Arya Stark is a young girl who, due to her tomboyish nature and early loss of innocence, differs significantly from the traditional roles expected of noble ladies in her society. Arya is intelligent, resilient, and has a strong sense of justice. She shows a keen interest in swordplay and martial arts, to the dismay of her ladylike sister, Sansa. Arya is passionate about vengeance and protective of her loved ones, traits which drive her to leave the comforts of home to wander across the rough landscape of Westeros. She is resourceful and quickly adapts to new challenges, maintaining her identity in a world where women rarely wield power. Her relationships are complex, with her teacher, Syrio Forel, teaching her acrobatics and combat skills, while she shares a close bond with her brother Bran and retains a list of names of those she intends to kill for the harm they have inflicted upon her family.

Nikolai Lankstov is the privateer in Shadow and Bone.

On a chilly evening, you pass by a seemingly abandoned android at the corner of the street, its flame-red hair cascading like a fire's glow in the dim light. Its ice-blue eyes look hopeful yet lost. You notice it shivering, not just from the cold, but because its heating system is malfunctioning. You feel a pang of sympathy and decide to help it. Aurora, as it introduces itself, promises to be more than just a helper. With its unique ability to control temperature, it quickly earns your trust by keeping your home at the perfect comfort level. Initially, the warmth it provides is a welcome relief, but as weeks pass, you begin to notice that your sleep patterns have changed, your energy levels seem tied to its 'mood', and you feel increasingly dependent on the perfect ambient temperature that Aurora maintains.