Ozma of Oz · Character

Nome King

The jolly, rock-colored monarch of the underground Nomes, who holds Ev's enchanted royal family as slaves and defends the bargain with cheerful, unshakable logic.

major

Also known as the Nome King, Mr. Nome King, The King, XIII The Nome King Laughs, This Nome

First appearance: The Nome King

As a major figure in Ozma of Oz, Nome King is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The antagonist who transforms the royal family of Ev into ornaments and is ultimately defeated.

In the storyOzma of OzOpen this moment free

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Seated on a ruby-studded throne in a domed cavern, the Nome King greets Ozma and Dorothy with Santa-Claus good humor, smoking a pipe and quoting nursery rhymes while insisting he bought the Queen of Ev and her ten children fairly from their own king. His pleasantness is the trap: he twists every argument into a riddle of ownership, and his power over his enchanted slaves makes him the quest's central adversary. What makes him dangerous is not rage but the sense that he is enjoying himself.

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The fuller portrait of Nome King sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Nome King in The Nome King

Character Web

21 connections

A slice of how Nome King sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Rivalry

Character groups

Main Quest Allies
Protagonist

+16 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological low point where hope collapses: t…

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Relationships

Ozma
rivalry · negative
The Nome King is Ozma's primary antagonist, scheming to conquer Oz and oppose her rule. How this plays out →
Dorothy Gale
rivalry · negative
Billina
rivalry · negative
Scarecrow
rivalry · negative
Queen of Ev
rivalry · negative
Ozma
rivalry · negative
The Nome King is Ozma's primary antagonist, scheming to conquer Oz and oppose her rule. How this plays out →
Dorothy Gale
rivalry · negative
Billina
rivalry · negative
Dorothy Gale
rivalry · negative
Scarecrow
rivalry · negative
Queen of Ev
rivalry · negative
Ozma
rivalry · negative
The Nome King is Ozma's primary antagonist, scheming to conquer Oz and oppose her rule. How this plays out →

Ozma
The Nome King is Ozma's primary antagonist, scheming to conquer Oz and oppose her rule.
Dorothy Gale
Dorothy directly opposes the Nome King's plans, often outsmarting him and thwarting his evil schemes.
Billina
Billina cleverly outwits the Nome King, exposing his tricks and helping to defeat him.
Scarecrow
The Nome King views the Scarecrow as a clever enemy who repeatedly undermines his plans.
Queen of Ev
The Nome King holds the Queen of Ev and her children prisoner, making them his enemies.
Ozma
The Nome King is Ozma's primary antagonist, scheming to conquer Oz and oppose her rule.
Dorothy Gale
Dorothy directly opposes the Nome King's plans, often outsmarting him and thwarting his evil schemes.
Billina
Billina cleverly outwits the Nome King, exposing his tricks and helping to defeat him.
Dorothy Gale
Dorothy directly opposes the Nome King's plans, often outsmarting him and thwarting his evil schemes.
Scarecrow
The Nome King views the Scarecrow as a clever enemy who repeatedly undermines his plans.
Queen of Ev
The Nome King holds the Queen of Ev and her children prisoner, making them his enemies.
Ozma
The Nome King is Ozma's primary antagonist, scheming to conquer Oz and oppose her rule.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Nome King in The Nome King

In the story

Nome King appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Ozma of Oz
The antagonist who transforms the royal family of Ev into ornaments and is ultimately defeated.
The Nome King
The ruler of the Underground World who holds the Queen of Ev and her children as transformed ornaments; he proposes a guessing game to Ozma.
XII: The Eleven Guesses
Sets the condition of eleven guesses, watches Ozma's attempt, and cheerfully announces her failure.
XIII: The Nome King Laughs
Laughs at the Tin Woodman's transformation, orders refreshments, and eventually retires for the night.
XIV: Dorothy Tries to Be Brave
Reveals to his Steward that the Queen of Ev and her family are purple ornaments; plans to transform the remaining visitors into ornaments of specific colors.
XV: Billina Frightens the Nome King
Terrified by the egg, reluctantly allows Billina to guess, and is frustrated by Dorothy's correct guess.
Purple, Green, and Gold
Sits on his throne surrounded by his army, enraged at the group's escape.
The Scarecrow Wins the Fight
Enraged by the broken enchantments, summons his warriors but is blinded by eggs.
The Fate of the Tin Woodman
Defeated and humiliated, he loses his magic belt, is threatened with transformation into a goose-egg, and fails to produce the Tin Woodman.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Nome King unlock in the free preview.

See Nome King in The Nome King

See Nome King in Ozma of Oz