Oglok the Mock-Man – One of Blackthorn’s closest friends and companions. The Mock-Man chose to leave behind his people’s pacifistic ways to become a fierce warrior and appears in all of Blackthorn’s adventures.
Princess Aria – One of Blackthorn’s most trusted companions, Aria is a sorceress who travels with through all his adventures and Dynasty of Mars is entirely from her perspective. She has not yet warned her allies that she is the daughter of the legendary Queen Rhapsody Arcantrix, hereditary ruler of Mars or that her father is the Black Sorcerer.
Also:
Adept Anselm of Corozin – A junior scribe at the Ghost Tower, recruited by Father De’bias and now working at the Hall of Tatters. Anselm’s departure from the Ghost Tower is featured in New Leaf and his new job is referenced in his appearance in Next Page, wherein he meets the bard Mel.
Captain Neremus Korzan – Pirate leader, master of the Siren of Ammon, who first encounters Blackthorn and in Dynasty of Mars – Part 3 and becomes his ally in Spires of Mars. He is one of those present at the Bard-Hall conference in the Red Planet Blues.
Chief Erlich Dubious Nanzak, – The self –proclaimed Romany prince becomes an an ally of Blackthorn’s after being freed by the General from Lord Ruin’s gladiator pits in Dynasty of Mars – Part 3. Nanzak is amongst the conference attendees in Red Planet Blues and Next Page.
D’iurk Crefarn – The Chief Miner of Malador; D’iurk appears in The Minefields of Malador, and sends assistance to Princess Aria via Oglok in Dynasty of Mars – Part 3,
Edar Reith – The leader of the Runners. Reith is a clever spymaster and rebel who allied himself with Blackthorn in Dynasty of Mars – Part 2. He makes subsequent appearances in Part 3 and in Spires of Mars.
Eelia of the Ris – A D’Arb-ee who dies heroically in City of Relics, a short story in Thunder on Mars.
Elder Ardin – Headman of Domrik. Ardin befriends and shelters Blackthorn in Bastion of the Black Sorcerer, is scarred in the Battle of Anx in Dynasty of Mars Part 2 and attends the conference in Red Planet Blues.
Elder Renk – Headman of Anx who died in the Battle of Anx in Dynasty of Mars – Part 2. His son Relin succeeds him.
Father De’bias – A mysterious scholar. De’bias knows the secrets of Mars and travels using rare Shadow Doors; it is speculated that he may be a ghost. His history and motives are unclear but he has aided Blackthorn through cryptic advice on the rare occasions that the heroes can actually find him. He first encounters Blackthorn and Aria in Dynasty of Mars – Part 3, then again in the prologue ”New Leaf”. He is present for the conference in Red Planet Blues and Next Page, though no less enigmatic.
Lord Throg tan Yanis, Lord of Promethei, wife of Loret nim Ninis, father of Tybald tan Throg and Ysilde nin Loret. He briefly appears in Red Planet Blues and Next Page.
Lucan – Leader of the Smith’s Guild. Lucan appears briefly in New Page at Blackthorn’s conference.
Meleti Manysongs – An Isidian Bard, albeit actually from Meridiani. Mel appears in New Page to flirt with and torment Adept Anselm.
Relin Renkson – The son of Elder Renk and headman of Anx after his father’s death. Relin appears in Dynasty of Mars – Part 2.
Sihla of the Nots – One of the leaders of the “Sleeping Army” of the Nots. Sihla first appears in Cradle of Atlantis where she shows romantic interest in Blackthorn. She does not get on with Aria. She leads her people into battle at the Forges of Cryse in Dynasty of Mars – Part 3. She represents the Nots at the conference described in Red Planet Blues and Next Page.
The First Men:
Lord Ruin – A First Man, Emperor of the South, with strong views about the survival of the fittest and the joys of war. He appears via hologram in Dynasty of Mars – Part 3 but is yet to meet Blackthorn in person.
The Black Sorcerer – Lord of Western Mars from the Amazonis Sea to Far Tempe and the Valles Marineris, a First Man. The Black Sorcerer, occasionally called Noir, is responsible for originally bringing Blackthorn to Mars and – unknown to the General – is Princess Aria’s father. He is temporarily thwarted in Bastion of the Black Sorcerer and appears pursuing Blackthorn, Aria and Oglok in Ghosts of Acheron, and is shown from his daughter’s perspective in Dynasty of Mars.
The Lord of Fatal Laughter – Commonly considered the least sane of the megalomaniacal First Men, the Lord of Fatal Laughter specializes in robotics, bioweapons, and cruel, usually gory, jokes. His mobile fortress in called Fatality. He is mentioned but not directly seen in Cradle of Atlantis and addresses the heroes by monitor screen in Dynasty of Mars.
The Sorcerer of Night – One of the four First Men. Also called Lord Erebus the Sorcerer of Night specializes in undead and necromancy and is Lord of the East. He is served by his undead Brides of Night and is worshipped as a deity in his Domain. His first appearance is in “Into the Canyon of Night” and he plays a major role in “Spires of Mars”.
Also:
Amanura – Sensorine of the Black Sorcerer, lost in conflict with Brides of the Lord of Night. Briefly mentioned in Dynasty of Mars.
Bloodmaster Bale – Favored war leader of Lord Ruin. Bloodmaster Bale decimated Southern Diacra and was subsequently killed by Blackthorn in Dynasty of Mars - Part 3.
Bothar – A mercenary who appeared in Quest for the Eye.
Bronson – (aka Popgun Bronson and Bazooka Bronson), a twisted cyborg admirer of Lord Ruin; dies in Shamblers of Mars.
Colonel David Morningstar – Blackthorn’s former second-in-command and the man who betrayed him to his death back on Earth. Morningstar was brought to Mars with Blackthorn where he has announced the ambitious goal of conquering the planet. Morningstar was introduced along with Blackthorn in Bastion of the Black Sorcerer, briefly allied himself with Aria in Cradle of Atlantis, was seen scheming in Red Planet Blues and betrayed a phenomenal number of people in Dynasty of Mars – Parts 2 and 3. Despite his villainy and habit of eventually double crossing everyone he meets Morningstar has not yet suffered so much as a bruise.
Count Leptis – Ruler of the Pyriphlegethon District of behalf of the Black Sorcerer. Leptis was killed by Blackthorn in Dynasty of Mars – Part 2.
Divisional Sub-Administrator Adwin – A corrupt official who has the misfortune of meeting Blackthorn in Dynasty of Mars – Part 2.
Domak Regan – A notorious criminal who escaped justice twice by triumphing in Lord Ruin’s arena. Blackthorn ensured he did not survive a third time in Dynasty of Mars – Part 3.
Drush-na-Vor – A greater wight, prince amongst undead, formerly a servant of the Sorcerer of Night. Blackthorn kills him in Dynasty of Mars – Part 3.
Elicogna – Sensorine of the Black Sorcerer, captured by the Lord of Fatal Laughter, reputedly still alive but beyond rescue. Elicogna is included by flashback in Dynasty of Mars – Part 1.
General Ataxaus – Former General of the Black Sorcerer, Ataxus was executed for incompetence but is briefly mentioned in Dynasty of Mars.
General Nash’Tak the Many-Warred – Leader of the Black Sorcerer’s lizard men. Nash’Tak is present on the Black sorcerer’s exploration of Styxis in Dynasty of Mars – Part 1 and dies in Ghosts of Acheron.
Halifax – A traitor to the runners, Halifax became the Black Sorcerer’s Prime Herald Maximal before finding himself on the wrong end of Blackthorn’s Sword of Light. Halifax’s betrayal, villainy and eventual demise are chronicled in Dynasty of Mars.
Herald Ambrius – A herald of the Black Sorcerer, killed by runners eighty years ago. He appears in flashback in Dynasty of Mars – Part 1.
Judan – A spy for the Black Sorcerer. Judan appears briefly in Dynasty of Mars – Part 3 and in in Red Planet Blues and Next Page.
Lord Valaron – A local tyrant who died in Indistinguishable From Magic.
Major Anton Yuei – An Earthman who was brought to Mars with Blackthorn and Morningstar. Yuei was recaptured by the Black Sorcerer became a Kan and general of the First Man’s armies after being subjected to obedience implants that compel his loyalty. Yuei appears in Bastion of the Black Sorcerer and Dynasty of Mars.
Malathea – Sensorine servant of the Black Sorcerer and possibly friend of Aria; features in Dynasty of Mars and Ghosts of Acheron.
Nan Vidi – Pre-human hybrid geneticist made by the Black Sorcerer. Nan is Aria’s nurse and despite being loyal to her creator she also shows pride and affection for her rebellious charge. She is featured in Dynasty of Mars.
Nepenthe – High-born lady of Tempe, daughter of the Sub-Pasha of Scamander with the misfortune of being sent as tribute to the Black Sorcerer. Nepenthe was Aria’s maid before the princess absconded and was thereafter fatally traded to the Sorcerer of Night. Her sad story is included in Dynasty of Mars.
Nerisantha – Sensorine of the Black Sorcerer, torn apart by Lord Ruin’s War Dogs. Briefly mentioned in Dynasty of Mars.
Nestorr of Alcyon – A four armed giant, killed by Blackthorn in Dynasty of Mars – Part 3.
Paula Winterbourne – A sorceress, originally from earth, who was transferred into a robotic body by the Sorcerer of Fatal Laughter and spent many years masquerading as the Eternal Light of Secunda Provura. Her pretence was ended in City of Relics. Her romantic liaison with Morningstar was interrupted by Princess aria in Dynasty of Mars – Part 3.
Senior Accountant Pardelin – Administrator of the Pyriphlegethon District. Pardelin appears in Dynasty of Mars – Part 2.
The Loremaster – Keeper of the Black Sorcerer’s library. He has a translucent dome replacing the greater part of his skull into which can plug data-spikes to send the information directly to his brain. This process appears to have erased any independent personality he may have once had. He appears in Dynasty of Mars.
Top Sergeant Jarrik – A sergeant in the Black Sorcerer’s army. Jarrik appeared in Dynasty of Mars – Part 2.
Trooper Neshim, number 37792773-D – A soldier in the Black Sorcerer’s army with a dirty Mark III Phase Pellet Rifle, with a badly maintained focus filter and grubby greasy stains on the butt. Blackthorn rebuked him on his weapon’s upkeep in Dynasty of Mars – Part 2.
Tumblos – A mercenary who appears in Quest for the Eye.
Uriah – A Joker who briefly appears in Cradle of Atlantis.
Wight-Lord Ash-na-Dhrak – Senior Librarian at the Ghost Tower, destroyed just before New Leaf.
