty: To the Lumateran royal family.

Yata

The very elderly matriarch of the Monts, Yata may not be the official leader, but she guides all of her family with her wisdom, and they revere her.

• Doting Grandparent: Was this towards the royal children, who she called her 'pretty babies'.
• The Exile: She fled with the Monts into exile and lived out the next ten years in the Osterian hills.
• Nice Lady: She is one of the kindest characters in the entire series.
• Odd Friendship: Was close friends with Seranonna of the Forest-Dwellers, who helped her safely deliver her daughter Tilda into the world.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: She is the matriarch of the Mont tribe, and respected and listened to for her wisdom.
• Undying Loyalty: To the Lumateran royal family.

Jory of the Monts

One of Lucian's many relatives.

• The Atoner: After realising how bad his actions have been he tries his hardest to make up for them and prove to Lucian, Harker and Kasabian that he isn't the person his previous actions showed him to be.
• Character Development: He is a complete Jerkass at the beginning of his character arc, leading gangs of his friends to childishly sneak into the Charynite encampment in the valley and destroy the Charynites' garden patches and urinate in the stream in front of their women. Later with Lucian's help he realises how much of a Jerkass he'd been and strives to make up for his past actions by guarding Phaedra and aiding Harker and Kasabian however he can.
• Fire-Forged Friends: With the Charynites in the valley.
• Jerkass: Was one in the beginning of his arc, but gradually developed into Jerk with a Heart of Gold.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Though his actions towards the Charynites are at first cruel and thoughtless, he quickly shows that he is a good person underneath all his jerkassery.
• Undying Loyalty: To the Lumateran royal family.

Lumateran Forest Dwellers

Seranonna of the Forest Dwellers

The infamous witch of the Forest of Lumatere, Seranonna cast the curse that divided Lumatere in two. Eventually, she was locked up and Mercy Killed by Finnikin, when she would have otherwise died by being burned at the stake. An imposing, intimidating woman, Seranonna was nevertheless one of the most powerful characters in the series.

• Heroic Sacrifice: Tesadora smuggled her a potion to mimic death so she could escape execution. Seranonna gave it to Beatriss instead and took her place at the stake.
• Intergenerational Friendship: Was close friends with Queen Tilda, who she helped deliver into the world.
• Mercy Kill: She is killed by Finnikin of the Rock while burning at the stake.
• Posthumous Character: She is dead before the main plot of Finnikin of the Rock begins, and the role she played in the backstory is crucial to all three books (especially the first), though this isn't obvious initially.
• Psychic Powers: She could tell the future.
• Undying Loyalty: To the Lumateran royal family.

Tesadora of the Forest Dwellers

Seranonna's daughter, Tesadora is both feared and reviled for her sorcery, her antisocial personality, and her heritage—she's half-Charynite. Her mother dies during the days of the unspeakable, and she is forced to watch as the Forest Dwellers are murdered; she goes into hiding with the few survivors. At Beatriss' urging, she comes up with a plan to save the girls of Lumatere from being raped and tortured by the impostor king and his men.

• Arch-Enemy: She loathes Finnikin in the first book because Finnikin killed her mother. She relents a bit later, though. (And it does help that Finnikin only did so as a Mercy Kill, not because he actually wanted to.)
• Dating Catwoman: She and Perri were enemies when they were kids. Then they became lovers who were still enemies. They mellow out as they get older, though.
• Does Not Like Men: Very understandably.
• The Empath: Like Isaboe, she can walk the sleep of others.
• Fire-Forged Friends: Is this with Isaboe and Vestie, as they walk the sleep together. She and Beatriss became close friends after she rescued the latter from the palace dungeons and worked with her to break the curse over Lumatere and protect their people.
• Sterility Plague: As a half-Charynite, she got hit by it, and it made her miscarry her and Perri's unborn child.
• There Is Another: As it turns out, she's a double version: she's one of the last remaining Serkers and one of the last remaining Forest Dwellers.
• Undying Loyalty: To the Lumateran royal family.
• White Hair, Black Heart: What everyone else thinks of her. Her hair turned white from the effort of protecting Vestie from the horrors she would have otherwise witnessed.

Lumateran Priests and Priestesses

The Priest-King

Blessed Barakah.

The High Priestess

Blessed Kiria, the high priestess of the temple of Lagrami in the Sendecane cloister.

Charynite Valley Dwellers

Phaedra of Alonso

A lastborn Charynite girl and the beloved daughter of the provincaro of Alonso, Phaedra becomes Lucian's wife as part of an Arranged Marriage. At first, she is very out of place among the Monts, but they eventually begin to warm up to each other... until she dies of plague. As it turns out, however, she's not actually dead, she's hiding with Quintana of Charyn as one of her companions.

• All of the Other Reindeer: She doesn't fit in with the Mont women, who are all strong, hearty women who are used to work. Phaedra isn't, being a lastborn, and she's also very timid and shy. It doesn't help that she spent the first few weeks of the time of the mountain crying non-stop.
• Beware the Quiet Ones: She will speak up against injustice.
• Fire-Forged Friends: With Tesadora, Rafuel of Sebastabol, Quintana and the women of the valley, after they are all forced to work together to protect Quintana and her unborn baby. The development of Phaedra and the women's friendship is quite notable, as they all initially hate each other while they are trapped together after faking their deaths. It is only while they are hiding and protecting Quintana that they truly come to like and respect one another.

• Missing Mom: Phaedra's mother passed away when she was ten.
• Not Quite Dead: Due to Faking the Dead, to help protect Quintana.
• Perfectly Arranged Marriage: With Lucian.

• Tears of Joy: The Monts assume that her tears are from homesickness. In reality, she's crying every time she sees a child—living in a land with a permanent Sterility Plague tends to do that to you.
• True Companions: With Quintana, Cora, Jorja, and Florenza, but it takes a while.

Harker of Nebia

One of the Charynites who have settled in the valley between Lumatere and Charyn. He is Nebian by birth, and is the husband of Jorja and father of Florenza.

• Happily Married: To Jorja.

• Manly Tears: Breaks down into tears after hearing of the deaths of his wife and daughter. Seeing that, it's clear to everyone just how much he loved them.

Jorja of Nebia

Wife of Harker and mother of Florenza.

Florenza of Nebia

Daughter of Harker and Jorja, and one of the Charynites who had settle in the valley between Lumatere and Charyn. She is constantly haunted by memories of her escape through the sewers underneath Nebia, causing her to retch.

Kasabian

A valley-dweller. He is brother to Cora.

Cora

A valley-dweller. She is sister to Kasabian. She has a cynical personality and is scornful of all men (except her brother and Jory).

Ginny

A valley-dweller. Bitter and resentful of lastborns, who she believe took every opportunity away from her. Married to Gies.

Charyn Royal Family

Quintana of Charyn

The only daughter of the king of Charyn and his Sex Slave, Lirah of Serker, Quintana is infamously known as the 'mad princess'. Widely thought to be the cause of Charyn's Sterility Plague, the people of Charyn hate her and eagerly await the day she either breaks the curse or dies. In reality, she's actually the daughter of the oracle queen, and she's far from mad. Once Froi arrives, Quintana kicks off a chain of events that brings everything crashing down in chaos.

• Ax-Crazy: What everyone believes her to be, due to her erratic behaviour. The truth is much more complicated.
• Berserk Button: Don't talk down to her or condescend to her. She may be erratic, but she's not stupid, and she's not harmless.
  • She also despises Isaboe for trying to kill her.
• Beware the Silly Ones: Her father found that out in a very brutal fashion.
• Broken Bird: Big time. While you couldn't really make a contest of who had it rougher between her and Isaboe (due to vastly different circumstances), the fact that she had nearly nobody for so long (and the many horrific things in her past until she comes of age, at least) does put some of Isaboe's experiences to shame (if only in comparison).
• Brutal Honesty: She has a horrible habit of speaking the truth to other people (or blurting out other people's private affairs), causing the most awkward situations. Tesadora tries to teach her diplomacy and tact over the course of Quintana of Charyn, to get her out of this.
• The Chosen One: She is the lastborn girl of the Citavita who is fated to break the curse over Charyn and become pregnant with Charyn's first child in eighteen years.
• Dark and Troubled Past: Dear God. Where to start?
• Determinator: Nothing will stop her from trying to make the first and break Charyn's curse.
• Happily Adopted: Not 'adopted', strictly speaking, but Lirah raised her as her own even though both of them knew that Quintana wasn't Lirah's kid. Neither minded.
• Heroes Love Dogs: Quintana adores dogs.
• Mundane MacGuffin Person: In the third book. She's pregnant with Charyn's first child to be conceived in eighteen years, who will also be their future king.

• Mama Bear: To her son.
• Missing Mom: Her biological mother died in childbirth.
• Mundane MacGuffin Person: In the third book. She's pregnant with Charyn's first child to be conceived in eighteen years, who will also be their future king.
• No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Quintana saved the lastborn girls from being raped to create the first; in return, they mocked her madness.

• Properly Paranoid: Eats off everyone's plate except her own, responds to anyone who enters her room at night by poking a dagger into them...
• Rape as Backstory: She was forced to sleep with the lastborn boys of Charyn in an attempt to 'create the first' (while at the same time protecting the lastborn girls of Charyn who would have had to endure what Quintana did if Quintana hadn't stepped in and prevented it). She was also raped by Bestiano, who believed that he could make the first.
• Self-Made Orphan: Quintana murdered her father.
• Sins of Our Fathers: Isaboe's first reaction when meeting Quintana is to nearly kill her, saying that it's for her dead family. Except that Quintana was a child at the time, had no say in it and probably barely even knew it was happening.
• Split Personality: Except that it's not another personality, it's the spirit of her dead twin sister.
• Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: Quintana is terrified of being dunked underwater. It comes from having to endure being half-drowned by the Soothsayer in the Citavita every year on the Day of Weeping, in an attempt to reach the lake of the half-dead.

The Reginita

Regina of Turla. Seemingly one of Quintana's split personalities, she's eventually revealed to be Quintana's stillborn twin sister, who returned with her from the lake of the half-dead. She was named Regina by Gargarin and calls herself the Reginita, the "little queen".

The King of Charyn

The ruler of Charyn, and Quintana's father. Ordered the invasion and assassinations that led to the five days of the unspeakable in Lumatere.

Aunt Mawfa

Charyn Priests and Priestesses

The Oracle Queen

Arjuro's mentor. Was a victim of the attack on the godshouse eighteen years past; her tongue and fingers were cut off so she could not communicate. Nine months later, on the day of weeping, she threw herself in the gravina that separated the palace and the godshouse. In truth, she died in childbirth, giving birth to twin daughters who were sired by the king of Charyn. She is the biological mother of Quintana and the reginita, who was stillborn. Later, she is revealed to be a Turlan named Solange, who was kidnapped from her family for her powerful psychic abilities.

Arjuro of Abroi

See Other Charynites.

People of the Citavita

Donashe

One of the street lords. Eventually goes to the valley between Charyn and Lumatere and rules over the people there, terrorizing them. He is on the lookout for Quintana of Charyn, as there has been a prize issued for the return of her babe.

Tariq of the Citavita

The first child of Charyn. Son of Quintana of Charyn. Believed to be sired by Tariq of Lascow, but his actual father is Froi.

People of Paladozza

De Lancey of Paladozza

The provincaro of Paladozza, which somehow manages to remain a very nice place to live despite all the chaos that is Charyn. He is a childhood friend of both Gargarin and Arjuro.

• The Atoner: He sent a farrier to carry a message. Said farrier got beheaded for it. De Lancey adopted his children and brought them up as his own to make up for his mistake.
• Berserk Button: Don't ever imply that his children aren't his just because they're adopted.
• Childhood Friends: With Arjuro, Gargarin and Lirah, though their friendship began more during their adolescence than in childhood.
• Earn Your Happy Ending: He and Arjuro are lovers, but it takes a hell of a long time for them to get to a place where they can be together without any chaos.
• Like a Son to Me: Both Tippideaux and Grijio, despite them not being his biological children, are like this to him.
• My Greatest Failure: His biggest regret is sending the message to the king which resulted in the farrier's beheading.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: Is this for the people of Paladozza.
• Straight Gay: He is attracted to men, mainly Arjuro.

Tippideaux

De Lancey's adopted daughter. She is the most beautiful girl in Charyn, according to Quintana.

Grijio

De Lancey's adopted son, and younger brother of Tippideaux. He is a lastborn boy. He befriends Froi during the latter's stay in Paladozza.

People of Alonso

Sol of Alonso

The provincaro of Alonso, and Phaedra's father.

People of Jidia

Orlanda of Jidia

The provincara of Jidia.

People of Desantos

Satch of Desantos

A lastborn.

People of Sebastabol

Olivier of Sebastabol

A lastborn, who Froi impersonates during his stay in the Citavita.

People of Avanosh

Vincenzo of Avanosh

The provincaro of Avanosh.

Feliciano of Avanosh

The nephew of Vincenzo who is suggested as a betrothal candidate for Quintana.

Turlans

Ariston of Turla

The Turlan leader.

The Dying Man of Turla

Argus of Turla. Father of Hesta and Solange.

Hesta of Turla

Daughter of the dying man of Turla.

Solange of Turla

Daughter of the dying man of Turla. Kidnapped from the Turlan mountains to be made into the oracle queen. See Charyn Priests and Priestesses.

Regina of Turla

See the Charyn Royal Family.

Mort

Lasconians

Tariq of Lascow

• The Chosen One

Perabo

Dolyn of Lascow

Florik of Lascow

People of Nebia

Bestiano of Nebia

The Charyn king's First Adviser.

Dorcas

Fekra

Priests of Trist

Simeon

Rafuel of Sebastabol

• Badass Bookworm: He's a skilled assassin, and also of a scholarly bent.
• Chekhov's Gunman: Baby Froi was smuggled out of the palace by a boy with a basket and lots of cats. Rafuel was that boy.

• Nice Guy: He's one of the few characters in the story who (initially) isn't psychologically damaged and/or a bit of a Jerkass. He does play The Chessmaster at times, but only For the Greater Good and he's not callous about it at all.
• No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: His ultimate fate is to be beaten so badly that he can barely move and his spirit has been crushed, though it's hinted that he may eventually recover. May.
• Undying Loyalty: To Quintana, Charyn, and the little king. As Rafuel puts it:

  Rafuel: Everything for Charyn!

Other Charynites

Froi of Lumatere

Born Dafar of Abroi, Froi is the son of Gargarin of Abroi and Lirah of Serker. He was smuggled out of Charyn as a baby and sent to live in the godshouse of Sarnak, which went fine until said godshouse was destroyed when he was four. After that, he ended up a street child, and finally ended up running into Finnikin and Evanjalin/Isaboe over a decade later. After some very rocky moments, he becomes one of their trusted allies and is brought into the house of Lord August and Lady Abian of the Flatlands, where he happily resides.

• The Atoner: After he nearly rapes Isaboe, he refuses to sleep with any woman, even a prostitute or one who wants him. He finally sleeps with Quintana after years of keeping his vow to Isaboe.

• Badass Normal: He's one hell of a fighter. Not surprising, since he's been trained by Trevanion and Perri themselves. He also has some skill in diplomacy and was taught by the priest-king.
• The Chosen One: He is the lost lastborn of the Citavita, and the one meant to produce the first with Quintana.
• Dark and Troubled Past: He was made a child prostitute at a very young age. Then later, Isaboe sold him to the slave traders of Sorel (to be fair, he did try to rape her, which led to it). Things do get better later, when Finnikin and Isaboe save his hide out of remorse.

• Do Wrong, Right: Froi sneaks into Quintana's room at night several times, and each time she greets him by trying to stab him, thinking he's an assassin. His response is to get annoyed and show her how to kill a man in five seconds.
• Funetik Aksent: In the first book, when he's not very good at speaking Lumateran.

• Happily Adopted: He is informally adopted by Lord August's family in Sayles at the end of Finnikin of the Rock.
• Happily Married: To Quintana after the events of Quintana of Charyn.

• I Am Who?: Froi is shocked to discover that he is the son of Lirah of Serker and Gargarin of Abroi, and the lost lastborn of the Citavita.
• Intergenerational Friendship: With Trevanion, Perri, and the priest-king.

• Luke, I Am Your Father: Gargarin of Abroi is Froi's biological father.
• Made a Slave: After Froi's attempt to rape her, Isaboe sells him into slavery in part as revenge and also to win back their stolen horse.
• Meaningful Name: Not only is it the name that was originally belonged to his father and uncle, it's about the most inconspicuous name possible—"Dafar" means 'nothing' and Abroi is a shithole that nobody wants anything to do with.
• Mistaken Nationality: When he first sees Froi, Finnikin mistakenly believes that Froi is a Lumateran exile who probably doesn't remember his homeland because he would have been very young when the days of the unspeakable happened. In reality, Froi is a Charynite with no Lumateran blood in him at all.

• Paper-Thin Disguise: He goes undercover as Olivier of Sebastabol, despite not looking anything like Olivier. It only works because nobody at the castle has ever seen Olivier, and he avoids any visitors who have.
• Sex Slave: Of the forced prostitution variety.

Gargarin of Abroi

Known as one half of the only good thing to ever come out of Abroi, Charyn's very own Wretched Hive, Gargarin is a genius architect and inventor who is well-known for his craftsmanship.

• Abusive Parents: His father is a superstitious Jerkass who abused both his sons because they are twins (and therefore unnatural in his eyes). After Arjuro is revealed to be gods' touched he is beaten a lot, in the father's attempt to 'eliminate' Arjuro's gift of godspeak. To protect Arjuro, Gargarin convinces him to share the beatings with him, meaning that Gargarin took some of the beatings meant for Arjuro by pretending to be Arjuro.
• Big Brother Instinct: As a child. Gargarin would do anything to protect Arjuro, going as far as taking some of his beatings for him and running away to Paladozza with him.
• Dark and Troubled Past: He was a victim of child abuse, and was later wrongfully imprisoned by the king for eight years.
• Hot-Blooded: Not as much during the series, but a bit when he was young.
• Luke, I Am Your Father: He's Froi's father.
• Meaningful Rename: As young children, he and Arjuro named each other after a pair of exploring brothers from a story. Before then they were both called Dafar by their father.
• Single-Target Sexuality: He and Lirah are this for each other.
• The Smart Guy: He is considered the 'smart one' out of his family and friends, with almost everyone respecting him for his genius and courting his favor for one reason or another. He is the one to go to if you have an architectural problem, if you need advice, or just for political reasons. He is the first choice to be First Advisor to the new king, simply because of his brilliant mind.
• Twin Switch: Though it wasn't by his choice. Arjuro left him to take his place as a prisoner. Gargarin spent nearly a decade chained to the Charynite king's desk, believed to be Arjuro.
• Undying Loyalty: Before the oracle queen's death, Gargarin had this toward the king of Charyn. Years later, after all the torture and imprisonment he endured, Gargarin's hatred of the king is so great that he returns to the Citavita planning to murder him.

Arjuro of Abroi

The other half of the Abroi brothers. Arjuro is gods' touched, a genius healer who is the last remaining Priestling... despite being nearly forty. He and his brother don't really get along.

• Abusive Parents: His father beat him constantly after realising that he was gods' touched, out of fear more than anything else. Sometimes Gargarin took the beatings for him, by pretending to be Arjuro.
• Body Horror: His back is branded with the Charyn word for traitor. It's no wonder Arjuro tends to keep it covered all the time.
• Brutal Honesty: Doesn't shy away from certain topics, and is known for being very blunt and hard to talk to.
• ChildhoodFriend: He and De Lancey are this to one another.
• Dark and Troubled Past: Where to start? He was abused and treated like an animal by his own father when he was still a child, and only escaped from it because Gargarin fled with him to Paladozza, intending to leave him in the godshouse there. The two brothers eventually found a happy life there together, although their father still occasionally disrupted their lives. Then they both moved to the Citavita, where everything changed. The godshouse massacre happened, and Arjuro was framed as a conspirator even though he had only been trying to save his beloved oracle from the palace and the king. He was chained like an animal in the godshouse where all his friends had died. Nine months later, he was chained to the godshouse balcony and forced to watch as his own brother supposedly murdered the Oracle and her baby by throwing them from the palace balcony into the gravina below; he was so heartbroken and enraged by Gargarin's action that he revenged himself on him by tricking him into taking his place.
• Deadpan Snarker: Snarks the most out of any character in the series. It's possibly where Froi gets his Deadpan Snarker tendencies from.
• Frame-Up: He was implicated in the massacre of the priestlings and the abuse of the Oracle, mainly because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He had returned from a night with De Lancey to find the godshouse attacked and its people dead and the Oracle horribly mutilated, and because he cared deeply about the Oracle he tried to help her hiding her in the cave outside the Citavita and asking De Lancey to help get her to safety and keep her away from the king (as he believed him to have caused the attack on the godshouse). Unfortunately De Lancey didn't believe that the king was a threat and ratted the Oracle's hiding place out to him (albeit for noble reasons). The result was that Arjuro was found in the cave with the Oracle and was accused of associating with those who planned the massacre and arrested.
• Green-Eyed Monster: By his own word, he is jealous of anyone who becomes close to Gargarin, and hates having to share his brother's attention with another person. It's the reason he and Lirah have such an antagonistic relationship throughout the trilogy— they are jealous of Gargarin's love for each other.
• Hotblooded: Very. It could be part of the reason De Lancey is so attracted to him.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He may be rude, filthy, and a drunkard, but he truly cares for his family and friends and has a good heart. He also has good reasons for being the way he is.
• Meaningful Rename: He and Gargarin named themselves as children after a pair of adventurers who travelled beyond Skuldenore in the year one-hundred.
• No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Got locked up in Lumatere for helping a soldier to save some novices of Lagrami.
• Straight Gay: He is shown to like only men. His relationship with De Lancey is outright stated to be romantic, or at least filled with Belligerent Sexual Tension.
• Strong Family Resemblance: Personality-wise, Froi bears a strong resemblance to him, with De Lancey even complaining that he's 'another Arjuro in the making'. Physically, Arjuro is said to take strongly after his Osterian mother. He and Gargarin also fall into this category, given that they're identical twins.
• Twin Switch: He forcibly switched places with Gargarin after the Oracle's death. Because they were identical twins no one had any clue that it wasn't Arjuro who was imprisoned for eight years until Arjuro and Froi revealed the switch to everyone.
• Uncleanliness Is Next to Ungodliness: He doesn't wash a lot, mainly because to do so he'd have to take off his clothes. His back is marred with horrible scars and a brand - the Charyn word for traitor.

Lirah of Serker

Known to most as 'the king's Serker whore', Lirah of Serker is one of the world's most beautiful women and the supposed mother of Quintana. She's whored out to anyone who pleases the king, though it should be noted that at no point did she actually agree to any of it. She's locked up in a tower for allegedly attempting to murder Quintana, and is not even allowed to see her. (Quintana manages to bend the rules so they can talk occasionally, though.)

• Because You Were Nice to Me: She took a liking to Gargarin when they first met in the Charyn palace because he never tried to forcibly bed her and was always courteous and kind to her.

• Green Thumb: Lirah loves gardening. During her twelve-year imprisonment she keeps a garden on the roof of her prison tower and lovingly tends to it. Much later, after she takes up residence in the godshouse following Quintana's return to the Charyn palace, she takes over Arjuro's garden and is determined to make it more beautiful than the prison garden, which has been taken over by the ambassador of Nebia's wife.
• Like a Son to Me: Lirah views Quintana as this, despite having hated her for not being her son when she was still an infant.
• Made a Slave: She was sold as a slave to the Citavita when she was thirteen-years-old, by her own sister (who was also her mother).
• Parental Incest: Her mother was also her sister.
• Sex Slave: Lirah is the sex-slave of the king of Charyn.
• So Beautiful, It's a Curse: Lirah views her beauty as this, as Quintana points out.

  Quintana: Lirah said my father would never let her cut her hair and that it was just a different type of shackle. Isn’t that strange, Sir Gargarin? That her beauty was her downfall and my plainness is mine.

• Sugar-and-Ice Personality: Lirah is cold toward strangers and people she doesn't like, but in contrast is warm and caring towards her family and those she trusts completely.
• There Is Another: She's not the only living Serker, but there aren't many left. Most are said to be in hiding.

Lumateran Goddess

Lagrami

Sagrami

The Goddess Complete

Charyn Gods

Trist