Thursday Thirteen - 15 - 13 Characters From My WIP

I'd like to introduce you to some of the main characters in my current WIP, a Dark Age vampire novel whose working title is Brotherhood of Blood.

1 - Peredur – Main character





A 6th century Welsh warrior betrothed to Tanwen. While defending against Irish raiders he falls to a spear, cursing God with his dying breath. At that precise moment, a member of the Brotherhood arrives on the battlefield to carry him to his new vampire life.












2 – Tanwen – Main character

Daughter of the wealthiest man in the village, she awaits her beloved Peredur only to be told he will never return to her arms. Consumed by grief, she finds solace with the outcast son of the village Wise Woman, the only one who seems to understand her anymore.



3 – Cavan – Third member of love triangle

Handsome son of the village Wise Woman, he has always nursed an unrequited love for Tanwen. A powerful magician, he leans toward self-centered use of the energies his mother uses for healing. But his charm shields his true nature from everyone until it is far too late.







4 – Melnak

He is the member of the Brotherhood who appears to Peredur, taking him from his death throes and shepherding him to his new life. The brethren act as Iron Age peacekeepers, maintaining the balance of power between men and vampires. He is the oldest among this select group of ancient beings.





5 – Leader of the Vampire Clan

So far unnamed, this character is the opposite of Melnak, who is the mentor character in a group of equals. This leader rules his clan with a heavy hand. He hears about Peredur’s emergence into the vampire world and tries to woo him away from the brethren.

6 – Rhodri

Strong and ready to take his place in the village as a man, this son of the blacksmith is betrothed to Tanwen’s sister Meira. When Peredur falls in battle, Rhodri breaks two hearts by agreeing to ask for Tanwen’s hand in marriage instead.

7 – Meira

Tanwen’s sister and closest confidant. When Meira’s intended agrees to wed Tanwen at their father’s insistence, Meira cannot forgive Tanwen for going along with it. But Tanwen means to fight it at every turn and cannot get past the hurt at discovering her sister could turn on her.





8 – Andras

Tanwen’s father, Andras is a key figure in the village and was a famous warrior in his own right. His coldhearted handling of Tanwen’s marriage prospects sends ripples of hurt throughout his family. Tanwen feels betrayed by him, since she never feared her intimidating father until now.



9 – Wladyslaw

A former prince of the Polanie (now Poland), he makes it difficult for Peredur to accept his new brotherhood of equals in an age of masters and servants. Wladyslaw is so unmistakably part of the nobility, Peredur must work past his own ingrained behavior to treat this prince as one of the brethren.



10 – Sigbjorn

Another of the brethren, this Nordic warrior is affable and easy for Peredur to befriend. Gives him most of the practical advice he needs to adjust to his new vampire existence. He is the one who lets Peredur know that he has surpassed every one of the brethren in his training.



11 – Xantos

An angel who appears to Peredur in a moment of supreme torment.





12 – Saint Cittinus

The 2nd century Carthaginian martyr whose holy relic bones were made into amulets, used by the brethren to wrestle the human souls of common vampires free from their sinister form.



13 – Brude

Another of the brethren, Brude is a red-haired Pict. Peredur feels closest to Brude and to Sigbjorn, while Melnak is a source of tension due to his role as mentor/leader.