Induction characters

Appears from the start

A 22-year-old Illinois student, runner, and gamer who delayed college after his father's death. He agrees to live in Uncle Dan's shed so the conditional inheritance can relieve his family's debts and fund his and Cecilia's education.

Appears from the start

Silas and Cecilia's mother and the beneficiary of Uncle Dan's conditional will. She can receive the house, land, and trust if an eligible male relative lives in the shed, allowing the family to address its debts and education costs.

Also known as Cease

Appears from the start

Silas's college-bound sister, whom he calls Cease. The cost of her education is one reason he accepts the unusual residency condition attached to Uncle Dan's will, placing her future among the family obligations he intends to meet.

Also known as Uncle Dan

Appears from the start

Silas's deceased uncle, whose will grants the family a house, land, and a trust if an eligible relative lives in the property's shed. He leaves Silas a key and a cryptic warning about the multiverse and people who depend on him.

Appears from the start

A Norwegian man charged after an Oslo attack reportedly involved extraordinary destruction accomplished with his bare hands. The apparent superhuman incident is unexplained when his case first appears.

First appears in chapter 4

A member of the roster of Earth's active forerunners. At his introduction, the listing establishes his participation in the competition but gives Silas no direct knowledge of his abilities or intentions.

First appears in chapter 4

An active Earth forerunner listed alongside the other people contributing to Earth's standing. Silas initially knows her only through the induction roster, which offers no explanation of her abilities, history, or present assignment.

First appears in chapter 4

One of the active Earth forerunners named on the induction roster. Her presence confirms that Silas is entering an existing group whose work affects Earth's survival, although he has not yet met her or learned what part she plays.

First appears in chapter 8

The civic leader whose official signatory ring is the object of Silas's first off-world challenge. Silas is told to obtain the ring by any method, before he has learned anything about the official personally.

First appears in chapter 12

A level 17 rogue and mage who leads a visiting adventuring party into the Forest Den. She recognizes Silas as a forerunner candidate and invites him to join her group's attempt against the dungeon boss.

First appears in chapter 12

Dory's heavily armored, hammer-wielding companion in the Forest Den party. He serves as the group's frontline fighter, joins the planned boss attempt, and is enthusiastic about working with a forerunner candidate.

First appears in chapter 12

The robed mage in Dory's Forest Den party. He joins Dory and Crag as one of Silas's temporary allies for a boss fight that the group considers too dangerous for Silas to attempt alone, adding magical support to their formation.

First appears in chapter 24

A feared level 32 uncommon feathered bear that has roamed the forest near Anwich for more than two years. Local adventurers regard this mutated roaming monster as a threat beyond an ordinary dungeon creature.

First appears in chapter 29

A University of Illinois cheerleader who deliberately arranges an introduction to Silas on campus. Her approach immediately precedes his confrontation with Chad Williams and two other football players.

First appears in chapter 29

A University of Illinois football player who confronts Silas on campus alongside two teammates after April introduces herself to Silas.

First appears in chapter 30

The university cross-country coach who rejects Silas from the team after his fight with several football players and warns that the incident could end his enrollment.

First appears in chapter 30

The university football coach who intervenes after Silas fights several players. He steers the group away from formal consequences and invites Silas to attend a football practice.

First appears in chapter 32

A level 26 ritual mage who admits Silas into the besieged city of Proximus. He identifies Silas as a heaven-blessed forerunner and offers protection and guidance while Silas learns about the city's magic.

First appears in chapter 36

The leader of a captive Delmen company freed by Silas inside Proximus's defense complex. With the ritual chamber seized and its guards defeated, he becomes Silas's tactical ally and proposes destroying the city shield before reinforcements arrive.

First appears in chapter 41

A figure Nuri names among Earth's other forerunners or candidates while warning Silas about the people connected to Earth's induction effort. No abilities or current assignment are established at this point.

First appears in chapter 43

A defensive spirit companion summoned through Silas's inherited spell. It communicates with him mentally, shares beneficial magical effects, perceives its surroundings without ordinary sight, and chooses a form suited to protecting him.

First appears in chapter 45

A corporate operative on Galen who approaches under a distortion cloak and orders Silas to meet his superior. He is hostile toward Silas's local connections but has instructions not to harm him for the moment.

First appears in chapter 48

A university cheerleader who approaches Silas after his football tryout and asks him for a ride home.

First appears in chapter 52

A representative of an endangered, technologically advanced alien people. The envoy recalls dealings with Daniel Becker and offers knowledge and technology in return for possible future asylum on Earth.

First appears in chapter 52

An elf-like rival forerunner whose powerful aura clouds attention and judgment. She arrives with a plantlike companion, condemns Earth's treatment of its environment, and openly threatens the Earth team before the race.

Also known as Eidolon

First appears in chapter 52

The name of Silas's Eidolon, revealed when the spirit begins speaking. Erg is a protective vine-and-shield companion mentally linked to Silas, not a nature elemental or an ordinary summoned creature, and he confronts a rival on Silas's behalf.