Character guide

Unknown Narrator

major

Also known as today, mine, Myself, yours, your, yourself

He returns home expecting routine obedience to a royal summons, only to find Atlantis transformed by Phorenice's self-deifying rule and his own fame turned into a dangerous commodity. His loyalty to the old Priestly Clan and his growing bond with Nais pull against the Empress's demand that he serve her will. His outsider's ignorance of court intrigue makes him both vulnerable and useful as the story's eyes.

Phorenice

major

Also known as The Empress Phorenice, the Empress Phorenice, Empress, Goddess Phorenice, Goddess, Phorenice the Empress, the Empress

She has broken the ancient law that only a man of the Priestly Clan may rule, and her reign presses cruelly on nobles and commoners alike. Her courtship of Deucalion is less romance than conquest: she wants the strongest man in the kingdom bound to her will. Her caprice and hunger for absolute power set the political storm that drives the novel's central conflict.

Nais

major

Also known as this same Nais, herself, myself

Once she slept as softly as any Atlantean lord, but compassion for the common people has cost her comfort and made her a voice among the besiegers outside the city. She distrusts all authority, including the priests' Mountain, yet finds herself drawn to the very strongman she accuses of inevitable tyranny. Her arguments give the novel its moral spine and complicate Deucalion's loyalties from their first meeting.

Deucalion

major

Also known as one Deucalion, the Lord Deucalion, my Lord Deucalion, The Lord Deucalion, Lord Deucalion, the great Lord Deucalion

His name is a household word, mothers name sons after him, and the old gods have faded while his reputation has grown. He values duty over applause and speaks plainly even when plainness is dangerous, which puts him at odds with the polished, fearful court Tatho now inhabits. His refusal to be flattered or coerced makes him the natural rallying point for those who resist Phorenice.

Tob

supporting

Also known as Promptly Tob, himself, myself

He once commanded Tatho's navy, but hard times have left his wife and children hungry, so he plans to sail for parts unknown and found a kingdom of his own. He owes Deucalion nothing yet pledges to serve him to the nether gods, a loyalty that costs him dearly. His rough pragmatism and willingness to defy the harbour chain give the escape its pulse and its humor.

Zaemon

supporting

Also known as V Zaemon, XV Zaemon, Old Zaemon, old Zaemon, himself, I

Father of both Nais and the Empress's creature Ylga, he is caught between two daughters on opposite sides of the empire's fracture. He opposes Phorenice not from love of the people but from conviction that the old law and the priests' Clan must rule again. His stubborn traditionalism makes him a rival cause rather than a simple ally, sharpening the novel's question of whose order deserves to win.

Tatho

supporting

Also known as This Tatho, the Tatho, Lord Tatho, the Lord Tatho, himself

Tatho moves through Atlantis as one of the Empress's trusted men, a former priest of middling rank who now shares her bed and her ambitions. He has staked everything on Phorenice's discovery of the Great Secret, believing he and his twin sons will become deathless gods, and he meets Deucalion's warnings with dogged confidence in her magic. His stubborn faith in the Empress's power makes him both a useful instrument and a man worth watching as the struggle for Atlantis sharpens.

The Woman

supporting

Also known as herself, yourself, Your, hers, The woman

She speaks with the familiarity of someone who once lived softly and now moves among the discontented, carrying a compassion for the common people that has cost her comfort. Her scorn for Deucalion's scruples and her frank account of Phorenice's courtship reveal a kingdom already weary of its ruler's whims. She matters because she voices the resentment and fear that Deucalion must reckon with before he can claim any throne.

Ylga

supporting

Also known as herself, yourself, Your, myself

Ylga is the sister of the woman Deucalion loves, and her loyalty to Nais drives her through mufflings and sentries to deliver news no one else dares carry. She is bitter that Deucalion's first thought is always for the message and never the messenger, yet she comes anyway. Her warning lays bare Phorenice's jealousy and cruelty, and her presence ties Deucalion's private grief to the wider danger closing around him.

Coppinger

supporting

Also known as Dr. Coppinger, himself, myself

Coppinger treats health theories like a religion and takes out a new degree every other year, and he has dragged his friend across rough ground to ransack caves for traces of an old Guanche college. He is practical, tireless, and a little obsessive, more interested in measurements and photographs than in the mummies already gathered. His expedition frames the discovery of Deucalion's manuscript, grounding the fantastic Atlantean tale in the dust and hunger of a real archaeological tramp.

Ro

minor

Also known as Ro bitterly, your

A minor character, possibly a servant or soldier, with brief appearances.

The Priests

minor

Also known as their, the Priests, the priests

The collective priestly class of Atlantis, often opposing Phorenice's rule.

The Gods

minor

Also known as Gods, the High Gods, The Gods, their, Their

The divine beings worshipped in Atlantis, often invoked by characters.

Tarca

minor

Also known as yourself, your

A minor character, possibly a servant or soldier in Atlantis.

The Captain of the Gate

minor

Also known as the captain of the gate, The captain of the gate

An officer guarding the city gate, encountered by the narrator.

A Priest

minor

Also known as a priest, a Priest

An unnamed priest of Atlantis, appearing in various scenes.

The Sun

minor

Also known as Lord the Sun

A deity worshipped in Atlantis, often personified as a lord.

A General

minor

Also known as a General, a general, myself, A general

An unnamed military leader serving under Phorenice or Deucalion.

Dason

minor

Also known as mine, myself, your

A minor character, possibly a guard or official in Atlantis.

The Port-Captain

minor

Also known as himself, the port - captain, The port - captain

An official in charge of the port, encountered by the narrator.

A Glittering Officer

minor

Also known as yourself, a glittering officer, myself, your

A richly dressed officer in Phorenice's court, briefly seen.

The Handful of Priests

minor

Also known as their, the handful of Priests

A small group of priests loyal to Zaemon, aiding the resistance.

The Priests' Clan

minor

Also known as the Priests ’ Clan, their

A faction or family of priests in Atlantis, mentioned collectively.

The Officer of the Guard

minor

Also known as The officer of the guard, the officer of the guard

A guard officer encountered by the narrator in Atlantis.

The Atlanteans

minor

The people of Atlantis, referred to collectively as a group.

Eron

minor

A minor character, possibly a servant or soldier, with a single mention.