Silent: Black Company Character Analysis

Race: Human (Southern)

Sex: Male

Faction: Black Company

Rating: 6.0

Alignment: Lawful Good

Arena Status: Active (S2)

Silent is one of the most enigmatic, loyal, and resourceful wizards in Glen Cook’s The Black Company series, particularly during the Books of the North arc, including The Black Company, Shadows Linger, The White Rose, and The Silver Spike. A veteran of the Company even before Croaker joined its ranks, Silent is defined not just by his sorcery, but by his steadfast vow of silence—a pledge that he upholds for decades. While his magical power is subtler than that of the flamboyant One-Eye or Goblin, Silent’s contribution to the Company is indispensable, both in the form of deadly efficiency and quiet companionship.

Silent

Narayan Singh: Black Company Character Analysis

Race: Taglian / Gunni

Sex: Male

Faction: Cult of Kina / Stranglers

Rating: 6.5

Alignment: Lawful Evil

Arena Status: Active (S2)

Narayan Singh is one of the most dangerous and enigmatic villains in The Black Company series by Glen Cook. A devout zealot of the death goddess Kina, Singh is a high-ranking member of the Stranglers—also known as the Deceivers—an infamous religious cult that practices ritual assassination by strangulation. Though his humble beginnings mask a deeply fanatical and intelligent nature, Narayan’s influence spans nearly the entire Books of the South and Books of Glittering Stone arcs. His commitment to the resurrection of Kina makes him the central antagonist in a multibook arc spanning decades and dimensions. His actions—including the betrayal of Lady and the kidnapping of the prophesied Daughter of Night—initiate a slow-burning war that simmers under much of the latter half of the series.

Narayan Singh, Black Rumel Man

Blade: Black Company Character Analysis

Race: Human (Southern)

Sex: Male

Faction: Black Company

Rating: 6.8

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Arena Status: Active (S2)

Blade is one of the most enigmatic and compelling mortal characters to rise to prominence during the Shadowmaster arc of The Black Company saga. A lean, dark-skinned southerner with a burning hatred for priests and an unwavering loyalty to his few chosen companions, Blade stands apart from typical mercenary archetypes. He originates from somewhere north of Taglios on the southern continent, though the exact location remains a mystery. First appearing in Shadow Games, Blade quickly becomes an instrumental figure in the Black Company’s campaigns, shifting from local rebel fighter to deep-cover infiltrator, military leader, and, ultimately, tragic casualty of the Protectorate war.

Blade

Frogface: Black Company Character Analysis

Race: Imp

Sex: Male

Faction: Black Company / The Protectorate

Rating: 6.6

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Arena Status: Active (S2)

Frogface is one of the most enigmatic, unsettling, and oddly endearing supernatural entities in Glen Cook's Black Company series. Introduced in Shadow Games and continuing to play a central—if covert—role through Dreams of Steel, Frogface is an imp of considerable magical ability and layered allegiances. Though diminutive in stature, standing just two feet tall with adult proportions, Frogface’s true nature is anything but small. Behind his mischievous demeanor lies a deadly cunning, tethered to the schemes of Soulcatcher, one of the series' most complicated antagonists. The imp is, in fact, Soulcatcher’s most effective secret weapon, embedded deep within the ranks of the Black Company to serve her long vendetta against her sister, Lady.

Frogface

Bomanz: Black Company Character Analysis

Race: Human (Forsberger)

Sex: Male

Faction: None

Rating: 6.6

Alignment: Neutral Good

Arena Status: Active (S2)

Bomanz is one of the most consequential and enigmatic figures in the Black Company universe, despite spending much of the series dead, presumed dead, or displaced from the main narrative. Known primarily by the infamous moniker Bomanz the Wakener, he is the man responsible for unleashing the Lady and the Ten Who Were Taken from their ancient imprisonment in the Barrowland, inadvertently reshaping the fate of the Northern continent and setting into motion the central conflicts that underpin Glen Cook's The Black Company saga. Yet, Bomanz is more than a cautionary tale about ambition: he is a tragic intellectual, a failed husband, a reluctant killer, and a redemptive ally. As Cook reveals through fragmented timelines and nested narratives, Bomanz was not the villain history claimed him to be, but rather a deeply flawed man whose pursuit of knowledge cost him everything.

Bomanz, The Wakener

Harden: Black Company Character Analysis

Race: Human (Northern)

Sex: Male

Faction: Circle of Eighteen / Rebels

Rating: 6.2

Alignment: Lawful Evil

Arena Status: Active (S2)

Few figures among the Rebels of The Black Company command the sheer presence, power, and raw volatility of Harden. A sorcerer of immense ability and an uncompromising battlefield commander, he stood at the forefront of the war against the Lady and her infamous Taken. Harden was not merely a warrior but a force of nature—a relentless and imposing strategist who led the largest Rebel armies in the struggle against Imperial rule. With a lineage tied to some of the most formidable members of the Circle of Eighteen, including his feared cousin Whisper and his despised brother-in-law Raker, Harden’s rise to prominence was built upon both his bloodline and his personal ferocity.

Harden, One of the Circle of Eighteen

Longshadow: Black Company Character Analysis

Race: Unknown

Sex: Male

Faction: Shadowmasters

Rating: 6.7

Alignment: Lawful Evil

Arena Status: Active (S2)

Longshadow  is a feared and reviled sorcerer in The Black Company universe. One of the most complex antagonists in the series, he first appears in Shadow Games and plays a pivotal role throughout The Books of the South and into Bleak Seasons and She Is the Darkness. Longshadow, gaunt and twitchy, is the creator of the Shadowmasters and one of the chief enemies of the Black Company.

Longshadow, the Shadowmaster

Taken: Black Company Race Analysis

Race Information:

Series: Black Company

Category: Transcendent Races

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At the beginning of Croaker's chronicles in the Black Company series, it's assumed that the initial group of mysterious sorcerers, the Ten Who Were Taken, are those originally enslaved by the Dominator. These formidable sorcerers, transformed from independent mages into loyal generals through the arcane and brutal Rite of Taking, are central to the series' lore. By wielding their true names, the Dominator bound these individuals to his will, crafting a dark legacy that permeated the Black Company's world.

A Depiction of the Rite of Taking in the Black Company Universe

The Hanged Man: Black Company Character Analysis

Race: Human

Transcendent: Taken

Sex: Male

Faction: The Empire

Rating: 5.5

Alignment: Neutral Evil

Arena Status: Active (S1)

The Hanged Man, also known as Crooked Neck, stands as a haunting figure within The Black Company series. As one of the Ten Who Were Taken, his presence weaves through the narrative with a chilling impact, marking him as a being of formidable power and dark allegiance.

The Hanged Man, One of The Ten Who Were Taken

Raven: Black Company Character Analysis

Race: Human (Jewel Cities)

Sex: Male

Faction: Black Company

Rating: 5.4

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Arena Status: Active (S1)

Raven, a figure shrouded in mystery and draped in the somber hues of betrayal, survival, and a relentless quest for vengeance, emerges from the shadows of the Black Company series as a complex character whose journey intertwines with the darkest and most pivotal moments of the saga. His path, from a nobleman wronged to a warrior haunted by his past and entangled in the machinations of gods and men alike, offers a rich tapestry for exploration.

Raven

Mogaba: Black Company Character Analysis

Race: Human (Nar)

Sex: Male

Faction: The Protectorate

Rating: 6.5

Alignment: Lawful Neutral

Arena Status: Active (S1)

Mogaba stands as a testament to complex moral ambiguity and strategic brilliance in fantasy literature. His journey, marked by moments of unparalleled valor and profound betrayal, provides a compelling narrative arc that spans several books in the series. Warning: spoilers abound as we delve into the depths of Mogaba's story.

Mogaba, Great General of The Protectorate

The Faceless Man: Black Company Character Analysis

Race: Human

Transcendent: Taken

Sex: Male

Faction: The Empire

Rating: 5.9

Alignment: Neutral Evil

Arena Status: Active (S1)

The Faceless Man, a shadowy figure from Glen Cook's "The Black Company" series, stands as a testament to the enigmatic and often murky world of the series' dark fantasy. As one of the original Ten Who Were Taken, his presence looms large over the narrative, despite the scarcity of direct encounters or detailed descriptions of him within the Annals, primarily chronicled by Croaker, the company's Annalist. This character's elusive nature only amplifies the intrigue and speculation surrounding him, making him a focal point for fans and theorists alike.

The Faceless Man, One of The Ten Who Were Taken

The Howler: Black Company Character Analysis

Race: Human

Transcendent: Taken

Sex: Male

Faction: The Empire

Rating: 6.3

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Arena Status: Active (S1)

The Howler is an enigmatic figure from The Black Company series, a saga that delves deep into the lives of a mercenary band in a gritty, dark fantasy world. As one of the feared Ten Who Were Taken, The Howler's presence weaves through the narrative as both a formidable adversary and, at times, an unlikely ally to the Black Company. Known for his chilling screams and mastery over magical artifacts, particularly flying carpets, The Howler's character arc is as unpredictable as it is fascinating.

The Howler, One of the Ten Who Were Taken

Croaker: Black Company Character Analysis

Race: Human (Padoran)

Sex: Male

Faction: Black Company

Rating: 6.4

Alignment: Neutral Good

Arena Status: Active (S1)

Croaker is a character of profound complexity and depth. Over approximately four decades, his journey from the Company's physician and Annalist to its Captain encapsulates a saga of moral ambiguity, loyalty, love, and the burdens of leadership. His narrative is not just a tale of battles and strategy but also a profound exploration of the human condition amidst the backdrop of a gritty, realistic fantasy world.

Croaker