In Caz's backstory, he's defending a castle under siege with provisions running low and little hope of rescue. In despair, he begs the gods to save his men but receives no answer. Or so he thought.
In the aftermath of the siege, Caz is sold as a galley slave and undergoes horrific experiences that cause him severe PTSD such that even months after his rescue, being given shelter by his old court nearly makes him cry.
Umegat awakens from a coma, only to discover he, a deeply learned scholar who is trying to take solace from disaster in a beloved book, has lost the ability to read.
Teidez, who may have been headstrong and a bit too easily led, dies of an infected wound at age fifteen.
Iselle's reaction to the revelation of Caz's attempt at death magic in order to save her from marriage to the monstrous Dondo.
Ista's backstory. Married into a curse without being told, being given the knowledge to break the curse but failing to do so and losing her husband in the process and then being regarded as insane and mewed up for years until finally her children are taken back to the same cursed court where one of them dies before the other is finally able to break the curse.
Paladin of Souls
Ista and Arhys trading rescues in the courtyard.
The Hallowed Hunt
Earl Horseriver sees his home overrun by invaders who horrifically murder him and his entire army and then finds himself unwillingly body-snatching his descendants for hundreds of years, unable to restore the Weald as he knew it and unable to escape even in death. When Ingrey asks Horseriver what he wants, he heartbreakingly cries that he wants his world back, his wife and his sons in the days of peace before the Darthacan invasion.
The ghost of Ingrey's father being too decayed to assent to the Gods. Ingrey can only release it into oblivion.
Penric and the Shaman
Inglis is a bright, young scholar who makes a horrible mistake that leads to his friend's death and near sundering and Inglis' flight across the Weald, trying to find a shaman who can cleanse his friend's soul since Inglis' own powers are on the fritz. And he has to coat the knife containing his friend's soul with his own blood every day leading to massive scarring on both his arms. By the time Penric and Oswyl (the arresting officer) catch up to him, he's too exhausted and in despair to resist.
Penric's Mission
In the years since Penric's Fox where we last saw Penric as an enthusiastic young scholar, Penric has lost both his biological mother and his mother-figure, the Princess-Archdivine of Martensbridge, and was burned out as a doctor by the Mother's Order (who gave him only desperate cases leading to Penric losing most of his cases) to the point that he tried to commit suicide and was only saved through Desdemona's intervention (e.g. Penric standing on a hillside slashing his arms while Desdemona counteracted by healing them until Penric passed out).
Nikys tries to break her brother out of prison only to be foiled first by Adelis' refusal to leave on the grounds that he is innocent and will be vindicated and then by the authorities who predicted she would try to rescue her brother (although not that Adelis wouldn't cooperate). The smarmy lieutenant then tells her that she can come back the next day to collect her brother, only for Nikys to realize when they bring Adelis out that the reason they're releasing him is that they've blinded her beloved brother. Even more tragic when you realize that the only reason this happened is that Adelis was too successful a general, which scared the politicians.
Afterward, Nikys is trying to care for her suicidally depressed brother all while her money runs out. It takes on an even darker undertone later when you realize this parallels Nikys' earlier experience nursing her dying husband who didn't want to live but whom Nikys wasn't ready to let go. It's a relief for all concerned, readers included, when Penric shows up to give Nikys a break.
Knot of Shadows
Poor little Agno. Four years old and gets caught by an unexpected flood in the storm sewer. And then Penric, with a three-year-old daughter, has to go find his body and bring it back.
Vissa's story. Raising her son without a father, with her brother's help. Her son finds an excellent job in the Customs House, is quickly promoted to Senior Clerk, and is seriously being talked about as the next Master of the Customs House...only to be framed for theft and forced to commit suicide to protect his family.
