Male

Martin Abano: The captain of the Swords, a medium-sized, muscular man with a heavy tan and brown eyes that almost pass him off as a native Saldonian, although his foreign name indicates that he has some foreign blood. A pale scar cuts across his face from the upper right brow to the left side of his chin, marring an otherwise undistinctive face.
Abano has a reputation as being relatively clean for a Swords captain; stern, sometimes cruel, but devoid of the worst vices that some captains have exhibited. It's no secret that he supports a peaceful, stable Saldon, and is keep keeping a close and suspicious eye on everyone who might be involved in this winter's Throne Game.

Drake Cataline, House Beauquier: Sickly scion of the House Regnant Beauquier, Drake has two heirs—the adopted elf Morgana and his natural son Morgan. Morgan's mother died in childbirth, leaving Drake heartbroken, and his health has declined ever since. His children are his pride and joy, and perhaps the only things that keep him going. He has no interest in the Throne Game, and would be an unlikely candidate, anyway, as ill as he is. Besides, the House Beauquier has only had one person sit on the throne, as Regent Craillis; although he ruled for 18 years.

Ludovico Amescua, House Acaos: Your host, a tall, slender man with the dark skin and eyes of a native Saldonian. Born and raised to the House Regnant Acaos, he personifies the house's saying, Noli me tangere—Touch Me Not. It's not that he's unfriendly, or rude; simply distant, polite, the kind of man whose highly polished surface seems to reflect more than it reveals. He owns a comfortable estate and seems well-invested in many of the businesses in Saldon.
Amescua is a little unusual in that so far he has not exhibited any interest in becoming involved in the Throne Game, although he is a political player. Perhaps it is because no member of House Acaos has ever sat on the throne.

Tansillo Badau, House Beauquier: A member of the House Regnant Beaquier, young cousin to Drake Cataline, the current scion of House Beauquier. If Drake's branch of the family were to die, Tansillo's branch would become the most powerful. Tansillo wouldn't mind declaring himself a candidate for the throne, but he can't as long as Drake is disinterested. However, the House's motto is Semper paratus, "Always ready," and in that spirit, Tansillo has been backing the most likely winner of the Game, Lord Jehanus.

Rinaldo Canastris, House Chalviery: A member of the House Regnant Chalviery. Rinaldo is a candidate for the Black Throne; his House ruled Saldon as High Lords Tear, Meren, and, unfortunately, Dathe. With Tear the Unfortunate and Black Dathe in his ancestry, some find Rinaldo an ill-omened candidate, but he is himself a likeable fellow. Still, House Chalviery, with its motto Alere flammam, "To feed the flames," is not likely to be chosen to sit on the throne.

Jehanus Cardano, House Damagian: A member of the ruling House Regnant Damagian. Jehanus is considered the prime candidate to take the Black Throne this winter; his House ruled Saldon as archons for about a century before being overthrown, and they have been keen to get the throne back ever since. Although the first Damagian to take the throne was Salane, the others enjoyed somewhat better reputations. Regent Palster Neath also seems to consider Jehanus' claim to be the best,although he hasn't made a decision yet.
Jehanus owns a number of businesses on and off Saldon, and hobnobs with ambassadors, trying to firm up his trade now that the Iron Autocracy has collapsed. His House's motto is Quidquid agas prudenter agas, "Whatever you do, do with caution."

Jacquier Chastel, House Feschiani: A member of the House Regnant Feschiani. His house was founded when Sharith took the throne as the first female ruler of Saldon, and it passed from her to her brother Dathe and her son Orphiel. Jacquier's claim is equal to, and perhaps slightly better than, Rinaldo's, although Orphiel did go senile on the throne, and there's a history of mental illness in House Feschiani. Still, there are a lot of Feschianis in Saldon, and the House's motto is Viribus unitis, "With forces united."

Palster Neath: A former professor of political science at the Carillon University, and now regent of the Black Throne of Saldon. Neath was the head of the underground rebel group, and when it became clear that magic had stopped with the Theophany, he led the attack on the palace, personally helping kill Dragon-Imperate Stain. Now he's holding the throne until a suitable High Lord is found (and everyone assumes that he will name the next High Lord by spring). Neath is worrying the aristocracy a bit, though—he's a commoner, not a nobleman, and he seems very sympathetic to calls for maintaining the Iron Autocracy's form of justice system, setting up a House of Commons, abolishing publication seal taxes, and closing the Night Market. As if that wasn't bad enough, he's having an affair with the daughter of the ambassador of Candor, and Candor and Saldon have been at odds for centuries!

Benedicto Osanne: Ambassador from Candor. It's unknown how he feels about his daughter's not-very-secret affair with Regent Neath; he is, after all, a diplomat.

Cesar Sinistrari, House Pendaryn: A member of the House Regnant Pendaryn. House Pendaryn is a dangerous, powerful one, counting in its history only the High Lord Chartin Bathory, a sadistic, evil ruler who was assassinated on the throne. This hasn't kept Cesar from declaring his candidacy, however, and in his favor he has his notorious (although not officially acknowledged) network of spies, sycophants and blackmailers. He may be able to influence enough nobles to get him the throne, although the regent is adamantly against him taking it. Still ... the House's motto is Mors tua, vita mea, or "You must die so that I may live."

The Necromancer: As might be expected, the Necromancer has been living (?) on Saldon as far back as anybody can remember, and longer. Although he doesn't go out much, he's been around so long that everybody knows what he looks like; a medium-sized, slender man who seems to be in his 50s, with the red hair, blue eyes, and fair skin that proves he was not originally from the island. A white streak runs down his hair on the right side of his part, and he has a slight limp that, it's said, was picked up sometime after the great storm that raised the Daemon Chain back in DR 748. Although he lives alone, there is a white-haired, middle-aged woman who visits him once in a while and is said to be his wife—and is said to have been his wife for about 200 years. The Necromancer is not thought to have any interest in the Throne Game.

The Guildmaster: The guildmaster of the Saldonian Assassin's Guild. The current guildmaster is a short, slight man in his 40s with short black hair, dark eyes, and a pale golden tan that would probably darken were he out in the sun more often. He seems perpetually restless and seldom sits in one place for long. It's said he is a strategic genius. It's also said that he's a coward; whether or not that's true, he's certainly cautious, and never goes out in his official role without at least two of the pursuivants guarding him—one almost always Portcullis. As of winter's beginning, it is unknown where the Assassin's Guild stands in the Throne Game.

Pursuivant Rouge Croix: One of the four officials in the Saldonian Assassin's Guild. The name is thought to be some sort of joke on the Houses Regnant established by the guild's most famous master, Raven, but it has become tradition and replaces the individual's given name. Pursuivants in their official role wear black and their symbol is on their breast and arm. They also carry a large, two-handed sword back-sheathed, its hilt tied with ribbons. Rouge Croix: a red cross, the ribbons are red and black. The current Rouge Croix is a tall, pale man in his 30s or 40s, with blue eyes and red hair. He is cold-faced and grim, and is said to be a strangler.

Pursuivant Rouge Dragon: One of the four officials in the Saldonian Assassin's Guild. The name is thought to be some sort of joke on the Houses Regnant established by the guild's most famous master, Raven, but it has become tradition and replaces the individual's given name. Pursuivants in their official role wear black and their symbol is on their breast and arm. They also carry a large, two-handed sword back-sheathed, its hilt tied with ribbons. Rouge Dragon: a red dragon, the ribbons are red and gold. The current Rouge Dragon is a short and muscular man in his 20s with typical Saldonian dark skin, hair, and eyes. A small smile plays about his lips and he seems to have a dark sense of humor.

Puirsuivant Portcullis: One of the four officials in the Saldonian Assassin's Guild. The name is thought to be some sort of joke on the Houses Regnant established by the guild's most famous master, Raven, but it has become tradition and replaces the individual's given name. Pursuivants in their official role wear black and their symbol is on their breast and arm. They also carry a large, two-handed sword back-sheathed, its hilt tied with ribbons. Portcullis: a barred gate, the ribbons are copper and black. The current Portcullis matches every other Portcullis who has ever been chosen in living memory—a silent, fierce, hawkish-looking man in his 40s with dark skin, hair, and eyes, from Bahr al' Raml. When he speaks, his voice has the desert lilt, and there are rumors that he's a mage as well as an assassin.

Female

Chiara Canastris, House Chalviery: A member of the House Regnant Chalviery, Rinaldo's younger sister. She had been affianced to Lord Jehanus Cardano before the Iron Autocracy collapsed, but immediately after its collapse, Jehanus cut off the engagement.

Jehanine Eliade, House Sangreal: A member of the House Regnant Sangreal, and the head of House Sangreal, Jehanine is in the running for the Black Throne, and has two advantages over even Jehanus Cardano. First, although nobody in her House has sat on the throne for centuries, her ancestors count Father Renmoor, Terevent, Alinth, and Dammen—Father Renmoor being the most well-remembered of the four, and certainly better-loved than any of the Damagians ever were. Second, Jehanine has something Jehanus doesn't have—sex appeal. Although it's well-known that the Regent is seeing a diplomat's daughter, the fact that Jehanine is drop-dead beautiful has to have some effect on him. Her House's motto is Vincam aut moriar, "I will conquer or die."

Elisabetta Osanne: Daughter of the Ambassador from Candor, Benedicto. She is a beautiful, charming young woman in her late teens, and is having a not-very-secret affair with Regent Neath.

Pursuivant Blue Mantle: One of the four officials in the Saldonian Assassin's Guild. The name is thought to be some sort of joke on the Houses Regnant established by the guild's most famous master, Raven, but it has become tradition and replaces the individual's given name. Pursuivants in their official role wear black and their symbol is on their breast and arm. They also carry a large, two-handed sword back-sheathed, its hilt tied with ribbons. Blue Mantle: a blue cloak behind a shield, the ribbons are blue and silver. The current Blue Mantle is a short, slender woman in her 30s with long black hair and dark skin. She is cool but polite, and often sent to officially represent the guild. People say she is the "diplomatic pursuivant."