After being expelled from The Academy of High Magical Arts for an accident that almost resulted in the death of another student, Twitch chose a life of solitude, isolating herself to a small cottage in Ravenwood Forest.

Years have passed since she last tried using her binding magic, and she never managed more than a spark of any other kind. But when her cottage is attacked by an army of hungry ghouls, she's forced into a journey of self-discovery as she travels Ardenmyst in search of answers, like who is responsible for the destruction of her home, and who's powerful enough to raise the dead?

Fidget is the youngest of a species of spider called the Arachidna, closely resembling Earth-bound jumping spiders. Unlike most normal spiders, an Arachidna's full-grown size is as large as any horse, with mandibles strong enough to crush bone.

Fidget had been separated from the rest of his brood, when the army of equally-sized Black Widows attacked them within the shadows of Grimshade Forest. He was spared, his egg sac having been lain in the protective crook of an upraised tree-root.

Fidget embarks on his own journey of survival and a quest to find lost family... A journey that becomes inexorably entwined with Twitch and the fate of Ardenmyst.

Born sparkless, and having lost his parents at a young age, Kaven and his twin sister grew up on the streets of Hawthorn, sleeping in drafty corners, surviving on scraps from tavern trash bins, thieving, and dodging The Shadow Market mercenaries that would hunt them for bounties.

When Kayla's luck runs out and she gets nabbed, Kaven sets out on a quest to track her down, following her trail to Brindlewood and beyond, intent on rescuing her from the hands of the noblemen that would see her pelt adorn their walls.

And if he can't rescue her, he'll die trying to avenger her.

As Kaven's twin sister, Kayla never misses an opportunity to remind him that she IS technically older than he is... by two minutes.

Tensions rise and sibling rivalry is put on display, as we see not only a brother's dedication to his sister, but a daughter's dedication to avenging her parents.

Arti is the Head Artificer at the Engineering Corps division of The Academy of High Magical Arts. Having the top level of security clearance, he's often trusted with guarding some of The Academy's most confidential secrets. Including their newest top-secret project: a fleet of mechanical flying machines intended to be used for private-sector shipments of trade goods between the towns of Ardenmyst.

When tragedy strikes aboard The Lady Mae, the continent's great steam-powered air-ship (which Arti helped build when he was an apprentice engineer), he finds himself forced into a harrowing journey of survival and conspiracy, as he uncovers who, or what, is behind the dark forces beginning to plague the continent.

Magnus is Cornelius's cousin, as well as the Innkeeper/Gatekeeper of the portal located in the pantry of the Broken Wagon, a saloon located in the dust-caked town of Brindlewood.

A sizeable number of customers are the private soldiers and mercenaries who serve the Noblemen. For some, their dislike of the Coonkin is nothing personal, and only extends as far as their coin-purse and the gold that fills it. Other mercenaries, though, may not be so civil, and skirmishes are often common.

Magnus, however, refuses to tolerate bullies in his establishment, and uses his flame-throwing blunderbuss to keep order amongst the patrons.

Gideon is one of the apprentice chefs at The Academy, temporarily assigned to help Magnus at The Broken Wagon.

Having learned early on that his Spark allows him to electrify objects, he spends his free time honing his knife-throwing skills, a talent that makes him a stand-out champion on the battlefield.

Thorin is the boisterous, often drunk bartender/gatekeeper of The Raven's Rest, located in the stone basement of one of the many shops within Ravencrest Keep.

An old Academy alumni, Thorin's spark gives him incredible strength, able to fell an entire tree with one swing of a hefty axe.

The glory days of his past flicker at the edge of nostalgia, as he prepares for Spirit to call him home. Will he get a chance to see the glory of battle again before the Elderdusk that addles his mind becomes too strong, and leaves him with incapacitating dementia?

Named after the tarot card of the same name, The Hierophant fills the role of The Academy's Headmaster, responsible for the daily safety and operations of both the schooling grounds, and the Engineering Corps. He also serves as the head liaison to the Humans, often authorizing or personally brokering deals of trade and contracts for technology purchases or commissions.

Strict and stern, most Academy students learn quickly not to get on his bad side. A lesson that Twitch failed to learn, for upon hearing of her almost killing the student body head of the Binding and Rooting Committee, The Hierophant was who ultimately made the decision to have her expelled.

And he is not at all happy to see her again when she shows up unannounced.

Sometimes known as "The King of the Forgotten," The Librarian is the keeper of all The Academy's archives and is responsible for the preservation of all known knowledge on Ardenmyst.

Gifted with eternal life, his spark also gives him the power of psychometry, being able to see, and show others, the history of any object he touches.

Largest and strongest of the Frostpelt, Chief Chillpaw brandishes his blood-stained war mace, and kneepads made from Human skulls, as he leads the Sparkless northern tribe of outcasts and refugees.

As ruthless as the nobles that would wear their pelts, no Human that wanders into Chillhaven territory is given quarter or mercy, leveraging the power of social justice put on public display in the form of demonstrations and executions.

Lord Landry is one of the Northern noblemen, notorious for their greed and corruption.

Most of the Noblemen are renown for their displays of callousness through the hunts that they host upon their grounds, where the nobles gather to compete for the pelt of an unlucky, sparkless prisoner. Private chefs will harvest the Coonkin meat and prepare a feast, with delicacies such as Coonkin Stew, or braised Coonkin ribs.

Landry, however, is not known for such performative displays. His reputation is more mysterious, rumored to pay top dollar to his mercenaries, while his prisoners are simply 'disappeared' down in to his dungeon.

What cruel fate awaits those who are unfortunate enough to find their way delivered to his doorstep? And what consequences await him, when Kayla's trail leads Kaven directly to the old man's bedroom window?

While the other Noblemen of Brindlewood are concerned with status, wealth, and commerce-based trade, Lord Darian is interested in the blood of Ardenmyst itself. Master trophy hunter, Darian's dining hall is adorned with taxidermied mounts of almost every creature known to Ardenmyst. Bears, wild sheep, wolves, even the frightening front half of one of Grimshade Forest's man-eating Black Widows.

One spot is kept open within his trophy room. One blank space amidst a wall of mounted Coonkin tails. A place of honor, above his dinning chair at the head of the table, reserved for the greatest prize in all of Ardenmyst...

Chief Chillpaw's tail.

Firmly believing that Ardenmyst needs to be restored to its former beauty, returned to a time before either Human or Coonkin lived upon her, Malachoir will stop at nothing to see the extermination of both races.

Having practiced in secret for years, he has mastered many dark arts, including raising the dead through Necromancy, controlling the weak-minded through Corruption and Malignancy, and twisting the darkness to his will through the use of Shadowmancy, the ability to summon deadly and dark shadows to do his bidding.