Atopol

Atopol is introduced when Rondal encounters him while both are attempting to steal the same cup. He reveals himself as Atopol, "the Cat of Shadows," on his journeyman's piece for the secret shadowmagic guild, and turns out to be a House Furtius member and a fellow shadowmage — brother of Gatina. He forms an alliance with Rondal and the Estasi Order.

Atopol is the newest member of Rondal and Tyndal's circle of Shadowmages and allies. He scouts Olum Seheri and the marshlands for Nemovorti activity on his family's behalf, reporting thousands of undead and Nemovorti turning manors to their cause. At his father's insistence he accompanies Duke Anguin's strike team to Olum Seheri and joins Tyndal's vanguard to infiltrate the tower and assist the rescue and Rardine extraction.

Atopol attends Anguin's court as one of the Duke's gentlemen, his father having openly taken position in the ducal court. He helps defend the main hall during the draugen attack, fighting alongside Lord Furitus, Gatina, and Pentandra.

Minalan recruits Atopol for a clandestine mission. He teaches Ruderal to use his witchstone for Waypoint transport and then travels with Ruderal on an undercover intelligence-gathering mission into Castal and southern Gilmora, investigating Count Anvaram and Prince Tavard's financial trail.

Atopol is off-page, continuing investigative assignments for Minalan and the Garden Society.

Atopol continues working with Ruderal; the two spy in Gilmora, confirming Tavard's paymaster role with Count Anvaram. He appears from shadows at a gathering for dinner, teases his sister, and attends the Convocation banquet. He also discusses a "golden dog" theft job with hoxter pockets.

Opens the book as a POV. Atopol infiltrates the fortress of Darkfaller, dangling outside Leveny castle's windows, meeting with Terleman's war council. He reports that Darkfaller is less formidable than its reputation suggests, and confirms that his sister Gatina — captured during the raid — has been evading her captors inside the fortress for days. He leads scouting and sabotage efforts through the campaign.

Minalan dines with Atopol in Sevendor to commission him for a "one in ten thousand" mission. It is revealed here that during the Battle of Olum Seheri, Atopol secretly looted the Nemovorti's vaults in the pyramid at Minalan's instruction. He and his family are central to Minalan's intelligence network, and he is close with Duke Anguin.

Now Rondal's brother-in-law after Rondal and Gatina's wedding, Atopol travels with Rondal's party. He is recruited for the Farise campaign: goes undercover as a Sea Lord nobleman, and meets Minalan and Jannik at Varju — the Farise Waypoint — to provide the shadowthief edge for the Farise operation.