Alcendis had a hand in the downfall of the Unity, and afterward in helping the islands find a balance between autonomy and collaboration while also bringing back the Water Seekers as the Dancinglight.
Ard is a Ralcondrian water handler, a child of Vitgrud's Dancinglight, but often overlooked due to being the secondborn.
Gorles is an itinerant Water Seeker, one of the first non-Wringers to earn the title.
As the chief enforcer of the Unity's rule of terror and head of Kezlaf's personal guard, Istlourn has a lot of reputation to live down--and there are many who'd rather he not live to try.
Kezlaf's rule of the Unity was without any of the intended benevolence of the first Uniter. His goal was to create a stratified society with himself, his descendants, and other water-sensitives at the top.