Sir Gowther
Sir Gowther is both protagonist and antagonist of the story at various stages of its telling. He begins life as a bewitched child through no fault of his own, as he is a "changeling" and the half brother of Merlin, and so his personality is not his own. He is murderous, and travels the countryside threatening people and committing heinous crimes. His worst crime is raping the nuns in a convent and setting fire to it afterwards, burning them alive. He seems like a man for whom there is no redemption. Surprisingly, though, his is a story of redemption.
Upon finding out that there is a reason for his behavior and his murderous soul, he begs for forgiveness and fulfills his penance. He becomes a brave and courageous knight, with a profound sense of loyalty and gratitude to the Emperor who has taken him in to the court.
Sir Gowther goes from one extreme of character to the other and ultimately becomes a revered figure and a benevolent ruler who is anxious to make amends for the wrongs that he has done.
The Duke of Austria
The Duke of Austria is the "father" of Sir Gowther, but is not his biological father. Although he tries to raise him as his own, and his publicly accepted as his parent, he is deeply ashamed of who his son is and the heinous acts he commits, so much so that he dies of shame.
The Duchess of Austria
Tricked by a mysterious figure given the appearance of her husband, the Duchess is impregnated by a fay and bears the devilish son who goes on to threaten her with death if she does not speak to him honestly about the true identity of his father. She admits to his paternity and this surprisingly turns both the narrative and the life of her son around. To speak the truth takes courage and by doing so, and potentially sacrificing herself, she is able also to protect the land from his murderous rampages.
The Pope
The Pope is the most revered figure in the Roman Empire and as such is the man who can offer absolution to even the most unreformed character. He appears several times in the story, first giving Gowther his penance, and later at the funeral of the Emperor's daughter at which there is a miracle.
The Emperor of Germany
The Emperor is also the leader of the entire Roman Empire and is the leader revered and respected by other principalities and nations in the Christian empire. He is a fair and benevolent man who is fiercely protective of his family and his lands. He leads his knights into battle against the screaming hoards fighting for the Sultan and is also one of the leading figures in the fight against the Arab empire.
The Emperor's Daughter
Mute since childhood, the Emperor's daughter has a lot she would like to say but no way of actually saying it. She notices more than most, and is a "watcher" in that she sees most of the things that remain a secret to those with the gift of speech. She knows that Gowther is the colorful trio of knights, for example, and falls in love with him quickly. This is why she is so devastated by seeing him injured on the battlefield that she faints and falls from the tower.
She is brought back to life by a miracle and is also given the ability to speak again. When she does speak, it is with a message from God, which shows that she and Gowther have the blessing of God to be together and to rule the Empire with benevolence and authority.
