Main Characters

Profession: burglar

Born and raised in: Sanctuary, Downwind

Author creator: Andrew J. Offutt

Description: In the main anthology, Hanse (rhymes with "dance". He's very particular about that) is 19 or 20 years old, he's not sure. A street orphan adopted by the S'danzo Moonflower, he's tough and savvy. The various TW authors, however, attach the word "needy" to his personality.

Physically he's described as having well-developed calves from walking toe-to-heel, big "guns" from rappelling up and down buildings, but is otherwise lean and lanky. He's said to have dark curly hair, and it's implied he has darker skin as well. Offutt says he based him physically after a young Lee Marvin, but one could easily see him as Indian or Persian looking. Fans are adamant about his felinity.

Hanse in detail, from the Fandom Annex

#### Illyra

Ethnicity: Half S'danzo by her mother Rezzel, half probably Rankan by the father she shares with Walegrin

Profession: seer

Place she calls home: Sanctuary, The Bazaar

Author creator: Lynn Abbey

Description: Married to the blacksmith Dubro, one rarely sees Illyra outside of her home in the Bazaar. Inside that home she's described as being surrounded by curtains, and like most S'danzo wears many layers of colorful skirts, some of which hide pockets. Unlike many S'danzo she has the true sight, and isn't merely cold-reading her clients. Like the S'danzo, however, her sight is dimmest when the events are closest. She does not foresee her own imminent doom.

Despite her hermitty ways, her friends include Shadowspawn, and her story intersects with nearly every other character in the series. When someone has true sight, word gets around.

#### Prince Kadakithis

Ethnicity: Rankan

Profession: Prince-governor

Born and raised: a Rankan royal

Author creator: Robert Lynn Asprin

At 19, Kadakithis is sent to Sanctuary to try to govern it, but also to get him away from the palace intrigues. He's one of the younger members of the royal Vigeles family, charismatic enough to draw a following to challenge his older brothers and half-brothers for the throne, even if he's too young and inexperienced to lead such a challenge. His detractors, which include most of Sanctuary, call him "Kittycat" for his soft touch. An Enlightenment man in a dark ages world, he'd rule without torture and executions if he could. He's naive, but he plays more naive than he is. *Surely it's an act. Surely he can't be that dumb.*

Can he rise to his destiny? That's a tall mountain to climb.

#### Tempus

War Name: Riddler; Also called: Thales, The Black, Heraclitus

Ethnicity: Unknown

Profession: General, Mercenary, Cavalry Commander, Body Guard, Philosopher, Blue Star Adept, Avatar

Home: Unknown

Author Creator: Janet Morris

First Appearance: Thieves’ World 2, “Vashanka’s Minion”

Description: 6 ½ feet tall, muscular build. Dark-blond hair, blue eyes and rugged, brutal looks. His favorite clothing is armor with a leopard-skin mantle and boars-tooth helm. In battle he wields a shark-skin gripped sword that glows pinkish at the edges when his god takes an interest in his battle.

Few mortals can survive the demands of being a god’s vessel, much less that of multiple gods. Tempus is an enigma. The name he goes by is not even his true name. Only he and one other, his sister Cime, knows from whence he came, and all the clues suggest it was not the universe of Thieves’ World.

These clues suggest that Tempus was a very different person in his youth in another world. When his sister (perhaps step-sister?) begged for his help to avoid being married away to a powerful sorcerer, Tempus agreed to deflower her. For this, both he and Cime were cursed and thrust through a dimensional gate into another world. Tempus’ curse ensured that anyone he loved would spurn him, and that any who loved him would die. He is unable to sleep, only dozing on rare occasions.

To allay his curse, Tempus finally turned to the gods. He is known to have been the avatar, at least, of Vashanka and Enlil. He has an inclination towards war and storm gods, but he is never subservient to them.

Though it may be that his curse was more self-imposed than he will allow himself to admit, being the agent of gods has given him other superhuman abilities. He is effectively immortal, at least three centuries old, and any wound heals much faster than normal, depending on the relationship he has with his god at any particular time. In combat, he is unmatched in speed, skill or ferocity, especially when his god is within him. He is a master horseman and horse-trainer, and his supernatural abilities can be passed on to his mount.

Tempus despises magic, and fights against its wielders whenever possible. However, he spent time as a Blue Star adept, and learned enough to magically disguise himself when needed.

Tempus is thought, by the people of Thieves’ World, to come from Azehur. He was instrumental in the wars that made Ranke an empire, as well as the wars against the Nisibisi witches and warlocks on WizardWall.

He was the founder of the notorious Rankan 3rd Commando unit, and became leader of the Sacred Band of Stepsons when the warrior-priest, Abarsis, sacrificed himself to bring Tempus back into the fold. Tempus was introduced in “Vashanka’s Minion”, when he was sent by a Rankan faction to evaluate the suitability of Kadakithis, the governor of Sanctuary, for elevation to emperor.

It is implied that he has fathered many children, often through religious ritual, but three stand out: Kama, a daughter whose fighting skill earned her a place among the 3rd Commando; a son, Gyskouras, conceived in a rite to Vashanka; and a son, Cyrus, born to his sometimes-consort, Jihan, the daughter of the god, Stormbringer.

Another fan's perspective

Wikipedia article on Tempus and the Stepsons[1]

"Interview" with Tempus at Goodreads contains spoilers

#### Hakiem

Ethnicity: Ilsigi

Profession: Storyteller

Home: Sanctuary

Author creator: Robert Lynn Asprin

Home: Sanctuary, emphatically

Hakiem is a homely-looking man, the kind of guy you'd mistake for old and rundown even in his youth. He opens the story of Thieves' World as a beggar in the streets, and closes the story of the Rankan era by accepting a royal position in Beysa. Yet throughout he remains comfortingly consistent, the man who listens, spins tales of what he heard, and then enjoys a drink with his earnings.

#### Molin "Torchholder" Vigeles

Ethnicity: Rankan and Nisibisi

Profession: Magician, soldier, statesman, priest, architect

Home: Sanctuary, dammit

Author creator: Lynn Abbey

#### Walegrin

Ethnicity: Rankan and S'danzo

Profession: Soldier, guardsman

Home: Sanctuary?

Author creator: Lynn Abbey

Half-brother to Illyra, by their father

#### Jubal

Ethnicity: unknown, but said to have dark black skin

Profession: Crime lord, slave trader

Home: the Maze

Author creator: Robert Lynn Asprin

#### Lythande

Ethnicity:

Profession: Wizard (Blue Star Adept)

Home:

Author/creator: Marion Zimmer Bradley

Lythande is a wizard with a secret, a secret that if discovered would take away their hard-earned magic powers.

#### Ischade

Ethnicity: ...

Profession: Magic

Home: by the White Foal river

Author creator: C.J. Cherryh

#### Stilcho

Ethnicity: a Sanctuary native. One source calls him half Rankan, half Swamper ie from the Swamp of Night Secrets

Profession: Soldier/guardsman, onetime Stepson

Home: Sanctuary, alive or dead

Author creator: C.J. Cherryh

#### Critias

Ethnicity: Syrese

Profession: Mercenary (Stepson)

Home: ...

Author creator: Janet Morris

#### Roxane "Death's Queen"

Ethnicity: Nisibisi

Profession: Witch/necromancer

Home: by the river

Author/Creator: Janet Morris