John Faa

From His Dark Materials

John Faa, also known as Lord Faa, is the King of the Gyptians.

When the Oblation Board starts kidnapping children, he leads 170 of his men to save them from a terrible fate. His dæmon is black raven which often sits on his shoulder. He is known as a brave warrior, respected by all his followers. He is open to advice, and considerate of all. He is a good friend of the elderly Farder Coram.

Though initially against the idea, John Faa eventually decides to take Lyra, to Bolvangar to rescue the missing gyptian children. He is wounded in an ambush where many of his Gyptians are killed, despite the action of Iorek Byrnison, his hired bear. However, he carries out his mission successfully, retrieving the children Lyra helped rescue, and taking them back to England.