Cristabel Oct

> *"Mercy would be the first to tell you that Cristabel Oct was a delight. [...] Maybe don't mention her name to Augustine though."*
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**Cristabel Oct** *(CRIS-ta-bell)* is the cavalier primary to the Second Saint to Serve the King Undying, Mercymorn the First, and part of the original sixteen disciples to serve the Emperor at Canaan House after the Resurrection.

## **Biography**

### **History**

Cristabel Oct and her necromancer, Mercymorn, were among the first disciples to serve the Emperor at Canaan House following The Resurrection. The circumstances of their invitation to join the Emperor are lost to history. There, Cristabel was instrumental to the founding of the role of cavalier and, along with Alfred Quinque, coined the vow *"one flesh, one end."*

Together, Mercymorn and Cristabel founded the Eighth House, known as the Keepers of the Tome and the Forgiving House.

Though the precise circumstances of Mercymorn's ascension to Lyctor are unknown, Alfred's necromancer, Augustine, speaking of *"what happened"* as Cristabel *"leading [Alfred] astray"* and becoming a Lyctor *"under scrambling pressure"* implies that the two cavaliers may have formed a suicide pact and forced their respective necromancers to ascend against their will.

## **Appearance and Personality**

Little is known about Cristabel's physical appearance save her eyes which Harrowhark describes as

> *"...a slumbrous, sand-tinted hazel with grey-madder clouds within them, like a red hurricane moving over a gaseous mantle, like a storm-ridden planet of red dust."*
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Augustine describes Cristabel's personality as:

> *"A total delight. Effervescent. Kind to animals and children. A master of the sword. Did not have the intellect you'd ordinarily find in a sandwich or an orange, and was a sickening twerp into the bargain. The Eighth House will never see her like again."*
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Described as a "fanatic," Cristabel's passion and fervor for both her role as cavalier and the pursuit of Lyctorhood remains at the heart of both roles a myriad later. Beyond that, it is difficult to get a clear picture of her personality as the remaining Lyctors who knew her, Augustine and Mercymorn, have heated and opposite opinions of her.

As with all Lyctors, Mercymorn's Saint name, Joy, was chosen by John as a representation of Cristabel.

## **Relationships**

### Augustine the First

> *"She should be so lucky as to be any kind of use, as she wasn't any in life. [...] I hope you know that one day I'll wrench Cristabel's rotten ghost from your corpse, and* eat *her."*
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Augustine was never fond of Cristabel—in large part due to the influence she had over his brother and cavalier, Alfred. In return, it is unlikely that Cristabel held any great affection for Augustine either.

### Alfred Quinque

> *"...someone stop cris and alfred before the sex toy phrase catches on, thanks"*
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To the displeasure of both of their necromancers, Cristabel and Alfred were close. Co-creators of much of the concept of cavaliers, the two clearly spent a lot of time working together. Though Augustine considered her to be a bad influence the Emperor believed that Alfred could not have been forced into anything he didn't want.

### Mercymorn the First

> *"When you mentioned her cavalier's name, she went rigid, as though stung. The Saint of Joy turned to you, scrunch-mouthed and nauseous with rage, and wheezed: 'Don't you ever—ever—use her name with me, you useless* child*, you impertinent* cell.*'"*
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Mercymorn, Cristabel's necromancer, quite plainly cared a great deal for her cavalier.

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Harrow the Ninth," Act II, Ch. 17
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Gideon the Ninth," A Sermon on Cavaliers and Necromancers
3. ↑ "Harrow the Ninth," Act III, Ch. 30
4. ↑ "Harrow the Ninth," Act V, Ch. 51
5. ↑ "Harrow the Ninth," Act I, Ch. 6
6. ↑ "Harrow the Ninth," Act II, Ch. 17
7. ↑ "Harrow the Ninth," Act III, Ch. 31