Winter Solstice characters

Also known as Erin Solstice

Appears from the start

The Earth-born proprietor of the Wandering Inn, known for extending friendship across the divisions surrounding Liscor. Her inn has become a refuge for people who rarely find acceptance elsewhere.

Also known as Ryoka Griffin

Appears from the start

A classless runner from Earth and one of Erin's friends. She travels with the Frost Faerie Ivolethe and approaches unfamiliar powers, secret knowledge, and dangerous commissions with persistent caution.

Also known as Lion

Appears from the start

Erin's barmaid and the person entrusted with the Wandering Inn when Erin is absent. She is building a life through the inn's daily work and its unusual community.

Also known as Flooded Waters Chieftain

Appears from the start

The young chieftain of the Flooded Waters tribe and an established battlefield leader.

Also known as Garen

Appears from the start

Leader of the Redfang tribe and its elite warriors. Though Rags defeated him before this campaign, he retains independent command and commands more personal loyalty within their coalition.

Also known as Great Chieftain of the Mountain City Tribe

Appears from the start

The immense Great Chieftain of a powerful northern Goblin tribe. He offers an alliance that commits his mountain only if the Goblin Lord attacks it, and he treats Rags' authority with open contempt.

Appears from the start

A Hobgoblin chieftain whose loyalty to Rags is visible even within Tremborag's territory. He remains close enough to act as one of her guards when much of the coalition's support wavers.

Also known as Stone Spears tribe survivor

First appears in chapter 2

The orphaned last survivor of the Stone Spears tribe, now sheltered at the Wandering Inn under Lyonette's care. Trauma and fear surrounding her white fur leave her convinced that disaster follows her.

First appears in chapter 2

A sword-bearing skeleton that pursues the young Gnoll to a dungeon fissure, then pauses when she is left hanging above the drop.

Also known as Zel Shivertail

First appears in chapter 2

A Drake general who helped defend the young Gnoll during the destruction of her tribe. At the inn he supports Lyonette and takes an active role when the child needs rescue.

First appears in chapter 2

A powerful Azure Antinium who joins the effort to recover the young Gnoll from the dungeon. Her magic enables the rescuers to descend into the fissure and return to the surface.

First appears in chapter 3

Tremborag's chief shaman and a practitioner of magic drawn from the strength of a tribe. She presents herself to Rags as a potential ally and claims power far beyond the mountain's lesser shamans.

First appears in chapter 3

The former Goldstone Chieftain, newly named by Rags. His conduct in Tremborag's restricted quarter proves protective rather than exploitative, and he will refuse commands that violate his understanding of what Goblins should be.

Also known as Redfang vanguard commander

First appears in chapter 4

A Redfang Warrior who speaks for the contingent that followed Rags out of the mountain. He presses her to devise a practical defense against cavalry, one of the tribe's most dangerous battlefield threats.

Also known as white-bearded stranger

First appears in chapter 5

Ryoka's mysterious client, appearing as a white-bearded stranger with overwhelming command of basic magic. He seeks Erin's help understanding an artifact from Earth after easily defeating the Horns.

First appears in chapter 6

An elderly Hobgoblin who hides the extent of his intelligence. His personal memories reach back to earlier Goblin Kings, giving Rags evidence of a past in which Goblins formed peaceful alliances with other peoples.

First appears in chapter 6

A Goblin commander who leads a separate group within Rags' enlarged tribe. She challenges Rags' decision to require regular training because it conflicts with Goblin custom.

Appears from the start

A half-Elf adventurer and ice mage who belongs to the Horns of Hammerad.

Appears from the start

A mage of the Horns of Hammerad whose unusual command of undead magic sets him apart.

First appears in chapter 7

A true stone construct charged with preserving Wistrom and enforcing its rules. She warns new arrivals about the academy's restricted places, dangerous experiments, and golems.

First appears in chapter 8

A severe Wistrom instructor who criticizes Ceria's spell construction and refuses ordinary access to combat teaching. Her challenges demand resourcefulness as well as magical strength.

Appears from the start

The frontline fighter of the re-formed Horns of Hammerad. She travels with Ceria, Pisces, and Ksmvr as the team makes its way back toward Liscor.

Appears from the start

An Antinium fighter and member of the Horns of Hammerad. His place in the adventuring team brings him into Erin's growing circle of people from different species.

Appears from the start

An alchemist who collaborates with Erin on practical inventions.

Appears from the start

A senior Antinium of the Liscor Hive and one of Erin's friends. His responsibilities to the Hive coexist uneasily with the individual relationships he has formed around the inn.

Appears from the start

An individual Antinium associated with Erin and the Wandering Inn. He has begun developing a life and responsibilities beyond the role ordinarily assigned to a worker.

Appears from the start

A Drake strategist and chess player within Erin's established circle in Liscor.

First appears in chapter 16

An Antinium sub-leader who directs workers alongside Anand during Esthelm's reconstruction. The pair coordinate the force without spoken orders.

First appears in chapter 16

An Antinium sub-leader who shares responsibility with Belgrade for directing the workers sent to rebuild Esthelm. The two can coordinate their forces mind-to-mind.

First appears in chapter 16

A visiting Antinium Progenitor from another Hive. Tersk accompanies Xrn to Esthelm as an observer of Liscor's increasingly individual Antinium and their relief mission.

Also known as Emperor

Appears from the start

A blind man devoted to protecting River Farm and to Durene, his half-troll companion. He has established authority over the village while adapting to a world he cannot see.

Appears from the start

Laken's half-troll guide and protective companion. She helps him navigate the world and remains central to his efforts to secure River Farm.

Also known as Ryoka's Frost Faerie friend

Appears from the start

A Frost Faerie who travels with Ryoka. She serves as a guide to powers and dangers that mortal knowledge does not readily explain.

First appears in chapter 17

The head of the Reinhart household, whose protection gives Ryoka shelter and access while placing her movements under the household's supervision.

First appears in chapter 17

Magnolia Reinhart's butler and Ryoka's assigned guide in Invercil. His service gives Ryoka privileged access while also tying her movements to Magnolia Reinhart's household.

First appears in chapter 18

A runner whose unexpected absence from his usual delivery circuit prompts concern at the Invercil Runners' Guild. Ryoka asks the guild to investigate where he has gone.

First appears in chapter 22

A blue fledgling being raised by Laken and Durene. Caring for the young bird has given Laken a new class connected to handling animals.

Also known as Black Mage

First appears in chapter 22

A caller who reaches Ryoka through her phone and claims to be an Earth arrival seeking others like himself. Ryoka and Laken cannot verify his identity or whether his connection to Wistrom is safe.

First appears in chapter 23

Klbkch's partner in an improvised Christmas mission. He helps distribute presents and stop burglars, then privately exchanges a gift with Klbkch after learning that Santa is fictional.

First appears in chapter 24

A surviving Antinium Progenitor identified as the one who killed Zel's mentor.