1. Dramatis Personae
Dramatis Personae
The Royal Couple
Sykora, Princess of the Black Pike
Our heroine. A Void Princess. Ambitious and amorous. She is trying to work on her temper. Wife of Grantyde.
Grantyde of Maekyon, Prince Consort of the Black Pike
Née Grant Hyde. A Maekyonite (or "human," in his original tongue). Our hero. Prudent and purposeful. Husband of Void Princess Sykora.
The Black Pike Command Group
Vorakaia of the Black Pike
Sykora's majordomo. Timid.
Hyax of the Black Pike
Sykora's Brigadier. Surly.
Waian of the Black Pike
Sykora's Chief Engineer. Easy-going.
Crew & Servants
Ajax of the Black Pike
Taiikari marine. Dutiful and terse.
Meena of the Black Pike
A hangar crew engineer and the girlfriend of Ajax of the Black Pike. Cheerful, outgoing, and possessive.
Kymai of the Black Pike
Taiikari quartermaster. Neurotic.
Ipqen-mek-Taqa, Lady of Eqtora
Eqtoran noblewoman and engineer apprentice aboard the Black Pike. Soft-spoken.
The Black Pike Coterie
Garuna, Governess of Ptolek
Governess of the gas giant Ptolek. A bubbly, unserious woman.
Frelle, Lady of Ptolek
Garuna's mother. Canny and domineering.
Paxea, Marquess of Entmok
A shipping magnate and ally to Sykora of the Black Pike. Wed to Thror.
Thror, Marquis Consort of Entmok
A gregarious Amadari man. Wed to Paxea.
Wenzai, Countess of Korak
A hedonistic condenser fleet manager. Wed to Tikani.
Tikani, Count of Korak
A thoughtful Kovikan man. Wenzai’s husband.
Lakai, Lady of Kyin
An accomplished pilot and woman of leisure. Known as a flagrant xenophile.
The Empire Beyond Black Pike
Zithra XIX, Empress of Taiikar
The undisputed ruler of the Taiikari empire. Known for her sweeping reforms and ambitious expansion.
Inadama, Marquess Palatine of Taiikar
Mother to Sykora, Princess of the Black Pike, and Narika, Princess of the Glory Banner.
Resident of the Imperial Core.
Narika, Princess of the Glory Banner
Void Princess. Sister to Sykora of the Black Pike.
There is little love lost between them.
