to play the odds, a charlatan who can easily change his allegiances—and does. Falstaff A wonderful pain-in-the-ass, Falstaff is quick with both the jab and the jibe. While he plays the quintessential fool he possesses more wisdom and heart than most. A man of faith, Falstaff is unshakeable in his belief in Shakespeare as Creator. Othello After he was unable to kill Iago in vengeance for Desdemona's death, Othello became a hired mercenary, but now leads the Prodigals resistance movement at the side of Juliet. He still hungers for revenge against his old adversary Iago, but has restrained himself thus far. Juliet Her Capulet relatives spirited her away from Verona after she survived her attempted suicide. Witnessing injustice and oppression, and believing her 'lost love' Romeo is dead, she assumes the role of Prodigals resistance movement co-leader, and proves herself a courageous warrior. Romeo However, unknown to Juliet, Romeo has also survived his own attempted suicide, back in Verona, and attempts to make amends by joining the Knights Paladin, who seek to aid the Prodigals resistance to Richard III and Lady Macbeth. Hamlet knows who Romeo is, but he has not yet told him that his former love is also still alive. William Shakespeare Incidental characters Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (Hamlet), Puck, Demetrius and Lysander (A Midsummer Night's Dream) and Tamora and Titus Andronicus are featured as either bandits or mercenaries of uncertain affiliation. Furthermore, Mistress Page and Mistress Ford now run a brothel and are eager to renew their acquaintance with their old friend Falstaff. In Issue # 7, the travelling players enact The Murder of Gonzago, the same mise en abyme play used to provoke King Claudius into disclosing his guilt over the murder of Hamlet's father in Hamlet. Enchanted objects Shakespeare's quill This quill gives the user the ability to change reality. Most of the characters want the quill for themselves. It is unknown what it looks like or if it really is a quill. The dagger In ancient Rome, the dagger was given by Hecate to Brutus to kill Caesar with. The Dagger is first used by Lady Macbeth in the raising of a sailor. Richard then gives the dagger to Hamlet. Later, it turns out that the dagger can move by itself and also lets Lady Macbeth see through its reflection. The Dagger then tries to kill Shakespeare while Hamlet is talking to him. Collected editions