Characters in the Deverry cycle

This article lists some of the major characters in the Deverry cycle by Katherine Kerr.

People of Deverry

Nevyn: Nevyn is a traveling herbman-- an apothecary-physician who practices herbal medicine. He is also a powerful sorcerer known as the Master of Aethyr. In his youth, he was Galrion, a prince of Deverry, but is stripped of that name along with all his rank and titles. His new name, Nevyn, means "no one" in the language of Deverry. When his selfish actions result in the death of Brangwen, his betrothed and a woman with the potential to be a great sorceress, Nevyn swears an oath "not to rest" until he set things right. Because his oath was accepted by powerful spirts called Great Ones, Nevyn is actually incapable of dying until he fulfills it.

Other incarnations: Neb.

Cullyn of Cerrmor: Cullyn is a wandering mercenary, who is renowned as the greatest swordsman in Deverry. Cullyn saves Rhodry Maelwaedd's life during Loddlaen's rebellion, and in gratitude the young lord accepts him into his service, even making Cullyn the captain of his warband. Cullyn died in the interval between the end of The Dragon Revenant and the beginning of A Time of Exile.

Other incarnations: Gerraent, Tanyc, Cinvan, Dannyn, Owaen, Danry, Gwairyc, Gerran.

Carramaena: Carramena is the daughter of a noble-born, but poor, family. When her miserly brother inherited the demesne, she ran off to avoid being forcibly married. She sought after her lover, Prince Daralanteriel of the Westfolk, and found him with Rhodry's help. Carramena and Daralanteriel marry, and their child is the incarnation of the Guardian Ellisario.

Other incarnations: Ylaena, Bellyra, Glaenara

Jill: Cullyn's daughter, who has latent magical talent. As a child, she followed her father on his wanderings, and learned swordcraft from him. Jill becomes Rhodry's lover, following him into exile. After being separated from Rhodry, Jill is abducted by Perryn, who places her under his strange spell, though Salamander eventually rescues her. Perryn's influence causes Jill's latent magical talent to manifest; she begins studying under Salamander to avoid being driven mad by supernatural forces. The two of them sail to Bardek in order to rescue Rhodry from slavery, but upon return to Deverry, she leaves Rhodry behind to become Nevyn's apprentice, and eventually succeeds him as Master of Aethyr. When the Horsekin laid siege to Cengarn, Jill assisted in the city's defense, and slew the mad Guardian Alshandra-- though she died in the act.

Other incarnations: Brangwen, Lyssa, Gweniver, Branoic, Morwen, Branna.

Perryn: Perryn is a landless lord who survives by mooching from his relatives and by theft. He has an unusual psychic ability which he uses to seduce women and steal horses, unaware that it consumes his life-force. He enthralls and abducts Jill. Salamander rescues her and has Perryn sent to Nevyn in order to save his life. He later becomes a priest of the god Kerun.

Aderyn: The son of a bard, Aderyn is Nevyn's former apprentice sorcery. After he completes his apprenticeship, Aderyn leaves Deverry to live among the Westfolk. He marries a woman of the Westfolk, Dallandra, who bears him a son, Loddlaen. He has a preternaturally long life, a gift from the Guardian Evandar.

Other incarnations: Brangwen and Gerraent's unborn child.

Rhodry Maelwaedd: Publicly believed to be the youngest son of Tingyr Maelwaedd, his father is in fact Devabriel Silverhand, an elven bard-- though only a handful of people know his true parentage. After Loddlaen's dweomer war, he is sent into political exile by his half-brother Rhys. During his wanderings, Rhodry is captured and sold as a slave in the Bardekian islands. When Rhys is mortally wounded, Rhodry is recalled from exile to take his brother's place as the Gwerbret of Aberwyn. When his true lineage is in danger of being discovered, Rhodry fakes his own death, and begins living among the Westfolk. Near the end of "The Fire Dragon", Rhodry undergoes a physical transformation as Evandar strives to save his life from Raena's stabbing.

Other incarnations: Blaen, Gweran, Ricyn, Maddyn, Maer, Meddry

Rhys Maelwaedd: Lovyan's eldest son, and the Gwerbrert of Aberwyn. He despises Rhodry, who is generally better-liked. After Corbyn's rebellion, Rhys sent Rhodry into exile, in order to curry favor with his vassals, and to seize the lands Rhodry would have inherited upon Lovyan's death. Rhys has fertility problems. He was killed in a magically-contrived hunting accident.

Other incarnations: Ridvar

Lovyan: The widow of the previous Gwerbret of Aberwyn, Tingyr Maelwaedd. She has four children, of which Rhodry is the only one still alive. Although Deverrian noblewomen do not usually hold titles or lands, Lovyan rules a large demesne in her own right.

Other incarnations: Rodda, Cabrylla, Dolyan

Westfolk

Ebañy Salmonderiel tranDevaberiel: Usually known as Salamander for brevity. He is half-elven gerthddyn (a traveling singer and entertainer) as well as a journeyman dweomerworker. His manner of speaking is often overly verbose and flowery; Jill often addresses him as "you chattering elf!" In later books, he becomes a powerful dweomermaster in his own right, and spends more of his time traveling with his Westfolk kin. He is also Rhodry's half-brother, sharing a father, Devaberiel.

Valandario: An elven dweomermaster (Wise One) and gem master who can use gems to scry and search for omens. She was Salamander's master in the craft, and her only lover was murdered by Loddlean. In later books, she aids Dallandra and Salamander, as well as restores the horn that summons the Shadow Isle.

Loddlaen: The half-human, half-elven son of Aderyn and Dallandra, Loddalaen has a natural talent for sorcery, and was instructed in it by his father. However, he lacks necessary discipline and is driven mad. Manipulated by other sorcerers who wish Rhodry Maelwaedd dead, he foments rebellion in the province of Eldidd.

Dallandra: A sorceress of the Westfolk. Although she was married to Aderyn, she essentially abandoned him, and their son, in order to be with her lover Evandar and to pursue her work of helping the race of Guardians incarnate. Later has a daughter with the banadar Calondriel.

People of the Rhiddaer

Niffa: A girl from the Rhiddaer. Sister to Jahdo. Dallandra's apprentice.

Other incarnations: Lillorigga, Lanmara

Jahdo: Boy from the Rhiddaer. Accompanies Meer, the blind bard, in search of Meer's brother. Brother to Niffa.

Guardians

Evandar: Evandar, who possesses near-limitless magical might, is the leader of the Bright Court (also called the Seelee Host). He is Alshandra's husband and Ellisarrio's father-figure. He seems to enjoy meddling in the affairs of mortals, to the point that some Gel Da Thae worship him as a god.

Alshandra: Alshandra is Evandar's wife, and Ellisario's mother-figure. When Ellisario becomes the first Guardian to incarnate, Alshandra's grief and rage drive her mad. In an attempt to get Ellisario back, Alshandra poses as a goddess to the Horeskin, setting off a chain of events that causes the first Horsekin invasion of Deverry.

Ellisario: Alshandra's daughter.

Shaetano: Evandar's younger brother, and leader of the Dark (Unseelie) Court

Others

Meer: Blind bard of the Gel da'Thae. Had a geas laid upon him by his mother to find his brother.

Otho: A dwarven silversmith. He was exiled from dwarven lands because he would not pay a debt. Bellyra is considered by most to be the only person he ever loved. He created the first of many silver daggers, as well as the ring used to enslave Arzosah. He also built the silver box used to contain the curse on Maryn.

Arzosah: A copper, green and black dragon who dwells in the far northern mountains. Her true name, Arzosah Sothy Lorezohas, is inscribed on a ring which gives its owner the power to command her. Compelled by the power of her true name, she assisted in the defense of Cengarn. Rhodry and she become friends, and he gives her the ring at the end of "Days of Blood and Fire", freeing her. In "The Fire Dragon", Arzosah considers him her first true friend, and in the last books we learn that in his dragon form Rori (Rhodry's dragon name) has become Arzosah's mate and has dragon children by her.

Incarnations of the various characters[1]

71 C.E.	643	696	718	773	835-843	918	980	1060s	1100s	1150s
Hwilli	Brangwen	Lyssa		Gweniver	Branoic		Morwen	Jill	Jill	Branna
Galerinos	Galrion	Nevyn	Nevyn	Nevyn	Nevyn	Nevyn	Nevyn	Nevyn		Neb
Rhodorix	Blaen	Gweran		Ricyn	Maddyn	Maer	Meddry	Rhodry	Rhodry	Rori
Gerontos	Gerraent	Tanyc	Cinvan	Dannyn	Owaen	Danry	Gwairyc	Cullyn		Gerran
Brennos	Madoc		Addryc	Glyn	Caradoc			Blaen of Cwm Pecl	Drwmyc	Voran
	Rodda	Cabrylla		Dolyan				Lovyan
	Ysolla	Cadda		Macla	Clwna	Braedda		Seryan		Solla
	Rhegor							Caer
	Ylaena				Bellyra	Glaenara			Carramaena	Carramaena
	Adoryc				Burcan			Sarcyn	Verrarc	Aethel
				Dagwyn	Aethan	Leomyr		Gwin		Warryc
				Saddar	Oggyn			Ogwern		Oth
					Anasyn				Kiel
					Lillorigga		Lanmara		Niffa	Niffa
					Bevyan				Dera	Galla
					Merodda		Mella	Mallona	Raena	Sidro
				Mael		Pertyc Maelwaedd		Rhodda	Lady Rhodda
					Olaen				Jahdo	Jahdo
					Maryn				Yraen	Clae
					Elyssa			Alaena	Marka
								Rhys		Ridvar
								Sligyn	Erddyr	Cadryc
					Brour		Tirro	Alastyr	Tren	Laz Moj
								Perryn		Pir
							Loddlaen	Loddlaen		Dari
Nalla	Dallandra	Dallandra	Dallandra	Dallandra	Dallandra	Dallandra	Dallandra	Dallandra	Dallandra	Dallandra