The Tenth Muse characters

Appears from the start

A powerful leader, Grandmaster Alchemist, and veteran combatant whose damaged soul remains a serious constraint. He enters this volume supported by trusted companions and several independent allies who reside within his mind.

Appears from the start

Ruwen's partner, healer, and protector. She is a trusted companion whose unusual sensitivity to abstract magic and conceptual power gives her insights that Ruwen's more structured thinking does not easily reach.

Appears from the start

Ruwen's trusted martial companion and Lylan's partner. He travels with an elder tortoise.

Appears from the start

A dangerous scout, Sift's partner, and one of Ruwen's established allies. She has unusual blood and uses hexing magic.

Appears from the start

Ruwen's close mind-linked ally, investigator, and adviser. She can research problems from within his mental world.

Appears from the start

A practical community ally with herbal and alchemical knowledge.

Appears from the start

A capable and practical ally in Ruwen's circle.

Appears from the start

An ally with extensive knowledge of the Shadow Realm and the discipline known as Shadow Step.

Appears from the start

An autonomous intelligence living within Ruwen's mind. Lir has independent judgment and supports civic and system work.

Appears from the start

Ruwen's inner-world double and a distinct ally with combat and planning responsibilities. Overlord can advise Ruwen, conduct research with the other mind-resident entities, and manifest externally under suitable conditions.

Appears from the start

A researcher concerned with restoring or preserving powerful beings. At the start of this volume, his work remains tied to unresolved questions about souls, godstones, and whether damaged or lost forms can be recovered.

Appears from the start

A deity and political ally who supports Ruwen and remains connected to members of his inner world.

Appears from the start

An inner-world ally carrying knowledge retained from Eiru and assisting with Ruwen's inner-world defense.

Appears from the start

Ruwen's principal established enemy, tied to a continuing threat that extends across realms.

Appears from the start

A hostile internal entity associated with the Infernal Lord. Nameless poses a threat through mental intrusion and destructive influence, making the entity dangerous even without a conventional body or open battlefield presence.

Also known as Miranda

Appears from the start

The Black Pyramid's patron, usually encountered in her dungeon form. When the situation becomes serious she takes the human form Miranda, and she begins this volume by rewarding Sift for helping save the planet.

First appears in chapter 3

A mistwraith and former Black Pyramid opponent who ends his opposition and agrees to advise a diplomatic effort involving two neighboring countries.

First appears in chapter 7

A priestess of Naktos who is identified as the sculptor Ruwen maimed while rescuing Lylan.

First appears in chapter 7

Hamma's pendant-linked golem companion, who is nearly impossible to kill. Ruwen owes him for recovering the apocalypse hoop.

First appears in chapter 12

A librarian and researcher drawn to dangerous knowledge. Ruwen recruits this specialist for the alchemy competition and secures an agreement for lessons in within-realm translocation.

First appears in chapter 16

A sentient weapon carried by Sift. The end of the Pact removes a former restriction and allows it to speak directly into Ruwen's mind.

First appears in chapter 16

The Black Pyramid's chef, who asks to join Ruwen's expedition and is accepted on the condition that meals and desserts continue. Beyond cooking, the chef may also have access to restricted information.

First appears in chapter 18

A powerful and renowned bard whom Lylan now accepts with caution. He apologizes for his earlier actions and offers to teach Ruwen a more emotional, less linear way of perceiving harmonic patterns.

Also known as Ruwen Starfield

First appears in chapter 22

The concealed identity Ruwen uses when his expedition enters the Tournament of Perfection. The disguise presents him as the leader of a mercenary company while withholding his political and divine significance from rival alchemists.

First appears in chapter 22

Sift's parents, a married pair of Black Pyramid Master Alchemists who join the expedition in concealment.

First appears in chapter 24

A hostile Grandmaster Alchemist who disputes Nightshade's legitimacy and challenges his small party. He commands an established camp and quickly turns the tournament into a personal contest backed by wagers and intimidation.

First appears in chapter 24

The six Muses occupying thrones when Nightshade reaches the Tournament of Perfection. They oversee the contest and examine his party without uncovering his identity, while three other thrones stand empty.

First appears in chapter 33

The rival Grandmaster's divine patron, summoned after the alchemical dispute escalates. The deity enters prepared to intimidate Ruwen, then recognizes him and retreats through an amulet-based escape.

First appears in chapter 41

An autonomous aspect within Ruwen's armor that reacts eagerly to the Destruction Realm. It can suppress his conspicuous shadow there, but its independent desire to remain introduces uncertainty into his control of the armor.

First appears in chapter 47

A distinct mind-resident Grandmaster Alchemist who prepares lessons for Ruwen's effort to spread advanced instruction. Her expertise lets the teaching program continue even when rival Grandmasters try to isolate their students.

First appears in chapter 55

The acting sovereign of the Destruction Realm, seen in a Muse's memory on an island dominated by five towers. The sovereign possesses the stolen potions and has offered protection as part of a dangerous bargain.

First appears in chapter 59

Rami's means of escape when the Infernal Lord's force reaches the island of five towers. Ruwen sends Rami away on Vex and uses one of Blapy's single-use protections to shield their departure.

First appears in chapter 61

A destruction-aligned universe harvester associated with the Destruction Emperor. The Inquisitor offers the Infernal Lord a transformation into a form accepted by the realm, making it central to his plan for survival.

Also known as Ruwen Starfield

First appears in chapter 67

The identity Ruwen gives his new noble seraph body after his original form is destroyed. His consciousness remains continuous, but the system treats the House Valdor body as a new profile and leaves Ruwen Starfield's profile inaccessible.