Stony Ridge

Juliana Sharpe, who prefers to be called Jules, is a unique individual who speaks clearly and eloquently without regard to how anyone else perceives her, and usually they think her a bit odd. A bit devoid of emotion but not without the ability to show the appropriate amount of concern for others, Jules seems wrapped up in her work as an apprentice to Jebeus the wizard. She lives in his tower with him on the mountainside above Stony Ridge and comes to town to do errands and venture into the mine for supplies, ignoring concerns that this is no place for a lady. Tomboyish and busy, most people believe she has no idea how other people see her, although she is far more aware of the opinions of others than she will ever let on. A talented healer, she seeks only to use her magic for the good of others.

Luke has called Stony Ridge his home for many years. An only child, he was born in the southern swamps but moved northward when his father sold the family farm to pay for treatment for his mother's illness. He apprenticed as a blacksmith with his father when he came of age, and after a stint in the war, he's returned to take over the smithy so his father can retire. He's illiterate but hard-working, loves animals, and is a romantic at heart. However, his time spent on the front lines has shown him the dangers of magic and he wants nothing to do with it. He plans to get back into a routine existence of smithing and finally settle down, his heart set on finding the right girl and eventually becoming a father, something he's worried about running out of time to achieve, though his supportive parents are quick to assure him not to rush into anything and he still has plenty of time.

Alistair is a former general, now comfortably retired following the end of the war and living in his sprawling estate outside the city with his adult daughter. To be quite honest, a man like Alistair who is used to excitement is a little bored in retirement. He has a vast collection of books to entertain him, some rare, and his daughter's... exploits to worry about, but he's always been wondering if he should dip his toes into some kind of business venture. That might be a new kind of excitement. Alistair is a jovial sort of man and fond of the drink, and also the kind of man whose long-winded but charismatic speeches could stir the troops to charge valiantly into battle. He owes his life to a certain Lieutenant Luke Donnelly for saving him from a fire during a battle on the northeastern plains.

Vel comes from an elven family that has successfully owned and run a plantation for decades. Shortly after inheriting it, much of the land was razed as a result of the war, causing him to lose a big chunk of his annual profits. To make up for it, he became a merchant on behalf of Demas's business, and as a result, a friend of the family. Vel is a polite, well-spoken man who is a keen observer of people and a talented strategist. This comes in handy with the work he does for Demas. He does a lot of travelling for his work but he wishes to restore his plantation to the state it once was and return there on a more permanent basis. He has no family of his own, so he finds it important to do justice to the legacy his father left behind for him by focusing his efforts into his plantation.