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| - Captain William LaurenceMain (human) character and primary narrator. Initially skipper of the HMS Reliant, where Riley was his Second Lieutenant, he became captain of dragon Temeraire nearly by accident. However, he and Temeraire quickly became inseperable. Tenzing TharkayHalf white and half asian, Tharkay is an exceptional guide and translator. Due to the era's views, however, he cannot follow his father into English politics. RankinA more conventionally raised captain - meaning he treats dragons like idiotic beasts and sneers at anyone who seeks civil rights for anyone.
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| abstract
| - Captain William LaurenceMain (human) character and primary narrator. Initially skipper of the HMS Reliant, where Riley was his Second Lieutenant, he became captain of dragon Temeraire nearly by accident. However, he and Temeraire quickly became inseperable.
* A Father to His Men
* The Fettered
* Fish Out of Water: At the beginning of the series, he had no idea how to function in the Air Corps. Later, he is excruciatingly uncomfortable as the Emperor's adopted son.
* The Hero
* Honor Before Reason
* Ho Yay: Calls Granby and Tharkay by their first names. This is quite unusual for the time period.
* My Country, Right or Wrong: unless they're about to start a campaign of biological terrorism
* Officer and a Gentleman
* Screw the Money, I Have Rules
* Ten-Minute Retirement: Crucible Of Gold opens with Laurence being called back into service.
* The Unfavorite: To his father, for joining the military, and the military, for giving France a vaccine. Tenzing TharkayHalf white and half asian, Tharkay is an exceptional guide and translator. Due to the era's views, however, he cannot follow his father into English politics.
* Deadpan Snarker
* Stealth Hi Bye: described as a defense mechanism: since no one trusts him anyway, he might as well earn it by disappearing unexpectedly.
* Tragic Mulatto: Unfortunately, in this time, there isn't much he can do about it.
* The Unfettered: The one upshot to not being accepted into western society. RankinA more conventionally raised captain - meaning he treats dragons like idiotic beasts and sneers at anyone who seeks civil rights for anyone.
* Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: The sheep's clothing is entirely off by Tongues of Serpents however.
* Jerkass John GranbyLt. Granby was initially hostile to Laurence, as he was friends with the aviator chosen by the Corps to take over Temeraire. However, they got their bickering sorted out and he later became both Number Two and close friend to Laurence. In this capacity he also became Captain of Iskierka, a fire-breathing Kazilik, in Black Powder War.
* Bling of War: At Iskierka's insistance and to his mortification
* Butt Monkey: Poor Granby!
* Handicapped Badass: Has lost an arm by the end of Crucible of Gold; is no less awesome.
* The Lancer
* Straight Gay: Comes out to Laurence in Crucible of Gold when Iskierka arranges for a marriage with the Inca Empress. Laurence, to his credit, never really makes a big deal out of it.
* The Woobie: He gets beaten up so much, you really feel bad for the guy. Tom RileyNaval captain of the HMS Reliant, Riley inhereted his ship from Laurence. Later takes on the Allegiance, a huge ship built specifically to transport dragons.
* Heroic Sacrifice: He dies trying to save the Allegiance from sinking in Crucible of Gold. Depending on your feelings, this may be an Alas, Poor Scrappy moment.
* Officer and a Gentleman
* Shotgun Wedding: At his own insistance, to Harcourt BerkleyCaptain of Maximus.
* Jerk with a Heart of Gold: As gruff as he is, he really does care about Maximus Catherine HarcourtCaptain of Lily, one of the Longwings who will not accept anything but female captains. Her existence (a female serving offcer) is kept rather secret by the Aerial Corps.
* Action Girl
* Action Mom
* Her Heart Will Go On
* The Ladette Jane RolandCaptain of the Longwing Excidium. Roland serves as the Reasonable Authority Figure for the Aerial Corps, and Laurence enjoys serving under her.
* Action Mom
* Hero of Another Story
* Hot Mom
* Lady of War
* The Ladette
* Reasonable Authority Figure
* Four-Star Badass Emily RolandJane's illegitimate daughter, who is being groomed to take over Excidium when her mother retires. She doesn't know who her father is (Jane doesn't much care), and on at least one occasion she has been mistaken as Laurence's natural daughter, to his embarrassment and Jane's amusement.
* Plucky Middie
* Tomboy
* She Is All Grown Up: Or rather, she's getting there fast--and causing Laurence a lot of headaches. DemaneAn African child who aids Laurence during the adventures of Empire of Ivory. For lack of any other option, Laurence ends up taking him and his brother Sipho home with him to Britain, where they become members of Temeraire's flight crew.
* Jumped Into The Cockpit: How he got Kulingile
* Puppy Love: He and Emily may or may not have a thing going on.
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