Ascend Online characters

Appears from the start

An independent game designer who prepares to enter Ascend Online with five longtime friends. The group looks to him for planning as they study the limited world information available before launch.

Appears from the start

One of Marcus's five longtime friends and gaming companions. He brings news of Ascend Online's release to Marcus and joins the group preparing to enter at launch.

Appears from the start

A member of Marcus's established six-person gaming group. He joins the others at Marcus's home to prepare for Ascend Online before its public launch.

Appears from the start

One of Marcus's longtime friends and regular gaming partners. She takes part in the group's overnight planning session before they begin Ascend Online together.

Appears from the start

A longtime friend of Marcus and member of his six-person gaming group. He joins the others in studying the world primer and coordinating their intended start.

Appears from the start

One of Marcus's longtime friends and gaming companions. He is part of the group preparing to enter Ascend Online as soon as it opens.

First appears in chapter 3

Marcus's human avatar in Ascend Online. He begins as a level-one novice built to combine swordplay and magic, with the Open-minded trait, Power Attack, a rusty sword, and an empty spellbook.

First appears in chapter 3

The Goddess of Creation who guides Lyrian through character creation. She explains his options but says the rules prevent her from advising him or interfering with his decisions.

First appears in chapter 4

Aldford's sponsor and leader during the goblin raid. He equips Lyrian with clothing and militia armor so the newly arrived adventurer can join the village's defense.

First appears in chapter 4

A village smith and defender rescued during the raid on Aldford. After being freed from the workshop, this resident helps Lyrian release villagers from a goblin wagon.

First appears in chapter 4

A village trader trapped with the smith during the goblin attack. After Lyrian rescues them from their workshop, the merchant helps him free villagers being loaded into a goblin wagon.

Also known as Heron

First appears in chapter 5

Heron's Ascend Online avatar. Halcyon is traveling with the rest of Lyrian's original gaming group after their planned starting point leaves Lyrian isolated in Aldford.

First appears in chapter 6

A powerful puma that pursues the badly injured Lyrian to the edge of a crater, forcing him to escape by jumping into the lake below.

First appears in chapter 8

The village cook who turns Lyrian's gathered meat into food for Aldford. She teaches him two recipes and gives him an Herbalism primer and provisions for later travel.

First appears in chapter 10

A huntress whom Lyrian finds unconscious inside a spider cocoon in the Webwood. He carries her back to Aldford, where the village healer begins treating her.

First appears in chapter 10

A healer devoted to the Dawnfather who treats the huntress Lyrian rescues from the Webwood. She regards Lyrian's arrival during the raid as timely aid for Aldford.

First appears in chapter 30

A human mage released from temporal suspension inside a ruined complex. He belongs to the lost research expedition and joins Lyrian's party to survive the ruin's automated purge.

First appears in chapter 32

A cosmic power who confronts Creativity over the puma Lyrian freed. Their exchange establishes Destruction as the force that controlled the animal and granted it magical sight.

First appears in chapter 33

The freed puma after ether exposure transforms him into a much larger, blue-furred creature. Lyrian names him Amaranth when their new magical bond makes the intelligent animal his telepathic familiar.

First appears in chapter 35

The missing scoutmaster of the research expedition. Aldford learns that he was among those unaccounted for after the goblin attack on the expedition camp.

First appears in chapter 37

The leader of a large force that demands control of Aldford. He seeks to become an independent player king and has coerced many adventurers into obedience to satisfy the conditions of his quest.

First appears in chapter 38

A human woman who speaks for the former captives after their revolt against Graves. She explains their treatment, vouches for two fellow organizers, and asks Aldford to admit the displaced group.

First appears in chapter 38

A dwarf former captive who helped the refugee leader conceal food and organize resistance against Graves. The leader identifies this adventurer as one of her trusted allies.

First appears in chapter 38

An Araxi former captive who helped organize the resistance to Graves. He explains that his people begin with little equipment and depend initially on their natural claws and scales.

First appears in chapter 40

A violent member of Graves's diminished force who demands harsher punishment after the failed attack on Aldford. The enforcer is willing to threaten retaliation beyond the game.

First appears in chapter 40

A dead ruler whose spirit is linked to equipment recovered by Graves. Facing goblin captors, Graves invokes the king's name and eventually gives the spirit unrestricted access to his mind.

First appears in chapter 41

A feline adventurer who joins Aldford and promptly sketches new homes and a workshop with two levels. Lyrian favors assigning him to plan the settlement, subject to Aldwin's approval.

First appears in chapter 42

A lore specialist still linked to Graves's party. He offers Aldford a route to Graves in exchange for amnesty and protection, though Lyrian treats his cooperation with caution.

First appears in chapter 47

A white-eyed woman who privately approaches the imprisoned Graves. She can read at least some of his thoughts and offers him a chance at revenge if he agrees to act as her agent.