Ridoc Gamlyn

Biography

Fourth Wing

Ridoc Gamlyn enters Fourth Wing as a first-year rider in the Riders Quadrant at Basgiath War College. He is assigned to Second Squad, Flame Section, Fourth Wing, alongside Violet Sorrengail, Rhiannon Matthias, Sawyer Henrick, and the rest of their squad. Violet learns his name quickly because Ridoc makes himself impossible to ignore: he jokes constantly, talks back in class, and uses humor to cut through the fear and brutality of Basgiath.

At first, Ridoc appears to be the squad’s comic relief. He is sarcastic, loud, quick with inappropriate comments, and rarely misses a chance to make a joke. But beneath that humor is real loyalty. During Gauntlet training, he loses his temper when Tynan insults Violet and calls her a liability. It is one of the first moments where Ridoc’s jokes drop away and his protective side becomes clear.

Ridoc survives the early brutality of the Riders Quadrant and proves himself during Presentation and Threshing. After Threshing, he bonds Aotrom, a brown Swordtail dragon. Alongside Violet, Rhiannon, and Sawyer, Ridoc becomes one of the few surviving first-years in their squad, strengthening the bond between the four of them.

As the year continues, Ridoc becomes one of Violet’s closest friends. He celebrates her victories, defends her when others underestimate her, and supports her through dangerous challenges. When Jack Barlowe challenges Violet on the mat, Liam tells Ridoc to guard her while he runs to get Xaden. Ridoc takes that seriously, staying close and trying to help when Jack’s power turns the fight deadly.

Ridoc’s signet manifests before Violet’s. He becomes an ice wielder, able to summon and manipulate ice. While the ability is considered more common than some other signets, Ridoc proves that it can be extremely useful, especially when combined with quick thinking and battlefield awareness.

By the end of Fourth Wing, Ridoc is more than the funny squadmate. He is a survivor, a loyal friend, and a rider who has already proven that his humor does not make him careless. He uses jokes to survive, but when his friends are in danger, he acts.

Iron Flame

In Iron Flame, Ridoc returns as a second-year rider and becomes an even more important part of Violet’s inner circle. He remains sarcastic and irreverent, but the stakes around him grow much darker. The Riders Quadrant becomes more dangerous, Rider Survival Course pushes the squad harder, and the truth about venin and Navarre’s lies begins to fracture everything they thought they knew.

Ridoc’s loyalty to Violet, Rhiannon, and Sawyer becomes one of his defining traits. When Violet finally tells them the truth about venin, Ridoc is hurt that she kept the secret from them, but he does not abandon her. Instead, he reaffirms the bond between the four of them. Their promise to survive until graduation becomes one of the emotional anchors of the group.

Ridoc also proves surprisingly useful outside combat. During discussions about the Archives and the journals of the First Six, he remembers information from the Squad Battle search in General Sorrengail’s office. His knowledge helps push the group toward the vaults and the journals needed to understand the wards. Moments like this show that Ridoc pays attention, even when he acts like he is just there for the jokes.

During Rider Survival Course, Ridoc’s fear of snakes gives his usually joking personality a more vulnerable edge. But the course also shows how fiercely he cares for his friends: when Violet is hurt during interrogation training, he reacts immediately, struggling against his restraints and calling out for her.

After the truth about venin is exposed, Ridoc leaves Basgiath with Violet’s squad and joins the Revolution in Aretia. There, he continues to function as both a morale boost and a practical member of the group. He jokes about danger, complains when situations are absurd, and still steps forward when something has to be done.

One of Ridoc’s most important moments comes during the mission over the Cliffs of Dralor. Because he is one of the best climbers in the group, Violet relies on him to help the others cross a dangerous gap. When the group is attacked, Ridoc is shot and badly injured. Violet refuses to leave him behind, reminding him of their promise that all four of them will live to see graduation.

Ridoc also plays a crucial role during the Battle of Basgiath. When Baide attacks in the wardstone chamber, Ridoc uses his ice wielding to create a wall of ice and protect the others from dragonfire. The act badly burns his hands, but it saves lives. Later in the battle, he and Aotrom fight in the sky, and the attempt to save them leads to Sawyer losing his leg. By the end of Iron Flame, Ridoc has survived again, but the cost of war has become impossible to joke away completely.

Onyx Storm

In Onyx Storm, Ridoc continues to grow as part of Violet’s trusted circle and the Revolution. His humor remains one of his most recognizable traits, but his role is no longer limited to lightening the mood. He becomes a steady presence in a group under constant pressure, helping keep morale intact while still contributing in dangerous situations.

Ridoc’s friendship with Sawyer becomes especially important after Sawyer loses his leg. As Sawyer adjusts to a life-changing injury, Ridoc stays close to him and supports him through the aftermath. Their friendship shows Ridoc’s more grounded side: he may joke constantly, but he does not disappear when things become painful or difficult.

His bond with Violet also deepens. Ridoc is one of the people Violet can trust without hesitation. He does not treat her like a symbol or a weapon; he treats her like a friend. That makes him valuable not only in battle, but emotionally. Ridoc’s loyalty is direct, simple, and consistent.

Across the Empyrean series, Ridoc grows from a sarcastic first-year into a dependable rider and rebel. He never loses his sharp humor, but the books gradually reveal that humor as part of his strength. Ridoc survives fear, grief, injury, and war by staying himself — and by refusing to let his friends face danger alone.