Hello again!

This is an updated Who's Who that contains certain spoilers if you haven't read the first book yet. So, go read that instead of this, alright? :)

Who’s Who in Book 2: The Value of a Song

Jaden Tarasov of the Twin Horizons

Nicknames: Jay, Little brother (by Stann)

“I’m not an elf!”

Jaden is a young woman of medium height and average build, with glossy, naturally wavy black hair hanging down well past her shoulders. She usually ties it back to keep out of her face and her deep amber eyes. She has a slight tan despite having grown up in the cloudy mountains region where the Lacunai fortress Talraman stands. A distinguishing mark are her pointy ears and slender features that makes people assume she is an elf, or at least of elven blood. The truth is that Jaden’s family is a mix of many races, both from this world and others.

Jaden enjoys living in the shadow of her sister, bickering with Oleander, and pretending to be a boy.

Spirit: Ashomi Kian (Twin Horizons), a demon from the Myriad Nethers that gives Jaden flight, strength, and impressive fire magic.

Contracts: Valignat (Flametongue), a cynical salamander that lives on a southern island; Noctophyx (Nightchoker), a breathstealer fey that is often mistaken for an undead monster.

Oleander

Nicknames: Red, Ollie (by Jaden), little fox (by Kellen), Lea (by children), Oleander Lockless (by some), Stop Her! (by many)

“Want to hear something really embarrassing?”

Oleander is a woman in her early twenties slightly below average height, and is currently growing out her red hair that barely reaches past her cheeks. She has raincloud grey eyes, and a ready smile. She is slim and shockingly athletic, and prefers to avoid fighting in favour of using underhanded tactics. She grew up as an orphan in Tarad, a small town in the kingdom of Olmar, a country covered mostly with large plains and gentle hills.

Oleander enjoys finding out things, debating the vicissitudes of ownership, and being confused about her feelings regarding a certain person.

Mirena Kaladon

Nicknames: Rena (by her friends), Lady Kaladon (by her peers), Helmet-hair (by Oleander)

“I am a Sword of Heaven!”

Mirena is a tall woman with long, straight chestnut brown hair she takes very good care of, and amazingly green eyes. She is in her late twenties, and hides surprising strength of both arms and character underneath a gentle exterior. Mirena is an anointed knight of the temple, in the service of Telum, the Sword of Heaven. She grew up in the free city of Tier, born into a very wealthy merchant family with far-reaching influence, and entered into service to the Five Temples to avoid an arranged marriage. Mirena stands apart from other paladins of Telum due to her willingness to talk before smiting, and accepting help from others.

Mirena enjoys single-handedly fighting entire cults, making plans that always seem to involve splitting up, and wearing the finest gowns she can afford at an unreliable salary.

Stann Winterheart

Nicknames: Bear, Witless Cousin (by Kellen)

“Glory and blood!”

Stann is a classic blonde and blue-eyed, tall and strong Northman of roughly thirty years of age. He keeps his beard nice and trimmed, his hair long, and his sword sharp. There are a couple of visible scars that shows how many fights he’s been in. He usually wears sleeveless tunics, heavy wool trousers or chain mail armour, as the occasion requires. Helmet and shield are optional, depending on if he wants to make people believe the Northmen are invading again. The tattoo of a bear on his upper right arm is a reminder of home and a happy childhood. Stann has a very big heart, and doesn't blame Kellen for causing both of them to be banished from their home, despite Stann having to leave his betrothed behind.

Stann enjoys repeating stories of his adventures, the idea of one day settling down, and those elven barmaids that never seems to fall for his charms.

Kellen Winterheart

Nicknames: Kel, Ugly Cousin (by Stann)

“The world just needs a reason”

Kellen keeps his blonde hair short, a neat goatee with a slightly larger moustache. The older cousin of Stann stands remarkably tall, even for a Northman, and is so heavily muscled that people often mistake him for a normal warrior. This is compounded by how he avoids traditional robes of a rune seeker, and instead wears the everyday clothes of a Northman. His runes give him immense power over earth and sea, and his latent shamanism sometimes allow him to peek into the spirit realms. He was banished from Strom, along with his cousin, for rejecting the shamanistic tradition of their clan in favour of "southern magic".

Kellen enjoys staying away from heights, being appreciated for the arguable genius he is, and one day catching a bigger fish than Rhyce.

Rhyce

Nicknames: Rhyce (by friends), Deadeye (members of the bandit band he belonged to)

“The only lies we tell ourselves is what we expect to hear”

Rhyce seems like a normal man from the borderlands with unruly dark blonde hair, and deep brown eyes. He’s seldom seen without his dark longbow that he claims won’t let him miss, and a hooded leather outfit with metal studs. He is in his mid-thirties, and takes better care of animals than he does with the feelings of people. He is often accompanied by two crows that allow him to see many things beyond the reach of men. While secretive, he has admitted to being a magician too, but hasn’t said which tradition he was trained in, if any. Rhyce was a highway robber before Mirena gave him a second chance at a good life, something he had given up on ever since his wife and son died.

Rhyce enjoys giving out old wise sayings, being reminded of everything he has lost, and letting his arrows do the talking.