The Will of the Many
by James Islington
Contents
Major Characters
Overview
The narrative pauses for a dramatis personae, listing major figures across the Academy, the Telimus family, Letens, Suus, and the Anguis.
It clarifies relationships, roles, and affiliations—such as Vis/Diago’s identities and Ulciscor’s family ties—providing orientation and context without adding new plot developments.
Summary
This chapter functions as a dramatis personae, enumerating important characters and their roles. It outlines the Academy’s structure by naming students across classes—particularly Vis’s Class Four peers—and identifying Praeceptors responsible for each class: Scitus (Class Four), Nequias (Class Three), Taedia (Class Five), and Ferrea (Class Seven). Administrative and military figures connected to the Academy are listed, including Veridius Julii as Principalis, Exesius as Princeps of Military, and Ulnias Filo as Academy physician. Numerous students are cataloged by class, from Class Three figures like Belli Volenis and Indol Quiscil to Class Seven students such as Callidus Ericius and Drusus Corani, alongside physicians like Gaius Valerius.
Family and political connections are clarified. The Telimus family is detailed: Ulciscor Telimus (senator who brought Vis to the Academy), his brother Caeror (killed in a past Iudicium), their father Lerius, and Ulciscor’s wife Relucia. Villa Telimus’s staff appear, including Kadmos (Dispensator) and Lanistia Scipio (tutor aiding investigations into Caeror’s death). Governance figures such as Advenius Claudius and his daughter Aequa are listed, as are Magnus Dimidius Quiscil and his son Indol, and regional leaders like Manius, the Proconsul of Tensia.
The chapter also catalogs figures tied to Letens and its underworld. Hrolf, the Septimus in charge of Letens Prison, is named alongside Nateo, a Sapper-bound prisoner. Ulciscor’s alias “Hospius” at the prison is noted. The Letens Theatre’s network appears through Ellanher (who runs the fights), Idonia (described as her cousin), and Gaufrid (bookkeeper for bets). The orphanage background is represented by Atrox, the Matron, and children Brixia and Vermes, with “Solum” defined as the term for all orphans in the Hierarchy. Menendo, owner of a harbourside tavern in Suus, anchors the broader social setting.
Finally, the dramatis personae situates Vis within his royal origins and larger conflicts: Vis’s birth name, Diago, is noted, as is the alupi pup sharing that name. His family includes King Cristoval of Suus, older sister Ysabel, and younger sister Carinza (Cari). Anguis ties are highlighted through Estevan (Melior), their leader and former royal advisor and tutor to Vis; Fadrique, now steward of Suus; and Sedotia, the codename of the Anguis agent behind the Transvect attack. Additional classmates across classes, teachers, and medical personnel round out a reference that consolidates relationships and past events (like the naumachia and the Iudicium), preparing the reader for subsequent chapters.
Who Appears
- Advenius ClaudiusGovernance senator; father of Aequa; noted visiting Vis at Villa Telimus.
- Aequa ClaudiusAcademy Class Four student; daughter of Advenius; attended the naumachia with Vis.
- AsceniaSeptimus overseeing the Academy stables; identified as responsible for the horses.
- Atrox, MatronMatron of the Letens orphanage; caretaker figure in Vis’s background.
- AtticusAcademy Class Four student listed among Vis’s peers.
- AuctiaSextus; Dispensator of the Quiscil household, managing its operations.
- AvaAcademy Class Four student named among Vis’s cohort.
- AxienAcademy Class Four student named among Vis’s cohort.
- Belli VolenisClass Three student; excels at Foundation and running the Labyrinth.
- BrixiaChild from the Letens orphanage; part of Vis’s early world.
- Caeror TelimusUlciscor’s brother; killed during an Academy Iudicium years earlier.
- Callidus EriciusClass Seven student at the Academy; listed among seniors.
- Carinza (Cari)Vis’s younger sister; princess of Suus.
- CassiaAcademy Class Four student among Vis’s cohort.
- Cristoval, KingVis’s father; king of Suus, anchoring Vis’s royal origins.
- DiagoVis’s birth name; also the alupi pup he saves on Solivagus.
- Drusus CoraniAcademy Class Seven student named among seniors.
- Dultatis, PraeceptorPraeceptor overseeing Class Six at the Academy.
- Eidhin BreacAcademy Class Six student listed among upper classes.
- EllanherSupervisor of fights at the Letens Theatre.
- Emissa CoreniusAcademy Class Three student; named among juniors.
- Estevan (Melior)Leader of the Anguis; former royal advisor and tutor to Vis.
- Exesius, PrincepsPrinceps of Military; senior figure within the Hierarchy.
- FadriqueFormer royal advisor; now steward of Suus under the Hierarchy.
- FelixAcademy Class Four student listed among Vis’s peers.
- FeriunAcademy Class Four student among Vis’s cohort.
- Ferrea, PraeceptorPraeceptor overseeing Class Seven at the Academy.
- Gaius ValeriusPhysician who tested Vis’s blood after the naumachia.
- GaufridBookkeeper for bets at the Letens Theatre fights.
- HospiusAlias used by Ulciscor at Letens Prison.
- HrolfSeptimus running Letens Prison; under whom Vis is employed.
- IanixAcademy Class Six student among upper classes.
- IdoniaEllanher's cousin at the Letens Theatre.
- Indol QuiscilAcademy Class Three student; son of Magnus Dimidius Quiscil.
- Iro DecimusAcademy Class Three student; sister killed in the naumachia attack.
- KadmosDispensator managing Villa Telimus; former head of the Azriat in Sytrece.
- Lanistia ScipioTutor to Vis at Villa Telimus; helps investigate Caeror’s death.
- Lerius TelimusFather of Ulciscor and Caeror.
- LuciusAcademy Class Four student among peers.
- Manius, ProconsulProconsul; Catenan in charge of the Tensian province.
- MarcellusAcademy Class Four student in Vis’s cohort.
- Marcus CarciusAssistant to Veridius at the Academy.
- MenendoOwner of the harbourside tavern in Suus.
- NateoSapper-bound prisoner in Letens Prison.
- Nequias, PraeceptorPraeceptor overseeing Class Three at the Academy.
- PravAcademy Class Three student among juniors.
- Quiscil, Magnus DimidiusMagnus Dimidius; father of Indol; senior Military figure.
- Relucia TelimusUlciscor’s wife, within the Telimus family.
- Scitus, PraeceptorPraeceptor overseeing Class Four at the Academy.
- SedotiaName used by the Anguis agent who arranged the Transvect attack.
- SianusAcademy Class Three student among juniors.
- SolumTerm for all orphans under the Hierarchy.
- Taedia, PraeceptorPraeceptor overseeing Class Five at the Academy.
- TemAcademy Class Four student among peers.
- TitusAcademy Class Four student among peers.
- Ulciscor TelimusSenator who met Vis at Letens and offered Academy admission.
- Ulnias FiloAcademy physician; cares for students in the infirmary.
- ValentinaAcademy Class Four student among peers.
- Veridius JuliiPrincipalis; in charge of the Academy.
- VermesChild from the Letens orphanage.
- VisAlias adopted by Diago; central protagonist.
- YsabelVis’s older sister; princess of Suus.