Karl is a Glass Sorcerer of respectable power and a cunning politician. His youth was marked mainly by bitter feuding with his twin brother Niske, and Karl achieved little of note until the two finally ceased bickering - in large part due to the influence of their sister Serafine - and began plotting revolution against their father Lemuel. Their reign was short-lived, and Duke Karl was deposed to become head of the Government-in-exile on the Isle of the Broken Moon. With the defeat of Belor and Selena's armies by the forces of the White City, however, he was reinstated as the ruler of the Port of Glass.
He is less well-liked by the general populace than his brother Niske was, but deals well with the sorcerers, academics, merchants, ambassadors and nobles of the exiled citizenry. He's somewhat of an ascetic, and generally dresses only in black.