Marina du Willet

Marina du Willet

Full Name: Marina du Willet (written "Marina Willet" in the novels; see Notes on Spelling and Rank) Titles: Lieutenant Commander (later Commander), Cannoneer, Commando, Earned Noble

Marina du Willet was a Commander and cannoneer serving aboard the airship the Liliana. Outwardly one of the most capable and personable members of the crew, she was ultimately revealed to be an agent of the Wyranth Empire, having infiltrated the Liliana under false pretenses. Her story, as recorded across For Steam and Country, The Blood of Giants, The Fight for Rislandia, The Iron Wedding, and The Crystal Conspiracy, encompasses loyalty, deception, addiction, and the possibility of redemption. Despite her past betrayals, she was described by Zaira von Monocle as her closest friend among the Liliana's crew.

Marina grew up in a small Wyranth village. She was taken from her parents at a young age by the Wyranth secret police, who identified her aptitude for espionage and enrolled her in a Wyranth spy training program. In her own words: "The secret police pried me from my parents at a young age when they saw I had aptitude as a spy." She had a beau during her time in the agency. She also had a past romantic relationship with a man named Sacha, who was killed by Rislandians.

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Description

Marina was a striking figure in her black uniform with purple stripes, identical in style to that worn by Captain Talyen von Cravat. She wore a small pin of red and gold bearing angelic wings and a Crown of Malaky pendant. She had beautiful flowing red hair, light freckles beneath hazel eyes, and crimson brows. Observers noted that her uniform remained crisp and without a wrinkle even after combat. Mrs. Gentry described her simply as "a military woman."

In The Blood of Giants, Marina's appearance had changed noticeably: she was described as having long dark hair and a square chin, with more accented cheekbones due to weight loss, and she looked pale and thinner than before.

In The Fight for Rislandia, she was described as "a darker-haired woman in Grand Rislandian Army grays."

In The Iron Wedding, she was described as a beautiful woman with dark hair and a strong chin.

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Role Aboard the Liliana

Marina held a dual function aboard the Liliana: she served as both a cannoneer and a commando. She was stationed among the cannoneers in the cannoneer's hall and was also capable of rappelling with commando teams. She used nautical terminology in the course of her duties—referring to the front of the ship as "fore"—and was comfortable operating on the bridge, where she was observed standing before a dashboard fitted with a strange cone-shaped protrusion. She had also piloted the Liliana on at least one occasion.

Captain von Cravat promoted Marina to Lieutenant Commander, describing her as the most impressive member of the crew and noting that she reminded her of herself rising through the ranks. By the events of The Blood of Giants, Marina held the rank of Commander and a commission with the Grand Rislandian Army. She had been one of the Liliana's cannoneers for more than two years by the time of The Fight for Rislandia.

During The Fight for Rislandia, Marina took charge of below-decks action during drills and resumed her station as cannoneer after receiving permission from Zaira.

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Role in For Steam and Country

In For Steam and Country, Marina was among the first crew members Zaira von Monocle encountered, greeting Zaira and Matthias du Gearsmith at the top of the ramp to the Liliana. She introduced herself with the words: "Lieutenant Commander Marina Willet, at your service."

Throughout Zaira's time aboard the ship, Marina proved attentive and supportive. She gave Zaira a gold coin from the Ebony Sands Coast, mouthed an apology to Zaira during Captain von Cravat's reprimand, and sat with Zaira in Baron von Monocle's cabin to offer comfort. She told Zaira the story of how Baron Theodore von Monocle met his wife—a tale she had originally heard from Harkerpal—and also related part of the story of Renawl, the One-Eyed King. She counseled Zaira that what she needed was "a balance, someone to guide and teach you," and observed that it was probably safer for Zaira without the weight of a whole airship on her shoulders.

During the ship's operations, Marina signaled the Liliana using a small lantern with a handle and gears, blinking it four times. She shouted news that the crew had sunk the first enemy airship, suggested that Captain von Cravat could whistle the crew back from an enemy vessel, and reported to the captain that Zaira had brought the order to fire the cannons. She was described by Zaira as the most observant person she had ever met.

Marina volunteered as a late addition to the rescue team sent into Wyranth territory. On the hillside, however, she led a company of Wyranth soldiers to capture the rescue team, revealing herself as a spy. Her eyes were dilated in the manner of Wyranth soldiers under the influence of the giant's blood serum. She placed Zaira in solitary confinement in the Wyranth capital dungeon, grabbing Zaira by the wrist, pushing her into a cell behind iron bars, and saying, "A Baronette deserves her fiefdom." She reported tactical information to Ivan, the Iron Emperor and stated that she excelled at espionage. She had displayed great patience in waiting among the crew and may have been responsible for informing the Wyranth of the Liliana's movements—including giving away their location on the first mission—and possibly for the capture of Zaira's father.

At the forest camp, Marina arrived with Wyranth soldiers and put her gun directly against Zaira's head, calling her "Baronette" and noting that Zaira was infamous in the capital. She intended to take the Liliana when it arrived. However, when Zaira appealed to her, Marina faltered—shaking her head as if fighting something off—and ultimately ordered the Wyranth soldiers away, claiming Zaira was a defector who would help secure the others.

After ingesting the vitality ether, Marina was linked to the evolved giant inside the mountain. She thrashed and wailed until she lost consciousness, a state that allowed the creature to alert Wyranth soldiers near the capital.

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Role in The Blood of Giants

In The Blood of Giants, Marina's addiction to the giant's blood serum remained an ongoing complication. She joined the mission to Zenwey across the Golgmarsh Ocean, though she was transported as a special passenger with precautionary quarters locked from the outside. She acknowledged the difficulty of her confinement, saying: "I knew I'd be mostly confined to quarters, but I have to say it's been rough." Dr. Estrella du Clockhand accompanied her as medic. Officially, Marina was a ward of Dr. du Clockhand on this voyage, not a crew member.

Prior to the expedition, Marina had been found causing trouble in the High Street Tavern and was captured by the city guard. She was subsequently moved to Gretoria Asylum, where she was treated with small doses of the Wyranth soldier serum to manage her withdrawal symptoms. Zaira encountered her there and invited her to join the mission.

During the voyage, Marina was observed seated in the mess late at night with Dr. du Clockhand, whom she worked alongside at times. She expressed that she could not sleep after thinking about the action she had missed, and said she missed manning the cannons and the crew there: "I miss it, and everyone." She also expressed doubt about the expedition's lead on the giants. Dr. du Clockhand described her as pleasant company and as a very smart person.

In the desert crossing, the last vial of giant's blood broke in Marina's pack, leaving her past due for her next dose. She felt a persistent sensation she described as rage tugging inside her—"I felt like I was being torn in different directions"—and noted the feeling was different in the desert than it had been in Rislandia. She stepped away from the group during a rest break without explanation and appeared unhappy, her voice weaker than usual.

Marina was inspected by an unarmed Nightman who lifted her face with a long fingernail and was taken away first among the group. She was subsequently acquired by Rhys from a new batch of slaves and put to work in his laboratory. Rhys described her as very smart. She told Rhys everything about the crew and worked alongside Dr. du Clockhand at times. She drank Rhys's enzyme concoction to help with her addiction and monitored his experiment while he and Zaira attended the arena.

During the escape from the Nightmen, Marina participated actively. She grabbed a Nightman guard's arm to allow Rhys to subdue him, took a gun from the subdued guard, fired blind shots at Nightmen from cover of the ship, followed Rhys into the transport ship, and stood on the opposite side of the transport during the arena rescue. She fired her rifle multiple times into the crowd of Nightmen on the arena floor, struck an explosive bag out of the air with her rifle butt in the tunnel, and fired three shots through the roof fabric at a Nightman cutting through it, hitting him at least once. After the crash, she was disarmed and had her arms clasped behind her back by Nightmen until Ethan kicked a guard into the one holding her.

In the desert battle that followed, Marina fought alongside Ethan von Lantern and James Gentry as what Zaira described as an amazing unit. She shot one of the bat-glider pilots, causing the craft to crash into another midair and taking down two with one bullet. She fired a precise shot at the Nightman grappling with Ethan and suggested running to grab weapons during the fighting.

Following the expedition, Marina stood at the midship port railing hand in hand with Rhys and was among the commandos in the Portsgate landing party, described as having fire in her eyes.

After the events of the Zenwey expedition, Marina took a leave of absence. As of Zaira's narration at the close of The Blood of Giants, she had not heard from Marina since.

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Role in The Fight for Rislandia

In The Fight for Rislandia, Marina had returned to active service aboard the Liliana, resuming her station as cannoneer after receiving permission from Zaira. She wore Grand Rislandian Army grays and was described by Zaira as "one of my best friends." She had no established residence in Rislandia City, having only previously been in an institution there.

Marina was called to strategic planning meetings in the mess and participated actively in mission planning. Drawing on her time among the Wyranth, she proposed the subterfuge plan of posing as Wyranth soldiers, saying: "I was among them for a time. I've seen the serum pickups. I could fake being one of them well enough." She was selected by Zaira to drop into Rislandia City along with Ethan von Lantern, descending a rope ladder into the city and flanking Zaira's sides on the ground.

In the city, Marina went to speak with Dr. du Clockhand in the war room and later departed with her to find Rhys. She arrived at the warehouse with Dr. du Clockhand and Rhys, then led them to the second rope ladder and climbed back to the Liliana unharmed. She did not know where to find Rhys at the outset and followed Zaira into the palace, where she was given guest quarters for the night.

Marina fought alongside Zaira during the mine infiltration. She shot the last worker who scrambled for a downed soldier's weapon, flanked the two remaining Wyranth soldiers with Zaira, and guarded the main entrance after the firefight. She said "Disgusting" about the giant blob creature in the pit and expressed satisfaction at its destruction. She noted that she had lived with the giant pushing her actions into violence for weeks, followed by months of withdrawal.

During the battle, Marina woke Zaira on the morning of the engagement and warned her they were low on cannonball supply and would only get a couple of volleys. She was seated beside Rhys in the rear compartment after an explosion and used a spyglass to observe the battle through the hole in the ship. She identified the giant creature rampaging through the troops, informed Zaira that more Rislandian soldiers were running than Wyranth, and suggested coating cannonballs in anti-serum and dumping the rest of the barrel. She was subsequently tasked with gathering the cannoneers.

Marina also participated in the interrogation of a Wyranth prisoner, warning that the serum makes some prisoners go crazy depending on their fortitude and that the prisoner would be of no use in interrogation. She backhanded the prisoner across the face and struck him a second time harder. She was described as having fewer scruples than Zaira and as having fire in her eyes. She told the prisoner that the baronette was in charge.

Marina was observed standing by a bonfire with Rhys, who whispered in her ear and made her giggle. She carried Toby the ferret for Zaira and addressed Zaira as "Baronette." She stated that they would not stop until every last Wyranth was out of the country and asked Zaira where they were headed next.

She acknowledged her debt to Zaira, saying: "I owe you a lot… my life, really."

Conflict noted: Marina is addressed as "Commander Willet" by Ethan and Dr. du Clockhand, but as "Lieutenant Willet" by Zaira and "Commander Willet" (double-t) by Zaira's father in The Fight for Rislandia. The rank discrepancy (Commander vs. Lieutenant) and the spelling "Willet" have been flagged for the author's review.

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Role in The Iron Wedding

In The Iron Wedding, Marina accompanied Zaira into Wyranth Empire territory at Zaira's personal request and was described as Zaira's best friend. She was trusted implicitly by Zaira and had previously accompanied her on the raid of the Wyranth capital to rescue Zaira's father.

Marina was visibly affected by passing through Wyranth territory, staring out into the distance as the landscape of her homeland passed by. She acknowledged that the Wyranth Empire no longer felt like home. She warned Zaira to treat every moment as if under surveillance and gestured silently to caution Zaira that Ivan likely had spies listening in their guest quarters.

During a bandit ambush, Marina demonstrated her marksmanship decisively. She advised Zaira not to fire blindly in order to conserve bullets, suggested stalling until an army vehicle arrived, shot and killed the bandit leader known as "Whiskers" with a rifle, and killed at least one additional bandit during the standoff. She told Zaira: "You have to be the bravest person I've ever met."

Ivan dispatched Marina to meet with his diplomats to verify that airship plans were authentic. She inspected the plans and confirmed they appeared genuine, though she could not interpret the mathematical equations within them. She received the micro-camera containing film of the automatons from Zaira and was subsequently sent back to Rislandia to inform King Malaky XVI. She departed in a horseless carriage with Ivan's permission, offering the salute "For steam and country" before leaving.

Marina greeted Zaira outside the palace upon Zaira's return to Rislandia City and was among those who embraced her in silence.

At Carnait Cove, Marina sat with James Gentry, Talyen von Cravat, and Queen Reina I in the Rislandian delegation. She was assigned to guard Zaira by order of Queen Reina I, carrying a rifle on a strap on her back, and joined Zaira and Ivan in the fortified tower. She told Zaira she hoped Zaira would be allowed to command an airship again when things settled.

During the battle at Carnait Cove, Marina joined the Wyranth soldiers in fighting the Nightmen. She scored a hit on a Nightman immediately while others missed. She shot an explosive bag mid-air with a bullet, causing it to detonate safely away from the tower, and continued firing on Nightmen from the tower wall after the group was trapped. She was described as an excellent sharpshooter.

Marina also noted that her own symptoms from contact with the giant had manifested as a reaction of violence rather than a mental connection—a distinction from the experience of others exposed to the giant's blood serum.

She sat cross-legged on the end of the bed in Zaira's guest quarters and listened patiently to Zaira's account of the day's events. She continued to address Zaira as "Baronette" throughout.

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Addiction and Cure

Marina suffered from addiction to the giant's blood serum, which had exposed her to the psychic influence of an evolved giant and complicated her loyalties. All Wyranth soldiers were reported to have been given the serum. During the Zenwey expedition, Rhys—a scientist among the Nightmen—developed an enzyme cure, referred to as the counter-serum, that successfully freed her from the serum's grip. She experienced violent withdrawals and psychological torment during this period, including a period of confinement at Gretoria Asylum and an episode of causing trouble in the High Street Tavern. She later reflected that she had lived with the giant pushing her actions into violence for weeks, followed by months of withdrawal.

Marina noted that her symptoms from contact with the giant manifested as a reaction of violence rather than a mental connection, distinguishing her experience from that of others affected by the serum.

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Redemption

Following her cure, Marina chose loyalty to the Liliana crew. She became Rhys's romantic partner—Rhys intended to ask for her hand in marriage—and continued to serve with distinction, eventually holding the titles of Commander and Earned Noble. She confided to Zaira that she still did not feel she completely fit in on the ship. Despite her past betrayals, Zaira described her as "my closest friend among the Liliana's crew." In The Fight for Rislandia, she acknowledged her debt plainly: "I owe you a lot… my life, really." By The Iron Wedding, Zaira referred to her simply as her best friend, and Marina had shown utmost loyalty to Zaira for over a year.

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Relationships

• Talyen von Cravat: Marina served under Captain von Cravat, who promoted her to Lieutenant Commander and held her in high regard. In The Iron Wedding, Marina sat with von Cravat in the Rislandian delegation at Carnait Cove.
• Rhys: Rhys developed the enzyme cure for Marina's giant's blood addiction. The two subsequently became romantic partners, and Rhys intended to propose marriage. Marina worked in his laboratory during their time among the Nightmen and told him everything about the crew. In The Fight for Rislandia, the two were observed standing together by a bonfire. Marina noted that Rhys is innovative and enjoys working with Harkerpal.
• Dr. Estrella du Clockhand: Dr. du Clockhand served as Marina's medic during the Zenwey expedition, during which Marina was officially her ward. Du Clockhand described her as pleasant company and addressed her as "Ms. Willet." In The Fight for Rislandia, Marina went to speak with Dr. du Clockhand in the war room and departed with her to find Rhys.
• Harkerpal: Marina and Harkerpal were present together at the inn, and she nudged him to keep him on topic during discussions. The story of Baron von Monocle's wife had originally come to Marina from Harkerpal.

• James Gentry: Marina asked James to escort her back to her cabin during the voyage to Zenwey, and the two fought together in the desert battle against the Nightmen. In The Iron Wedding, she sat with him in the Rislandian delegation at Carnait Cove.

• Queen Reina I: In The Iron Wedding, Queen Reina assigned Marina to guard Zaira personally.
• Toby: Marina carried Zaira's pet ferret Toby off the ship during the events of The Fight for Rislandia.
• Sacha: Marina had a past romantic relationship with a man named Sacha, who was killed by Rislandians. No further details are recorded.

Spoiler: The Crystal ConspiracyClick to reveal

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Notes on Spelling and Rank

Per author-confirmed canon, the correct spelling of this character's surname is Willet (as in Marina du Willet). The novels render this as "Marina Willet." In The Fight for Rislandia, Zaira's father refers to her as "Commander Willet" (double-t); this spelling is not canonical and has been flagged for the author's review.

In A History of Rislandia

A History of Rislandia treats Marina du Willet as a notable figure of the period surrounding the Fantasy War (Years 375-383), devoting a brief but pointed entry to her career. The sourcebook's account largely aligns with the novels but introduces several details not previously recorded on this page, and contains at least one point of tension with the existing record.

Service and Promotion

According to A History of Rislandia, Marina rose through the ranks during what the sourcebook calls "the 18th Year," a designation that does not appear in the novels. The sourcebook confirms that she was promoted to Lieutenant Commander by Captain von Cravat and quotes von Cravat directly: "Of all the crew, I believe Marina impresses me the most." This matches the novels' account of the promotion but frames it as a matter of historical record rather than in-scene dialogue.

Espionage and Conflicted Loyalties

The sourcebook states that Marina was a Wyranth Empire spy sent to infiltrate the Liliana's crew, and that she had been exposed to the evolved giant's psychic influence, which complicated her loyalties. It further states that she "secretly supported Zaira's rescue mission to gather intelligence on Rislandian capabilities"—framing her participation in the rescue mission as having a dual intelligence-gathering purpose, a motivation not explicitly stated in the novels. The sourcebook records that she betrayed the team to Wyranth forces during the rescue mission, though it notes she was conflicted in doing so.

Marina was revealed as a spy during the events of For Steam and Country.

Addiction, Enslavement, and Cure

According to A History of Rislandia, Marina suffered from giant's blood serum addiction symptoms and was enslaved to Rhys, described as "a human Nightmen councilman and scientist," in the Nightmen city. The sourcebook specifies the mechanism of her cure: Rhys's enzyme treatment "broke down the bonded serum in her blood cells, freeing her from the giant's influence." This level of biochemical detail does not appear in the novels.

Character Assessment

A History of Rislandia closes its entry on Marina with the characterisation: "Fierce, loyal, and determined to atone for her past." The sourcebook records her as cured of her giant's blood addiction, the romantic partner of Rhys, and loyal to Zaira von Monocle, and notes that she helped defeat the evolved giant.