The Stone Sky

Reaches Corepoint, reunites briefly and bitterly with Nassun, kills nearly a thousand Guardians to summon the onyx, catches the Moon, and is fully transformed to stone — then reborn as a stone eater in the coda.

One of six tuners in Syl Anagist; the narrator's past self; takes unilateral control of the Plutonic Engine sabotage and redirects catastrophic energy into the Moon, causing the Shattering; transformed into a stone eater as punishment.

Leader of the surviving Castrima comm; furious with Essun for destroying the geode; demands everyone carry their weight or be left behind; pragmatic and resolute.

Deduces Nassun's cubiform obelisk lattice plan; shelters with the group during the climax; finds Nassun grieving beside Essun's body.

Physician traveling with Essun; tends her during recovery; emotionally conflicted but remains attached to her.

Traveling with Essun and the comm; bitter about the destruction of Castrima; has a side bet with Ykka about Essun's recovery.

Young orogene of exceptional power traveling to Corepoint; commits to destroying the world after understanding the systematic engineering of orogene oppression; bonds with Schaffa as surrogate father; confronts the Earth's core directly.

Ancient Guardian who genuinely loves Nassun; corestone in his neck causes worsening agony near the Earth's core; subjected to the Earth's seizure during the core approach; accepts Nassun's redefinition of their relationship as family.

Stone eater guiding Nassun to Corepoint; warns that bringing Schaffa is a mistake; directs Nassun to power the transit station; his warning proves prophetic when the Earth seizes Schaffa.

Prototype tuner who serves as mentor to Hoa and the others; orchestrates their visit to see the sinklines; uses dismissive tone strategically to protect the tuners from further punishment.

Joins Hoa in offering reconciliation to Remwha/Steel; participates in the Earth negotiation; present briefly during Essun's rebirth before departing.

One of the Found Moon orogene children receiving Schaffa's survival advice; visibly shaken but resolute; Schaffa's instructions will cost her something inside.

One of the Found Moon children; gasps in shock at Schaffa's instructions.

One of the Found Moon children; jaw tightens with intent — she means to take Schaffa's words to heart.

Former Fulcrum-trained six-ring orogene, now commless and physically devastated (no legs below thighs, scarred); leads a small group of raiders and is dying from ash inhalation.

Conductor who oversees the tuners with impatience; humiliated by fellow conductors; leads the tuners to the sinklines and explains their function in a tone of unconcealed impatience.

Former Rennanis general who fights with exceptional skill during the raider attack, wielding a sharpened stake.

Nassun's father, a knapper; killed by Nassun; his crystallized remains are viewed by Essun at Found Moon.

Member of Castrima leadership coordinating runners during the node facility seizure.

A caretaker or attendant at the Syl Anagist compound who is manipulated by Houwha's knowledge of her attraction to Gallat into taking him to the garden.

One of the six tuners; alert and attentive to mood; agrees to the sabotage with resignation.

One of the six tuners; agrees to the sabotage with righteousness.

One of the six tuners; comforts self through the ordeal; agrees to the sabotage in weariness; senses the Earth's hostile intent during the activation.

Essun's former mentor and lover, previously petrified; revealed to potentially exist as a nascent stone eater made from his remains by Antimony, choosing his own shape but not yet ready for contact.