The Lopen serves as the novella’s second major viewpoint character, a Knight Radiant whose boisterous humor and seemingly carefree attitude conceal a thoughtful and developing understanding of his responsibilities. As a Windrunner, he rescues sailors from the storm and fights the Sleepless’s hordeling monsters, but his primary role in the narrative is to provide a contrasting perspective on personal growth. While Rysn develops new ways to navigate the physical challenges she faces, Lopen must re-examine how his humor affects the people around him. His humor is his primary way of engaging with the world, a defense mechanism he developed to cope with his one-armed past. He explains to Rysn that “it’s nice to make people laugh at you for something you do, and not something you can’t control” (73), revealing that his jokes allow him to control how others perceive him.

Beneath his antics, Lopen is surprisingly perceptive. He understands the complex political dynamics between the Alethi and smaller nations like the Reshi, using his shared “cousin” status to build a bridge of trust. However, his most significant development is internal and centers on the theme of Change as a Strategy for Survival. The revelation from his cousin Huio that his jokes can be hurtful forces Lopen to confront the negative impact of his defining trait. This realization is deeply painful, threatening to silence him entirely. Yet, instead of retreating into shame, he accepts the truth and vows to change, deciding he must protect people even from himself. This act of deep self-awareness and willingness to adapt ultimately leads him to swear the Third Ideal of the Windrunners. His growth reflects a deeper understanding of what it means to protect others, demonstrating that personal growth requires a willingness to recognize and change harmful behavior.

Nikli is the primary antagonist, though his motivations are driven by protection rather than malice. He is a Sleepless, a being composed of a swarm of hordelings, or cremlings, that can perfectly imitate a human form. His people have been the secret guardians of Akinah and the Dawnshard they protect for centuries. Nikli’s actions reinforce the theme of The Dangers of Secrecy. Terrified that the weakened storm around Akinah will allow outsiders to discover the Dawnshard, the Sleepless employ a strategy of misdirection and fear. As Nikli, he manufactures a series of “bad omens,” such as a dead skyeel and wormy grain, to frighten the crew of the Wandersail into turning back. However, these deceptions heighten the mystery surrounding the island, inadvertently making Rysn more determined to proceed.

Nikli also embodies his species’ internal conflict. He is the youngest of the Sleepless swarms on Roshar and is particularly skilled at imitating humanity. This skill proves to be a liability for his mission, as he develops a genuine affection and respect for Rysn. This internal conflict is clear when he laments that he must kill the crew, stating, “I genuinely enjoyed our time together. But the very cosmere is at stake” (221). His hesitation and reluctance to kill unnecessarily give Rysn the opportunity to negotiate. In the end, Nikli and his people are persuaded to abandon their failing strategy of total secrecy in favor of Rysn’s more subtle plan of a layered lie and a new alliance. This decision marks a significant shift for his species, as they embrace Change as a Strategy for Survival, choosing cooperation over centuries of isolation.

Captain Drlwan is a competent, proud, and experienced sailor who is a foil to Rysn. As the captain of the Wandersail, she feels a deep sense of ownership over the ship and its crew, which she trained personally at Vstim’s request. Her initial hostility toward Rysn is not personal prejudice but professional disappointment; she believed Vstim was preparing her to become the ship’s master and feels that Rysn, a young and inexperienced apprentice, has usurped a position that should have been hers. This creates a quiet but persistent conflict that forces Rysn to earn the respect of her crew rather than simply command it.

Although Drlwan’s personality remains largely consistent throughout the novella, she undergoes a significant shift in her perception of Rysn. As a traditionalist, she initially advises Rysn to stay behind in port, believing she would be safer remaining there. However, when Rysn successfully handles the crew’s superstitions, first with the wormy grain and later with the disintegrating santhid, Drlwan begins to recognize her leadership abilities. Her primary loyalty is to the well-being of her crew, and Rysn proves her commitment to that same principle. Drlwan’s journey culminates in a moment of earned respect when she learns that Rysn refused to bargain for her own life without securing the safety of the entire crew. Her final act of offering Rysn the chance to steer the ship is a gesture of earned respect, acknowledging Rysn not just as the ship’s owner by writ, but as a leader in her own right.

Cord is a quiet and observant Horneater woman who joins the expedition at the Radiants’ request. Initially mistaken for a servant, she is revealed to be one of the “Sighted,” possessing the ability to see all spren, including those that are normally invisible. This ability makes her an important source of information, as she is the one who confirms the presence of luckspren guiding the ship and identifies the Sleepless as the “Gods Who Sleep Not” from her people’s mythology. Cord is driven by a strong sense of duty to her people. She fears that the discovery of a perpendicularity in the Horneater Peaks will make her people a target for larger nations, and she believes that acquiring Shardplate and Shardblades will help strengthen their defenses. Her pursuit of these treasures reflects responsibility rather than greed, revealing her determination to protect her homeland. By the novella’s end, she accepts the Shardplate found on Akinah, viewing it as a means of defending her people while acknowledging the responsibilities that accompany it.

Huio is Lopen’s cousin and a fellow Windrunner who is a quiet and thoughtful foil to Lopen’s boisterous personality. Despite his struggles with the Alethi language, Huio is intelligent and observant, demonstrating a keen scientific curiosity that leads to the accidental discovery of the hovering fabrial mechanism. He is a steady presence throughout the voyage, often helping with shipboard duties without being asked. His most significant development occurs during the battle against the Sleepless guardian, when he puts his life on the line to protect Lopen. This act of self-sacrifice allows him to swear the Third Ideal and summon a Shardblade. After the battle, Huio confronts Lopen about the hurt his jokes can cause, prompting Lopen to reconsider how his humor affects others. This reveals the deep inner strength and courage beneath his reserved exterior.

Rushu is a brilliant but eccentric ardent and scholar sent by Navani Kholin to investigate Akinah. Her role in the novella is to apply her scientific expertise to the expedition’s challenges. She is comically single-minded, often getting lost in her research to the exclusion of everything else, but her knowledge of fabrials is essential to the novella’s events. She explains the principles of conjoined rubies and, building on Huio’s accidental discovery, helps develop Rysn’s hovering chair. Her primary mission is to locate the lost Oathgate on Akinah, and she uses her intellect and a Soulcaster to deduce that the surface city is a fake and uncover the true ruins hidden below. Her research advances the expedition’s understanding of both fabrial technology and Akinah’s hidden history.