Ghopal Singh was a Shadar from Taglios serving in the Greys, the law enforcement of the city during the Protectorate years. He was briefly mentioned in Water Sleeps, during which he was the sergeant in charge of the patrols on the north side of the Palace of Taglios. He became the commander of the Greys sometime after his predecessor, Willow Swan, was kidnapped by the Black Company and taken to Hsien. He had a more prominent role in Soldiers Live, during which Mogaba noted Ghopal had a particular flair for enforcing the law. Ghopal was publicly mocked for his penchant for drinking wine.
Soldiers Live[]
As commander of the Greys, Ghopal Singh was mocked by the Taglian public with graffiti of the pejorative nickname "Madhuprlya", which meant "A Friend of the Wine". He was one of the most unpopular minions of Soulcatcher among the Protectorate's leadership.
Along with Mogaba (the Great General) and Aridatha Singh (no relation; commander of the City Battalions), Ghopal formed the triumvirate which plotted to remove Soulcatcher as dictator of Taglios, to create a more stable government.
When Mogaba realized he would lose the Siege of Taglios, he and Ghopal decided to secretly flee from the city, upriver on the great river, on a commandeered fisherman's boat. Their goal was to save face while giving Aridatha Singh the opportunity to stop the battle. They were accompanied by two of Ghopal's unmarried second-cousins. Shortly after disembarking, they were accosted by Soulcatcher's haggard white crow, which demanded that they turn around and continue the fight for the city on her behalf. Mogaba replied in no uncertain terms that he would obey her no more, and, Ghopal swatted the bird with his oar. The next moment, they were swamped by the young sorcerer Tobo's most lethal Unknown Shadows. Ghopal, his two cousins, and Mogaba were tortured extensively and eventually killed by the monsters. Croaker's discovery of their assassinations forced him to realize that Tobo had lost control, and was abusing his power on a misguided quest for revenge for the murder of his parents.