Pint
Pint is a small gray imp familiar bound to serve as an administrative and logistical helper within Jason’s domain, guarding its control systems and providing teleportation, messaging, and scouting support. Prickly and easily wounded by insults despite his usefulness, he warms quickly to those who treat him kindly, developing a deep, possessive devotion to Riley that outweighs his loyalty to Jason. Over time he grows from a wary, suspicious guardian into a trusted courier and scout, his volatile pride and genuine affection both remaining central to who he is.
Abilities
- Teleportation within the keep — Book 2
- Map projection — Book 2
- Remote obelisk access — Book 2
- Group teleportation — Book 2
- Military message delivery and troop coordination — Book 2
- Scouting and reconnaissance — Book 2
Book 2: Precipice
Pint guards the city’s control obelisk inside the keep, initially defensive toward outsiders until Jason is confirmed as the rightful master of the systems, after which he eagerly explains the city’s controls and takes up service under him. He develops immediate fondness for Riley, playing hide-and-seek with her and forming a genuine friendship alongside his administrative duties. His abilities extend well beyond guarding a rock: he can teleport within the keep, project maps, remotely access the obelisk, and teleport groups across distances, though he remains anxious about ever being separated from his bond to it. He is thin-skinned about being underestimated, growing antagonistic toward Jason when he feels his position threatened and holding grudges against those who insult him, including Morgan, who calls him fat, and Frank, who calls him annoying; during a later tactical planning session he suggests Frank be used as bait, taking open pleasure in the idea.
Despite this volatility, Pint proves consistently useful and, at times, caring: he entertains Krista during her family’s crisis and voices protectiveness toward both Krista and Patricia. Jason and Riley entrust him with increasing responsibility, culminating in a formal courier role relaying messages and coordinating troop movements between the Twilight Throne and Peccavi, a duty he takes seriously, adopting a soldier’s bearing and visible pride when praised. When Jason’s group fractures, Pint stays loyally at Jason’s side despite not understanding the human conflict driving the breakup. Later stationed as a lookout near a dungeon entrance, he is frightened by the size of an approaching enemy army but completes his warning before seeking safety with Riley.
Status: Suspicious guardian of the Twilight Throne’s control obelisk, initially wary of outsiders including Jason. → Trusted scout and messenger for Jason’s forces, stationed as a lookout near the dungeon and reporting to Riley for protection.
Riley: Grows from a new acquaintance into a devoted friend who plays games with her, confides in her, and seeks her out for comfort and protection.
Jason: Shifts from a wary, occasionally antagonistic guardian into a trusted subordinate given real military responsibility as courier between the Twilight Throne and Peccavi.
Frank: Starts out resentful of Frank for calling him annoying, at one point suggesting he be used as bait, though he later counts Frank among those he considers friendly.
Morgan: Resents Morgan for insulting his weight, yet still carries out a mission on Morgan’s behalf, delivering tactical information as instructed.
Key quote: “Pint can do. Pint good soldier.”
Book 3: Evolution
Pint attends the Shadow Council in a teleportation-support role, but his attention is fixed on Riley, whom he calls “pretty lady”; he grows woeful when she is absent and lights up when she arrives, positioning himself protectively on her shoulder and glaring at anyone who might displace him. Later, after a separation, he reunites with Riley and reacts with open joy, clutching her hair and brandishing his trident at Fluffy, whom he treats as a rival for her attention.
Status: Alive → Alive — reunited with Riley, possessive
Fluffy: Pint comes to view Fluffy as a rival for Riley’s attention and warns him off with his trident.
Key quote: “Pretty lady! Pint miss you!”
Book 4: Dominion
Pint continues his role as the keep’s imp familiar, relaying messages from Riley and providing teleportation and transportation for Jason. He is openly sassy and dismissive toward Jason, brightening whenever Riley is mentioned or nearby while performing his duties for Jason with visible reluctance; he delivers her messages, such as summoning Jason and Frank to the keep, in a grudging, unimpressed tone. He also drops Jason off outside the keep as part of routine transportation duties. As Jason’s dark transformation deepens later in the book, Pint’s attitude shifts from dismissive to fearful: he grows visibly nervous around Jason, cutting interactions short and complying with orders without his usual banter, recognizing that Jason’s growing power and darker moods have made him dangerous. By contrast, when accompanying Riley he remains playful, though he shows respect for her privacy when asked to give her and Jason space, and continues to display wariness toward Jason even in that context.
Jason: Pint’s attitude toward Jason shifts from openly dismissive and grudging to visibly fearful as Jason’s dark transformation intensifies.
Key quote: “Umm… Pretty Lady back. Council meeting downstairs”