Age (from most recent book): 27/28

Hometown: Camorr

Ethnic descent: Therin/Vadran

Physical Appearance: Courtesy to his mixed heritage, Locke’s skin colour is somewhat lighter compared to his pureblood Camorri peers. He’s slightly built with short, dark brown hair and light grey eyes. He is described as ‘a man the gods might have shaped to be deliberately overlooked’ with a face neither ‘handsome nor memorable.’

Status/Occupation: Garrista of the Gentlemen Bastards, priest of the Thirteenth, Crooked Warden.

Personal History

Locke enters the book as a five-year-old orphan; anything prior to that is uncertain, though a few matters are discussed: it is clear that he was an orphan before the Catchfire plague and an apt thief (‘Someone taught him to charm a coat… I never found out who it was. The boy claimed he taught himself, but that’s crap.’ – page 11). However, his orphaned status is bought into question later when Locke admits to Jean ‘I might not even be a real one… My father went away when I was very little; I don’t remember him.’

After the Catchfire plague peters out Locke surreptitiously joins the Shades’ Hill orphans, under the corrupt authority of the Thiefmaker, where he stays for a year and hones his basic thieving skills, getting into copious amounts of trouble that eventually earns him a death-mark from Capa Barsavi.

Instead of slitting his throat, the Thiefmaker sells him to Father Chains, where Locke becomes an unofficial affiliate of the god Perelandro, an official disciple of the Nameless Thirteenth and a member of the gang, the Gentlemen Bastards.

Events during his teenage years are still shrouded in mystery (to be revealed in the third book), though we know at some point he is ordained as a priest, falls in love with fellow gang member, Sabetha Belacoros, becomes garrista of the Gentlemen Bastards, acts within a series of plays and runs four successful schemes, two of them referred to as ‘Jasmer’ and ‘Espara’.

Brief Description

Locke is a thief, a con man extraordinaire, a false facer; indulging in confidence games so proficient and discreet they evade detection from crime lords and noblemen alike. His daring, assertive nature – aided by cunning, wit and an infuriatingly silver tongue – are his most lethal weapons (his slight build leaves him somewhat disadvantaged in combat). However, this audacity frequently blossoms into uninhibited arrogance that appears to peak during his early teens. This, combined with his stubbornness, leads him to make decisions that have a negative impact on anyone unfortunate enough to be caught in his line of fire.

Locke is fluent in several languages, he reads and writes like a scholar, has extensive knowledge of history, mathematics and literature and is more than proficient in the art of etiquette, including dining with any manner of company and preparing ornate cuisine. Yet this gentlemanly façade is quickly replaced with
ruthlessly clever insults when Locke is provoked.

Locke views his fellow gang mates as brothers, a bond that transcends blood and oath. Chains is nothing short of a father to him. The details of his and Sabetha’s relationship are yet to be revealed, though it is clear his feelings toward the woman are bittersweet; Lynch overtly suggests a rivalry/love affair between
the two.

Quotes

‘I just have to keep you here…until Jean… shows up!’

‘To us – richer and cleverer than everyone else!’

Extras

[Spoiler] It is also known that ‘Locke Lamora’ is not his real name; the truth of the matter is yet to be revealed. ‘Lamora’ means ‘shadow’ in Throne Therin.
[Spoiler] Locke Lamora’s character is loosely inspired by Locke Cole from Final Fantasy VI. He is a thief, but prefers to be called a "Treasure Hunter." Lynch said: ‘Locke's first name is a homage to a character in SquareSoft's Final Fantasy VI, also known as Final Fantasy III in the United States. This game had a huge influence on me when I was in my mid-teens; I think it's one of the most brilliant and heartbreaking console roleplaying games ever created, a real work of art.’

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