List of characters in Ranger's Apprentice
This is a list of characters in the Ranger's Apprentice novel series by Australian author John Flanagan. It includes humans, animals and other creatures.
Humans
Will Treaty
The protagonist of the series, Will Treaty is a young Ranger of the Kingdom of Araluen. He was raised in the Ward at Castle Redmont as an orphan. At the age of 15, he was chosen by Halt to become his apprentice. Will is small and wiry but is also agile, fast and strong. In the 6th book, he and Alyss declare to each other that they love each other and always have. He has no family name since he is an orphan that was placed on the door step of the Castle Redmont Ward. He is given the name Treaty by Halt and Crowly at his graduation from Apprentice to full Ranger, due to the part he played in securing the treaty between Araluen and Skandia.
Halt
One of the main characters, Halt is a senior member of the Ranger Corps. He was born in Hibernia and is small and wiry with greying black hair and beard. He is grim and famous throughout the kingdom. Halt is an excellent archer and uses a longbow that is bigger than most other Rangers'. His Ranger horse is Abelard and has an addiction to CoFFEE. He also trims his beard and hair with his saxe knife. He marries Lady Pauline in the seventh book. He was Gilan's old mentor. He has always been more than a mentor to Will and loves him like a son. Halt is a legend and it is said repeatedly by many people who know him (including the Ranger Commandant Crowly) that their will never be a greater Ranger than Halt.
Horace Altman
Horace is a ward in Castle Redmont with Will, and eventually becomes a Battleschool Apprentice. He is a natural warrior, and although he used to be Will's rival, they soon become best friends. He is tall, with a broken nose and a scar on his cheek. But the look suits him and he is described as devastatingly handsome. He is the captain of the Araluen Royal Guard Unit B, and is the champion of Princess Cassandra. He is also known as the Oakleaf Knight, and is famous in Gallica, also quite comfortable in female company. Most people think of Horace as a slow thinker, but he just likes to think things through properly. He is very logical and methodical. Horace normally carries a round shield with an oak leaf carving on it, a plain sword, and a heavy dagger. Horace has saved the Royal Princess of Araluen (He and Will have some tension between them AbOUT Princess Cassandra) and killed Morgarath in single combat (the duel is described in the second book). Horace plays a large part in most of the books. It is rumoured that he is in love with the Princess Cassandra in the ninth book. Horace is big for his age and is a natural athlete. He is strong, athletic, tall muscular and fit.
Gilan
Gilan is Halt's former apprentice and is the only Ranger who carries a sword. Gilan is tall and humorous, in sharp CONTRAST to his former mentor. He is also good with dealing with people, making them feel at ease with the tall Ranger. He also tries to cover up fears and worries with more humorous and seemenly uncaring attitude, mainly to calm people down. He is the ranger for Meric Fief, although he is moved to Norgate in The Siege of Macindaw. He owns a horse named Blaze. Gilan wants to travel with Halt to rescue Will in the third book, but Halt does not allow him to. Gilan is one of the junior Rangers, though one of the best unseen movers. Gilan's father and Halt were good friends, which was why Gilan wanted to become a Ranger. Gilan appears in the first, second, third and seventh books, is mentioned in the sixth book, and also appears in the 8th book. He is responsible for teaching Horace and Will the rangers double knife block, to use in close combat when Will doesn't have his bow. The technique saves both Will and Horace's lives at some point. In the 8th book, Gilan is moved from Norgate to Whitby Fief, an economic center of the Kingdom.
Erak Starfollower
Erak Starfollower is a senior Skandian Jarl in charge of the wolfship, Wolfwind. In the fourth book, he becomes the Oberjarl. His second in command is Svengal. Erak first appears in the second, third, and fourth books, and in the seventh, he is captured and held at ransom. He is originally seen in the Wargals camp eating meat with Svengal, Nordel and a few other Skandians, who later capture Will and Evanlyn. He is a typical mercenary but he isn't a cold blooded killer like most Skandians. He is a fearsome opponent, and wields a large battle axe.
Evanlyn
Evanlyn is a mysterious girl Will and Horace meet in Celtica, and she is later revealed to be the Princess Cassandra, the daughter of the King of Araluen. Evanlyn, the person she is pretending to be, is actually her late maid and friend. She is blonde,stubborn, and attractive. She is familiar with politics and military strategies, but not survival skills. She appears in the second, third, fourth and seventh books. When Will and Evanlyn traveled and fought together through Celtica, and later imprisoned in Skandia, they developed a strong BOND with each other, however this never had a chance to develop or be reciprocated as when they returned home their relationship suffered due to their separate callings and way of life. Evanlyn is described as being very determined and on occasions stubborn. On the first meeting between Will, Horace and Gilan, she shows little survival or fighting skills - being accustomed to the comfort of royalty and castle life. However as the series develops, she proves herself to be a skillful fighter armed with her weapon of choice- a sling. This is particularly evident during her travels in Arridi and her calm leadership in battle is shown during the battle for Skandia. She will be appearing in the 10th book.
Morgarath
Morgarath lives in his kingdom in the mountains of rain and night. He is the former Baron of Gorlan Fief, who is rebelling against King Duncan. He is an expert swordsman and has strange allies (Wargals and Kalkara). His former fief is the ruined Gorlan, and his current domain is the Mountains of Rain and Night. He is tall, pale, and insane, with white hair and a thin voice. He is killed in a swordfight by Horace in the second book.
Alyss Mainwaring
Alyss is a former ward mate of Horace and Will, and a member of the Diplomatic Service, recruited by Lady Pauline in the first book, The Ruins of Gorlan. She is tall, graceful, intelligent, and has always been a friend of Will's. She appears in the first, second, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth books as a Courier of the King. In the fifth (Sorcerer in the North) and sixth book (The Siege of Macindaw), she is captured by Sir Keren and imprisoned into a high tower, where she is subjected to an enchanting blue stone. She is Lady Pauline's bridesmaid at her wedding in the seventh book. Alyss also appears in the eighth book and it is revealed that she and Will are now in a romantic relationship and seem to be happily in love. Alyss is tall and graceful. Her father was a cavalry lieutenant who died at Hackham Heath, when Morgarath's Wargal army had been defeated and driven back to the mountains. Her mother devastated by her loss, succumbed to a fever some weeks after giving birth.
Jenny
Jenny, Will's former ward mate, is apprenticed to the chef Master Chubb. Jenny is pretty, plump, and blonde, and Horace is fond of her in the first book. She is a bridesmaid with Alyss at Lady Pauline's wedding. In the seventh book, Jenny is in love with the Ranger Gilan while not being aware that Gilan is taken with her also. Jenny is blond, pretty, and cheerful. Loves food and cooking.
George
George is Horace and Will's former ward mate, who is now in scribe school. He has appeared solely in the first book, but was mentioned in the seventh and eighth book. It is also revealed that in the eighth book (The Kings of Clonmel) that he is one of Redmont fief's leading DeFence attorneys. George is thin and gangly. He is fascinated with rules and regulations. He likes to exmanie both sides of situations.
Baron Arald
Baron Arald, the Lord of Castle Redmont, is a trusted advisor of the king and one of Halt's closest, non-Ranger friends. He often cracks jokes, but as a baron, is always taken seriously. He is slightly overweight, with a neatly trimmed beard and moustache, but is a capable warrior and has a good grasp of strategies. He helps Halt and Rodney defeat one of the Kalkara. He is kindly at heart.
Crowley
Crowley is the head of the Ranger Corps and is most likely based in Castle Araluen. He is fond of dogs, and has a hideout, which few know about, among which are Will and Halt. He is briefly mentioned in book one, and has so far appeared in books two through seven, though his appearances in six and seven are brief.
Gundar Hardstriker
Gundar Hardstriker is a Skandian Skirl who appears in the fifth and sixth books. He most likely lives in Northern Skandia. He and his men help Will lay siege to Castle Macindaw.
Malkallam (Malcom)
Malcom is an alleged sorcerer who resides in Grimsdell Forest. His house is in the Healer's Clearing, where he treats people's various ailments. He is balding, humorous, and short, with hazel eyes. He was named Malkallam (his real name is Malcom) when, after a healing excersise went wrong, he was wrongly accused of sorcery. Malkallam was a legendary sorcerer of the region with an argument against the Seneschal of Macindaw. He appears in Book 9 to help treat a poisoned wound Halt received from a crossbow bolt.
Orman
Orman is the son of the Lord of Castle Macindaw, and cousin to the treacherous Sir Keren. Will and Alyss think him to be the enemy for the main part of 'Sorcerer in the North', until the truth is revealed about his cousin. In "Sorcerer in the North" he is portrayed as an arrogant and pompous lord but in "The Siege of Macindaw" his demeanor becomes much more subdued and becomes Will's ally and friend.
Sir Keren
Sir Keren plots against his uncle and cousin in the fifth and sixth books. He tries to get Norgate fief into his control by [...] Syron and poisoning Orman. Few people believe he is guilty because he is very well known and liked. One guard is quoted saying that Keren is a real warrior, and that if Orman ordered them to take up arms against him, they would refuse.
Lady Pauline
Lady Pauline is in charge of the Diplomatic Corps at Castle Redmont. She is good friends with the Scribemaster and recruited Alyss in the first book. She is a tall and graceful lady and mentor to Alyss. In book seven she marries Halt on the fourteenth of an unknown month.
Sir Rodney
Sir Rodney is the battlemaster of Redmont. He is good friends with Halt and Baron Arald of Redmont. He is large and has a broken nose. He favors a battleaxe as a weapon in combat. In the first book he, Baron Arald, Halt, and Will slay the Kalkara. He appears briefly in the second and fourth books. He's mentioned in book 8 briefly and it was told by Pauline that he was seeing some Lady from the castle.
Ragnak
Ragnak was the former Oberjarl of Skandia. He appears in books three and four. Ragnak is a large muscular man who died saving Will in the battle against the Temujai, in the fourth book.
General Haz'kam
General Haz'kam is the leader of the Temujai forces who plan to invade Skandia in Oakleaf Bearers.
King Ferris
King Ferris is the King of Clonmel and the twin brother of Halt. In the end of book eight he gets killed.
Sean Carrick
Sean Carrick is King Ferris and Halt's Nephew. After Halt abdicates the throne when his brother dies, Halt says that Sean is next in the line and anoints Sean as the king of clonmel. His mother's name was Caitlyn.
Skinner
Skinner not much is known of Skinner except his mum is taller than him and he takes over Harrison's old fief; Coledale Fief.
Clarke
Clarke Not much is known of Clarke except that he has a younger brother and takes Will's fief; Seacliff Fief.
Meralon
Meralon is the former Ranger of Norgate Fief. He was replaced by Gilan in The Siege of Macindaw after showing that he had become far too attached to Norgate's Baron.
Martin
Baron Arald's Secretary
Deparnieux
Deparnieux is the Gallican warlord that holds Halt and Horace hostage in book 3. He has a large castle, with cages outside to punish people. He is killed when Halt and Horace destroy his castle in the end of the book. He likes the colour black, with black armour, a black battle horse, etc.
Retired Rangers
Geldon
Advisor to Crowley who lives in the castle of Araluen. Gives pointers to Princess Cassandra about unseen movement.
Berrigon
Becomes a travelling minstrel after losing a leg fighting Skandians. He occasionally works undercover for the Ranger Corps.
Bartell
Ranger of Seacliff before Will. In charge of devising tests for apprentices. Now working in the Ranger Archives.
Animals
Horses
Rangers have very good relationships with their horses, and as such, become like brothers to them. Halt "borrowed" the breeding STOCK from the Temujai and they became the Rangers horses. They are trained to respond to many signals and their rider has to whisper a password in their ear before they mount the horse for the first time. Once they have said it, that person doesn't have to say it again. They are bred so their best pace is a steady jog which they can maintain for up to half a day without rest and not be tired.
Tug
Tug is a sturdy little pony and is very fond of Will and vice versa. Tug has saved Will's life on many occasions, most prominently the boar hunt in the first book. Also, in the fourth book, Tug was shown to become distressed when Halt and Horace were tracking someone who turned out to be Will. He gets lost in a sandstorm in Arrida during the seventh book, but then Will comes and takes him back after winning a horse race.
Abelard
Abelard is Halt's horse and his name originates from Gallica. Halt, like all Rangers, is very fond of him, and is often seen to be sharing a private joke with the horse, and talking to him. He also states in the third book that Ranger horses are "only human" with a faint smile on his face.
Kicker
Kicker belongs to Horace and is a tall and musculer bay battlehorse that appears first in book two. Since both horse and rider are tall, Halt, Will and even Gilan have to look up, but only slightly for Gilan. Kicker and Horace both seem to understand each other, but Kicker is not up to any Ranger horse standard. Despite this fact, Horace cares for him and makes sure that Kicker is comfortable wherever he is. He also begins talking to his horse when he rides alone, to which Kicker seems to respond.
Blaze
Blaze is Gilan's horse, and like the Ranger, she is tall and easily amused, although it's hard to tell with a horse (even a Ranger one). She, like all Ranger horses, will also listen and respond to a single touch or sound. Blaze and Gilan are quite similar in their personalities. Blaze is a girl, as the author has stated. He called Blaze a "him" in one of the books by mistake.
Arrow
Arrow is the horse that was lent to Will in Erak's Ransom after he lost Tug is a sandstorm. He has very good manners. He dies saving Will from a lion.
Sandstorm
Sandstorm is Asheik Umar's horse in Erak's Ransom. Is a fast horse and seems to kick a lot of sand when it gallops. It was ridden by Hassaun during a race against Will to get Tug back. It is also known to be the fastest horse, before Tug, in the nomad tribe.
Lord of the Sun
Lord of the Sun is Selethen's horse in Erak's Ransom. He is a Thoroghbred Arridi horse, from a long line of some of the finest horses in Arridi. He is described as being "beautifully formed and groomed", and "as white as his rider".
Plod
Plod is a horse that appears in the 7th book when Svengal rides him on his way back to his ship. Plod is a really old pony and wouldn't hurt a fly, but Svengal thinks he came from hell when he turnes slowly to the right and Svengal falls off.
Shadow
Shadow is a border collie that Will rescued after being injured by John Buttle, a petty criminal. She is Will's pet in The Sorcerer of the North and The Siege of Macindaw, after which Will gives her to the deformed giant Trobar. Intelligent and loyal, she accompanied Will on his travels in those two books.
Ebony is one of shadow's children wich is given to Will at the end of book 9
Creatures
Wargals
Wargals are bestial creatures that serve Morgarath. They are often called 'Unminded Ones", due to their lack of emotion, independence, and fear. Morgarath uninted them under his mind. He can control them by just thinking about what he wants them to do. Their only weakness is that they are terrified of horses so a cavalry can easily beat them.
Kalkara
Kalkara are creatures that serve as Morgarath's assassins. They possess protective hides and hypnotic stares, but are fearful and susceptible to fire. There are three; one is killed before the series, and the other two are killed in The Ruins of Gorlan, one by Will and the other by both, Sir Rodney and Baron Arald who shove it into a fire which is built by Halt. They have a paralysing gaze that can rob a man of any sense and allows it to kill them more easily. They are assassins used by Morgarath