Welcome to the Characters page!
Cowherd's books are filled with a lot of diverse characters, so she wished to showcase them here from her notes on the books. The Crystals of Syre is first, with a very long section of its many characters.
The "Assassins' Guild of Obseen" characters follow. The section has been started and will continue to be expounded upon.

Note: this page is still undergoing construction. If there is a character(s) you have a particular interest in knowing more about, don't hesitate to contact Lindsey via the Author Contact on the Home page.

Other note: Lindsey has searched the web for drawings/pictures of people that are close to how she imagines the characters from her books to be. She does not own the copywrite to these images and does not take credit for them as her own; they are only for reference. Fans of the books are welcome to submit their own works for inclusion into these character bios and are encouraged to. In the perfect world, the author would be an artist, too, and could draw-to-life what she imagines.

Crystals of Syre

...there was a legend of eight Stones of Power that had been created to save the kingdoms of Syre...

Crystal Kingdom

Royal House: Starkindlers

Current king/queen: Lanar and Lestial

Offspring: Lance, Page, Zeek, Zerra

Crystal Kingdom is known for its hardy, mountain-born people. The Royal family makes most of its profits off of its horse breeding and war-stock, especially the prized stallion Valed Darkness.

Stone of Power: Ravel

Obelisk(s): Rast'enn

King Lanar

Age: 53 Height: 5'11" (180.34 cm) Born: middle of Flowering Time, 49 SC

Not much is mentioned of the king in the books, as he dies shortly into Awakening (book 1). He was a warrior-king and spent much time on the front lines of the Crystal Kingdom fighting the maunstorz. He married Lestial (a Crystine soldier's daughter) at the age of seventeen and they raised four children.

Prince Lance Starkindler

Eldest of the Starkindler offspring

Age (book 1, 102 SC): 19 years old

Height: 5'10" (177.80 cm) Born: end of Harvest-Gathering Time 83 SC

Known as a genius strategist, along with his friend, Prince Al'den Maushelik of Staria

...content to be continued as he reappears in later books...

Page Starkindler (middle son)

Age (book 1, 102 SC): 17 years old; Height: 5'7" (170.18 cm) Born: start of Flowering Time 85 SC ***Spoiler alert***

He dies from injures sustained in the maunstorz' invasion of the Crystal Kingdom in 102 SC and does not appear in the series beyond the prologue of Awakening.

Prince Zeek Starkindler

Youngest son of Starkindlers; wielder of Ravel (Crystal Stone of Power). Age (book 2, 110 SC): 23 years old; Height: 5'10" (177.80 cm) Born: end of Deepest Snow 87 SC

Dark featured like his father (and unlike his other brothers) Zeek was seen as the "black sheep" of the family, though he was anything but odd. He was a very sweet and accommodating youth. In "Revelation", it is revealed that he is the wielder of Ravel but sides with the maustorz, especially their leader Zephthaniel. His motives of this have yet to be revealed (look for them in book 3, Ancestry)

Princess Zerra Starkindler

Youngest of siblings. Age (book 1, 102 SC): 13 years old; Height: 5'2" (157.48); Born: 89 SC end of Levies-Storage Time.

She was a rebellious girl, not wanting to submit to societal rules and gender roles. She was the rider of Valed Darkness (besides the king) and practiced with swords when her mother wasn't looking. She was asked for her hand by Prince Par Fantill on her 13th birthday. After the maunstorz invasion of the Crystal Kingdom, she was left to die in the Aras Desert during the grueling march from the Crystal Kingdom to Xerconvith.

Crystine (Crystal military/cavalry)

Matar (picture shown); Age: 57 years old; Height: 6'0" (182.88 cm)

Not much is known of the man, except that he was a war-veteran. (More to be revealed in book 3, Ancestry)

Others of Crystine mentioned: Wix (Second-in-command) and Lieutenant Madden

Valed Darkness

The Crystal's best stallion. He was known to never lose a race, whether a short or long-distanced one. He was also notorious for only letting King Lanar and Princess Zerra Starkindler ride him. Revealed in "Revelation" he had been a gift to Crystal along with the protection of a certain someone...

Unrevealed

War courser sired by Valed Darkness and Blue Galeon (the only non-Crystal bred mare allowed to be mated to Vale). In the series, he is Zyanthena Sheev'arid's personal mount.

Majestic

Matar's personal mount in the series. He is "elegant and graceful" like a ballet dancer but war-trained (as any war courser is) to fight in battle.

*Note on war horses: there are different levels of training/breeding of horses for purpose of the military and nobility in Syre. Palfrey/light horses are used mainly for distance travel requiring stamina. Coursers were used for combat, but were also bred for distance travel and some for speed (aka: Unrevealed). Lastly are the heavy horses used only for battle to carry men in heavy armor. Heavy horses are seen more in the Southern Kingdoms of Syre, where warmer weather and summer contests are usually held. The Crystal Kingdom (like the three kingdoms of the North) does not breed heavy horses, except those used for plow-work on farms.

Decond

Age: (book 1, 110 SC) 17 years old; Height: 5'8" (172.72 cm); Born: middle of Growing Time 93 SC.

An orphan who took up work as an apprentice farrier in Crystal. He was drafted into the Crystine as a farrier during "Awakening"...through his journey, he becomes Khapta (apprentice) to Terrik Sheev'arid of the Sheev'anee [Tashek of Staria]. During book 2, "Revelation" he is given the care of the stone Seven (pearl)... More will be added as his adventures continue. (Spoilers saved!)

Rubia

Royal House: Chivel

Current King/queen: (never to be met in series; queen was deceased; king dies in book 2)

Offspring:Derek (with a son: Miguel)

Lord Protector: Yory Seleg

Rubia is a kingdom made mostly of grasslands and rolling hills. Its economy is in farming, especially fruit trees and grains.

Stone: Sheveth

Obelisk: Veth'aun

Prince Derek Chivel

Only living heir of Rubia. Age: (book 2, 110 SC)29 year old; Height: 5'7" (170.18 cm); Born: end of Deepest Snows 80 SC

Born sickly, he was the only offspring of King Chivel not to die within his first hours of life. Even by adulthood, he had a weak constitution. Despite such afflictions, he is a skilled fencer, as proven in "Revelation" during a fight with maunstorz (assisted by his lord protector). A lover of men, he did lay with one woman to sire a son, Miguel, to continue the family line.

Yory Selev

Lord Protector of Prince Derek; and the prince's lover; Age: (book 2) 32 years old; Height: 6'1" (185.42 cm) Born: beginning of Planting Time 78 SC)

Yory Selev was a street orphan taken in by the royal family to be Prince Derek's friend (age seven). As they grew up, Yory felt the need to protect his fragile prince and undertook extensive lessons in swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat. He later was given the position of Lord Protector (age 16) and has been Prince Derek's man ever since.

Commander Ethan Kins

Age: (Book 1) 59 years old; Height: 5'10" (177.80 cm); Born: middle of Growing Time
A main mertinean commander in the books, he was advanced to rank of commander of the 8th battalion of the king's armies. At the end of book 1, King Maushelik of Staria asked his assistance in removing the population of the Citadel of Light southward to Kavahad. In book 2, he is seen as the main commander in charge of relaying messages from Kavahad to the armies of western Syre.
...to be cont. as books advance...

Other commanders mentioned: Commanders Tyk and Grant (Raven's Den); Liuetenant Commander Curtis Marx (under Comm. Kins)

Patrick Kins

Son of Commander Ethan Kins; is referred to as one of the "Six Companions". Age: (book 2) 28 years old Height: 6' (182.88 cm); Born: Middle of Deepest Snows 90 SC

Introduced as one of the six companions in the beginning of "Awakening", Patrick is along on the journey as a "soldier bodyguard" for the merchant Roland Seagold. Though trained in combat, he doesn't hold a soldier's position in the mertinean army, instead relying on his father's name to get around Syre. He and Jacen have been friends since a young age. At the end of book 1, he and Jacen Novano are elected to lead an expedition north of Syre, into the desert and mountains beyond the "Gap of the Forgotten". Book 2: he and Jacen are amassing their party in Sardon.

....to be added as books progress...

Elis Candero

Commander Ethan Kins's personal mount. Bred in Crystal Kingdom from sire Glorified

Candor

Patrick Kins's mount; a stallion from the Crystal Kingdom (given in book 1) and out of the same lines as his father's stallion.

Mertinean

Rubia's military. It consists mostly of foot soldiers, with some mounted officers.

Blue Haven

Royal House: Eldon

Current King/queen: King Jared Eldon; Queen Elise Tomino

Offspring:Jace, Eleen, 2 younger sisters

Blue Haven is the largest of Syre's kingdoms, with mountains to the north (once a part of Crystalynian), rolling hills and grasslands, and coast. The population mainly lives on the lower half of the kingdom where fruit/nut trees and dairy/vegetable farms are the main economic providers. Trade of teas with Sunrise are the next biggest money maker.

Stone: Bellor

Obelisk: Bel'falor

King Eldon

Age: 52 year old; Height: 5'7" (170.18 cm) Born: end of Flowering Time

Not introduced yet in series (seen in book 3, Ancestry)

Queen Elise

Age: 48 years old; Height: 5'2" (157.48 cm); Born: end of Levies and Storage Time

Not introduced yet in series (seen in book 3, Ancestry)

Prince Jace

Age: (book 2) 27 years old Height: 5'7" (170.18 cm); Born: middle of Deepest Snows 89 SC

First Guardsman: Jauken Lautvine

Heir of Blue Haven, the young man is viewed as very aristocratic and entitled. In book 2, Revelation, he takes one of his father's forces to the Crystal Castle and occupies it. In response, Zyanthena Sheev'arid teaches him a "lesson".

...more to add as series continues...

Princess Eleen

Age: (book 1) 24 years old; Height: 5'4" (162.56 cm) Born: End of Snow Thaw 92 SC

Eldest of the king's daughters, she is the outcast of her family. In "Awakening", she takes 50 soldiers and her new Lord Protector Carrod Nexle to Staria to strengthen Blue Haven ties with the kingdom that offered a betrothal agreement to Blue Haven. Upon arriving, King Maushelik postponed his acceptance of her betrothal to his son, Al'den, leaving Eleen adrift in Staria. In Revelation, she is with the Starian court--moved to Kavahad.

...to be continued as series continues...

Lord Protector Carrod Nexle

Age: 26 years old; Height: 5'8" (172.72 cm) Born:end of Storage and Levies Time

Assigned to Princess Eleen upon her journey to Staria, Lord Carrod is the eldest of Lord Nexle, general of King Eldon's armies. He was asked to protect the princess on her long journey north and west.

Two Eldon-Tomino sisters (not mentioned yet)

Blue Haven Knights

Like men of southern Syre, the armies of Blue Haven are mainly foot soldiers and some knights.

Mentioned Havanese soldiers: First Guardsmen Jauken Lautvine (assigned to Prince Eldon), Commander Dorian Hartford, Captain John Corbus (serves under Hartford)

Jacen Novano

Age: (book 1) 26 years old; Height: 5'10" (177.80 cm); Born: end of Flowering Time 90 SC

One of the "Six companions"; Son of former general of Blue Haven army Barret Novano

Jacen is on the journey as a "soldier bodyguard" for the merchant Roland Seagold, with his childhood friend, Patrick Kins. He is an apprentice of a Havanese soldier but was on leave from his studies to compete at Deluge when they were commissioned for the job to Crystal. At the end of book 1, he and Patrick are elected to lead an expedition north into the desert and mountains beyond the "Gap of the Forgotten". In book 2: he and Patrick are amassing their party in Sardon.

...to be added to as books progress...

First Guardsman Jauken Lautvine

Put in place of a lord protector to His Highness Jace, he commands the prince's personal bodyguards

Commander Dorian Hartford

A part of Prince Jace's forces, he commands all of the highness's men when away from the King.

Other Haven soldiers: Capt John Corbus

Sapphire

Mare given to Jacen Novano in book 1, Awakening, by the Crystine forces in the Crystal Kingdom

Staria

Royal House: Maushelik

Current King/Queen: Merretham Dashen; wife (deceased)

Offspring: Al'den

Staria is a kingdom mainly composed of desert. Its people have etched out a life in the burning sands through tenacity. The great walled city and its Citadel of Light is the main location of the Starian people, though smaller towns, like Kavahad to its southern border and Port Al Harrod to its west coast, also house residents. Staria is mostly a warrior-state and protects Syre from invaders (aka maunstorz). Its wealth comes from its arts: pottery, leather works, woodwork [yellowwood], ironworks.

Stone: Amun

Obelisk:

King Merretham Maushelik

Age: 72 year old; Height: 6'1" (185.42 cm) Born: Snow Thaw

A warrior king long injured from battles, he leads only by command, letting his only heir fight his battles. He is known to be a just king but always tows a hard line.

***spoiler alert*** he passes away in book 2, Revelation

Prince Al'den

Age: (book 1) 30 years old Height: 6'2" (187.96 cm); Born: Flowering Time 86 SC

First Guardsman: Meeg Thorson

Heir of Staria and oldest of the princes/princesses of Syre.He is known as a genius war strategist (along with his friend, Prince Lance Starkindler). He leads every battle and was given the title "Prince of the Yellow Star" by the Sheev'anee. He has yet to take a bride (in book 2) and doesn't have any heirs.

Starian cavalry and army

Staria relies on light horse cavalry, foot soldiers, and archers for its combat strength. Prince Al'den usually leads the cavalry.

Soldiers mentioned:

Captain Sean Woodman (archers); Lieutenant commander Terrance (foot soldiers)

Phoenix

Prince Al'den's war charger, sadly meets his end during book 1. Like all warhorses, he was trained to take out the enemy with his hooves and feet; a very effective weapon.

Starian Court

Lords and ladies mentioned of the Starian court:

Lord William Greyson and his sister Lady Rosetta (pictured), Lady Diane Levine, Lady Selene Durrow, Lady Kaitlin Lepree,

Lady Rosa Quartlett, Lady Cataline LaCroix, Lord Zale Herth, Coltrin and Ainsley

Ms Saida Newdon

Madame at La Cont's; used by Roland Seagold to find information of the Ruby of Sunrise; she is an information broker and works within the black market of Syre.

Kavahad (city in Staria)

A city under rule of Staria, located in southeastern corner of kingdom; lands owned by the Shekmann lords, who control trade from Golden, Rubia, and Sunrise into Staria, as well as serve as another cavalry to the crown.

Lord-governor Darshel Shekmann

Age: (book 1) 28; Height: 6'1" (185.42 cm); Born: middle of Deepest Snows 88 SC

Ruler of Kavahad, he comes into the story in book 1, Awakening, when his men capture Tashek scout Zyanthena Sheev'arid during one of her runs back to the Crystine. Their fates are intertwined from there (mostly by fault of a contract between the Sheev'anee and Kavahad to avoid one another for past transgressions...)

Viscount Markus LaPoint

Friend of Lord Darshel Shekmann, he is first person to take command of Kavahad when the lord-governor is out. Markus is known as a rogue and womanizer in books.

Jeremy Freedman, also mentioned in books, is Markus's cousin.

Kavahadian cavalry

Commanders: Raic and Gordon

Others mentioned: Lieutenant Dawson, Cal...

Tano

Tano is Lord Darshel's personal mount in the books.

Sheev'anee

The nomadic Tashek horsemen of Staria (history says they have ancenstry in Crystalynian). They serve the Starian kings by choice not by vow. Current family head: Sheev'arid

*Note: only main characters are mentioned in this section, as there are a lot of Sheev'anee mentioned in books.

Shi'alam

The leader of the Sheev'anee (real name never revealed as names are given up upon receiving title);

estimated age: 57 summers