Come meet our Cast of Characters

Herman Braithwaite

Herman is a simple shepherd in the King's employ tending a flock of the King's sheep in the Northern fields of Anadeem. Born of simple and poor folk, Herman had been in the sheep-tending profession for almost the whole of his 22 years and in fact had a lifetime 95% sheep retention average. Recent years have been hard, on Herman. He lost both of his parents in the Great Depression of 1113, a time when mass apathy gripped the land and Herman's parents had taken him to the coastal town of 'Costabundle'. When it was time to come back, they were nowhere to found. Without his parents, Herman could not keep up the payments on the farm and after its re-possession found himself living alone in an old shed on the boundary of the farm. Well, he used to. He has now moved to a semi-subterranean luxury one room apartment complete with running water.

Grunt - The head of the King's Internal Security Force 'The Castle Guard'

We know that Grunt isn't exactly the world's greatest talker and indeed why use words when a well-timed grunt and a well-placed sneer will do. Thanks to his excellent strategy of intimidation and persuasion, the rank of Captain quickly followed as did his appointment to the Castle Guard.
It's not that he's exactly evil, he just knows how to play the game to his own advantage. In fact it was one of his more profitable schemes that landed our 'hero' in his new abode. Captain Grunt had been sheep rustling, just the odd sheep here and there but enough to turn a tidy profit through the meat markets of Anadeem. So when he found Herman had been eating his profits, he had him arrested, judged and convicted before you could say "cross me and you'll regret it for the rest of your life".

The Castle Guard - Kirk, Old George, Stan, Cedric, Smudger and Tash

A group of six soldiers that represent the elite of Anadeem's military.
"Kirk Broadshoulders", a man who lives up to his name, joined the military directly after graduating from the "Anadeem School for Heroes and other people who are not quite as brave but still perform deeds of Heroism". He achieved a distinction in swordplay and breaking down doors and was top of his class in posing (category - arms folded, feet shoulder width apart with groin trust forward).
"Old George", real name George Sandalwood, has been soldiering for most of his adult life and is looking forward to his retirement which is just under a year away. He has decided to spend this remaining time in looking after their youngest recruit, Cedric, who he feels is a bit too much like himself all those years ago.
George is the only member of the guard that is married.
"Cedric Higginbottom" is 16 years old and 6 foot 7 inches and the new boy of the platoon. His parents had always thought that he would have taken over the family business. However Cedric didn't feel that his future really lay in the fortune telling industry. Despite his slender frame, he sees himself as the athletic hero-to-be type who is destined to rescue a princess from a fire-breathing dragon.
"Tash", Sergeant Jed Thompson. A military man through and through is second in command of the Castle Guard and takes his job very seriously. He has no suspicions about his commander, Grunt and spends most of his worrying about his team. Whether it be Smudger's aggressiveness, Cedric's naivety, Stan's cynicism, Kirk's preoccupation with posing or Old George's retirement plans, he cares about them all.
"Smudger" is a vertically challenged failed forger. His real name is Dorcus Barrelbuggerer, a name he felt important not to live up to. What he lacks in height however, he makes up for in pure brute force and never goes anywhere without his 'persuader', a large wooden club nearly half of his height through which has been rammed a series of very sharp iron spikes. Smudger has a very simple creed "Hit it first, ask questions if it's still breathing".
Finally we finish off the platoon with "Stan Crickleton" has worked his way up through the ranks to his lofty position as the platoon Corporal. A long cry from his starting job as muckscraper, lead catapult, real wheel left. Stan has however lost the enthusiasm from his youth having followed Tash through the ranks and holds a bitter resentment over the fact that he has never attained the status that he thinks he deserves.

Bert the Jailor

Big Bert Willis has been the Castle Jailor for the past five years. He has a pride in his work that somehow most people today don't have. Bert has the best run cells this side of the Ancarpian Sea. He offers a striking figure and turns up for work everyday in his regulation white (well slightly off-white) vest. In fact this particular vest has been handed down to him from his father, his father's father and his father's father's father. You could say the wearing of the white vest is a Willis family tradition.

Julian the Castle Torturer

"Julian Forsyth" is probably the most misunderstood character in the whole castle. I can't tell you why right now but it's just that his heart isn't into the whole torture gig. He is a sensitive guy who doesn't like all that physical pain bit, a trait not normally associated with torturers.

Ratty the rat

Another denizen of the castle dungeons is "Ratty" the Rat. Given this rather unusal name by our man Herman does nothing to disguise the fact that he has this extreme aversion to the members of the said species. An aversion that is well and truly deserved as this particular rat is indeed a one-eyed vicious example with an intellect to match. Having wiped out the rest of his species in the castle, he walks the castle with a Kingly air and grace

Mrs Crabbe, the Castle Cook

It is said that the sign of a great cook is being able to make a great dish from whatever ingredients are available. Well, Mrs Crabbe's "specialites de la maison" include Cockroach Fricasse, Cockroach En Croute, Coackroach Curry and Duck Surprise (the surprise is there's never any duck available). She can also slap out a mean dish of gruel without a trace of cockroach (OK, well maybe just a smigin).

Fleurtacia, the Royal Princess

Being born from Royal parentage, you would think that Fleurtacia (Fleur to her friends) would have any problems. Well, you'd be wrong. When your time is spent despatching Royal suitors and pretending to act like a lady of the highest order when you'd rather be playing footpigsbladder with the understairs staff, life can be a bit of a drag for a 17-year old princess.

Back to the Front Page

If you want to know anything about the strip or have any suggestions or just want to comment, then just e-mail DUTCH Cartoons