A young noble-born officer from a wealthy Malazan merchant family, Ganoes Paran enters imperial service with more idealism than the Malazan military is accustomed to accommodating. His assignment to the Bridgeburners as their new captain places him at the intersection of forces far older and more dangerous than any conventional military command. Paran is defined by his capacity to absorb disillusionment without becoming cynical - a quality the world he inhabits tests repeatedly.

A Seven Cities native and one of the Bridgeburners' most formidable soldiers, Kalam Mekhar carries a past in the Claw - the Malazan imperial assassins - that he has chosen not to discuss. Physically imposing and economical in both movement and speech, he is the squad's most dangerous close-quarters combatant and one of its most morally grounded members.

The Bridgeburners' primary mage and one of the most capable practitioners of warren magic in the series, Quick Ben is defined by the gap between what he appears to be and what he actually is. He presents as a squad mage of moderate ability - the reality is considerably more complicated. His partnership with Kalam Mekhar is built on a foundation of shared history in Seven Cities that predates their Malazan service.

A sapper and one of the Bridgeburners' longest-serving members, Fiddler is defined by a sardonic pragmatism that functions as both coping mechanism and genuine philosophy. He is exceptionally good at his work and exceptionally tired of the circumstances that require it. His card readings recur across the sequence as moments of unwanted clarity.

A young fisher's daughter from a coastal village who was possessed by the god Cotillion and used as an instrument of assassination before being encountered by the Bridgeburners. Apsalar is defined by the difficulty of reclaiming an identity after it has been occupied by something else, and by skills she did not choose and cannot entirely discard.

A Bridgeburner mage whose physical destruction at the siege of Pale did not result in his absence from events - his soul was preserved in a puppet by Quick Ben, creating something that retains Hairlock's personality and power while operating under constraints that neither the puppet nor the personality accept gracefully.

A Malazan scout and former Claw operative whose path crosses Ganoes Paran's during the events on Genabackis. He lost an eye in the Warren of Chaos during the siege of Pale. His father, Toc the Elder, is a figure of considerable significance in Malazan history.

A Bridgeburner sapper and one of the most reckless demolitions experts in the Malazan military. Hedge is inseparable from his fellow sapper Fiddler, and the pair are renowned for their creative and often excessive use of Moranth munitions.

The healer of Whiskeyjack's squad of Bridgeburners. Mallet is a squad mage specialising in Denul, the Path of Healing. Quiet and dependable, he is deeply loyal to his squadmates and carries the emotional burden of being unable to save everyone.

A Bridgeburner soldier and a dependable veteran who has survived multiple campaigns. Picker serves with quiet competence and fierce loyalty to her fellow Bridgeburners.

A Bridgeburner sergeant known for his nervous disposition and perpetual anxiety. Despite his anxious nature, Antsy is a competent soldier and a reliable member of the Bridgeburners.

A Barghast warrior serving with the Bridgeburners. Trotts is one of the few non-Malazan members of the company, bringing the fierce fighting traditions of the Barghast people to the squad. He is a formidable warrior whose tribal customs sometimes clash with military discipline.

A Bridgeburner soldier with a talent for remaining unnoticed. Blend can fade into backgrounds and shadows with an almost supernatural ability, making her invaluable for reconnaissance and surprise.

A Bridgeburner mage known for his hairshirt - a garment woven from his dead mother's hair that emanates a nauseating magical aura. Spindle is eccentric even by Bridgeburner standards but a reliable soldier and competent mage.