Confusing Characters

The Winter Of The World, III.

This chapter is complicated and confusing. For a while, I was unsure how many people the viewpoint character converses with and also who they are and which side(s) they represent. The viewpoint character is Captain General Sidir who has recently conquered Arvanneth for the Rahidian Empire. He first addresses Ercer en-Haven, Holy Councilor for the World (civil affairs) in the Arvannethan theocracy. Mentioned but not present at this conversation are:

the Holy Councilor of the Godhood (religious affairs);

the Holy Councilor of the Woe (military affairs);

the Grand Wiseman of the Council (presiding figurehead).

Ercer says:

"'God, Who is in all things and above all things, give His grace to my truthtelling.'" (p. 27)

Several Andersonian characters invoke "God," not necessarily with the same meaning. For my attempt to come to terms with this term, see The One. (I adapt the Indian "sutra" style.)

The third person present (there is one) is Yurrusan Soth-Yorn whose title is "'...the Imperial Voice...'" (p. 27) He is the Rahidian ambassador and, I think, was in this post before the conquest. There are further nuances to be gone into later. For a while, I had thought that Yurrusan was the Grand Wiseman but he is not. He is first mentioned without it being stated who he is or whether he is present. I hope to be better equipped to deal with complexities later tomorrow or the day after.