Introduction
The Banner Saga features a flurry of scripted events which, if you make the wrong choices, can strip you of playable characters. Such permanent-deaths can only occur due to story events and decisions, but never through a knock-out during tactical combat. What follows is a list of the playable characters, when they join the story and the circumstances under which they can be killed or dismissed (i.e. leave the story). Here be HEAVY SPOILERS!
"Invincible" Characters
These are characters who always join the caravan and will not leave it after they join.
NPC
- Ubin is the main POV character in Chapter 1. He also appears in Chapters 3, 6 and 7, but he can never be used in a battle.
- Juno is found (apparently) dead in Ridgehorn in Chapter 3. In the beginning of Chapter 5, she briefly appears in a mysterious dream-like sequence. Finally, she re-appears in the end of the game, in Boersgard, to help Rook's caravan defeat Bellower but she does not actively take part in the battle.
Playable
- Hakon briefly appears in Chapter 1 and is the main POV character in Chapter 3. Depending on the circumstances, he might appear in a fight in Chapter 5. He finally re-appears at the end of the game.
- Iver joins Rook's caravan in Chapter 2, in Skogr, and stays until the end. In the end of Chapter 4, Iver receives a near-mortal wound and becomes unavailable for a short time.
- Tryggvi is a pre-order exclusive character that joins Rook's caravan in Chapter 2, in Skogr, and stays until the end.
- Oddleif joins Rook's caravan in Chapter 2, in Skogr, and stays until the end. She gets injured during Onef's mutiny in Chapter 6 and becomes unavailable for a short time, when she is considered dead.
- Eyvind is rescued from Ridgehorn in Chapter 3. He then joins Rook's caravan in the end of Chapter 4, during the siege of Einartoft, and stays until the end.
Final Battle
The minimum number of Heroes you can have right before the final battle of the game is six: Rook, Alette, Iver, Oddleif, Eyvind and Hakon. Those who pre-ordered can also have Tryggvi.
Characters Who Can Die/Leave
The characters in this section can join the caravan (some of them always do) but there are scripted events that might lead to their death, dismissal or departure. The joining and well as the departing conditions are mentioned. The characters are listed in the order they appear along the story.
Chapter 1
- Gunnulf follows Ubin, and is one of the first units to join your caravan in Chapter 1. He re-appears in Chapter 3 where he will be killed if not ordered to let go of the treasure-cart; this is the only event where he can be killed or dismissed. Under specific circumstances, he might appear for one fight near the end of Chapter 4. Finally, he joins Rook's caravan in Chapter 6 along with Ubin and stays until the end.
- Eirik briefly appears in Chapter 1 and, if you treated him respectfully, he joins Hakon's caravan in Chapter 3. Later in that chapter, he wants to leave to accompany some refugees back to Strand. Try to prickle his honor to make him stay. If he is convinced to stay, he will join Rook's caravan in the end of Chapter 7, in Boersgard.
- Valgard appears just for the Nobleman battle in Chapter 1 and you will see him no more.
- Mogr follows Vognir and Hakon. He appears in Chapter 1 and, mainly, in Chapter 3. He can be killed in numerous ways, near the end of Chapter 3, during the caravan's escape from the Dredge siege of Ridgehorn. Under specific circumstances, he might appear for one fight near the end of Chapter 4. He finally re-appears in the end of the game, in Boersgard, along with Hakon.
Chapter 2
- Rook will be killed in the end of the game, in the fight against Bellower, if he carries the silver arrow.
- Alette will be killed in the end of the game, in the fight against Bellower, if she carries the silver arrow.
- Egil is by far the most kill-able character of the game, so there is a special achievement in the game for keeping him to the end! He joins Rook's caravan in Chapter 2 and can be killed shortly afterwards, in Skogr, if you falter in shooting a Dredge attacking Alette with Rook's bow. He will be slain by Onef outside Frostvellr if you try to ambush the supply-wagon and fail in the ensuing battle. He will be killed by Dredge in Chapter 5, during their second day in Einartoft, if Rook tries to help on the bridge but does not actually take part in the battles. Finally, if you accept Onef in your caravan in Chapter 4, the resulting mutiny will kill Egil in Chapter 6.
- Hogun joins Rook's caravan if you do not side with the villagers. Note that he will be killed if you side with him and his brother against the villagers but lose the battle. He can also be killed outside Frostvellr, in the end of Chapter 2, if you rest too long outside the city and leave the mob unattended. Finally, Hogun will be killed in Chapter 6, if you persist in trying to cut through the Dredge in the Summer Path, south of Einartoft.
- Mogun joins Rook's caravan if you do not side with the villagers. Note that he will be killed if you side with him and his brother against the villagers but lose the battle. He can also be killed outside Frostvellr, in the end of Chapter 2, if you rest too long outside the city and leave the mob unattended.
Chapter 3
- Ludin appears in Chapter 1 where he is the only witness to Vognir's demise. He becomes available for fights as part of Hakon's caravan in Chapter 3, where he continuously annoys Hakon. He can be knocked-out and packed-off to Grofheim (along with his followers, Yrsa and Bersi) in order to keep him safe from the unforeseen dangers that arise. If he comes to Ridgehorn, he will not want stay in the ruined fortress after the Dredge lay siege on it, and he will leave immediately with all his retinue. If you allow him that (by not knocking him out), he is waylaid by Dredge and will be killed if you don't run to rescue. If he survives these ordeals, he silently appears in end of Chapter 4 and finally appears in the end of the game, in Boersgard.
- Yrsa is part of Ludin's retinue. She briefly appears in Chapter 1 and joins Hakon's caravan in Chapter 3. She will leave the caravan if allowed to start forest fires before Ridgehorn; else, she follows Ludin. She will stay in your caravan for the following fights, even if you knock-out the annoying prince, while under siege in Ridgehorn. If she survives these ordeals, she silently appears in end of Chapter 4 and finally appears in the end of the game, in Boersgard.
- Bersi is Ludin's bodyguard and joins Hakon's caravan in Chapter 3. He joins/leaves your caravan along with him. He will stay in your caravan for the following fights, even if you knock-out the annoying prince, while under siege in Ridgehorn. He finally appears in the end of the game, in Boersgard, if Ludin makes it there.
- Griss can be allowed to join Hakon's caravan to redress his honor after offending Hakon. If you refuse to let him help, and lose one of the following Wars against the Dredge, Griss' body will be found among the slain. Under special circumstances, he appears for one fight in Chapter 4. He is also available at the end of the game, in Boersgard.
- Fasolt joins the Hakon's caravan midway into Chapter 3 and Rook's caravan near the end of Chapter 4. He is in charge of the Varl forces that defend the bridge of Einartoft and dies (or his fate is unknown) after the Dredge siege in Chapter 5. You can have a part on his demise, or not. He is the only playable character that can also appear as an enemy.
Chapter 4
- Onef might briefly appear in the end of Chapter 2 and can be allowed to join Rook's caravan in the start of Chapter 4. However, much later in the game, he will attempt a mutiny and kill Egil (if he is still around). After that mutiny, he will be killed by Alette, locking you out of the Innocent achievement.
- Ekkill might briefly appear in the end of Chapter 2 and can be allowed to join Rook's caravan in Chapter 4, after they leave Frostvellr. Alternatively, he can be taken as a prisoner, in which case he is not playable. These events will only happen if you have accepted Onef beforehand. After Onef's mutiny, Ekkill can be killed, dismissed or, if he was a prisoner, he can be allowed to join.
- Krumr joins Rook's caravan in Chapter 4, in Wyrmtoe. In Chapter 5, and if the caravan leaves Einartoft without meddling with the bridge, Krumr will decide not to follow Rook. Strangely, if you go against Jorundr's bidding and decide to destroy the bridge, Krumr will help you. If he follows beyond Einartoft, he briefly leaves Rook's caravan in Chapter 6 for a recklessly dangerous mission, but fortunately returns safe. Finally, he can die in the defense of Boersgard, in Chapter 7, if he's left to handle the Dredge.
Chapter 6
- Nid can be asked to join Rook's caravan in Chapter 6, if you allow Oddleif train archers from women of the caravan from Chapter 4. Nid can die if you are defeated in a particular battle that takes place near Highpass, returning to a small village to help the peasants fight off a Dredge attack. This battle can be entirely avoided thus lifting the danger of having the (quite weak) Nid die in her first battle.
- Sigbjorn is the last playable character encountered in the game. He can be allowed to join Rook's caravan near the end of the game, in a mead-related event in Reynivik. Sigbjorn can be unceremoniously dumped to his drunken fate but, in any case, he will leave the caravan upon arriving in Boersgard, where he rejoins the Ravens.