The Secrets of Droon facts for kids

The Secrets of Droon is a fantasy book series by Tony Abbott aimed at elementary school-age children. The first book, The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet, was published on June 1, 1999. On October 1, 2010, the final book of the series, The Final Quest, was released, concluding its eleven-year run. The series consisting of 44 books (including Special Editions) are still published. The series was named by the American Booksellers Association among the top ten books for Harry Potter fans.

An audio version of the series is available from Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group. The series was designed by Dawn Adelman.

The publisher, Scholastic Inc., took huge efforts to popularize the series. In the official website of the series (created by Scholastic), various innovative factors were introduced like Droon game, Droon quiz, Droon timeline, Droon songs, Droon encyclopedia, Droon map, etc.

The story is about Eric, Julie, and Neal who discovers an enchanted stairway in Eric's basement, which turns out to be a portal to the magical and troubled world of Droon. It's a wondrous place where adventure is always close at hand. They take the help of various adult characters.

Translations

The series has been translated by many countries to their own language and it is sold in various countries in English. The list of countries and language are:

• United Kingdom - English
• Poland - Polish
• France - French
• Spain - Spanish
• Russia - Russian
• Turkey - Turkish
• Malaysia - Malaysian
• Korea - Korean
• Netherlands - Dutch
• Czech Republic - Czech
• China - Chinese
• Slovenia - Slovenian
• Bangladesh - Bengali
• Iran - Persian

Prologue

Plot Overview

Eric Hinkle, Neal Kroger, and Julie Rubin are three friends who accidentally discover a magical world called Droon; a rainbow staircase that appears when Eric's basement closet is dark is usually how they get to Droon. There they meet Keeah, the princess of Droon who is a wizard, they also meet Galen Longbeard who is the first wizard of Droon who are trying to defend Droon against Lord Sparr, an evil sorcerer who constantly tries to destroy Keeah and the Upper World friends and take Droon for his own to rule. The time in Droon runs differently. In Droon, even a whole year is not even a second in our world. This factor helps the kids very much and makes their travelling easier.

The first twelve books see Keeah, Eric, Neal, and Julie trying to find and free Keeah's mother, Queen Relna, from a curse placed on her by Witch Demither that forces her to shift shapes; she goes from being a bird, to a dragon, to a tiger, and finally a dolphin before becoming human again. The fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth books and the first special edition introduce the plot involving Zara, the Queen of Light, and her three sons: Urik, Galen, and Sparr; Zara, who was kidnapped along with Sparr by Ko, emperor of the long-lost evil Empire of Goll, and brought to Droon (as Zara and her sons were originally from the Upper World) will later become a recurringly important part of the series.

After Special Edition #1, ‘‘The Magic Escapes’’, Droon's past begins to be explored, as well as Droon's connection to the Upper World. The characters develop as well, with Eric's wizard powers (gained in Book 12, ‘‘Under the Serpent Sea’’) progressing, and Julie obtaining the powers of a wingwolf (gained in the book "The Dream Thief") - namely, to fly and shape-shift and later on her third power is revealed. In the book "The Chariot of Queen Zara" a thing happens which changes Neal's life forever. Salamandra, initially princess later Queen of shadowthorn arrives in Droon, thus marking the entry of another antagonist. But after the series goes her intention seems mostly good even though her alliance is always bought to a question. In Book 22, ‘‘The Isle of Mists’’, Sparr awakens Ko; however, in the process Sparr and his pet, the two-headed dog Kem, are aged back to being children, and become allies with Keeah and the Upper World children. In Book 28, ‘‘In the Shadow of Goll’’, Sparr is turned back into his adult self, though he remains the children's ally. He disappears through a hole in the earth to Droon's Underworld, but reappears in Special Edition #5, ‘‘Moon Magic’’, though fifty years older in Droon's future. He comes back to Droon's present to give the children and Galen his piece of the Moon Medallion, a magical artifact composed of four pieces created by Zara and her sons (Zara's Silver Moon [the pendant], Galen's Ring of Midnight, Urik's Pearl Sea, and Sparr's Twilight Star), before going off on his own journey.

Gethwing, the moon dragon who serves as Ko's lieutenant (though he has ambitions of his own), becomes the more prevalent villain, especially when Ko is thrown into a chasm with no visible bottom. In Book 33, ‘‘Flight of the Blue Serpent’’, Eric is wounded by a poisoned ice dagger intended for Galen, and is eventually manipulated by Gethwing into becoming Prince Ungast, his evil opposite. Ungast, along with Princess Neffu (Keeah's evil opposite) and Lord Sparr, returned to his younger, evil self, form Gethwing's formidable "Crown of Wizards"; it is not until Special Edition #7, ‘‘The Genie King’’, that Eric becomes himself again. Another thing revealed in the book is that Gethwing is immortal. Eric, pretending to still be Ungast, goes undercover to find out a secret about Gethwing that could possibly help defeat him.

Books

The series consists of 44 books: 36 main series books and 8 Special Editions. They are:

1. The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet (1999)
2. Journey to the Volcano Palace (1999)
3. The Mysterious Island (1999)
4. City in the Clouds (1999)
5. The Great Ice Battle (1999)
6. The Sleeping Giant of Goll (2000)
7. Into the Land of the Lost (2000)
8. The Golden Wasp (2000)
9. The Tower of the Elf King (2000)
10. Quest for the Queen (2000)
11. The Hawk Bandits of Tarkoom (2001)
12. Under the Serpent Sea (2001)
13. The Mask of Maliban (2001)
14. Voyage of the Jaffa Wind (2002)
15. The Moon Scroll (2002)
16. The Knights of Silversnow (2002)
    • Special Edition 1: The Magic Escapes (2001)
17. Dream Thief (2003)
18. Search for the Dragon Ship (2003)
19. The Coiled Viper (2003)
20. In the Ice Caves of Krog (2003)
21. Flight of the Genie (2003)
    • Special Edition 2: Wizard or Witch? (2004)
22. The Isle of Mists (2004)
23. The Fortress of the Treasure Queen (2004)
24. The Race to Doobesh (2004)
25. The Riddle of Zorfendorf Castle (2005)
    • Special Edition 3: Voyagers of the Silver Sand (2005)
26. The Moon Dragon (2006)
27. The Chariot of Queen Zara (2006)
28. In the Shadow of Goll (2006)
    • Special Edition 4: Sorcerer (2006)
29. Pirates of the Purple Dawn (2007)
30. Escape from Jabar-Loo (2007)
31. Queen of Shadowthorn (2007)
    • Special Edition 5: Moon Magic (2008)
32. Treasure of the Orkins (2008)
33. Flight of the Blue Serpent (2008)
34. In the City of Dreams (2009)
    • Special Edition 6: Crown of Wizards (2009)
35. The Lost Empire of Koomba (2009)
36. Knights of the Ruby Wand (2010)
    • Special Edition 7: The Genie King (2010)
    • Special Edition 8: The Final Quest (2010; formerly titled The Endless Voyage)

Characters

Protagonists

The lead characters of the series are

• Eric Hinkle - Thoughtful, honest, and the leader of the trio of best friends. The Rainbow Stairs are discovered in his basement. Although he certainly doesn't see himself as any kind of hero, when something needs to be done, he doesn't stop to think about it — he just does it. Eric knows (from reading the writing in the Tower of Memory) that he and his friends have an important part to play in the future of Droon. He dreams of the place often, is plagued by nightmares about Lord Sparr, makes mistakes, and goes out on a limb to protect his friends. Eric develops magical powers in Book 12. This begins his long road to becoming a full-fledged wizard. In the last book, it is revealed that his great, great, great grandfather is actually Urik.
• Neal Kroger - Neal was never sure that he and his friends should be going down those weird stairs to some new world under Eric's basement. But now he's sold on the place. Neal likes the easy life and is on a perpetual quest for food, which sometimes clouds his judgment. He is often the awkward butt of botched spells, as when he became a bug in Book 3, The Mysterious Island. He sometimes freaks out and does stuff that he shouldn't (blowing up the airship they are flying in, Book 4). Neal is something of a grumbler, but he is as loyal as they come, not thinking about personal safety when his friends are in trouble. Many of the small, cuddly creatures of Droon (Lumpies, spider trolls, mole people, etc.) seem to have accepted Neal as one of their own. He doesn't mind. Of course, in Book 27, The Chariot of Queen Zara, something happens that changes Neal to a genie
• Julie Rubin - “Discovered” Droon in the first book, as she was the one who first felt the staircase and convinced them to once again go back into the closet and turn off the lights, revealing the rainbow staircase. Julie first met Neal and Eric in kindergarten, and now they are inseparable friends. Julie is there when you need her, but she prefers to look before she leaps. She's an analyzer and a thinker. In Book 17, she gains the ability to fly. In Book 19, it is revealed that she can change shapes. Julie is an original and inseparable member of the Droon team. First Reference: Book 1, The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet.
• Princess Keeah - One of the most important characters in the entire world of Droon. The daughter of Queen Relna (a powerful wizard in her own right) and King Zello (a fairly regular guy), Keeah is awkwardly learning to assume her destiny as a wizard and the successor of Galen, while still trying to be a kid. She instantly embraces Eric, Julie, and Neal as close friends. Keeah loves Droon, and her responsibility to uphold the good weighs heavily on her at times. Often it is Keeah's spiritual and physical journeys that shape the kids' adventures in Droon. In Special Edition 2, Wizard or Witch?, she battles her witchy alter-ego Princess Neffu for dominance. Keeah emerges stronger, more confident, and more adventurous. First reference: Book 1, The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet.
• Galen Longbeard - Wizard of Droon. Galen is the 540-something-year-old First Wizard of Droon and a person of awesome power, if sometimes absentminded and forgetful. Cloaked in his usual blue robes and tall hat, with white hair and long white beard, Galen cuts a striking figure as he tramps around his vanishing tower and on the many adventures recounted in the Droon stories. Many ages before, Galen created and sealed the magical staircase that linked the Upper World Droon. At the beginning of the stories, it was Galen's duty to protect Droon from its chief enemy, the wicked sorcerer Lord Sparr, whose mission was to take over of all of Droon. To counter Sparr and other evildoers, Galen trains Keeah in her wizardly powers, knowing that one day she will be more powerful than all of them. In Book 11, it is revealed that the wizard was not always a bearded, old, and imposing fellow. He was quite a dashing swashbuckler, wielding a rainbow cutlass and wearing a ponytail! First reference: Book 1, The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet.
• Urik - Oldest son of Queen Zara, brother to Galen and Sparr. Urik is lost for most of the Droon saga in the looping passages of time. Loveable and capable, Urik is first really seen in Special Edition 1, The Magic Escapes, where he rescues Eric from goblins in a typically flamboyant way, by leaping from rooftops across the city of Pesh. He is very cool, and a total mystery man. First reference: Book 15, The Moon Scroll.
• Zara - The Queen of Light, mother of Galen, Sparr, and Urik, and one of the most powerful beings in either world. The mysteries surrounding Zara continue from the earliest books through to the final pages of the Droon saga. First reference: Book 15, The Moon Scroll.
• Max - One of the most important characters of the entire epic tale of Droon. Max is Galen's assistant and loyal friend, a large spider with the head of a troll. He has unkempt orange hair, and he often speaks with a high-pitched twitter. Max does not have magical powers, but his ability to spin webs of spider silk has come in handy, often saving the children from destruction. He takes care of Galen as much as the wizard takes care of him. We see his extended family and homeland in later books, but his first reference is in Book 1, The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet.

Antagonists

The villains of the series are

• Lord Sparr - The first time we meet the powerful sorcerer, purple fins behind his ears glowing, he is attempting to extend his evil empire across the whole of Droon. We see many sides of Lord Sparr throughout the saga. An excellent sorcerer and one of the most fascinating characters in all of Droon, Sparr has a manner of quiet, amused rage punctuated by moments of thunderous and deadly power. His initial aim was to take over all of Droon; but this is only the first step. From there, he planned to leap to the Upper World and reclaim it. Sparr has hundreds of thousands of Ninns at his command. Sparr was nearly killed when Keeah used her magic to set his own Golden Wasp against him, but, alas, not quite finished off. Later on, we learn of the great, dark, and sad history of Sparr when Emperor Ko kidnapped him and his mother. This episode marks the beginning of a change in Lord Sparr, one that will last until the final pages of the epic.
• Salamandra - She is the princess (and later queen) of an empire called Shadowthorn. She has a thorn-covered staff which she uses to steal magic and perform it. She is also in possession of the 'Portal of Ages' which she uses to time travel through Droon and the Upper World's pasts and futures. Princess of Shadowthorn. Salamandra is a teenager, first seen on a float in a parade down the streets of Pesh, the royal city that she flies around in time, using her Portals of Ages. She is a master of using thorns for magical purposes. Salamandra looks human — more or less. Her skin is a deep purple, her eyes flash with a yellow, catlike light, and she has a mass of thick black thorns that cascade down her back. First reference: Special Edition 1, The Magic Escapes. She first appears in Special Edition 1: The Magic Escapes and reappears in most of the last 11 books. Her allegiance is brought to question often, but she seems to be mostly good intended.
• Gethwing - Pure evil without redeeming qualities, as clever as anyone in Droon's long history. Gethwing is a Moon Dragon which means he was born on droon's moon . He dominates the adventure from his first appearance, when he is described as having two pairs of wings that are very long and covered by scales the color of night. He has toothy jaws, a thick tail, and powerful forelegs ending in long, black-nailed claws. It was Gethwing who helped Emperor Ko raise Lord Sparr after the death of Sparr's mother, Queen Zara. First reference: Book 23, The Fortress of the Treasure Queen.
• Ko - Emperor of the beasts, ruler of ancient Goll. Ko was brought back to life in Book 22, The Isle of Mists, by Sparr to resume his aggression in modern Droon. He is eight-feet tall, has the head of a bull, and four arms. His skin is gray, and his eyes a burning red. He also has two curved horns that spout fire, usually the green fire of beasts. Ko kidnapped Queen Zara and Sparr in 1470, suffered defeat later by Galen, conjured himself to sleep, and was finally awoken by Sparr. His heart is dark, steely, and resolute: he wants to rule. A terrible, powerful presence in Droon, Ko is dedicated to destroying Droon and converting all the nice spots to parts of the Dark Lands.
• Ungast - Eric Hinkle's evil self, completely the opposite of his normal good self. Prince Ungast is called out of Eric's dream state by Gethwing in Book 34, In the City of Dreams, and becomes a major character to the last pages of the epic story.
• Neffu - Keeah's opposite, being the evil side of the good princess. Neffu quickly aligns herself with the bad guys and grows in power all the way through the Droon stories. She later becomes one of the prized "jewels" in Gethwing's Crown of Wizards. First reference: Special Edition 2, Wizard or Witch?

Supporting Characters

These are characters who help the antagonists and protagonists

• Anusa - The beautiful Second Genie of the Dove and special friend of Galen. Anusa is the one whose task it is to help Galen on his journey of refreshment when he is very old. She helps the children greatly throughout the second part of the Droon story. She wears all white, and her hair hangs to her shoulders in a thousand braids, each strand sparkling with innumerable tiny jewels. First reference: Book 21, Flight of the Genie.
• Batamogi - Fox-eared king of the Dust Hills of Panjibarrh. He rules with his nine brothers, but those brothers are often on journeys here and there. Batamogi is an excellent soul, a great friend to the children, and is extremely resourceful. First reference: Book 6, The Sleeping Giant of Goll.
• Demither - The Sea Witch, often called the Serpent Queen. Demither is a person of awesome power, who lives in water, often as a kind of serpent or wild mermaid. She has white skin, black lips, and long, wet, green hair. Her shoulders are dark and scaly. Demither is soft-spoken and subtle, except when angered. She has dominion over the creatures of the sea and of the waters themselves, and can stand up to Sparr on occasion. As one of the most important characters in the entire saga of Droon, Demither appears and reappears unexpectedly throughout the series, often revealing secrets and key information. Is she good? Is she evil? Where does she come from? Can she be trusted? Additionally, Demither and Keeah share some kind of secret bond . . . and some non-wizard powers. First reference: Book 2, Journey to the Volcano Palace
• Friddle - Kindly inventor of many objects of usefulness over the course of the saga, from Keeah's magical harp, to crazy vehicles used for desert travel, to spontaneous hot air balloons of exceptional utility. Renowned for his piloting ability, Friddle takes the helm of Keeah's sea vessel, the Jaffa Wind, for its famous voyage in Book 14, Voyage of the Jaffa Wind. In past days, he was known mysteriously only as "The Maker." First reference: Book 9, The Tower of the Elf King.
• Genies of the Dove - An extraordinary bunch of time-traveling magical folks. The Seventh Genie of the Dove is Hoja, the Sixth is Jyme, the Fifth is Fefforello, the Fourth is Stream, the Third is River, and the Second is the legendary Anusa. They are mentioned often from Book 15, The Moon Scroll, onward, the busiest members being Hoja and Anusa. The First Genie of the Dove is revealed later.
• Hob - Clever and mischievous maker of intricate masks. Hob is a furry imp with yellow and red spots and a face like a snarling badger. He learned evil symbols from the walls of the ruined palaces of Goll that allow his masks to take on magical properties. He is an excellent craftsman. We see him in many episodes after his first appearance in Book 13, The Mask of Maliban.
• Hoja - Time-traveling Seventh Genie of the Dove, part of a band of super-powerful genies whose dominion of time and magic extend from the first hours of Droon to far into the future. Hoja is a bearded man dressed in flowing robes who wears an enormous blue turban. This gargantuan turban, which changes colors from story to story, has magic like you wouldn't believe. Hoja riddles strangely, as traveling through time requires him to veil his words, but he is always helpful. First reference: Book 15, The Moon Scroll.
• Leep - Galen's pilka. It can disappear sometimes, which comes in handy on Eric, Julie, and Neal's first adventure in Droon. Leep is the pilka of choice when it comes to speed. First reference: Book 1, The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet.
• Kem - This two-headed dog beast is the watchdog of the old city of Tarkoom, and personal pet of Lord Sparr. Imagined to be dead, Kem returns after an earthquake reveals his tomb. Later, he develops into a first-rate creature with many useful qualities, not the least of which is a sharp sense of humor. Reunited with Sparr has a mellowing effect on Kem, though when we first see him, he's pretty nasty. First reference: Book 11, The Hawk Bandits of Tarkoom.
• Khan, King of the Purple Lumpies - Another of the seminal characters in the Droon saga. The Lumpies are pillow-shaped people who live in the deserts of Lumpland, south of Jaffa City. As their king, Khan has a family of two children and a wife, his queen, all of whom love their father and husband unflinchingly. Not is Khan known for the ability to sniff out danger, he is a pudgy little hero, beloved of his people — they would follow him anywhere. He is a key member of the crew in the legendary voyage undertaken by the Jaffa Wind and recounted in Book 14. First reference: Book 2, Journey to the Volcano Palace.
• Nelag - The unwizard, the backwards and opposite of Galen. Nelag is a being without real magical power who is constantly saying and doing the "wrong" thing and having it turn out to be, most of the time, exactly right. First seen in Book 14, Voyage of the Jaffa Wind.
• Ninns - Warriors pressed into service by Lord Sparr. Ninns are large, pointy-chinned, pointy-eared, red-skinned, and nasty. They are also a bit clumsy and slow at times. There are hundreds of thousands of Ninns, and their sheer number creates a frightening force for evil. But they are not all bad; see the entry for Bludge. Ninns are also related to Orkins in an unusual way, as described in Book 16, The Knights of Silversnow. First reference: Book 1, The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet.
• Ortha, Queen of the Bangledorn Monkeys - Ortha is noble and powerful and really tall. She lives within the vast empire of trees where no magic is allowed, but also ventures out to help when other parts of Droon are threatened by bad forces. First reference, only in passing: Book 8, The Golden Wasp, but seen to great effect in Book 10, Quest for the Queen.
• Portentia - Hilarious and rhyming oracle living inside a big rock. Portentia is first found in the depths of the Farne Woods, north of Jaffa City. She understands the future, but is fated to deliver really inscrutable prophecies that take whole chapters to decipher. A good sport, and very witty, Portentia is like the grandma we all wish we had. First reference: Book 8, The Golden Wasp.
• Prince Eric - Through Salamandra's Portal of Ages, Eric and Keeah visit the future fifty years hence. They see Eric's grown self, a prince, but imprisoned by the evil Emperor Ko in Jaffa City. First reference: Special Edition 5, Moon Magic.
• Prince of Goll - One of Ko's names for young Lord Sparr. First reference: Special Edition 4, Sorcerer.
• Prince of Stars - A person who turns out to be one of the most mysterious and important characters in all of Droon. A man of unknown origin who has lost his memory, the Prince of Stars is bedeviled by dreams and visions of a hidden past, and keeps showing up at the oddest times. First reference: Book 20, In the Ice Caves of Krog.
• Prince Zorfendorf - This prince of the strange castle of Zorfendorf is one of the guises that Sparr uses to trick the kings and queens of Droon in Book 8, The Golden Wasp.
• Queen of Droon - Through Salamandra's Portal of Ages, Eric and Keeah visit the future fifty years hence and see Keeah, grown up and serving as Queen. It is a dark future, one of whose brightest spots is Keeah herself. First reference: Special Edition 5, Moon Magic.
• Queen of Shadowthorn - Salamandra's new title, having promoted herself from Princess. First reference to "queen": Book 31, Queen of Shadowthorn.
• Quill - Magical feather pen who writes the history of Droon as it happens. If Quill writes fast, he can actually overtake events and begin to write the future. Under a unique charm, Quill can speak. Quill also writes the Chronicles of Droon, Galen's long-running history of the world of Droon, Quill is a character in many stories, from as early as Book 4, City in the Clouds, and on until the very end.
• Relna or Queen Relna - Keeah's long lost mother, one of the greatest of all Droonian wizards, assumed dead when the Droon story opens. In fact, Relna is not dead, and her long journey through different shapes is first glimpsed in Book 2. Relna is one of the most powerful practitioners of good magic in all of Droon. First reference: Book 1, The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet.
• Skorth, Warriors of the - These ancient bad guys are no more than skeletons, but they are skeletons of deadly power. Lord Sparr conjures them within the walls of Agrah-Voor. He raises them from a long and ancient box of disconnected bones, and they come to life again, reappearing in many Droon adventures, all the way to Gethwing's final battle. They strike fear wherever they clatter. They also know a thing or two about ships, having had a navy way back when. First reference: Book 7, Into the Land of the Lost.
• Zabilac - The first genie of dove. Also the name Neal chooses as a genie name, even before he becomes a genie. In Special Edition 3, Voyagers of the Silver Sand, Neal pretends to be a genie; when he actually does get genie powers, he adopts the name for real. Zabilac is the word Calibaz spelled backward, and Neal is well known for his special connection to Calibaz.
• Zello or King Zello - Father of Princess Keeah, husband of Queen Relna. Along with Relna, he rules Jaffa City and all of Free Droon. Zello is always seen dressed in armor, bearing a Viking-style horned helmet and wielding a pair of monstrous clubs, his weapon of choice. He is constantly attending to duties of state and the safety and welfare of his people, but when he's called to battle the Ninns or Sparr, he is the first to start swinging his twin giant clubs. Zello stands up to Sparr more than once in the Droon story, but as a regular (non-magic) human, he is at the sorcerer's mercy. In Book 4, City in the Clouds, which marks his first appearance, Zello leads a small army to free the Ninn-infested flying city of Ro. He is a huggable bear of a man, shoulders his kingship nobly and with compassion, and he loves his daughter and her friends like crazy.

Minor Characters

These characters just have a minor or cameo role in the series

• Amazing Flemky - Minstrel who is first seen sitting at the top of a very tall, very skinny pole. Flemky is said to be the world's greatest splangle player. First reference: Book 30, Escape from Jabar-Loo.
• Ancient Knights of Pim - Long ago, the knights were a fierce and evil army in the Upper World. Gethwing has sworn the Knights to allegiance with him when he begins his takeover of the Upper World in Book 26, The Moon Dragon. The knights are not as terrible as they are made out to be; they really just want to rest and enjoy their old age.
• Anga - The leader of the weasel people in the forests outside Doobesh. A cranky fellow who eventually sees the light. First seen wearing a long blue coat decorated with gold chains, medals, and buttons. Two feet tall from his furry tail to the tuft on his head, but he has the puffed-up demeanor of a weasel twice his size. First reference: Book 36, Knights of the Ruby Wand.
• Baggle - Most talkative member of the Snowfolk people. He has a clipped way of speaking, but is a good and helpful soul. First reference: Book 33, Flight of the Blue Serpent.
• Bazra - This Queen of Robbers is the ruler of the Island of Mikos and its Treasure Fortress, where she hoards stolen objects of great magical value. Bazra is first seen as short and round, wearing a dazzling pink crown, furry pink robe, and pink shoes. Later, when she reveals her true self, she's anything but cute. Her cheeks shrivel as if she had sucked in all her breath, her skin turns the color of ash, and her eyes dwindle to shifty black dots in a sea of red. She becomes as gray as a ghost. The first time we actually see her is in Book 23, The Fortress of the Treasure Queen.
• Beffle, Mr. - Trader the kids meet on their way into Jabar-Loo. First reference: Book 30, Escape from Jabar-Loo.
• Beffo - So called "King of the Island Trolls," (though he seems to be the only Island Troll), Beffo has bushy blue whiskers that nearly hide an extremely bulbous nose. He is very old, short, with wrinkles all over his face and hands that are nearly purple with age. He is found by Lord Sparr and Kem after they crash land on a mysterious island. First reference: Special Edition 4, Sorcerer.
• Blackdark Knights - What the Ancient Knights of Pim turn into after a wicked spell cast by Gethwing. The Knights grow larger, their eyes turn red, and their faces become hard and dark. First reference: Book 26, The Moon Dragon
• Blegg - Self-proclaimed "master thief" in league with Gethwing in the ancient past. Not a bad fellow, once you get to know him. First reference: Special Edition 3, Voyagers of the Silver Sand.
• Blugs - Very large, very strange, very shaggy beasts, covered in gray fur from head to foot. Blugs actually have three tiny feet, one of which makes gooey prints on the ground. The kids turn into Blugs to get into Shadowface's camp as they to try to save young Sparr. First reference: Book 28, In the Shadow of Goll.
• Bodo - One of the dinosaur-like Guardians of Ro, Bodo is mystical, virtuous, and has an aura of adventurer about him. First reference: Book 4, City in the Clouds, but seen in other crucial adventures, always with a helpful intent.
• Boola Duke of Samarindo, - father of the funny sisters Looma and Sarla. Boola is a sad sack when his Dream Crown is stolen from him. But with some help from our heroes, he gets it back. First reference: Book 34, In the City of Dreams.
• Bumbalo - A striped, growling creature that traditionally frightens Orkins. Ninns are also apparently afraid of the sound of approaching bumbalos, a fact that helps the children stay on Sparr's trail in Book 22, The Isle of Mists.
• Clinkface - Ancient beast ruled by Ko that comes back to life in Book 22, The Isle of Mists.
• Djambo - One of the friendliest blue-skinned Orkins. His gentle manners and clever thinking come in handy far more than once. The kids know him from several adventures, particularly The Isle of Mists, but he happily reappears in Book 32, The Treasure of the Orkins.
• Dog-Eared Thief - Robber who is not given a proper name when spotted by the children in the bottle city of Ut. A wise-guy, reluctantly giving up his treasure to the children when asked. First reference: Special Edition 7, The Genie King.
• Doofus the Ugly - The surprising name of the servant of Sarla and Looma. Neal impersonates him to help his friends get into the palace of Prince Maliban. First reference: Book 13, The Mask of Maliban.
• Dora - Little woman with a crooked step who pilots a boat across the river in Book 30, Escape from Jabar-Loo.
• Dracnak - Monster in Droon, mentioned in passing in Book 20, In the Ice Caves of Krog.
• Droomar - Elfin folk whose history dates from the beginnings of old Droon. They are the preservers of the Golden Age of Droon's wisdom, throughout all the dark years after the wrath of Ko and Gethwing spread over the world. Referenced in many books throughout the series, including Book, 17, Dream Thief. and Special Edition 2, Wizard or Witch?
• Duchess Dumpella - The nice sister of nasty Duke Snorfo, who looks exactly like Julie. Sporting a keen sense of style, Dumpella has a little crush on Eric which convinces her to help the kids when they run afoul of the obnoxious Duke. Later, she transfers her crush to Neal, but her first reference i
• Feodor - A tiny spider troll in the village of Lubalunda. First reference: Special Edition 6, Crown of Wizards.s in Book 21, Flight of the Genie.
• Duppy, Mr. - Trader the kids meet on their way into Jabar-Loo. First reference: Book 30, Escape from Jabar-Loo.
• Elephant King - A being whom Galen had to fight on his way to creating the Rainbow Stairs, a story fully told only in Galen's Chronicles of Droon. First reference: Special Edition 3, Voyagers of the Silver Sand.
• Faraway - The name of a mysterious person known to Galen, and the subject of a poem: "O, come to me, my Faraway! / Your voice as soft as feathers seems, / Come share your wisdom night and day / In wondrous visions and in dreams." We later find out the startling significance of the Faraway, as she relates to Galen's long past . . . and future. First reference: Book 17, Dream Thief.
• Fefforello - Fifth Genie of the Dove who, as Hoja describes it, has gone "nutty, batty, loony, zany," when we first discover him in Parthnoop in Book 27, The Chariot of Queen Zara. (Later, he's okay.)
• Fintop - Ancient beast ruled by Ko that comes back to life in Book 22, The Isle of Mists.
• Fire Dragons - Nasty creatures that fly around terrorizing the good citizens of Samarindo. First reference: Book 34, In the City of Dreams.
• Fire Monsters - Stone-skinned creatures, sort of like dragons and cleverly indistinguishable from boulders, that protect Lord Sparr's volcano palace. They skirmish with the Lumpies and lose. First reference: Book 2, Journey to the Volcano Palace.
• Firefrogs - Green froglike creatures, large, with bulging purple eyes and long flickery tongues, who inhabit Firefrog Mountain. They are friendly and shy; their charge is to guard the mischief-makers that Galen sometimes sentences to the mountaintop. Often, the firefrogs are so nice, they let their prisoners escape. First reference: Book 13, The Mask of Maliban.
• Flink - Friendly sprite-like messenger, often aiding Galen and Keeah. Her voice is said to be like music playing, and her words are delivered in a sing-song manner. She flies quickly in and out of situations, delivering messages to and from the characters. First reference: Book 17, Dream Thief.
• Fluffems - Enormous beasts, nine feet tall, with woolly pink coats, long furry trunks, and gigantic feet. The fluffems run in flocks and are the friends of genies, particularly of Hoja. First reference: Book 15, The Moon Scroll.
• Fog Pirates - A species of bear-headed bad guys who sail the seas to the east of the Horns of Ko. They can be invisible on demand (turning into fog), but later change their tune and learn to be helpful. First reference: Book 14, Voyage of the Jaffa Wind.
• Frando, Mr. - The gym coach at Eric, Julie, and Neal's school. First reference: Book 18, Search for the Dragon Ship.
• Gabitamo - Brother of Batamogi. First reference: Book 31, Queen of Shadowthorn.
• Gelna - Pink-cloaked wizard described as "Galen as if he were his own sister." She enters the scene in Book 29, Pirates of the Purple Dawn.
• Ghost Riders - A strange mass of beings that work for Salamandra, trying to locate the pieces of the Dragon Ship. First reference: Book 18, Search for the Dragon Ship.
• Glok - A huge monster with many legs. Not a friendly creature, Glok fiercely defends the city of Jabar-Loo. First reference: Book 30, Escape from Jabar-Loo.
• Goblins - There are hundreds of varieties of goblins, from Salamandra's henchmen in Pesh, to Ko's creepy and evil-doing specialists. Goblins range throughout the history of Droon, and of the Upper World as well. They are sneaky and clever, and they love pies.
• Gondra - A great, ugly dragon that menaces the Dream City of Samarindo. The letters which form this dragon's name are the same letters which form the word "dragon" itself. First reference: Book 34, In the City of Dreams.
• Grayclaws - Ancient beast ruled by Ko that comes back to life in Book 22, The Isle of Mists.
• Green Meanies - Deep-hooded spies of Prince Maliban, the mysterious being living on the moveable city of Tortu. First reference: Book 13, The Mask of Maliban.
• Grompus - Giant shaggy-haired worm, thirty feet long from snout to tail. Grompus is the servant of young Sparr, on his mission in ancient Goll. First reference: Special Edition 4, Sorcerer.
• Grunto - Captain of beasts, in charge of the Ninns stationed in the Crimson Desert. First reference: Book 35, The Lost Empire of Koomba.
• Gryndal - Dragon-like monster and leader of the pig-nosed elves, Gryndal turns out to be quite different from what was expected. First reference: Book 9, The Tower of the Elf King.
• Guardians of Ro - Two seven-foot-tall lizards with large heads, Bodo and Vasa. They speak cleverly and a lot, and are the keepers of Droon's long history. They are friends of Quill, the magical pen. First reference: Book 4, City in the Clouds.
• Guffle - A huge spidery beast with thick red legs and black fur, which trails white slimy webbing behind it. It is said to be attracted to the sound made by bumbalos. First reference: Book 22, The Isle of Mists.
• Hagdy - Twin sister of Magdy, though older by a whole minute. Hagdy is a witch and former inventor who lives in the hills above the city of Doobesh. First reference: Book 36, Knights of the Ruby Wand.
• Haggons - A trio of winged creatures, sisters, whose skin is scaly and lizardlike, but whose heads have wrinkled old faces, with pointed red noses, scraggly beards, long gray hair, and teeth that are chipped and broken. They work for Lord Sparr, spying as they fly through the air. First reference: Book 16, The Knights of Silversnow.
• Hakoth-Mal - The ancient Droonian name for the wingwolves. First reference: Book 17, Dream Thief.
• Hazad or Queen Hazad - The "Ghost Queen" of Agrah-Voor, ruling the land of the lost with kindness, intelligence, and hope. When Droon finally achieves lasting peace, she hopes that her vast population of stricken warriors will rise to walk again. Her crown is peculiar and oddly shaped, as if it were made of thick branches of wood. Her gnarly wooden cane is what that the Golden Wasp was charmed into. First reference: Book 7, Into the Land of the Lost.
• Hoobahs - Froglike creatures residing in Calibaz. Friendly and timid, the hoobah people are oppressed by various forces, including the Ninns, and are known to say "Glemf!" as a kind of exclamation. First reference: Book 19, The Coiled Viper.
• Iceman - A creature of strange origin that confronts the children with silly riddles on their way into the far north of Droon to find the ice monster Krog. First reference: Book 20, In the Ice Caves of Krog.
• Icthos - Broken-winged Hawk Bandit and right-hand man to bandit leader Ving. First reference: Book 11, The Hawk Bandits of Tarkoom.
• Ing - Baby brother of the twin baddies Ving and Ming. Ing is also a hawk creature with a snotty attitude, learned from his older siblings. He wears a diaper that is frequently in need of changing, a fact that helps the children on at least one occasion. First reference: Special Edition 7, The Genie King.
• Isha - Tender little bird that is, surprisingly, the pet of Lord Sparr. It flies all around Droon, discovering helpful bits of knowledge that it brings to Sparr. First reference: Book 34, In the City of Dreams.
• Jabbo - Salamandra's royal pie maker, Jabbo is a short, squat dragon with brown spiky skin as rough and dusty as a potato. He becomes quite a character in the Droon story, even to the last pages. First reference: Special Edition 1, The Magic Escapes.
• Jotli - One of three crows friendly to the mysterious Prince of Stars; he can change shape. First reference: Book 20, In the Ice Caves of Krog.
• Jyme - Sixth Genie of the Dove who lives in the "far east." She is a water genie, and has extraordinary shifting powers. Jyme is very old, yet appears from moment to moment as a young woman. First reference: Book 27, The Chariot of Queen Zara.
• Kahfoo - Monstrous snake that lives in the Room of Kahfoo in the Mountain of Kahfoo on the Island of Kahfoo. First reference: Book 14, Voyage of the Jaffa Wind.
• Kindu Tribesmen - Warriors used by Gethwing to achieve his dastardly aims. Known finally as the Hunters, for they were sent to the Upper World to find something . . . or someone. First reference: Special Edition 6, Crown of Wizards.
• Knights of Silversnow - Great and noble warriors who have slept for centuries, waiting for the hour when Droon needs them most. The three knights, each seven feet tall, are named Old Rolf, Lunk, and Smee. First reference: Book 16, The Knights of Silversnow.
• Kraken - An unfriendly, pike-tailed, knob-headed water beast living in the muddy canals of Pesh. First reference: Special Edition 1, The Magic Escapes.
• Krog - A beast that has awoken in the far north of Droon that, according to legend, takes over the body of anyone who defeats it. Krog is a monster with wings, a thick, jagged tail, and a massive body covered with long fur, scales, and knobby skin. First reference: Book 20, In the Ice Caves of Krog.
• Lena - Pink-tasseled daughter of Khan, king of the Purple Lumpies. First reference to Lena by name: Book 30, Escape from Jabar-Loo.
• Looma - Twin of Sarla, and with her one of the princesses of Samarindo. Looma is obsessed with Neal's yellow hair and his boyish cuteness. First reference: Book 13, The Mask of Maliban.
• Lunk - A Silversnow Knight with a clever ability to craft things. Lunk is helpful and kind, as well as a menacing fighter when he needs to be. First reference: Book 16, The Knights of Silversnow.
• Magdy Old woman, - a witch, first seen dressed in rags near the city of Doobesh. Her skin is the color of pistachio, and her nose is so long it nearly touches the tip of her chin. Often accompanied by a singing harp. Twin sister of Hagdy. First reference: Book 36, Knights of the Ruby Wand.
• Magibota - Brother of Batamogi. First reference: Book 31, Queen of Shadowthorn.
• Maliban or Prince Maliban A mysterious personage living in Tortu, who demands a magical mask of Hob. First reference: Book 13, The Mask of Maliban.
• Marmets - Furry little orange creatures who love cheese, the marmets infest Keeah's rooms in the palace of Jaffa City, for reasons that will be made clear only later. First reference: Book 16, The Knights of Silversnow.
• Mashta, - Flying Empress of the Sand Children First mentioned in passing in Book 8, The Golden Wasp, Mashta and her sand children finally make a starring appearance in Book 35, The Lost Empire of Koomba. Mashta is, of course, the kindly and diminutive monarch who governs the Sand Children as they play in the red desert of Koomba. She is extremely helpful to the children.
• Mayor Tibble - Civic ruler of Lubalunda, village of the spider trolls. First reference: Special Edition 6, Crown of Wizards.
• Meadow Snakes - A variety of common snake in Droon. Evil spells can turn meadow snakes dangerous. First reference: Book 17, Dream Thief.
• Meredith - A girl who attends the same school as Eric, Julie, and Neal, and who lives down the street from them. In Book 24, The Race to Doobesh, we see her spying on the kids — and she appears to know something about Droon. She is a major character in other stories, as well.
• Mibotaga - Brother of Batamogi. First reference: Book 31, Queen of Shadowthorn.
• Michaels, Mrs. - Eric, Neal, and Julie's schoolteacher during many of the books. Mrs. Michaels is very kindly and smart, an ideal teacher who knows nothing about Droon. First reference: Book 10, Quest for the Queen.
• Ming - A hawk lady and twin sister of Ving, leader of the Hawk Bandits of Tarkoom. In their youth, Ving would form a group of bandits and prey on land travelers, while Ming would take a crew of pirates and terrorize the open seas. First reference: Book 29, Pirates of the Purple Dawn.
• Minky - A baby groggle, and Theesha's pet. In response to the children's kindness, Minky will later be very helpful to them. First reference: Special Edition 3, Voyagers of the Silver Sand.
• Moomflod - Creature in Droon, mentioned in passing in Book 20, In the Ice Caves of Krog.
• Moonfox - A talking, growling, snarling, fox-like creature with four sharp ears, bright blue fur, a snubby pink nose, and long teeth. Julie mistakenly brings it back with her from Droon — the first time someone takes something from Droon into the Upper World. As a result, something from the Upper World goes to Droon to keep the two worlds in balance. That transfer is the springboard for the whole adventure of Book 8, The Golden Wasp.
• Mooples - Furry, friendly, otter-like creatures who are helpful to the extreme. Mooples live exclusively in the Everywhere Passages. They help Eric in Book 11, The Hawk Bandits of Tarkoom, and tell him how they aided Keeah earlier. The mooples — and the Passages — reappear in later Droon adventures, even to the very last pages of the saga.
• Motli - First appearing to the children as a mysterious young girl, holding a candle and walking along a deserted road, Motli is someone else entirely and returns in future adventures. First reference: Book 20, In the Ice Caves of Krog.
• Mudji - Great uncle of the Orkin Djambo. Mudji is the elder Orkin celebrated as the one who caught the single blue snowflake (actually the scale of a blue serpent) during the storm of a hundred years past. First reference: Book 32, The Treasure of the Orkins.
• Nesh Warriors - Creepy fighters in the far north of Droon, they look like skeletons with broad shoulders that are hung with icicles. They are all bones and joints, with heads no wider than their limbs. The Nesh Warriors are also called Yugs. First reference: Book 33, Flight of the Blue Serpent.
• Nightfox - Beautiful little creature that haunts the deserts of Droon. First reference: Book 35, The Lost Empire of Koomba.
• Nobclaws - Ancient beast ruled by Ko, which comes back to life in Book 22, The Isle of Mists.
• Nok - Leader of the Warriors of the Skorth, who land in Doobesh to demand the Ruby Wand from Anga. First reference: Book 36, Knights of the Ruby Wand.
• Num - A giant creature on his own island, who tries to prevent the children from completing their voyage aboard Keeah's ship, the Jaffa Wind. First reference: Book 14, Voyage of the Jaffa Wind.
• Old Rolf - Essentially the leader of the three Silversnow Knights, he is seven feet tall and four feet wide at the shoulders. Supremely courteous to Keeah and her friends, Rolf was in the ranks of Galen's army long ago in the Wizard Wars. First reference: Book 16, The Knights of Silversnow.
• Om - The spirit living inside the Red Eye of Dawn. Om speaks silently to Eric, alarming him. First reference: Book 12, Under the Serpent Sea.
• Otli - One of three crows friendly to the mysterious Prince of Stars, Otli can change shape. First reference: Book 20, In the Ice Caves of Krog.
• Pasha - Mysterious rug maker whose products fly, though he is not magically empowered in any way. Pasha is not seen until much later in the series, though his name and his rugs appear many times before then. He is a thin man with a very long nose, a thick black mustache, a single eyebrow, and a tall floppy hat tipped with dozens of tiny bells. He also wears a pair of green spectacles with lenses shaped like half-moons. First reference: Book 1, The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet.
• Pikoo - The friendly hoobah who Eric meets in Calibaz. Pikoo helps the children battle the Ninns and Sparr. First reference: Book 19, The Coiled Viper.
• Pinch - Leader of the guards in the empire of Tree Weasels. Pinch is second in command to Duke Anga, and a very thoughtful sort of animal. First reference: Book 36, Knights of the Ruby Wand.
• Pinky - Julie's pet cat, who begins to bark after Eric works some unofficial magic. Only reference: Book 16, The Knights of Silversnow.
• Plundit - Captain of the Rat-faced Snitchers of Zoop. Plundit is a comical fellow, but he thinks he's pretty fierce. He twists his long whiskers when thinking. First reference: Book 32, The Treasure of the Orkins.
• Quogg Creature in Droon, - mentioned in passing in Book 20, In the Ice Caves of Krog.
• Rat-faced Snitchers of Zoop - A startling and hilarious band of thieves. The Snitchers ride around the desert, ambushing good citizens and stealing their belongings. They are little creatures with big heads, narrow, whiskered snouts, and puffy purple pants." First reference: Special Edition 3, Voyagers of the Silver Sand.
• Rebel Monkeys of Parnesh - Reference to a group of rebel monkeys Ko and one of his beasts fought together. First reference: Book 32, The Treasure of the Orkins.
• Red Wolves of Droon - Wolves with red fur who live in the depths of Jaffa City; they are ancient and bear an intelligence that links them with the great past of Droon. The Red Wolves are friendly to Queen Relna, whose own history blends with theirs in the founding of the city itself. First reference: Book 5, The Great Ice Battle.
• River - One of a pair of twins (with sibling Stream), and the Third Genie of the Dove. First reference: Book 27, The Chariot of Queen Zara.
• Saba - A vile creature and the phantom of Ko, Saba is an exact double of the emperor in every way, except that he bears no shadow. As a phantom, Saba can travel in space and time to wherever and whenever he is sent. With Saba doing Ko's dirty work, the emperor can be in two places at once! First reference: Special Edition 3, Voyagers of the Silver Sand.
• Sand Stingers - Slithery little beasts that are described as "Ko's deadly pets." They attack the children in Book 32, The Treasure of the Orkins.
• Sarla - One of the two twin princesses of Samarindo (the other being Looma), described as young girls with orange faces, long silky gowns, and high turbans on their heads. First reference: Book 13, The Mask of Maliban.
• Sasha - Son of Khan, king of the Purple Lumpies. Sasha wears blue tassels on the edges of his pillow-shaped body. First reference to Sasha by name: Book 30, Escape from Jabar-Loo.
• Seven Giants - Ancient creatures made of bronze. The Seven Giants are towering figures obedient to Emperor Ko. First reference: Special Edition 4, Sorcerer.
• Seven-Headed Tree-Dwarf - A foe of young Galen mentioned in passing. First reference: Special Edition 5, Moon Magic.
• Shadow Goblins - Not nice fellows, who guard Gethwing's Cave of Night. First reference: Special Edition 7, The Genie King.
• Shadowface - Name Neal gives to a mysterious presence the children see in Agrah-Voor in Book 28, In the Shadow of Goll. Shadowface is a tall, shadowy figure of a man wearing a ragged black cloak from head to foot. A deep hood covershis whole face, except for a pair of burning red eyes. Purple mist swirls all around him.
• Shago - The master thief of Agrah-Voor. Shago is a slender, rat-like creature with sensitive fingers, curly-tipped slippers, a fine sense of time and place, and a penchant for swinging on magical ropes. Shago spends most of his time in the Ghost City, but can take field trips to the surface. Not magical himself, but clever and funny, Shago has helped the children on many adventures. First reference: Book 7, Into the Land of the Lost.
• Shovel-Nosed Beasts - Unnamed creatures as large as elephants and like them in many ways, except that their thick, leathery skin is blue. Instead of a trunk, each beast bears a wide, flat nose that looks like a shovel. Seen only in the city of Calibaz. First reference: Book 19, The Coiled Viper.
• Silfs - Lisping, slithery, snaky creatures that gleam sometimes red, sometimes silver. Silfs often look like flames or rippling ropes of water. They are servants to Demither, the Sea Witch. First reference: Book 3, Mysterious Island.
• Slag - Renowned as "the mightest man in Droon," Slag is a large muscle-bound fellow with brawn that stretches from here to the Dark Lands and back. He is described as having a head as large as a pumpkin, and looks to be entirely made of muscles. First reference: Book 10, Quest for the Queen.
• Slyvor - Lisping leader of the Snakelings. Slyvor is particularly snippy, and loves to give orders. First reference: Book 35, The Lost Empire of Koomba.
• Smee - Sometimes called Tiny by his fellow Silversnow Knights, Smee is anything but. He is as giant as his armored mates, and his feet dangle over the edge of his monster bed. But he's as lithe as a dagger when in battle. First reference: Book 16, The Knights of Silversnow.
• Smeed or Corporal Smeed Right hand to Captain Plundit, leader of the Rat-faced Snitchers of Zoop. First reference: Book 32, The Treasure of the Orkins.
• Snakelings - Snake-like creatures working for Gethwing. The snakelings can stand up on their back ends, are quite numerous, and have no problem attacking the children and capturing them, if that's what it takes to defeat them. Their leader is Slyvor. First reference: Book 35, The Lost Empire of Koomba.
• Snorfo or Duke Snorfo - The snotty ruler of Ut. Snorfo is an exact double of Neal, a fact that gets them both into some sticky situations. He reappears in one of the climactic Droon episodes (Special Edition 7, The Genie King), but his first reference is Book 21, Flight of the Genie.
• Snorky - Neal's dog, though Snorky seems to like everyone but Neal. Snorky is a key character in the adventure of the Hawk Bandits, where he picks up a new trick along the way. First reference: Book 1, The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet.
• Snowfolk - Plump, round-faced men, women, and children, the Snowfolk are friendly citizens of the far north of Droon. They help the children when they are attacked by the Nesh Warriors. First reference: Book 33, Flight of the Blue Serpent.
• Starfox - Exceedingly rare mountain-dwelling, silver-furred beast. Starfoxes are so rare that you must doubt your eyes, but when the reports are genuine, they usually involve sightings in some area of the Pink Mountains of Saleef. First reference: Book 31, Queen of Shadowthorn.
• Stream - With sibling River, one of a pair of genie twins. Stream is the Fourth Genie of the Dove, since River was born just a second earlier. First reference: Book 27, The Chariot of Queen Zara.
• Talking Bird - A small bird carved of black wood with two green dots for eyes. Eric finds it on the enchanted island in Book 22, The Isle of Mists, but it becomes a kind of character and first begins to talk in the following story, The Fortress of the Treasure Queen.
• Talon - Captain of the wingwolves in Samarindo. These are Eastern wingwolves, with purple-red fur and a fear of water. First reference: Book 34, In the City of Dreams.
• Tarok - Devious clown who works for Witch Demither. He travels around in a magical wagon with his pal and sidekick, Slag. First reference: Book 10, Quest for the Queen.
• Theesha - Young Ninn girl who helps the children in their quest to retrieve the Five Treasures. First reference: Special Edition 3, Voyagers of the Silver Sand.
• Thog - The shy, floppy-eared, bald-headed giant who is caretaker and guard of the great library at Zorfendorf Castle. Thog rarely leaves the castle. Amiable, kind, caring, and as tall as a two-story house, Thog is one of the true unsung heroes of the big story of Droon. First reference: Book 18, Search for the Dragon Ship.
• Thum, Augustus Rudolphus Septimus - A droomar elf with a mission to help Keeah on her journey to wizardhood. Thum is very clever, but very difficult to understand. He is described a small, white, four-footed creature with a stubby snout, whiskers, green eyes, and pointed ears. He wears blue spectacles tied on a ribbon. First reference: Special Edition 2, Wizard or Witch?
• Tigomaba - Brother of Batamogi. First reference: Book 31, Queen of Shadowthorn.
• Tomigaba - Brother of Batamogi. First reference: Book 31, Queen of Shadowthorn.
• Tree Weasels - The inhabitants of the forests outside Doobesh. Not a bad lot, but repressed by their leader, Anga, into faking nasty attitudes. First reference: Book 36, Knights of the Ruby Wand.
• Tuskadon - A giant, elephant-like beast with a furry trunk and coiled tusks of blazing red. Its ears are as large as a sail, and have three points, like a bat wing. Tuskadons are exceptionally helpful, providing transportation into the mysterious forest land of Jabar-Loo. First reference: Book 30, Escape from Jabar-Loo.
• Twee - One of the tiny Bangledorn Monkeys, who is close to Ortha's royal family and court. Often seen in company with his sister, Woot. First reference: Book 17, Dream Thief.
• Umberto or Prince Umberto Wicked ruler of Jabar-Loo. The kids meet him when they journey there to save King Zello and Queen Relna from imprisonment. First reference: Book 30, Escape from Jabar-Loo.
• Urn Riders or Urn Men - Fefforello's troops in Parthnoop. The Urn Riders are impish creatures with turbans, flowing robes, shiny slippers, and tiny whips. They also hum to raise the general sense of drama and doom: "Da-da-la-dum! Da-da-la-dum-dummm!" First reference: Book 27, The Chariot of Queen Zara.
• Vasa - One of the witty and helpful Guardians of Ro. Vasa is a true friend of the people of Droon, and one of the caretakers of the Tower of Memory. First reference: Book 4, City in the Clouds.
• Ving - Prince of the Hawk Bandits. Ving is a clever half-man, half-hawk. He is vicious, double-dealing, and to be feared. Ving has a large green bird head and an orange beak that curves down angrily at the tip. Two black eyes the size of baseballs bulge on either side of his face. First reference: Book 11, The Hawk Bandits of Tarkoom.
• Weaf - Cousin of Twee and Woot, Weaf is a Bangledorn monkey. Like all Bangledorn creatures, she is helpful to the children in a moment of danger. First reference: Special Edition 8, The Final Quest.
• Wingsnakes - Popular and numerous beasts utilized by the dark forces during their battle against Free Droon. Wingsnakes' wings are capable of turning into fire. Among many references is a dramatic one in Book 25, The Riddle of Zorfendorf Castle.
• Wingwolves - Warriors from ancient Droon. The Wingwolves are also known as the Hakoth-Mal and wear rust-red armor, stand upright like men, and have the heads of wolves. Two great black wings sprout from their shoulders. Wingwolves have razor-sharp claws and fangs. It is the scratch of a wingwolf that gives Julie her powers to fly and change shape. When they're young, they also have the ability to envision the past. First reference: Book 17, Dream Thief.
• Winterbreath - Ancient beast ruled by Ko that comes back to life in Book 22, The Isle of Mists.
• Woot - A Bangledorn Monkey whom the children can always count on. Sister of Twee. First reference: Book 17, Dream Thief.
• Wraiths - Faceless creatures, angry and strong, also good skaters. These hapless victims of the powerful venom of the Golden Wasp lose their minds and become servants of Lord Sparr. First reference: Book 8, The Golden Wasp.
• Yoho - Self-named "captain of the fog pirates." Yoho is a patch-eyed man with a broken-toothed grin. Although unnamed until Book 24, The Race to Doobesh, Yoho was among the group of fog pirates attacking the kids at sea during their foray in Book 14, Voyage of the Jaffa Wind.
• Yugs - Name given to the Nesh Warriors by their natural enemy, the Snowfolk. First reference: Book 33, Flight of the Blue Serpent.
• Zor - Bronze giant from the long-lost past of Droon, Zor is destructive and menacing. In Jaffa City, Sparr finds the Amulet of Zor, a magical object that can reanimate Zor. His tomb lies in the legendary Dust Hills of Panjibarrh, which we see in Book 6, The Sleeping Giant of Goll, though the first reference to Zor is in Book 5, The Great Ice Battle.

Family members

These characters are parents of Eric, Neal and Julie:

• Mr. & Mrs. Hinkle, Eric's parents - Eric's parents are often part of the adventure, in one way or another, usually without knowing it. Mrs. Hinkle later is seen to have been in possession of a magical object of great power. Both Hinkle parents go to Droon at several points in the saga. First appearance: Book 1, The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet.
• Mrs. Kroger, Neal's mother and head librarian at the public library. First reference: Book 19, The Coiled Viper.
• Mr. & Mrs. Rubin, Julie's parents Seldom seen but loving parents of Julie. In Book 15, The Moon Scroll, the Rubins plan to move away, but Eric's new-found power alters this situation in Book 16, The Knights of Silversnow.

Places

The characters go to many places throughout the series. The prominent places are

Outside Droon

• Upper World (our world - Earth)
• Pesh - Salamandra's city
• Calibaz - The city behind the veil in the Upper World

Droon

• Vanishing Tower of Galen Longbeard
• Jaffa City, capital city of the land of Droon
• Farne Woods, home of the oracle Portentia
• Ice Hills of Tarabat
• Castle of Silversnow
• Homeland of the Orkins
• Bangledorn Forest, home of Ortha and the Bangledorn monkeys
• Forest of Bells
• The Ring of Giants
• Saladian Plains
• Flying City of Ro
• Kalahar Valley, also known as the Vale of Diamonds, annual home of the flying city of Ro
• Mountain of the Firefrogs
• Lumpland deserts, home of Khan and the purple Lumpies
• Iron Gate to Kano
• Forbidden City of Plud, one of Lord Sparr's palaces
• Plud Lake, perpetually frozen
• Land of Kano, northern Goll
• The Volcano Palace of Lord Sparr
• Grimpen Marsh
• Tortu, the magic city in motion
• Thousand Mile Plains, leading to the Pink Mountains of Saleef
• Kubar Lake and Kubar River
• Zorfendorf Castle
• Island of Mikos
• Treasure Fortress of Queen Bazra
• Morka, home of the hog elves and the soarwings
• Agrah-Voor, home of the fallen heroes of Droon
• Dust Hills of Panjibarrh, homeland of the Oobja mole people ruled over by King Batamogi and his nine brothers
• The Valley of Pits
• Tarkoom, the Hawk Bandits' Lair
• The Stone Mills of Feshu, prison for the hog elves cursed by Sparr
• Land of Mintar, southeastern Goll
• Sea Palace of Witch Demither
• The Serpent Sea
• Mountain of Kahfoo
• City of the Fog Pirates
• Num's Island
• Horns of Ko
• Doobesh City in the land of Doobeshi, home of the Doobeshians
• Underworld, reached through the pit in which Lord Sparr fell
• Parthnoop, City of the Genies, located on the bright side of Droon's moon.
• City of Ut

Sequels and possible TV series

Tony Abbott has revealed on his blog that there could be a sequel series of seven books based on the Seven Cities of Gold. Nickelodeon has even expressed interest in doing a three to four season television series based on the books.