Reign of Madness characters

Appears from the start

Frisha’s formidable suitor and the organizer of the tournament journey. He adopts the manner of an exceptionally powerful noble and uses the deference he attracts to improve Frisha’s treatment among her highborn relatives.

Appears from the start

Rezkin’s intended partner and General Marcum’s heir through his sister. Rezkin presents her as his girlfriend before her noble relatives, while she defends the practical abilities they dismiss and recognizes that he is performing a role without knowing its full purpose.

Also known as Tam

Appears from the start

Frisha's sworn escort and Rezkin's friend. His honor is challenged by one of Frisha's noble cousins, but Rezkin publicly affirms both his oath and their friendship while placing him within the expedition's protected inner circle.

Appears from the start

A warrior traveling with Rezkin's party who continues training for combat. She recognizes that his high-noble manner is a performance without knowing its full purpose.

Also known as Duke of Wellenven's heir

Appears from the start

The wary heir of the Duke of Wellenven, traveling with the party to the tournament.

Appears from the start

An army officer accompanying the travelers on their journey to the tournament.

Also known as elder count

Appears from the start

Frisha’s older cousin and the future head of her noble house. Though initially class-conscious, he responds strongly to Rezkin’s approval and begins treating him as a model of honorable highborn behavior.

Also known as younger count

Appears from the start

A young noble traveling with his siblings to compete at the tournament. He is interested in the competition and follows his older brother’s lead.

Appears from the start

A status-conscious noblewoman who disparages commoners and pursues Rezkin despite his declared relationship with Frisha. Her insults toward Frisha and Tamarin provoke a public rebuke from Rezkin.

Appears from the start

A young noble who travels to the tournament with Frisha's cousins as their friend.

Appears from the start

The reigning king of Ashai. At the opening of the book, his growing taxes and military musters are contributing to instability, while serious accusations concerning King Bordran and Prince Thresson remain allegations rather than established events.

Appears from the start

The only fortress striker known to have escaped Rezkin's final test. He remains missing and is Rezkin's principal lead to the purpose of the hidden fortress, the orders given there, and the fate intended for its trainees.

First appears in chapter 4

A stranded journeyman mage who wanted to follow life magic but possesses a powerful destructive affinity. He is reluctant to kill and cannot heal effectively himself, yet his instruction lets Reaylin direct her dangerous new gift, prompting Rezkin to hire him.

First appears in chapter 4

A badly beaten prisoner rushed through a mob trial after admitting that he killed the mayor's son. The legal question of murder remains untested when Rezkin challenges the proceeding, removes the magistrate, and takes Kai into custody for an investigation.

First appears in chapter 6

An Ashai officer traveling with Rezkin's party. When Kai denounces King Caydean and questions the royal succession, Drascon objects, demonstrating his continued formal loyalty to the reigning monarch.

Also known as Lady Hilith Gadderand

First appears in chapter 12

The widow of Lord Gadderand and a former Razor Edges guildmaster. She approaches Rezkin under the mistaken belief that the Raven has ordered her to observe him.

Also known as host duke

First appears in chapter 15

The noble who hosts Tieran at his Scutton estate during the tournament.

First appears in chapter 15

A master swordsmith in Scutton who grants Rezkin access to exceptional weapons after seeing evidence of his skill.

Also known as another duke's youngest son

First appears in chapter 19

A guest at the Duke of Scutton's estate and the youngest son of another duke. He covertly directs mage power at Rezkin when Rezkin answers Tieran's summons.

Also known as fifth-tier swordwoman

First appears in chapter 24

A common-born fifth-tier competitor trained by her late father, once a royal guard in their homeland. She places seventh in her division and earns recognition as a swordmaster, drawing the younger count's admiration and Kai's interest as a recruit.

First appears in chapter 25

A surviving trainer from Rezkin's hidden fortress who recognizes his former pupil. He believes Rezkin was created to serve an unknown master and may hold crucial knowledge about the purpose of the training and the instructions that never reached Rezkin.

First appears in chapter 25

The leader of an Eastern Mountains contingent. Dark Tidings bests him using his own axe, then brings him back from death. By keeping the axe, Dark Tidings holds the symbol of temporary chieftaincy.

Also known as dissenting arresting strikers

First appears in chapter 26

Two of seven royal strikers sent to arrest Dark Tidings for treason. Unlike their companions, they refuse to begin fighting before examining his evidence of authority, separating themselves from the immediate attack.

First appears in chapter 26

A member of the traveling military escort who faces a choice when Dark Tidings organizes the flight from Scutton. After being told that no one is compelled to follow, Millens chooses to remain with the escape column.

First appears in chapter 27

A merchant-ship captain who once commanded in the royal navy. He lost that post after King Bordran died because he spoke against the succeeding government, and now agrees to carry Rezkin's refugees toward safety.

Also known as Dark Tidings, the Raven

First appears in chapter 15

The man behind the Raven plans a masked tournament identity named Dark Tidings to attract striker attention while avoiding recognition.

Appears from the start

An Ashai general whose approval Rezkin sought before marrying Frisha. He rejected the proposal despite respecting Rezkin professionally.