Rincewind is the reluctant hero and bumbling coward who failed wizardry at Unseen University. He spends much of his time trying to run away from dangerous situations, only to smack up against another one. He becomes one of the counterpoints against the Empire's social values and serves to actively compare them with those of Ankh-Morpork. He questions whether there are any peasants involved in the plan for a new government (there aren't) or if anyone has asked the peasants what they desire (no one has). While our hero believes it is wisest to give peasants the opportunities to learn on their own, he also realizes that in the Agatean Empire, people simply do what they are told.

Lord Hong is chief antagonist in the novel. He sets up Rincewind and the Red Army to take the blame for the Emperor's death so that he can become the new...