# Lord Gro — The Worm Ouroboros character guide > Lord Gro in The Worm Ouroboros by E. R. Eddison. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Gro, the Lord Gro, Lord Gro of Goblinland, Lord Gro of Witchland **First appearance:** 0004-i-the-castle-of-lord-juss ## Snapshot A pale-faced, soft-spoken Goblin lord whose subtle counsel and winding truths make him as useful as he is hard to trust. ## Who they are Lord Gro moves between courts as envoy and strategist, returning from Demonland to Carcë with news the King receives in his bath with unnerving calm. He reads men and reports their doings with careful precision, yet the King's warning against glozing shows how much his smoothness invites suspicion. His talent for seeing both sides of a quarrel, and for surviving whichever side wins, makes him a quiet pivot in Witchland's schemes. ## In the story ### [II: The Wrastling for Demonland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/ii-the-wrastling-for-demonland) Witch lord who tries to persuade King Gorice to stop wrestling after the first bout, fearing disaster. ### [III: The Red Foliot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/iii-the-red-foliot) Devises a plot to attack the Demons by night; uses cunning and a forged letter to manipulate the Red Foliot into an alliance. ### [Conjuring in the Iron Tower](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/iv-conjuring-in-the-iron-tower) A philosopher and sorcerer's apprentice, Gro endures tests of terror and is instructed in the forbidden spells to aid the King's conjuring. ### [VI: The Claws of Witchland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/vi-the-claws-of-witchland) Stands with the King on the wall; identifies Juss and Brandoch Daha. ### [VII: Guests of the King in Carcë](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/vii-guests-of-the-king-in-carc) Gro converses with the King and later with Lady Prezmyra, expressing regret over the treatment of the Demon lords and noting the danger of advising kings. ### [XI: The Burg of Eshgrar Ogo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xi-the-burg-of-eshgrar-ogo) Advises Corund on strategy, mocks the Demons privately, and later bares his soul to Corund, confessing his admiration for the enemy and his loyalty. ### [Queen Prezmyra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xv-queen-prezmyra) Accompanies Prezmyra, tries to soothe her melancholy, and agrees with her that the King should strike now. ### [The King Flies His Haggard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xvii-the-king-flies-his-haggard) Advises the King against Corsus, but is overruled and assigned to the expedition as a counselor. ### [The Murther of Gallandus by Corsus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xviii-the-murther-of-gallandus-by-corsus) Lord Gro returns from Demonland to report Corsus's failures, the murder of Gallandus, and the mutinous state of the army, pleading for succour. ### [XX: King Corinius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xx-king-corinius) Present at the banquet and the confrontation, laughs at the accusations. ### [XXI: The Parley Before Krothering](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xxi-the-parley-before-krothering) Reluctantly serves as Corinius's envoy to Mevrian; delivers the marriage ultimatum despite his personal distaste and sorrow. ### [XXIII: The Weird Begun of Ishnain Nemartra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xxiii-the-weird-begun-of-ishnain-nemartra) Attempts to mediate the conflict between Corinius and the others, agrees with Laxus's strategy, and is deeply troubled by Corinius's insults regarding Queen Prezmyra. ### [A King in Krothering](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xxiv-a-king-in-krothering) Gro is present at the banquet, observes Corinius's behavior, and is suspected by Laxus of loving Mevrian. ### [Lord Gro and the Lady Mevrian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xxv-lord-gro-and-the-lady-mevrian) Wanders through Demonland in a deep study, torn between his love for the sunrise and the sunset. He meets Mevrian, proves his loyalty, and forms a pact of friendship with her. ### [The Second Expedition to Impland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xxvii-the-second-expedition-to-impland) Present at Galing, nearly attacked by Gaslark but reconciled through Juss's intervention. ### [XXIX: The Fleet at Muelva](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xxix-the-fleet-at-muelva) Provides intelligence on the new Witchland ships built at Tenemos, confirming the threat. ### [Tidings of Melikaphkhaz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xxx-tidings-of-melikaphkhaz) Mentioned as the writer of a letter to Prezmyra; his counsel is recalled. ### [XXXI: The Demons Before Carcë](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xxxi-the-demons-before-carc) Dies in the battle, considered a perjured traitor. ### [Argument: With Dates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/argument-with-dates) Brings tidings to Carcë; abandons Witchland for Demonland; meets Juss and Brandoch Daha; slain in the battle before Carcë. ### [Bibliographical Note on the Verses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/bibliographical-note-on-the-verses) Subject of a lampoon based on an epigram on William Parrie. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/characters/lord_gro - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/characters