Altharin :- The Gothir general who was given the orders to destroy the Nadir Wolfshead tribe, for it has been foreseen that the "Uniter" will emerge from that tribe.
Angel :- Know as Caridris on his last visit to Waylander he underwent a career change and became Angel, the Gladiator. Now retired. Suffered nightmares for years from a massacre he witnessed as a child and has a hatred for the Nadir due to this. Known as Hard to Kill amongst the Nadir he helps them fight for survival with Waylander, Senta and Mirriel.
Anshi Chen :- Leader of the Wolfshead tribe at this desperate point of time. His true Nadir name is "Wily Fox" It is also he who identifies the murderer of Belash's father.
Asten :- One of Karnaks trusted adviser who started out as a farmer and rose to general under Karnak's reign. Promised Karnak to slay Galen if he returns without Karnak.
Belash :- A Nadir warrior who is good with Knife or Bow. Carries his fathers right hand bones in a pouch so when he finds the man who slew him can place the bones on the mans body so that his father will have a servant in another life. Known to the Nadir as White Tiger in the Night.
Bodalen :- Karnaks son with none of Karnaks qualities. It is he and some noble friends who killed a young woman and her husband. Sentenced to exile for a year for this we discover that the woman he slew was Krylla, Waylanders Daughter. This is the reason the assassins are once again hunting the Assassin whom Karnak knows will persue and kill Bodalen.
Dardalion :- The founder of "The Thirty" and the man behind the dream of Dros Delnoch. Now the abbot of swords the thirty ride this time to aid the future generations against the Knights of Blood. He also warns Karnak of the folly of attempting to kill Waylander.
Ekodas :- One of the new Thirty, gathered together by Dardalion to fight against Zhu Chao. It is Ekodas who ascends into the depths of Kar Bar-zak and allowed Senta to die whilst he held the crystal. Leaves the order of the Thirty after the battle to marry Shia, Belash's sister.
Galen Karnak's treacherous general who leads him into the trap laid by Zhu Chao. Supports Bodalen in the eyes of Karnak when he is missing.
Hewla :- Returning again to talk to Waylander she informs him of the death of Krylla and how as well as who. The Witch woman also then tells him about Zhu Chao and how she desired his death. Hewla dies when Zhu Chao summons a demon to kill her and she reverses her dagger into herself.
Innicas :- Leader of the Knights of Blood and also the man who slew Belash's father. Runs when it looks like the skirmish is lost only to be caught by Belash and slain as he is dying. Belash manages to place his fathers bones onto the the Templars body before he dies.
Karnak :- Leader and self styled saviour of the Drenai. It is he who in order to seize ultimate power paid for and ordered the assassination of Egel by Morak. He also pays the assassins guild to hunt and kill Waylander in order to protect his son when the identity of the woman slain by him is known.
Kesa Khan :- Shaman if the Wolfhead tribe and thus the head shaman of all tribes. He is also known as Lao Shin and We Deyang. Longs for the day of the uniter and believing that Mirriels descendents would thwart the uniter, Ulric and seeks her death. Then he learns about the second uniter, Tenaka Khan, and despairs for he has sent her on a suicide mission against the beasts below.
Matze Chai :- A merchant who manages the accounts of Waylander. It is he who manages to get the information of Zhu Chaos palace upon Waylanders orders but for a high cost. Also Waylander took out a contract on him if he didn't return to the other merchant by a specified time.
Miriel :- The Second of Waylanders adopted daughters. Her brother Culas was slain during the Vagrian Wars, her sister Krylla was slain by Karnaks son. Also has the source given gift which she uses numerous times in order to aid the party.
Morak :- An immoral Ventrian assassin, who enjoys torturing people. Employed Belash in order to help kill Waylander but when Waylander attacked his camp attempted to kill Belash by smashing a rock against his head and fled. Waylander slays Morak in the Sathuli mountains and learns that Morak is the one who slew Egel at the orders of Karnak.
Senta A skilled swordsman who had fought in the arena for a while. Then he became an assassin and attempted to kill Waylander. When Waylander arrived he looked at senta enquired if it was arena rules and then headbutted him down. On Angels request Waylander allowed him to live. Senta also propositioned Waylander for Miriels hand and during the course of the battle at Kar Bar-Zac slept with Miriel making her pregnant. He dies when fighting the beast in the dungeon. Also possibly Angels son although this is not really known.
Shia :- Belash's sister whom Eskodas leaves the Thirty for at the end of the novel. Also their daughter will marry the mute whom was healed and now cared for by Kesa Khan. Leading on to the days of the uniter.
Waylander The Slayer :- Known to the Nadir as "The Soul Stealer, is also gifted with the other name of Ox-Skull by an old chief. His real name is Dakeyras and he is the man who killed the Drenai King Niallad for Kaem. Sought after to stop him killing Bodasen, Karnak's son, when the truth is revealed about the slain woman. Waylander goes after Zhu Chao as he is the power behind the scheme rather than Bodasen as if he was at Kar Bar Zac he would be just another sword.
Zhu Chao :- The power behind the new Dark Brotherhood. He seeks to rule the lands of the Gothir, the Drenai and Vagria. Started off as the son of a humble shoe maker and ended losing his genitalia when he attempted to steal from Kesa Khan.
My Views
For me this isn't perhaps one of the better forrays for Waylander, although as a tale it centres mainly on Mirriel, Waylanders adopted daughter, Waylander for me seems to have been written in mainly to tie up loose ends and exact revenge.
Dont get me wrong the tale is strong enough to work and does a good job as well as laying down the concept for future Drenai novels and explains a bit about Tenaka and the days of Ulric. It also lays down some history for Druss although this isn't brought into the forefront until the second Druss novel.
On the whole a good book but for me I prefer the other two Waylander novels.
Others Views
