Adon Coborlwitz

Adon is arrogant, theatrical and cowardly. He constantly advertises the supposed martial heritage of the Coborlwitz family, inventing grand names and ancient histories for techniques that are often simple tricks.

He readily takes credit for success but avoids responsibility for failure. When his troops suffer enormous losses, Adon prefers excuses and self-justification to acknowledging his own poor judgment.

Adon is also willing to exploit an opponent's vulnerabilities and ignore honorable combat whenever doing so might secure victory. This repeatedly places him in contrast with more disciplined Tudor soldiers such as Boscogne.

Adon is a trained knight with considerable resilience, even if his claims vastly exceed his actual ability. He survives injuries and defeats that would remove many ordinary soldiers from battle.

His so-called Coborlwitz techniques include surprise attacks, concealed weapons, feints and other tricks presented as ancient family secrets. Their effectiveness varies considerably.

Adon can fight competently against ordinary opponents, but Casca and Guts both substantially outclass him. His greatest battlefield advantage is persistence rather than exceptional skill.

Adon encounters Guts and Casca during a Tudor engagement and pursues them after they become separated from the Band of the Hawk. When Guts remains behind to give Casca time to escape, Adon sends a large force after him.

Guts defeats roughly one hundred of Adon's men during the pursuit, creating the battle that earns him the reputation of the Hundred Man Slayer.

Adon later returns to Doldrey, where Boscogne berates him for wasting soldiers on a personal vendetta and removes him from effective field command.

During the Band of the Hawk's attack on Doldrey, Adon confronts Casca again. Despite using deception and exploiting her earlier physical weakness, he is defeated decisively as the Hawks seize the fortress.

Casca is Adon's principal recurring opponent. He repeatedly underestimates her and resorts to dirty tactics when straightforward combat fails.

Guts becomes Adon's enemy during the pursuit of Casca. Guts destroys the large force sent after him, humiliating Adon and establishing his Hundred Man Slayer reputation.

General Boscogne is Adon's superior at Doldrey and openly despises his cowardice and wasteful command.

Samson Coborlwitz is Adon's younger brother and fellow Tudor warrior. Samson joins the pursuit of Guts and is killed during the Hundred Man battle.

Griffith commands the Band of the Hawk forces whose campaigns repeatedly bring Adon into conflict with Casca and Guts.