This chapter describes the player characters.

Barlow Smythe.  (Ray Smith's first character, deceased.) Barlow Smythe died at the Crypts of Stonesboro, heroically holding off the enemy while the others escaped.

Basgoot.  (Larry Wilson's character, transformed.) Basgoot started with a troubled past and has accumulated many more problems as time went by, but the greatest of his afflictions is his on-again-off-again transformation from human to demonic changeling by the powerful demon (see Narung's Demon and Narung Reforged) imprisoned inside Narung, the powerful magical sword he accepted from a ghost. The demon has apparently learned how to stay on the material plane even when Banished or killed, and so must be imprisoned for all time. Basgoot is also intermittently plagued by drunkenness, first brought on by drinking from the wineskin of an old man the party met in the same crypts they found Narung. This old man has occasionally appeared elsewhere to confuse the party and help Basgoot, including in the South.

Boswt.  (Howard Hill's first character, deceased.) Boswt died at the Stronghold of Sassym by falling down a shaft after slipping from slime-covered hand and footholds.

Bytor.  (Vicky Staubly's character, deceased.) Bytor was known for his anachronistic exclamation `Hot Tub!' and for his shades. He died at the Crypts of Stonesboro and, sadly, reappeared later as a zombie re-animated by the necromancer of the crypts and fought against his former friends, who killed him.

Cormac Tricerius.  (Steve Scott's character.) Cormac Tricerius died in an ambush on the way to Blackstone Chapel and died again later in its defense, but was resurrected each time by the grateful clerics' deity. In Makad-al-Arakan he drank of the Waters of Arakan's Delight, acquiring thereby a link to and weakness for Arakan which long troubled him and was cured only by Mordraug, the Necromancer of Wolf River.

Derenedeth.  (Kurt Bond's character.) Derenedeth escaped the round-up of the party that ended in their exile, and while the rest of the party vacationed in the south he occupied himself with shadowy endeavors in Carzala's underworld. When they returned he provided them with the information they needed to revenge themselves on the Judge who exiled them, information that enriched them at the same time and eventually resulted in their being rewarded with a barony.

Gim Torson.  (Alan Bond's character.) Gim Torson is an elf who has lived too long among humans. He died in the defense of Blackstone Chapel, but was resurrected by the grateful clerics' deity. Originally one of the consciences of the party, he has latterly become unhesitating and ruthless (just ask the old man on the altar in Makad-al-Arakan). He lost a leg to a demon's hunger and anger and gained the nickname Gimp, but regained his leg by the magic of Mordraug the necromancer. Neither he nor Jamie nor Shay nor Basgoot nor Cormac can remember what they did for a month to repay the necromancer for re-attaching Gim's leg and healing Balour Shaw, but they fear the worst. (After all, he was a Necromancer!)

Jamie Molson.  (Ray Smith's third character.) Betrayed to the authorities by a rival, Jamie Molson joined the party when they were exiled to the south. He died while in the south, at the Inn of the Prophet's End during an attack by assassins. Luckily his miserly companions found enough money on his person for a resurrection. If it weren't for his tight grasp, Narung would have ended up with Bolg in the earth below Mordraug's Lair, and he was lucky to get the five fingers thus cut off re-attached immediately. His curiosity is his greatest weakness, and his greatest strength.

Kalo Bibkins.  (Ray Smith's second character.) Kalo Bibkins was a rash but entertaining halfling who caused the party's exile to the south and in the process was messily executed for theft. He still troubles the party's sleeping hours (and occasionally their waking ones), unable to rest peacefully in his grave. (See Kalo Bibkins is Back.)

Korbel Noir.  (Howard Hill's second character.) Korbel Noir was killed by a were-tiger at Castle Ashban. He was valiant, foolish, suicidal, and given to desecration of just about anything, usually by strewing entrails.

Shay Uvall.  (Howard Hill's third character.) From south of the Gatar Shey, Shay Uvall is also valiant, foolish, given to desecration of just about anything, usually by strewing entrails; whether he's suicidal or not isn't yet known. He has travelled widely in the South as both a merchant and a mercenary.

Tesla Ramana.  (Karen Elliott's character.) Tesla Ramana left adventuring after being crippled by a crate of contraband dropped on her during the attack on Smugglers Cove, but has applied herself to the equally competitive (if usually less violent) world of trade and looks after many of the party's day to day business operations. Her disfiguring injuries have started her on a program of surgical and magical alterations that seem to be leading beyond mere repair.

Winther.  (Matt Elliott's character.) Winther was often called the `Band-Aid' by the other members of the party because of his healing skills, and fond of debate and reasoned discussion, he is the party's bastion of morality in an uncertain world. He feels a sense of duty to better the world, and his companions, but suffers occasional dark fits of cynicism. Winther also drank from the wine-sack of that wandering madman when he appeared to them in the South, and thus sometimes seeks refuge in the blood of the vine.

Spear Fodder.  (Played by various drop-ins.) These various visitors typically did not survive long. Such is life, and death.