Chuka

A wandering gunman with extraordinary marksmanship, Chuka moves through the fort’s politics with wary restraint. He blends a personal code of mercy with a readiness to act decisively under fire. His past love for Kleitz and the renewed tension with her circle complicate every choice he makes.

A seasoned, fiercely loyal soldier who commands respect for his competence and blunt honesty. He harbors a personal grudge against Chuka, highlighting the fort’s fault lines between duty and resentment. His fierce loyalty ultimately costs him in the siege.

A hardened, controversial commander who rules with a mix of bravado and fragility. He uses social dinners to probe others’ loyalties and to reveal the fortress’s moral rot. His past and stubborn leadership shape the fort’s doomed defense.

A dependable scout who returns with crucial information and serves as a steady, pragmatic voice in the fort. He emphasizes duty and the practicalities of survival over grandiose ideals. His presence anchors the human cost of the siege.

A wealthy widow who once loved Chuka; her marriage to a socially approved match adds bittersweet complexity to her character. Her death deepens Chuka’s sense of loss and alters the course of the narrative.

Kleitz’s resilient niece who travels with danger at the fort. She represents a fragile spark of the future amid ruin, shaping Chuka’s protective instincts and the story’s emotional stakes.

A duplicitous officer with a hidden Arapaho mistress, his scheming mirrors the fort’s broader moral decay. His manipulation adds tension to the siege and undermines trust among the troops.

A soldier punished for desertion whose bitterness fuels mutiny and chaos inside the fort. His presence underscores how fear and punishment can fracture discipline in extremis.

Arapaho war chief who leads the assault with tactical cunning. He recognizes Chuka in a moment of mutual respect, linking personal history to a larger code of honor within the conflict.