His Majesty, King Gort III of Turnobae
(Gort)
Not a very nice man, overall. Somewhat arrogant, stingy, and bad-tempered. However, he's also a pragmatist and distrustful of mercenaries (sometimes with good reason, it has to be said). Probably the most powerful non-magical ruler in the northern world - but that doesn't necessarily mean he's too bright.

Mordlin the Sage
(Maud-lin)
Not exactly your typical wise old hermit who lives halfway up a mountain. True, he does live halfway up a mountain, but in the catacombs of a ruined temple, with a full contingent of guards, servants, pupils and disciples. Rather arrogant, but that's okay because he's tremendously powerful. Has many agents all over the place, and is something of a meddler, or puppet-master - generally for the benefit of a lot of people, not just himself. As he is so powerful, and so meddlesome, I probably should get round to working out what the limits of his considerable talents actually are, at some point.

His Majesty, King Dashell II of Galorndan
(Da-shell)
Young-ish, handsome, intelligent, athletic, second most powerful non-magical ruler in the northern world - but that may be changing soon. Knows the value of good mercenaries, and good intelligence. Has a fondness for magical items, and may rely on them a little too much. But, hey, he's got a top-notch court wizard, a first class general and a competent army, and if all else fails, he's got a really shiny magic sword - so why worry?

General Kael
(Kayl)
Head of the Galorndan armed forces, including the intelligence services and the King's personal guard, The Order of the Fox. A huge man, friendly, good at his job, and with a huge & hearty apetite for both food and drink.

Her Majesty, Queen Elspeth III of Turnobae
(Els-puth)
Daughter of Gort. Rather more attractive and intelligent than her late father, but also more religious. Not the sort who's prone to girly-mishaps when in trouble - the answer to most problems lies Heavenward, apparently.

Anselm and Georgia, Knights of the Green Cross
(An-selm, Jorj-ah)
Paladins, basically. These two in particular are part of the bodyguard of Queen Elspeth III of Turnobae.

Lethwin Gorchia
(Leth-win Gor-chee-ah)
A rather arrogant, but very good, agent for those who need their political work to be somewhat less than above board. Since he's based in Doronatha, his rates are high, and his success rate notabale.

Hode, Saggitta, Roland, Boruta and Dalian
(Hohd, Saj-it-tuh, Roh-lund, Boh-root-uh, Day-li-un)
A motley collection of young warriors of various types, who, for one reason or another, signed up with Cullan and Alys when they went after Morgan.

Saldan
(Sall-dan)
A Saracen of the Order of the Crescent, the M'hustlamite counterpart to the Knights of the Green Cross. Fiercely loyal to his faith, and determined to stop the Sword Bearers, he was forced to flee Ras Natara after his sister disappeared and his life was threatened.

 

Short Stories

Ander Terney
(An-duh Tur-nee)
The son of a city guardsman.

Lirin Rothsun
(Lir-rin Roth-son)
The daughter and heir of an important nobleman.

Gisele Woodsdottir
(Jiz-ell Wudz-dot-tir)
A seamstress who wants to make more of herself.

Megnil of the Long Fang Tribe
(Meg-nil)
An Orcish hunter and successful warrior from a small tribe in the mountains of Yalkat.

Mathis
(Math-iss)
The chancellor of Lord Rothsun, with magical powers and high ambitions.

Sergeant Terney
(Ter-nee)
A respected Sergeant of the Day Watch in the city of Tasal.

Lady Chomolsky
(Chom-ol-ski)
An Inpokkari noblewoman residing in the Moratian city of Retal in the aftermath of the war. Occupies herself with shady activities.

Fossva
(Foss-fer)
An alchemist with some rather unconventional ideas.

Captain Talyn of the Long Fang Tribe
(Tal-un)
Leader of the small Long Fang Tribe, ageing and honourable.

Pella of the Sharp Fang Tribe
(Pel-luh)
Apprentice Healer of the Sharp Fang Tribe, becomes betrothed to Megnil to join the two tribes together.

Bill, Charles, Clive, John, Terry
(Bill, Chahlz, Klyv, Jon, Teh-ri)
Members of the Bard's Upper Circle.

Kitta the Cutter and Nicholai the Orphan
(Kit-tuh, Nik-o-liy)
Two adventurers of dubious reputation who roam the Doronathan wastelands.

Davon
(Dah-von)
A rather unfortunate guard in the army of Morat.

Jared
(Ja-red)
The son of a hunter in southern Doronatha who has a narrow escape from the invaders.

Martha
(Mah-thuh)
The daughter of a village butcher from southern Doronatha who has a narrow escape from the invaders.

Deren
(Deh-ren)
The son of a village headman in southern Doronatha who has a narrow escape from the invaders.

Councillor Hardaker
(Hah-day-kuh)
A senior advisor to the Queen of Sullicana.

Queen Birgit of Sullicana
(Beer-git)
The first ruling Queen of the island Kingdom of Sullicana.

Liuprand
(Lee-oo-prand)
An imaginitive wizard specialising in creating golems.

Washin and Baltim
(Wash-in and Bol-tim)
Two layabouts, one of whom with a liking for pancakes, the other with a modicum of sense.

Doctor Max
(Max)
A very helpful assistant to the physician Doctor Steppan with rather a lot of extra-curricular activities.

Epiridus
(Eh-pih-rid-us)
An historian and analyst working for the court of Chalgan, who's sent to explore the Sylliku Wastes.

Kek
(Kek)
Member of the Dwarf mafia who has doubts about some of his colleagues.

Tang
(Tang)
A former Elven soldier, on the run due to turning to crime to try and pay his debts.

Nadim
(Na-deem)
A carpenter from Ras Natara who had been relocated to Darash in the aftermath of the war, and is not liking it.

Nazir
(Nazz-eer)
A former army quartermaster who relocated to Darash in the aftermath of the war, and is settling in nicely.

Estelle
(Ess-tel)
A professional match-maker in the city of Darash.

Philad
(Fee-lad)
A young man who abandoned his apprenticeship and had to take up thievery.

Virginia
(Ver-jin-ee-ah)
A war orphan working as a washerwoman for a banker.