I’ve been following 'The Lord’s Empire' for a while now, so I can break down the core cast. The protagonist is Valeron, who starts as a minor noble’s son and builds his power through a mix of cunning and the mysterious system he gains early on. He’s ruthless but pragmatic, which sets the tone. Then there’s Liana, a mage from a rival family who becomes his reluctant ally and later a central strategist—their dynamic drives a lot of the political intrigue.
Other key figures include General Borin, Valeron’s staunch military commander who provides the muscle for his ambitions, and the enigmatic Shadow Hand, a spymaster whose true loyalty is always in question. The antagonist shifts, but Duke Greymane is a persistent foil, representing the old aristocratic order Valeron seeks to overturn. The story really hinges on these power dynamics more than deep backstories for everyone.