Safehold/Characters

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


Operation Ark

Lieutenant Commander Nimue Alban, TFN

The original Merlin Athrawes, Nimue Alban was an officer of the Terran Federation Navy. She was killed by the Gbaba after transferring away from one of Operation Ark's vessels in order to cover the "loss" of her PICA.

  • Heroic Sacrifice: She transfers off an Operation Ark ship, knowing that to do so will mean that she is killed, to help Pei and Shan-wei rebel against Langhorne and his megalomaniacal friends.

Pei Shan-wei

The Queen of Sin, the Mistress of Lies, the Dark Mother of Evil, Pei Shan-wei is the embodiment of Darkness and opposition to the will of God. Once an Archangel, Shan-wei betrayed the other Archangels in her overwhelming pride, setting her own will against the will of God, and she was struck down for it by the rakurai of God Himself.

In fact, Doctor Pei Shan-wei was one of the original administrators of the Safehold Colony, who opposed Eric Langhorne's alterations of Operation Ark's orignal mission plan. Cast out of the Adminsitrative Council by Langhorne, Shan-wei set up the Alexandria Enclave, which Langhorne destroyed by orbital bombardment. She serves as the Devil in Mother Church's theology, and misleadingly-accurate accusations of "Shan-wei worship" are levelled at the protagonists by the Church throughout the series.

Commodore Pei Kau-yung

Husband of Pei Shan-wei, Commodore Kau-yung and his wife staged a public falling-out after the extent of Langhorne's megalomania were revealed. Following the destruction of the Alexandria Enclave, Kau-yung attended a meeting of the Administrative Council wearing a vest-pocket nuke. He managed to kill most of the Archangels, meaning that he is now known as Kau-yung, Father of Destruction and Lord of Treachery.

Eric Langhorne

Chief Administrator of the colony, Eric Langhorne was a megalomanical Luddite, convinced that only a complete rejection of technology would save humanity. To that end, he perverted the mission of Operation Ark, conspiring wiht Adorée Bédard to alter the colonists' neural programming: instead of just losing their knowledge of technology, the colonists would also be programmed to know that Langhorne and the other adminstrators were the Archangels of God.

Langhorne clashed with Pei Shan-wei over his handling of the colonists and his anti-technology stance, which resulted in the orbital bombardment and utter destruction of Shan-wei's Alexandria Enclave. In response, Shan-wei's husband Kau-yung killed Langhorne, Bédard and most of the other "Archangels" with a vest-pocket nuke.

In the theology of the Church of God Awaiting, "Holy Langhorne" is the highest of the Archangels, standing on the right hand of God Himself.

Adorée Bédard

Chief Psychiatrist of Operation Ark, Bédard was instrumental in Langhorne's perversion of the Operation's mission. Standing second in the order of Archangels, Bédard was killed by Kau-yung.

Other Archangels

Other Archangels include:

  • Chihiro - Wrote the Book of Chihiro after the deaths of Langhorne and the other Archangels, creating the current image of Shan-wei and Kau-yung as the Devil and her Consort.
  • Hastings - mapmaker-in-chief.
  • Jwo-jeng - creator of the Proscriptions of Jwo-Jeng, the source of the series' Medieval Stasis
  • Pasquale - patron of sanitation, hygiene, diet and healthcare.
  • Schueler - patron of the Inquisition, possibly an ancestor of the Wylsynn family. May not have actually written the Book of Schueler, the Inquisition's how-to manual on Cold-Blooded Torture.
  • Sondheim - patron of agriculture.
  • Truscott - patron of animal husbandry.

The Empire of Charis

Captain Merlin Athrawes, Royal Charisian Guard

The Personality-Integrated Cybernetic Avatar of Nimue Alban. Took up the male identity of Merlin Athrawes in order to integrate himself into the male-dominated Safehold society. Has also made use of the identity of Abrhaim Zhevons. Merlin has allied himself with Charis, feeling it holds the best chance for getting Safehold to throw off the chains of the Church of God Awaiting and get itself back into space. While initially viewing himself as Nimue using the identity of Merlin, Merlin eventually begins to carve his own identity out. The narration will thus refer to him as the man who once was Nimue Alban.

  • Beard of Evil: Averted. As described, Merlin has the traditional Evil goatee. Played with in that by the Church of God Awaitings standards, he IS a demon.
  • Bi the Way: While in the guise of Abraim Zhevons and partaking in the services of Madame Ahnzhelyk, Merlin idly wonders if it counts as Zhevons interested in the opposite sex or Nimue interested in other women. He certainly hasn't stopped assessing the very attractive men around him with an appreciative eye, even if the Raging Stiffie problem has been taken care of.
  • Big Damn Heroes: Merlin pulls these more often than he probably should.
  • The Big Guy: Given his abilities, Merlin comes closest to this in the Five-Man Band of Cayleb's "Inner Circle."
  • Chronic Hero Syndrome: Merlin just can't stand by and leave an innocent or someone he cares about in danger. Even if doing so would drastically hurt his agenda.
  • Dual-Wielding: Merlin is known for this, wielding a katana and a wakizashi. He also dual wields pistols when they're introduced to the Royal Guard.
  • Gender Bender: Nimue becomes Merlin in order to fit into the male-dominated Safehold society.
  • Katanas Are Just Better: Justified; Nimue's choice of the katana and wakizashi is based largely on the fact that she already knows kendo, and while Nimue/Merlin's blades are shown being able to cut through damn near anything, this because they are made of super-advanced composite materials and wielded with the superhuman strength of a cybernetic android chassis. The fact that there isn't a katana analogue on Safehold helps with his mystique.
  • Lies to Children: Merlin's comparison of his abilities to those attributed to seijin.
  • Meaningful Name: Nimue, already a name from Arthurian Legend, going by Merlin and naming Cayleb's sword Excalibur.
  • Not So Omniscient After All: Though he's the only one who blames himself on those occasions when his SNARC surveillance proves less than perfect.
  • One-Man Industrial Revolution: Merlin starts the ball rolling, but it's Baron Seamount who keeps it going. So much so that it's cited by one character as a reason not to induct him into the Inner Circle.
  • Ridiculously-Human Robots: Merlin's body is entirely robotic but his consciousness is that of Nimue Alban.
  • The Sixth Ranger: Merlin, in the Charis upper leadership under Haarahld.
  • Swashbuckler: From the waxed mustache and goatee down to the impossible swordsmanship and derring-do.
  • Well-Intentioned Extremist: Merlin is, for all intents and purposes, helping along war that will kill tens or hundreds of thousands in order to bring humanity back to its old technological level as quickly as possible to hopefully wipe out the Gbaba.
    • Although to be fair, if he hadn't done anything, the Church would have destroyed Charis.
  • Will Not Tell a Lie: While not above half-truths or explaining his abilities in terms Safeholdians would understand, Merlin is very careful not to tell any outright lies because how honest (or not) he has been will be a vital factor when the time comes to tell Safehold about its true past.

Cayleb Zhan Haarahld Bryahn Ahrmahk; Emperor Cayleb I

Introduced as Crown Prince of Charis during Haarahld's reign as king, Cayleb ascended to the throne upon his father's death in Off Armageddon Reef. Equally adept at political maneuvers and military command, Cayleb is an effective ruler using all his resources, including Merlin's abilities, to the fullest advantage he can to preserve his growing Empire's safety against its enemies.

King Haarahld Ahrmahk VII

The King of Charis throughout Off Armageddon Reef, Haarahld Ahrmahk is a respected and righteous noble.

Archbishop Maikel Staynair

Starting out as Bishop of Tellesberg, once Charis rebellion against the Church of God Awaiting is in full swing, he was elevated to the position of Archbishop of the Church of Charis. He bears the exalted position with the same humility he carried from his days as a simple priest, and his flock love him for it.

  • Beware the Nice Ones: While he doesn't really get to do much with his anger, the rare times he's shown genuinely angry are still rather intimidating.
    • At one point it's stated outright that "gentle" does not mean "weak" by a long shot.
  • The Chick: Has this role in both the Old Charis leadership and the Inner Circle.
  • Good Shepherd: One of the best.
  • Revenge Before Reason: Averts this by giving his congregation a speech on forgiveness moments after an assassination attempt on him failed.
  • Too Dumb to Live: Not really, but his adamant refusal to take the kinds of security precautions Merlin would prefer tends to frustrate Merlin himself.

Rayjhis Yowance; Earl Gray Harbor, First Councillor of Charis

  • The Lancer: For King Haarahld and, later, for Cayleb and Sharleyan for political matters outside the Inner Circle.
  • Locked Out of the Loop: Gray Harbor's deep faith means telling him the truth could potentially destroy him.
  • The Good Chancellor: unfailingly loyal, intelligent, and dedicated.

Sir Ahlfryd Hyndryk, Baron Seamount

The Kingdom of Chisholm

Sharleyan Alahnah Zhenyfyr Ahlyssa Tayt-Aharmahk

Queen of the Kingdom of Chisholm, which she inherited at a young age following the assassination of her father. She kept the throne despite a resentful and treacherous nobility thanks to her mother and top advisers. Forced against her will to participate in the invasion of Charis in Off Armageddon Reef, By Schism Rent Asunder had Cayleb offer her not just alliance, but marriage. Upon accepting, she is now Empress and co-ruler of the Empire of Charis. She is also one of Cayleb's most trusted confidants and advisers herself.

  • A Child Shall Lead Them: Inherited the Chisholmian throne at age twelve.
  • Action Girl: Provides cover fire for her own armsmen during the attack on St. Agtha's, with the armsmen themselves noting she's a better shot than some of them.
  • The Gadfly: When she can get away with it, at least. Especially in book 5 when she times the announcement of the next Grand Duke Zebediah right when the man himself is opening the door to her carriage for her just so she can see his face when the news hits him.
  • Heir Club for Men: Took some cold blooded decisions on her part to get the nobility to take her seriously.
  • The High Queen
  • The Lancer: For Cayleb, moreso than Merlin. It's noted that she and Cayleb were able to work almost in tandem even before she gained access to SNARCs and comms.
  • Perfectly Arranged Marriage: With Cayleb.
  • Screw the Rules, I Make Them: Her sentencing of the Northern Conspiracy, which included pardoning the relatively innocent involved.
  • Silk Hiding Steel
  • The Woman Wearing the Queenly Mask

The League of Corisande

Hektor Daykyn

Ruler of the League of Corisande. He has long sought to expand his territory as much as he could, and has developed an antagonistic relationship with many of his neighbors, including Charis and especially Chisholm, in the pursuit of that goal.

Hektor Daykyn the Younger

Crown Prince of Corisande. Though he is Hektor's eldest son and heir, Hektor regards him with disdain for the most part.

Irys Daykyn

Hektor's middle child and only daughter. Princess Irys is quick to blame Cayleb and Sharleyan for anything that happens, including her father and elder brother's deaths, despite mounting evidence to the contrary.

  • Broken Pedestal: Irys eventually has to come to terms with the fact that her father was a tyrant outside his own kingdom.
  • Heir Club for Men: Can not lawfully inherit the throne, despite Hektor's preferences, given Young Hektor's ineptitude and Daivyn's youth.
  • Locked Out of the Loop: Coris makes sure she continues to hate Cayleb & Sharleyan as a means of keeping her politically useful to the Group of Four and, thus, alive.
  • Noble Fugitive: At thee end of By Heresies Distressed onward.
  • Not So Different: Sharleyan notes this between the two of them.

Daivyn Daykyn

At age nine, the youngest son of Hektor Daykyn, and following the deaths of his father and brother, Prince of Corisande. Smuggled out of Corisande during the course of By Heresies Distressed, the Church of God Awaiting keeps him alive in the hopes of using him as a diplomatic trump card against Charis.

Phylyp Ahzgood, Earl Coris

Prince Hektor's spymaster. When the war with Charis begins to turn against Corisande he puts Irys and Daivyn in his care and sends them away.

The Kingdom of Dohlar

Admiral Lywys Gardynyr, the Earl of Thirsk, Royal Dohlaran Navy

  • Worthy Opponent: Frequently noted as the most dangerous commander Charis' enemies have.

The Princedom of Emerald

Nahrmahn Hanbyl Graim Baytz; Prince Nahrmahn II

The Prince of Emerald. Nahrmahn was originally antagonistic towards Charis, but a combination of self-preservation and disillusionment with Mother Church leads him to join the Empire of Charis. He becomes the Empire's Minister of Imperial Intelligence. Eventually Cayleb, Merlin, and Sharleyan bring him into the Inner Circle. Has a great love for playing the Great Game of politics.

  • Complexity Addiction: His love for "the Great Game."
  • Easily Forgiven: Initially Cayleb and Sharleyan are properly wary of him at first, Cayleb admits his surprise at finding himself liking the man.
  • Happily Married: To Ohlyvya
  • Heroic Sacrifice: Was prepared to bargain with Cayleb and Sharleyan, knowing there was a very legitimate chance that they would demand his execution as part of the process. The only reason Ohlyvya survives the destruction of their coach in How Firm a Foundation is because Nahrmahn shielded her with his body.
  • Heel Face Turn: In By Schism Rent Asunder
  • Magnificent Bastard: Quite the schemer. God help us when he discovers Machiavelli.
  • The Man Behind the Man: He was the one who turned the Duke of Tirian.
  • Obfuscating Stupidity: Even people who know Narhman is smarter than he appears underestimate him.
  • Perfectly Arranged Marriage
  • The Smart Guy: For the Inner Circle. Merlin at one point admits that watching him work is a guilty pleasure.

Ohlyvya Baytz

Nahrmahn's wife and Princess of Emerald. She is at least as intelligent as Nahrmahn himself, and serves largely as a confidante and mitigating influence for her husband. Is included in the Inner Circle alongside her husband in A Mighty Fortress.

  • Happily Married: To Nahrmahn
  • Mundane Utility: Uses her access to OWL to look up information on things like cholesterol, and then uses said information to try and convince her husband to take better care of himself.
  • Perfectly Arranged Marriage
  • Sixth Ranger: For the Inner Circle. There was no special need to include her, and she doesn't often take an active role in the Empire's politics. Though it's noted her influence with Nahrmahn provided a good reason, nonetheless.

The Temple Lands

Vicar Zahmsyn Trynair

Chancellor of the Church of God Awaiting's Council of Vicars. Member and primary leader of the Group of Four.

  • Between a Rock And A Hard Place: He increasingly finds himself towed in Clyntahn's wake and unable to oppose him. However, he knows that if Duchairn ever gets eliminated, he's the next biggest target in Clyntahn's sights and has to try desperately to play peacekeeper between them.
  • The Man Behind the Man: De facto ruler of the church, as the Grand Vicar decrees whatever Trynair tells him to decree.

Vicar Zahspahr Clyntahn

Grand Inquisitor of the Church of God Awaiting. Member of the Group of Four. Instigator of many of the Safehold series biggest events, using his position to attempt to crush all opposition to the Church and himself.

  • Believing Their Own Lies: Noted as his single creepiest attribute.
  • Complete Monster: He's the Grand Inquisitor of a Corrupt Church. What more need be said?
    • That said Corrupt Church is a Path of Inspiration whose holy book explicitly allows -- indeed, encourages and provides instructions for -- torture, and fairly horrific torture, at that.
      • also that he had all the vicars that disagreed with him politically tortured and killed, as well as their families, including children as young as 12.
  • Hair-Trigger Temper: Partly a pose to scare his rivals but mostly very dangerously real.
  • Hobbes Was Right: How Firm A Foundation reveals that Clyntahn believes that man has no better nature and only follows God when terrorized into proper behavior.
  • Karma Houdini: Is convicted of being partially responsible for the Ferayd Massacre, and is sentenced to... one week's kitchen duty.
  • Knight Templar: And to make it worse, the scriptures clearly state that this sort of behavior is acceptable.
  • Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: Clyntahn does quite a bit of damage in the short term, but in the long term he tends to strengthen his enemies' resolve, turn the wavering against him, and make the weak seek refuge from him.
  • Obviously Evil: Earl Coris, upon meeting him, thinks to himself that there should be a rule forbidding villains from looking like stereotypical villains.
  • Properly Paranoid: Shocking, but true.
  • Tantrum Throwing: Clyntahn demolishes his office in an epic tantrum after finding out about the destruction of Desnairian Navy and the defection of its commanding officers.

Vicar Rhobair Duchairn

Minister of the Treasury of the Church of God Awaiting's Council of Vicars. A position which grants him a place in the Group of Four. Events early in the series began to re-awaken his faith, which puts him in the position of opposing some of the Group of Four's policies but being in a position where he can't actually do anything about them.

Vicar Allayn Maigwair

Captain General of the Church of God Awaiting, making him leader of its military forces. A position which also grants him a place within the Group of Four. Not particularly renowned for his intellect and tends to just go along with Clyntahn.

  • Dumbass Has a Point: The subterfuge regarding where the Navy of God in A Mighty Fortress was his idea. It is perhaps the single most successful move the Group of Four has managed against Charis, catching the Charisian leadership completely flat-footed.
  • The Load: Pretty much how the rest of the Group of Four views him, since he's not as bright as the other three.

Madame Ahnzhelyk Phonda born Nynian Rychtair, aka Aivah Pahrsahn

A madame at one of the city of Zion's more renowned "houses of ill repute." Madame Ahnzhelyk's provides company for many, including members of the Council of Vicars. From this position Ahnzhelyk has created a truly awesome spy network through which to subvert the church's corruption.

  • Big Damn Heroes: During the "Sword of Schueler" attack on Siddarmark.
  • Crazy Prepared: Madame Ahnzhelyk plans ahead with a vengeance.
  • High-Class Call Girl: Among the highest class, at that.
  • Refuge in Audacity: Has left Cayleb "almost reverent." Her solution to get potential Inquisition victims out of Zion before a vengeful Clyntahn can get his hands on them? Hide them in a boat shipping goods in Clyntahn's name.
    • Furthermore, her idea of going into "hiding" is to publicly enter high society in Siddarmark under an alias and become a fixture in the Reformist community. Gutsy!
  • Seductive Spy: Older than most examples and doesn't "work" herself by the time of the books, but she charms everyone she meets.
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