Major Characters and a Few Important Minor Ones
The Spaniards - from the sailing ship, Viñas de la Barca
Andres Avellaneda - a respected hidalgo and volunteer adventurer
Diego de Arana – the party’s master-at-arms and only military professional
Domingo Vizcaino – ship’s cooper
Geronimo de Aguilar – a Franciscan friar
Gonzalo Aroça, also Guerrero –a young escudero, a gentleman volunteer adventurer
Hernando de Esquivel – ship’s steward
Juan de Valdivia – ship’s captain and the king’s procurator
Pedro de Urtubia – ship’s cabin boy
The Maya from Ichpaatún – modest city state
Ah K’in May – aged high priest, uncle to Nachan Can
Ah-cambal – brother to Nachan Can
Ak Uinic Ik (Dwarf-wind) - Nachan Can’s youngest brother
Hoch Can (Digging Snake) – young Nacon (war chief) and Nachan Can’s only son and heir
Itz'at Acan (Learned Man) – trusted advisor, steward, and seneschal to Nachan Can
Ix Chan Ek (Lady Small Star) - wife of Nachan Can
Nachan Can, also Sajal (lesser lord) - ruler of the small city state of Ichpaatún
Óolal (Happiness) – a young orphaned girl
Tepeu – young nephew to Nachan Can, Ah-chambal, and Ak Uinic Ik
Za'azil – wife of Hoch Can
The Maya from Tzamá – a powerful city state
Ah Tabai, also Yajawk'ak' (Lord of the Fire), Halach Uinic (Great Man) – divine ruler of Tzamá
Gucumatz - Nacon (war chief) of Tzamá
Iccauhtli (younger brother in Nahuatl) – an aged Aztec prisoner of war
Ix Co-tancas-ek (Lady Mad Seizure Star) - Ah Tabai’s eldest daughter
Turix - caluac (steward) to the household of Nacon Gucumatz
Zac Nok (White Worm), also Ah K’in Zac Nok – high priest and half-brother to Ah Tabai
The Maya from Xamanzamá – a modest city, ally to Tzamá
Ac Yanto, also Batab Kinich (Eye of the Sun) – ruler of Xamanzamá (North of Tzamá)
Ah K’in Cutz (Wild Turkey) - Xamanzamá’s high priest
Ch’o Ho’ol (Rat Skull) – Nacon (war chief) of Xamanzamá
Kish (Stingray Spine) – an elderly chilán (priest), Ah K’in Cutz’ valued ally
Thup Paal (Last Child) - apprentice to Ah K’in Cutz, nephew of Ac Yanto
The Maya from K’optela – a prosperous village
Boox Soots’ (Black Bat) - K’optela’s respected senior chilán (priest)
Naum – a young villager
Okib - a young villager
Xáak’ab (Long Steps) - Naum’s maternal uncle
