An Empress and her Uncles:

	Lord Valentin Sylvanus 34 years old. Younger full brother of Emperor Dolmus (deceased). Older half-brother of Cassius. Formerly Ambassador to Baetica and Governor of Tierrablanca.
	Commander, Lord Cassius Sylvanus Nero 31 years old. Younger half-brother of Emperor Dolmus and Valentin. A Prince of Caith’il Deran on his mother’s side. Entered the army when he was 14.
	Empress Adrienne Sylvanus 21 years old. Elder daughter of Emperor Dolmus. Became Empress when he died suddenly two years ago.

Other People and Places a Frequent Traveller might encounter:

Warning: below this point are spoilers for all published parts of the story.

Princess Adelais Sylvanus: Adrienne’s younger sister. 16 years old.

Anasylvia: southern province of Jovan.

Argentum/Argenta: The second tier of the nobility in Jovan. Generally found in trades, or the officer classes of the army. There are certain posts in the Empire only Argenta can fill, but the top levels of government are forbidden them.

Aurum/Aura: The top tier of the nobility. Only they can sit on the Empress’ council, or hold high posts in the government.

Baetica: Kingdom to the north of Jovan.

Beroe: a Monsilys priestess and former lover of Valentin’s.

Caith’il Deran: Island kingdom off the coast of Baetica.

Confederated States, The: an alliance of principates to the south of Jovan and Skya.

Cesare: Steward of Monsilys Palace.

Emperor Dolmus Sylvanus: Former Emperor of Jovan (deceased). Adrienne’s father; Cassius and Valentin’s older brother.

Gallica: Newly-annexed easternmost territory of Jovan.

Captain Gennaro: head of the Empress’ private guard corps.

Emperor Herminius Sylvanus : Former Emperor (deceased). Father of Dolmus, Valentin, and Cassius. Following the previous Emperor’s death without issue, Herminius fought a long civil war for the Jovani throne, which ended with the defeat of the two other pretenders about fifty years ago.

Lady Kyria of Skya: Adrienne’s mother. Emperor Dolmus’ wife.

Llewellyn: Cassius’ body slave.

Magnus: a Papirian.

Lord Marcellus Mereius: Former army captain under Cassius’ command in Gallica.

Merot: Country to the north of Jovan and east of Baetica.

Monsilys: The capital of Jovan.

Monsilys Palace: Official residence of the Empress.

Papirians: Outlaw bandits who live in the mountains. Followers of Papirius.

Papirius: Traitor and heretic. Leader of the Papirians.

Queen Sekhmede: Queen of Merot.

Sal Sirona: a Confederated States principate directly south of Skya.

Skya: kingdom to the south of Jovan.

Tierrablanca: a northern province of Jovan.

King Ulyr: King of Skya.

Prince Varen Blanc: Prince Regnant of Caith’il Deran.

Whitefields: Valentin’s estate in Tierrablanca

Valentin, Cassius and Adrienne illustrations by the author.