Wyrd Sisters characters

Also known as Esme Weatherwax, Esmerelda Weatherwax

Appears from the start

The senior witch of the mountain kingdom of Lancre, a stern, iron-willed woman who distrusts nonsense, showy magic, and meddling in the affairs of kings. She believes firmly that witches should not get involved in politics, a principle she finds increasingly hard to keep when a murdered king's crown and infant heir are placed in her hands.

Also known as Gytha Ogg

Appears from the start

A cheerful, earthy Lancre witch with a large sprawling family, a fondness for drink and song, and an evil-tempered tomcat named Greebo. Warm and worldly where Granny is severe, she forms one point of the loose coven of three, and knows everyone's business in the kingdom.

Appears from the start

The youngest of the three witches, earnest, romantic, and fond of occult jewellery, herbs, and the idea of witchcraft as gentle and caring. Often overruled by her elders, she is eager to do good and believes in the softer, more sentimental side of the craft.

Appears from the start

The King of Lancre, murdered at the very start of the story and left to linger in his own castle as a ghost. Bound to the stones of the place, he can only watch and fume as his crown is seized, and struggles to make himself known to the living.

Appears from the start

The king's cousin, who murders him and takes the throne of Lancre. Weak-willed and increasingly gnawed by guilt, he cannot wash the memory of the deed from his mind and rules badly, growing more unstable as the land itself seems to turn against him.

Appears from the start

The Duke's formidable wife, far stronger of will than her husband and the real driving force behind the murder and the seizure of power. Ambitious and contemptuous of weakness, she pushes Felmet forward and schemes to secure their hold on the kingdom, including a plan to turn public opinion against the witches.

Appears from the start

The castle's jester, trained from childhood by the Fools' Guild in a rigid, joyless discipline of professional foolery. Melancholy and dutiful beneath the bells and motley, he serves the Duke unhappily and is drawn to the youngest witch, Magrat.

Appears from the start

The murdered king's infant son, smuggled out of the castle by the witches and given to a traveling theatre company to raise. Growing up among actors, he becomes a naturally gifted young performer, able to command any audience, with no knowledge of his royal birth.

Appears from the start

The larger-than-life manager and leading actor of a traveling theatrical troupe, who takes in the rescued royal baby and raises him as his own son. Devoted to the stage, he tours the Ramtops staging plays for coin and applause.