Amelyn Eldest daughter of House Heligan and thus theoretically one of the "heirs of the spreading tree" referred to in the Opert Prophecy. Involved in the scuffle with the monstrosity and Fabian following the mock duel. Initially drawn to the dark alley by tales of a foe she must defeat, she mistakenly attacked Tiago, for which act she didn't quite manage to apologize. She resides in Hightown.
Alisdair Lady Amelyn's manservant.
Bastian A bespectacled associate of Damplestone and member of the organisation (the Alchemist's Guild?) that has attempted to enlist Rotheric's aid in an effort to eliminate a 'sword' of their unnamed enemy.
Damplestone An apothecary, rumoured to be an Alchemist. Salfard assists him with his experiments, and helped to demonstrate the effectivenesss of his permanent green dye. Rotheric buys potions from him in an effort to cure his brother.
Fabian Apprentice at the Imperial College, where he was popular, with a string of hangers-on, until his death. He seems to have been the dark magician commanding the monstrosity which attacked young Lazaran and Tiago during the duel. Fabian was slain by Salfard, showing him to be but a boy. He had used a carved bone figurine (now in Amelyn's possession) as a talisman to summon or control the demon, undoubtedly aided by someone else. A friend and fellow student of Gabriela's brother, Tomas.
Gabriela Tiago's mistress and sister to Tomas. She was coerced into feeding information about Tiago to the golden-voiced stranger. The latter subsequently proposed Tiago's involvment in the mock duel to her.
"Golden Voice" Inveigled Gabriela to reveal information about Tiago in return for money. He was particularly interested in Tiago's nighttime exploits. He set up Tiago for the mock duel, but when she refused, the hooded stranger intervened. Tall, very well-dressed, charming and very smiley. Gabriela could not recollect anything of his face or hair, presumably because of magical protection, but, she does recall that he has a rich, honey-like, golden voice, a bit too sweet, and that the lining of his cloak is an iridescent blue or green. He is connected to the Docks and to Amelyn's informant, Kenelm.
Hestin * Hestin is a devoted knight of the Order Of St Arkat The Great and proud member of the Maloric family. After witnessing his brothers' slaughter at Valantia, he vowed to protect Syran from its rulers' vain ambitions. Blinded during the same battle, he relies upon acute hearing, the tireless assistance of his young squire, Albin, and the arcane sight granted by his mysterious sword, Nightfire. Although active in his Order, he is nominally retired, instead striving to regain his former martial prowess as part of the secretive Watchmen. His commercial ventures on House Maloric's behalf have won respect from the Syran Commercial Union but contempt from the Old Houses.
Hooded Stranger Smaller and broader than the golden-voiced stranger, with a dark hooded cloak, Gabriela saw him only once, when he threatened Tomas' life to obtain her complicity in setting up the mock duel. Many rings on his fingers, likely indicating that he is a magician of some form. Connected to something nautical, whether to House Savaran, to the Church of the Waters and its associate, the Felster Naval College or even to the Shipwright's Guild.
Inglenook Salazari's apprentice.
Iracema Tiago's wife; romantically entangled with Rotheric.
Kenelm Amelyn's informant and cousin, though supposedly loyal, informed her wrongly that the enemy she seeks would be in that alleyway. Apparently connected in some way to Golden Voice.
Lampwick One of the Ears of the Faculties of Arkat, to whom Touchstone is supposed to report.
Larchspur Touchstone's former mentor. After making a blood-oath with Touchstone he revealed that the latter's masters may not be looking out for his best interests. Directed Touchstone to investigate Tiago and Amelyn.
Lord Lazaran The father of Salfard's master.
Marlowe * "So Marlowe is this Thief Taker, right? Big guy, tough-talking, but he's got smarts too - what he don't know 'bout Syran ain't much. Those cold blue eyes look right into you - can't hide squat from him. A good man in a tight spot; he can handle a blade, and a charm when he has to. Connected too - used to be a big noise in The Watch, but he busted up big with Commander Gorian after The Adamarl Affair, when that Revealing Glass went missing. Went somewhere foreign for a while - Elz Ast? Runs an outfit over in Oldtown now, and hangs around with this Lawmaker chick, Anderson."
Mendrik Tiago's trusted but unsavoury associate.
The Nose Posing as a beggar, this 'brother' from the Faculties of Arkat claimed to be an associate of Larchspur's and renewed his acquaintance with Touchstone when the latter returned from meeting his former mentor. He is, it transpires, the Nose of the Faculties, whose job it is to sniff out internal corruption within the organisation.
Quilaia * Nailbiter talks of his mistress: "Mistress, she even littler dan Enlo like me, so hoomanz no see her. But don't say dat, cuz she not like. She clever and she got big knife called Revenge; she talk to it and shock hoomanz when she stick it where Badlight no shine. Then Tempus juice work - but she no like kill. She healer, talk good talk, ask good money from Houses and snoop. Sometimes she work for Inglenook. She tell ESTA and Watch stuff too - though she miss Marlowe. She Stygian like me, but see happenings in Syran stone too. She also got dem stones from Uncle Renny."
Rotheric * The bastard Sir Rotheric is a seeker of the favours of great men and a cold-hearted seducer of women. A dandy who keeps getting himself indebted to his tailor, he also owes money to Damplestone for ill-fated cures for his demon-cursed brother - and bribes to keep it a secret. He is romantically involved with various rich and gullible women in town - and their maids. He earns money for his evil appetites by standing in for other nobles in duels - or even by doing their challenges for them. Alert and agile, he is a wicked swordsman and a cunning survivor.
Salazari * Salazari is Syran's greatest cartographer, renowned throughout Safelster for the veracity of his maps, defining space and trapping time with ink from the finest Mostali brass nibs. Feted by landed nobles, his scholarly demeanour belies a ruthless arrogance and hunger for power. A former student of Grosdal, he rejected post-perspectivism in favour of psychogeography and geomancy, harnessing the fabled Blue Orb to create maps more accurate than the territory they describe. From his solitary, elevated panopticon, Salazari obsessively traces the movements of all Syran's citizens. Each night, he sends forth his faithful apprentice, Inglenook, to seek new paths.
Salfard * Salfard is a servant, but he is also a mover and shaker, on the cusp of greatness, preferring anonymity, moving unseen among the courtiers and ecumenicals of Syran. Beyond hired help he has his own agendas, but no private wealth. Raised as an orphan by Obscurist Monks, he attends the Stygian Church. Master is vexacious, pandering enthusiasms for the hunt, tittle tattle and romance, so command of the Old Man's private army is occasionally his by default, while his Lordship lies swollen with plague. Salfard's legs are viridian, thanks to Damplestone's experiments, but his grammar and rhetoric are excellent.
Sheri Touchstone's lover. She is skilled with drugs and poisons and helps to keep his henchmen in line.
Sigeric Rotheric's brother, afflicted with a mysterious ailment.
Tempus * Heir to withered House Torgain of Syran, Tempus the Hooded is Order Liturgist of the Order of St Errolan the Obscure. A tavern frequenter, hero to the commoners of Oldtown, and honourable protector of the weak, shunned by many Liturgists for wayward behaviour, but quietly blessed for the church’s increasing popularity by his Uncle and Patron, Bishop Castellan. Sought by Houses for poison lore, his sharp senses mean little passes unobserved. Skill with blade and fist come from his sensitivity over his disfigured face. Cats call him brother, for feline shadow spirit Umbra protects and walks with him. His town house, with library, is overseen by his faithful retainer.
Tiago * An Iconographer of the Postperspectivist Movement, the artisan Tiago is sought-after among the elite of Syran for his rare eye and ability to capture a scene's essence. The Henotheist Series, which he regrets, was essential to maintain his consumptive wife and extravagant mistress. The rogue Mendrik accompanies Tiago to his favoured haunts in Syran's dark underbelly, where he indulges in cockfighting, cheery banter and the occasional brawl. On dark nights he travels home with a surety caused in part by the glass dagger at his side, seeing images in Syran's walls and dreaming of seeing once again the masterpiece, The Proven Appearance.
Tomas Younger brother of Gabriela and a student at the Imperial College, where he was friends with Fabian. His life was threatened to obtain his sister's complicity. He has hopefully fled to his aunt's house in the country.
Touchstone * A faceless commoner with Stygian leanings, Touchstone trades in the hidden things and places of Syran that others leave alone. An Arkat's-Eye, he keeps his eyes and ears open for signs of the Deceiver. Although ruthless in his dealings as a middleman, high ideals of protecting society keep him from corruption. He prefers to return Lanbril's take to its owner for profit. His talents have earned him the gratitude of several Houses, but not all of them know him in the same guise. The Opert Prophecy makes him protective of House Heligan. His lover Sheri keeps his Syndicate henchmen in line.
Young Lazaran Salfard's vexacious master and heir to House Lazaran.
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