Character Names & Descriptions of the People of
"SHARDS"
(NOTE: MEDIEVAL FANTASIES IN GENERAL ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THEIR OVERWHELMING NUMBERS OF IDENTIFIED CHARACTERS - USUALLY WITH PLENTY OF APOSTROPHES BETWEEN THE SYLLABLES OF THEIR NAMES. I'VE LIMITED MY LIST TO ONLY THOSE CHARACTERS WHO PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN SOME CONVERSATION, CHAPTER, OR THE ENTIRE STORY)
PRIMARY CHARACTERS (APPEARING PHYSICALLY, WITH DIALOGUE):
HOUSE TRENTON:
KING XAVIER TRENTON VI: THE SIXTH KING OF SHARDS IN THE TRENTON FAMILY LINE, THE WEALTHIEST AND MOST POWERFUL OF THE FOUR KINGDOMS.
ALIANA: QUEEN OF SHARDS AND THE ONLY WIFE OF XAVIER TRENTON VI.
ERIC DRACO: YOUNGER OF THE TWO ROYAL GUARDIANS ORDAINED TO PROTECT THE ROYAL FAMILY OF SHARDS. HE IS OFTEN REFERRED TO, BEHIND HIS BACK, AS "ERIC THE VAIN."
CONRAD DRACO: OLDER OF THE BROTHERS DRACO, A ROYAL GUARDIAN TO THE TRENTON FAMILY LINE. HE IS RENOWNED AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST GIFTED SWORDSMAN.
KALIN MATACON: HIGH COMMANDER OF MELEE FORCES, SERVING DIRECTLY UNDER KING TRENTON. BY CUSTOM, HE INHERITED THE POSITION WHEN HIS FATHER MAYLEOCK DIED VIOLENTLY IN THE KING'S SERVICE.
CATHERINE: YOUNGER SISTER OF THE KING, XAVIER TRENTON VI, SHE LIVES IN A NEARBY PROVINCE, AN HOUR'S RIDE FROM THE CASTLE OF MANTESSE.
MERIDIAN: HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE NIECE TO XAVIER TRENTON, DAUGHTER OF CATHERINE AND TREVELYAN.
WINTHORP MIREDELL: STABLEMASTER'S APPRENTICE IN THE CASTLE OF MANTESSE, PROMOTED TO CAVALRY SCOUT, WHO LATER PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE REBELLION AGAINST TRANSCENDENCE.
ALASTAIR MEHR-KRANNON: TRENTON'S HIGH COMMANDER OF RAMPARTS AND RIVER DEFENSES FOR THE KINGDOM OF SHARDS. PHYSICALLY, HE'S ALSO THE TALLEST AND BROADEST IN HIGH COMMAND. A MAN WHO DUCKS THROUGH DOORWAYS.
TABITHA ALTRUIST: HEALER FOR THE ROYAL FAMILY AND HOUSE TRENTON WHO REPLACES KENDRA CHULAINNE AFTER HER BANISHMENT FROM THE CASTLE OF MANTESSE.
DRISKUHL: SHARDSMAN WHO FIRST ENCOUNTERS THE "HOST" OF THE CLAYFACE PLAGUE AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS DISSEMINATION THROUGHOUT THE KINGDOM.
DENIZENS OF SHARDS:
GRENDEL: A MINOTAUR (HEAD OF A BULL/GOAT WITH THE WHITE-HAIRED BODY OF A MAN). A RARE CONFLUENCE OF SPECIES FORMED THROUGH THE COPULATION OF A DEMON AND MORTAL WOMAN. GRENDEL IS THE LONG-TIME SOLE COMPANION OF CALYPSO.
CALYPSO (AKA: KENDRA CHULAINNE): A SPIRITUAL AND SOMATIC HEALER SERVING HOUSE TRENTON IN SHARDS, TURNED SHAPESHIFTER (WITH THE LIMITED ABILITY OF CHANGING INTO A MALE VERSION OF HERSELF). HAS A PAST ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH ERIC DRACO.
HELIFEXDT: A DUPLICITOUS, REFUGEE SALMON FISHERMAN ENCOUNTERED BY CALYPSO AND ERIC AT THE BURGESS PEARL RIVER NEAR MERCHIDSON FALLS.
AUSTREY AND NORELYA : AN OLDER AND YOUNGER SISTER WHO ESCAPE TRANSCENDENT "BREEDING" AND ARE ENCOUNTERED BY CALYPSO AND GRENDEL IN SOUTHERN SHARDS. AUSTREY, THE ELDER SISTER GIVES CALYPSO THE "TORQUE BLADE," A HARVESTING TOOL, TO USE AS A WEAPON IN HUNTING OR COMBAT.
DENIZENS OF NEIGHBORING KINGDOMS (MENZENEAS, DANYUBIN, ANTHENOCK) :
PROLLEX ARLINGTON: EMISSARY (DIPLOMAT) FROM MENZENEAS, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF QUEEN MELISAHNDE. HE'S ALSO A WAR VETERAN IN HIS MID-50'S.
SAMORA GALYUDET: SOMATIC HEALER WHO FLED TO SHARDS TO ESCAPE ESCALATING POLITICAL TENSIONS IN DANYUBIN. CLOSE FRIEND TO CALYPSO, SHE SUFFERS EXTREME NEUROSES AND AN OBSESSSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER ON A GRAND SCALE.
SHARILYN FLAGG: A FORMER MEMBER OF THE HALDSHEPSUT VALLEY GYPSY FELLOWSHIP, SHE WORKS FOR KALIN MATACON AND HIS ARMY OF TRANSCENDENCE IN THE PRACTICE AND APPLICATION OF THE DARK ARTS.
ARMY OF TRANSCENDENCE:
RAYFE SCALYON: 2ND ROYAL GUARDIAN IN THE ARMY OF TRANSCENDENCE. A FLAWLESS ASSASSIN RENOWNED FOR HIS SKILL WITH KNIVES.
TYPHEN ZALVEDRA: AN OLD VETERAN IN THE ARMY OF TRANSCENDENCE, ONE OF SEVERAL CAPTAINS OF THE NEW "DISTRICTS" UNDER TRANSCENDENT CONTROL IN SHARDS. AS AN OLD SOLDIER WHO HAS SEEN KALIN PROMISE TOO MUCH AND OFFER TOO LITTLE, HE IS THE GREATEST THREAT TO MATACON'S CONTROL OVER TRANSCENDENCE.
IGNATIOUS AND RUFUS : GRUNT SOLDIERS WHO ACCOMPANY CONRAD DRACO TO BLIND DROVER'S CLIFF FOR THE CEREMONIAL BURNING OF A BODY.
OLFEX AND CHALIS: TRANSCENDENT CAPTAINS COUNSELED BY MATACON IN THE DOMESTIC STATISTICS COUNSELING ROOM IN THE CASTLE OF MANTESSE REGARDING THE PURSUIT AND CAPTURE OF CONRAD AND ERIC DRACO.
ECKHART DEL' KERRIG: CAPTAIN OF DISTRICT S-3 (A.K.A. "NEW GREYVEIL") AND THE YOUNGEST CAPTAIN UNDER MATACON.
ZLOUKEHM: AN OBESE TRANSCENDENT CAPTAIN WHO QUICKLY BECOMES INFATUATED WITH CALYPSO ON THE NIGHT SHE SPENDS IN THE CASTLE OF MANTESSE
CHARACTERS REFERENCED ONLY (NO PHYICAL APPEARANCE IN THE NOVEL):
MELISAHNDE: QUEEN OF THE KINGDOM OF MENZENEAS, THE REALM SOUTHEAST OF SHARDS
NATHANIEL: DECEASED KING OF MENZENEAS, DYING IN A SUSPICIOUS ACCIDENT INVOLVING A FALL FROM A HORSE.
SULLEX BREHLTHORIS: SLAIN KING OF DANYUBIN DURING THE UPRISING OF THE ARMY OF TRANSCENDENCE.
MAYLEOCK MATACON: BOYHOOD FRIEND OF KING TRENTON VI AND FATHER TO KALIN MATACON.
ARTEMIS DRACO: BOYHOOD FRIEND OF KING TRENTON VI AND FATHER TO CONRAD AND ERIC DRACO.
"SHARDS"
(NOTE: MEDIEVAL FANTASIES IN GENERAL ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THEIR OVERWHELMING NUMBERS OF IDENTIFIED CHARACTERS - USUALLY WITH PLENTY OF APOSTROPHES BETWEEN THE SYLLABLES OF THEIR NAMES. I'VE LIMITED MY LIST TO ONLY THOSE CHARACTERS WHO PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN SOME CONVERSATION, CHAPTER, OR THE ENTIRE STORY)
PRIMARY CHARACTERS (APPEARING PHYSICALLY, WITH DIALOGUE):
HOUSE TRENTON:
KING XAVIER TRENTON VI: THE SIXTH KING OF SHARDS IN THE TRENTON FAMILY LINE, THE WEALTHIEST AND MOST POWERFUL OF THE FOUR KINGDOMS.
ALIANA: QUEEN OF SHARDS AND THE ONLY WIFE OF XAVIER TRENTON VI.
ERIC DRACO: YOUNGER OF THE TWO ROYAL GUARDIANS ORDAINED TO PROTECT THE ROYAL FAMILY OF SHARDS. HE IS OFTEN REFERRED TO, BEHIND HIS BACK, AS "ERIC THE VAIN."
CONRAD DRACO: OLDER OF THE BROTHERS DRACO, A ROYAL GUARDIAN TO THE TRENTON FAMILY LINE. HE IS RENOWNED AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST GIFTED SWORDSMAN.
KALIN MATACON: HIGH COMMANDER OF MELEE FORCES, SERVING DIRECTLY UNDER KING TRENTON. BY CUSTOM, HE INHERITED THE POSITION WHEN HIS FATHER MAYLEOCK DIED VIOLENTLY IN THE KING'S SERVICE.
CATHERINE: YOUNGER SISTER OF THE KING, XAVIER TRENTON VI, SHE LIVES IN A NEARBY PROVINCE, AN HOUR'S RIDE FROM THE CASTLE OF MANTESSE.
MERIDIAN: HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE NIECE TO XAVIER TRENTON, DAUGHTER OF CATHERINE AND TREVELYAN.
WINTHORP MIREDELL: STABLEMASTER'S APPRENTICE IN THE CASTLE OF MANTESSE, PROMOTED TO CAVALRY SCOUT, WHO LATER PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE REBELLION AGAINST TRANSCENDENCE.
ALASTAIR MEHR-KRANNON: TRENTON'S HIGH COMMANDER OF RAMPARTS AND RIVER DEFENSES FOR THE KINGDOM OF SHARDS. PHYSICALLY, HE'S ALSO THE TALLEST AND BROADEST IN HIGH COMMAND. A MAN WHO DUCKS THROUGH DOORWAYS.
TABITHA ALTRUIST: HEALER FOR THE ROYAL FAMILY AND HOUSE TRENTON WHO REPLACES KENDRA CHULAINNE AFTER HER BANISHMENT FROM THE CASTLE OF MANTESSE.
DRISKUHL: SHARDSMAN WHO FIRST ENCOUNTERS THE "HOST" OF THE CLAYFACE PLAGUE AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS DISSEMINATION THROUGHOUT THE KINGDOM.
DENIZENS OF SHARDS:
GRENDEL: A MINOTAUR (HEAD OF A BULL/GOAT WITH THE WHITE-HAIRED BODY OF A MAN). A RARE CONFLUENCE OF SPECIES FORMED THROUGH THE COPULATION OF A DEMON AND MORTAL WOMAN. GRENDEL IS THE LONG-TIME SOLE COMPANION OF CALYPSO.
CALYPSO (AKA: KENDRA CHULAINNE): A SPIRITUAL AND SOMATIC HEALER SERVING HOUSE TRENTON IN SHARDS, TURNED SHAPESHIFTER (WITH THE LIMITED ABILITY OF CHANGING INTO A MALE VERSION OF HERSELF). HAS A PAST ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH ERIC DRACO.
HELIFEXDT: A DUPLICITOUS, REFUGEE SALMON FISHERMAN ENCOUNTERED BY CALYPSO AND ERIC AT THE BURGESS PEARL RIVER NEAR MERCHIDSON FALLS.
AUSTREY AND NORELYA : AN OLDER AND YOUNGER SISTER WHO ESCAPE TRANSCENDENT "BREEDING" AND ARE ENCOUNTERED BY CALYPSO AND GRENDEL IN SOUTHERN SHARDS. AUSTREY, THE ELDER SISTER GIVES CALYPSO THE "TORQUE BLADE," A HARVESTING TOOL, TO USE AS A WEAPON IN HUNTING OR COMBAT.
DENIZENS OF NEIGHBORING KINGDOMS (MENZENEAS, DANYUBIN, ANTHENOCK) :
PROLLEX ARLINGTON: EMISSARY (DIPLOMAT) FROM MENZENEAS, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF QUEEN MELISAHNDE. HE'S ALSO A WAR VETERAN IN HIS MID-50'S.
SAMORA GALYUDET: SOMATIC HEALER WHO FLED TO SHARDS TO ESCAPE ESCALATING POLITICAL TENSIONS IN DANYUBIN. CLOSE FRIEND TO CALYPSO, SHE SUFFERS EXTREME NEUROSES AND AN OBSESSSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER ON A GRAND SCALE.
SHARILYN FLAGG: A FORMER MEMBER OF THE HALDSHEPSUT VALLEY GYPSY FELLOWSHIP, SHE WORKS FOR KALIN MATACON AND HIS ARMY OF TRANSCENDENCE IN THE PRACTICE AND APPLICATION OF THE DARK ARTS.
ARMY OF TRANSCENDENCE:
RAYFE SCALYON: 2ND ROYAL GUARDIAN IN THE ARMY OF TRANSCENDENCE. A FLAWLESS ASSASSIN RENOWNED FOR HIS SKILL WITH KNIVES.
TYPHEN ZALVEDRA: AN OLD VETERAN IN THE ARMY OF TRANSCENDENCE, ONE OF SEVERAL CAPTAINS OF THE NEW "DISTRICTS" UNDER TRANSCENDENT CONTROL IN SHARDS. AS AN OLD SOLDIER WHO HAS SEEN KALIN PROMISE TOO MUCH AND OFFER TOO LITTLE, HE IS THE GREATEST THREAT TO MATACON'S CONTROL OVER TRANSCENDENCE.
IGNATIOUS AND RUFUS : GRUNT SOLDIERS WHO ACCOMPANY CONRAD DRACO TO BLIND DROVER'S CLIFF FOR THE CEREMONIAL BURNING OF A BODY.
OLFEX AND CHALIS: TRANSCENDENT CAPTAINS COUNSELED BY MATACON IN THE DOMESTIC STATISTICS COUNSELING ROOM IN THE CASTLE OF MANTESSE REGARDING THE PURSUIT AND CAPTURE OF CONRAD AND ERIC DRACO.
ECKHART DEL' KERRIG: CAPTAIN OF DISTRICT S-3 (A.K.A. "NEW GREYVEIL") AND THE YOUNGEST CAPTAIN UNDER MATACON.
ZLOUKEHM: AN OBESE TRANSCENDENT CAPTAIN WHO QUICKLY BECOMES INFATUATED WITH CALYPSO ON THE NIGHT SHE SPENDS IN THE CASTLE OF MANTESSE
CHARACTERS REFERENCED ONLY (NO PHYICAL APPEARANCE IN THE NOVEL):
MELISAHNDE: QUEEN OF THE KINGDOM OF MENZENEAS, THE REALM SOUTHEAST OF SHARDS
NATHANIEL: DECEASED KING OF MENZENEAS, DYING IN A SUSPICIOUS ACCIDENT INVOLVING A FALL FROM A HORSE.
SULLEX BREHLTHORIS: SLAIN KING OF DANYUBIN DURING THE UPRISING OF THE ARMY OF TRANSCENDENCE.
MAYLEOCK MATACON: BOYHOOD FRIEND OF KING TRENTON VI AND FATHER TO KALIN MATACON.
ARTEMIS DRACO: BOYHOOD FRIEND OF KING TRENTON VI AND FATHER TO CONRAD AND ERIC DRACO.