Lord of Light

One of the original colonists, repeatedly resurrected rebel against Heaven's theocratic control; currently restored from a dispersed magnetic state and reluctantly re-entering the war against the gods.

Master artificer and god of death; engineered Sam's resurrection; kills Mara to protect the group; inventor of the psych-probe and advanced weapons; described as the greatest authority on such matters.

Shape-shifting ape-form ally who escorts Ratri, surveys Sam's gambling with Raltariki, and serves as interlocutor for Yama's exposition on the Rakasha.

Goddess of night and ally of Sam; captured after Keenset and sentenced to mortal incarnation in middle-aged bodies as punishment.

Shape-shifting trickster god who infiltrated the monastery and is strangled by Yama after cycling through multiple disguises including Yama's own face and the form of Kali/Durga.

A Rakasha with a water-buffalo head and extra arms who gambles with Sam for thunderbolt fire elementals, ultimately losing an army of them to Sam's 'sacred seven' rolls.

One of the First, now living quietly as a sailmaker on the Street of the Weavers; provides Sam with intelligence on the psych-probe, Masters of Karma, and the gods' identity and power structure.

Ruler of the gods, revealed by Sam to be a woman (Madeleine) in a male body; articulates the paternalistic rationale for suppressing technology; offers Sam godhood, which he falsely accepts.

Sam's retainer, dispatched after the Temple meeting to sketch the fortifications of the Masters of Karma's palace.

Kali's holy assassin sent to kill the Buddha; instead converted to genuine enlightenment, becoming Sugata; killed by Yama in ritual combat.

Most powerful of the Rakasha imprisoned in Hellwell; negotiates freedom in exchange for helping Sam sack Heaven; temporarily possesses Sam's body; debates fleeing versus fighting the gods.

God of Fire who arrives at Hellwell with Shiva, Yama, and Kali aboard Shiva's thunder chariot; Sam warns the Rakasha of his fire-setting Attribute.

Arrives at Hellwell bearing trident and bronze-serpent armor; described by Sam as holder of the power of chaos that separates atom from atom.

Leader of the Nagas who challenges Yama to wrestling in defense of the Buddha; defeated and laid out by Yama.

Angelic figure who refuses armed combat with Yama, instead deploying a blue shield representing the passive power of life; ultimately retreats south without stopping Yama.

Dark-faced god who never smiles; wields a heat-tracking bow given by Death; reveals bitter history with Kali; shoots the jackbird reciting Morgan's prophecy.

Oldest youthgod; converses with Rudra about Sam and Kali; demands his new body from the Hall of Karma in time for the wedding.

One of the Lokapalas; brings weapons into Khaipur; helps Yama with his daughter Murga using god-making power; remains in Khaipur with Ratri after the battle.

Poet of the plains whose prophecy about the Lord of Light is recited by a jackbird; referenced as Kali's former lover who incarnated as a jackbird.

Fanatical Christian colonist who controls southern sea lanes and raises an army of 'soulless ones'; wages holy war against Heaven's temples; defeated by Brahma at Khaipur.

Last survivor of the Glow; waits at the bottom of the Vedra river to raise waves and cause flooding during the battle.

Sea captain and First colonist; recruited by Nirriti as adviser; kills Ganesha at Khaipur but is himself wounded; later departs with Tak in the thunder chariot.

Brahma's policy adviser and god-maker; counsels Fabian strategy against Nirriti; attempts to backstab Brahma at Khaipur and is killed by Olvegg.

One of the Lokapalas; receives news of Mahartha's fall and convenes the Lokapalas to respond.

Yama's brain-damaged daughter, a young girl who suffered transfer-effect injury; Kubera uses his power to help her begin naming objects.