Aengus
The deceased son of the witch Brónach, Aengus is a lingering spirit bound to the mortal realm by love and grief. Though long dead, he remains at his mother’s side, offering silent companionship as she searches for a way to break her curse. Aengus’s presence serves as a tether to Brónach’s lost humanity and a symbol of the emotional wounds that shape her. He holds knowledge beyond death and becomes a crucial link between the living and the spiritual realms.
Avery
Brother Avery is Abbot Reynolds’ personal attendant. He is a layman, not a monk, which frees him from the rules that govern the brotherhood.
Baily
A sharp-tongued vagrant who once led the infamous Red Hands, a guild that blurs the line between begging and assassination. Though fallen from power, Bailey remains deeply connected to the underworld of Shadowrock and is known for his cunning, sarcasm, and streetwise instincts. He often offers unsolicited advice—sometimes helpful, sometimes manipulative—and has a knack for pulling others into his schemes.
Brónach the Enchantress– Thanatos
Brónach the Enchantress is a legendary Cailleach, one of the winter witches feared throughout the Northlands. Her dominion brings premature snowfalls, frigid winds, and death by cold to those who wander into her domain unprepared. Though nearly blind from the ice magic that sustains her, she senses the warmth of life and snuffs it out with eerie precision. Her presence is marked by unnatural blizzards and the frozen corpses of her victims, often left twisted in terror. Among witches, Brónach is whispered of as a force of nature—patient, ancient, and cruel.
Caleb– Thanatos
A spirited and fiercely loyal boy, Caleb is Mishal’s closest friend and fellow novice in the Order of Thanatos. Though often impulsive and hot-tempered, his heart is guided by an unwavering sense of justice. Bound by trauma and shared secrets, Caleb and Mishal forge a deep bond during their early training. Caleb’s fate takes a dark turn early in The Novice of Thanatos, but his presence continues to shape Mishal’s journey in profound and unexpected ways.
Baroness Catelyn of Frey– Thanatos
Baroness Catelyn of Frey was the eldest child of the ruling line of Frey Rock, a bleak and wind-scoured island hold known more for its resilience than riches. She relinquished her claim to the Karlship in favor of her younger brother, Cillian, and entered a politically motivated marriage with Agris of Thorne, hoping it would benefit her people. The match was strained and joyless, resulting in a single child, Rachel of Thorne, conceived through violence. Catelyn died in childbirth, her life marked by duty, sacrifice, and the unforgiving weight of circumstance.
Prior Damek of Shadowrock– Thanatos
Second in command in the Order of Thanatos monastery in Newpost, Prior Damek is a warm and insightful monk who serves as a mentor and guide to novices Mishal and Caleb. He leads the two boys on a journey to deliver the remains of a wealthy merchant to Shadowrock, offering both protection and quiet wisdom along the way. Ultimately, he will deliver them to the city of Thanatos to continue their training, setting in motion the next phase of their spiritual path.
Ebeus the Enchanter– AMS, Thanatos
Ebeus the Enchanter is a high-ranking mage of the Guild of White, serving as chief advisor to Jarl Agris of Thorne during the ongoing witch hunt. As an Enchanter, he specializes in the manipulation of will through charms, sigils, and subtle magical compulsions, making him invaluable in rooting out suspected heretics. Cold and calculating, Ebeus guides the witch hunt with ruthless efficiency, often blurring the line between justice and control. Many whisper that his enchantments reach far beyond the accused, influencing lords, warriors, and even Agris himself. His presence casts a long shadow over Thorne, where fear and obedience walk hand in hand.
Eli– Thanatos
Eli is a cunning and opportunistic member of the Red Hands, known for his charm, ruthlessness, and talent for recruiting desperate souls into the guild. Once a close associate of Bailey, Eli rose through betrayal and now claims leadership of the Red Hands, though many question the direction he has taken the guild. He thrives in the moral murk of Digan Alley, often loitering near the watch to spot potential leverage or victims. Eli masks his cruelty behind a jovial demeanor and is quick to turn on his allies when the opportunity arises.
Novice Finley– Thanatos
Finley works with Brother Howel in the vast hospital of Skelside Monastery. He is skilled in making potions and elixirs. When he soon takes his vows, he will begin to treat his own patients, and most believe he will take over the hospital when the time comes.
Brother Gillis– Thanatos
A senior monk of the Order of Thanatos, Brother Gillis, serves as Simone’s counterpart in instructing the novices at Skelside. While Simone teaches doctrine, Gillis enforces discipline through grueling labor and physical rigor. He is infamous for his short temper and the ever-present cudgel he carries, which has earned him a fearsome reputation among the younger initiates. Whispers of “accidents” among the novices only add to the aura of dread that surrounds him.
Black-eyed Harmon– AMS, Thanatos
Harmon is an opportunistic warlord who has established himself in the lawless borderlands between Highwater and the Northlands. Operating from a reclaimed and fortified castle, he commands local power through intimidation and opportunism. His presence has brought hardship to the Burm and Crow tribes, who view him as a growing threat. Harmon is always flanked by his two loyal mastiffs, Rabina and Casandra.
Brother Howel– Thanatos
Brother Howel is the head of the infirmary within the Order of Thanatos and one of its most skilled and unconventional healers. Renowned for his surgical expertise and practical innovations, he commands respect despite his irreverent attitude toward doctrine. Howel is known for valuing competence over tradition and mentors only those who prove their merit. He maintains a critical view of the Order’s modern curriculum and favors hands-on instruction rooted in necessity and experience.
Ingolf– Thanatos, AMS
Ingolf is a Journeyman in the Guild of White, ranked just above an apprentice but not yet permitted to study the deeper magical arts. As a layman, his role centers on administration, fieldwork, and logistical support, often assigned to politically charged operations. He is stationed in Thornhold, where he assists with the Great Witch Hunt under the authority of Ebeus the Enchanter. The Guilders in Thornhold have taken on an increasingly militarized posture—wearing armor and bearing arms—an unprecedented shift that signals the Guild’s slow decline from magical institution to political enforcer.
Mishal of Gaven Hill– Thanatos, AMS
Mishal of Gaven Hill is a young novice in the Order of Thanatos, being trained to guide the dead across the Threshold. Gifted with being a Psychopomp, a rare sensitivity to spirits, Mishal is haunted by visions and burdened with secrets far beyond his years. Born in a quiet corner of the port city of Newpost, he is thrust into a dark world of ritual and death and begins a journey that challenges the very foundations of his faith. As he uncovers hidden truths within the Order, Mishal must decide whether to obey or defy the path set before him.
Okra of Ballari– Thanatos
Okra of Ballari is the self-proclaimed caretaker of a hidden grotto temple dedicated to the forest god Cernunnos in the northern wilderness of Lucardia. Devoted to the god since childhood, she lives a reclusive life guarding his shrine through cunning illusions and natural magic. She is a gifted listener to enchanted relics, which occasionally whisper truths or warnings, making her a reluctant soothsayer. Though wary of strangers, she offers refuge to travelers and speaks with wisdom shaped by solitude and spiritual conviction. Her role blends devotion, folklore, and trickery, embodying the mysterious guardianship of the old, forgotten places.
Novice Osgood– Thanatos
Novice at Skelside who attends to Brother Gillis.
Brother Owin– Thanatos
Brother Owin is a monk of the Order of Thanatos stationed at the Newpost monastery. Sly and calculating, he has been disciplined multiple times for bending the Order’s sacred duties to serve his own interests, often extorting the grieving in exchange for spiritual favors. His peers view him with suspicion, aware that his ambition walks a dangerous edge. Some say it’s only a matter of time before he crosses a line that seals his downfall. Others believe that the same ambition may yet earn him a loftier position within the Order.
Brother Ratimir– Thanatos
Ratimir is a monk of the Order of Thanatos stationed at the small monastery in Newpost. Known for his skill in spirit cleansing and exorcism, he serves alongside Prior Damek with quiet devotion to the Order’s sacred duties. Though reserved in demeanor, his expertise in funerary rites and dealings with the restless dead is well regarded. Ratimir is often called upon in Newpost and its outskirts when ordinary rites prove insufficient.
Abbot Reynold– Thanatos
Abbot Reynold is the esteemed leader of Skelside Monastery, the second-largest outpost of the Order of Thanatos in Lucardia. Once a monk of notable reputation, he rose to prominence after personally guiding a thousand souls across the threshold during the unification wars. His leadership at Skelside places him at the crossroads of both spiritual authority and political significance, given the monastery’s location along a critical trade and military pass. Reynold is known for his ceremonial grandeur and his keen awareness of his own importance within the Order.
Rosina– Thanatos
Rosina is the tough and charismatic proprietor of the Needy Rope, a ramshackle tavern nestled in the heart of Digan Alley. Known for her sharp tongue, formidable presence, and surprisingly delicious meat pies, she commands both fear and affection from the alley’s regulars. Though she caters to a rough crowd, Rosina is deeply embedded in the social fabric of Shadowrock’s underworld and maintains strong ties with the Red Hands. Her kitchen may be smoke-choked, but her eyes miss nothing.
Abbot Sigric– Thanatos
Sigric is the Abbot of the Thanatos Monastery in Newpost, overseeing a modest order of twenty-five monks. Gruff and uncompromising in demeanor, he holds tightly to the traditional values of the Order of Thanatos and strives to uphold its purpose despite the challenges of a decaying world. His leadership is marked by strict discipline, though he is known among his brethren to have a fondness for wine and spirits. Despite this vice, few question his loyalty to the Order or his dedication to guiding its path.
Brother Simone– Thanatos
Often called Simone the Seared, he is a monk of the Order of Thanatos stationed at the Skelside monastery, one of the largest and most influential Thanatos strongholds. He survived the devastating fire that consumed the monastery at Thornhold, though it left him with horrific burn scars that earned him his epithet. Simone now serves as an instructor to the novices at Skelside, known for his stern demeanor and uncompromising devotion to the Order’s teachings. His past suffering lends a grim authority to his lessons on death, discipline, and the fragility of flesh.
Brother Throst– Thanatos
Brother Throst is an inquisitor of the Order of Thanatos, charged with guarding the outer perimeter of its sacred grounds. Known for his unwavering adherence to protocol, he takes his duties seriously and trusts neither strangers nor sentiment. He commands the restless dead as part of the temple’s defenses and views fear as a valuable tool for maintaining order. Throst is a staunch defender of tradition and has little patience for rule-breakers, especially those who arrive unannounced.
Brother Thurston– Thanatos
Thurston is a quiet, duty-bound monk from Skelside. Well-traveled and street-wise, he is often tasked with carting the bones of the deceased to distant lands.
