A young lieutenant who quickly ascends to captain in the Malazan imperial army. Born to nobility, he initially views military service with idealistic enthusiasm but grows jaded by the brutal realities of imperial conquest. After surviving a near-fatal attack, he carries the god-blessed sword Chance, actively resisting the interference of ascendant deities in his life.

An imperial sorceress connected to the Thyr Warren of magic. She survives a devastating magical siege but suspects her own superiors of orchestrating the massive casualties. Highly skilled at reading the prophetic Deck of Dragons, she searches for answers regarding the empire's shifting loyalties and her own role in the coming conflict.

The dedicated right hand of Empress Laseen. She wields a rare Otataral sword capable of deadening magic around her, making her highly effective against sorcerers. Though she presents a cold, unyielding exterior in service to the empire, she privately wrestles with the morality of her orders and the traumatic childhood memories she suppresses to perform her duties.

A young woman from a small fishing village in Itko Kan. Two ascendant figures hijack her mind and place her into the imperial army as a sleeper agent. She operates alongside the Bridgeburners with cold precision and an unnerving lack of emotion, executing brutal commands while her true identity remains submerged.

A seasoned veteran of the imperial army who previously held a much higher rank under the former emperor. He now leads the elite Bridgeburners squad, inspiring fierce loyalty among his soldiers. A pragmatic and highly strategic commander, he actively questions the empire's destructive orders and prioritizes the survival of his men above imperial conquest.

A rotund, pastry-loving regular at Darujhistan's Phoenix Inn. He speaks in winding, indirect sentences and refers to himself in the third person, leading many to underestimate him. Beneath his eccentric exterior, he experiences potent prophetic dreams that allow him to communicate with ancient gods.

A seventeen-year-old thief who ignores his scholarly uncle's advice in favor of roaming Darujhistan's rooftops at night. His ordinary criminal life turns dangerously unpredictable when he picks up a magical coin. As the designated Coin Bearer, he finds himself caught in a hidden war between empires and ascendants.

The ruler of the Malazan Empire and former head of the Claw spy network. She seized the throne through a violent coup and rules her massive domain with paranoia and absolute authority. She ruthlessly eliminates any subordinates she perceives as too powerful or independently minded.

The ancient Lord of Moon's Spawn and leader of the non-human Tiste Andii. He opposes the Malazan Empire's expansion and fiercely protects his people from atop his floating fortress. He wields the terrifying sword Dragnipur, an artifact forged in darkness that captures the souls of those it strikes.

An immensely powerful ancient Jaghut Tyrant entombed beneath the Gadrobi Hills. The imperial army seeks to unleash his devastating, uncontrollable magic as a weapon to weaken their enemies in Darujhistan.

A notably powerful and highly intelligent mage serving in the Bridgeburners. Unlike typical sorcerers, he draws upon multiple different Warrens of magic. He relies on unconventional, risky tactics to outmaneuver both enemy combatants and suspicious imperial superiors.

A former assassin for the empire's Claw network who now fights as a corporal in the Bridgeburners. Hailing from the Seven Cities, he moves with extreme stealth and wields specialized daggers. He acts as the squad's primary scout and infiltration expert.

A tall, sharp-witted assassin belonging to the Darujhistan guild. He plots against the city's corrupt nobility out of deep loyalty to his wronged friend. Patient and calculated, he treats his political assassinations as a means to achieve personal justice rather than just professional contracts.

A well-known playboy and dandy among Darujhistan's noble class. He frequents the Phoenix Inn and uses his charm, good looks, and high-society connections to assist his friends in their various schemes against the city's corrupt leaders.

A highly respected military commander leading the imperial forces outside the Free City of Pale. He maintains a deep bond with the ordinary soldiers under his command but faces increasing political pressure and suspicion from the empress's loyalists.

The highest-ranking sorcerer serving Empress Laseen. He commands the empire's magic users during the siege of Pale and demands absolute obedience. His willingness to sacrifice his own mages in battle makes him deeply unpopular with the surviving troops.

The ascendant god ruling the House of Shadow. He actively meddles in mortal affairs to strike back against Empress Laseen. He commands terrifying beasts known as Hounds of Shadow to carry out massacres and distract the imperial army from his true goals.

The patron deity of assassins and a close companion to Shadowthrone. He takes direct control of a mortal fishergirl's body, using her as an undetected agent within the Malazan military ranks to further his revenge against the empress.

The twin gods of chance and luck, manifesting as a Lord and a Lady. They interfere in mortal events by blessing specific individuals or objects, such as a sword or a coin, with arbitrary fortune that disrupts the plans of mortals and other gods alike.

An imperial mage who suffers a devastating injury during the siege of Pale. He survives through a forbidden soul-shifting ritual that transfers his consciousness into a wooden puppet. The dark magic warps his mind, making him increasingly reckless and dangerous to his allies.

A Claw agent operating within the imperial army. Unlike most secretive spies, he embraces the camaraderie of foot soldiers and bears physical scars from combat. He possesses a latent gift for foresight that occasionally warns him of incoming threats.

A rugged regular at the Phoenix Inn with a hidden noble background. He suffers from serious injuries outside Darujhistan but remains fiercely protected by his loyal friends, who actively scheme to restore his social standing.

A prominent member of a secret mage cabal in Darujhistan. He attempts to protect his city from imperial invasion by managing a network of informants and striking a tense bargain with the Lord of Moon's Spawn.

An ancient, immortal warrior belonging to the undead T'lan Imass race. Bound by old magic, he emerges from the ground to assist the Malazan Empire, accompanying the empress's agents on a mission to locate a buried threat.

A wealthy scholar and historian living in Darujhistan. He tries to impart lessons of etiquette and history to his rebellious nephew while quietly studying ancient, dangerous burial grounds located outside the city.

A massive Great Raven that feeds on magical residue. She is hundreds of thousands of years old and acts as a scout and primary messenger for the Lord of Moon's Spawn, gathering intelligence on rival sorcerers.

An imperial mage who fights alongside his colleagues during the siege of Pale. He attempts to reason with his superiors before being forced into a devastating magical battle.

A massive imperial sorcerer fiercely loyal to the High Mage. He carries deep grief over the loss of his romantic partner in battle, making him vulnerable to manipulation by his superiors.

An imperial sorceress who falls in the early conflict against Moon's Spawn. Her magically preserved body remains a point of contention and sorrow for her surviving colleagues.

The youngest daughter of a powerful noble family in Darujhistan. Her striking beauty captures the attention of local thieves and places her in the periphery of the city's escalating conflicts.

A politically ambitious noblewoman in Darujhistan who secures her influence through secret alliances and hired assassins. Her ruthless actions earn her the targeted enmity of the local assassins' guild.

An influential and self-serving politician in Darujhistan. He openly campaigns for the city to declare neutrality and surrender to the Malazan Empire, hoping to secure his own wealth in the new regime.

An ancient elder god who lost much of his power as his worshippers faded into history. Awakened by violence in his forgotten temple, he visits mortal dreamers to gently guide their actions against looming magical threats.