Character · Book 5, The Butcher's Masquerade

Orren

A Syndicate Liaison: a hooded, purple-handed, British-voiced fact-finder — 'Not quite a sheriff. Not quite an attorney. Not quite a judge' — who investigates when the kua-tin's report and the AI's disagree, and who applauds the murder he cannot prove. Under the hood, a bowl of liquid and a Valtay worm.

Segment appearances

• Chapter 1 — The vice principal's office
• Chapter 3 — Quasar
• Chapter 13 — Elites in the trees
• Chapter 59 — The sheriffs of the wild west
• Chapter 63 — Enchanted Hammer of Fast Forward

Arc

His office is where the book opens: a room of unseen listeners, the Gate on his desk, and 'You just said the magic words' (ch. 1). Quasar says he had tried to get Carl to touch the Gate while it was under administrative hold, which would have deleted it (ch. 3). He leaves until the ninth floor, explains liaisons as sheriffs — some good, some who go too far — and warns without warning (ch. 59).