François Facilier

François Facilier, also known as the Shadow Man, was the former royal mage and former King of the Red Kingdom.

Background
Originally from Terra Mater (specifically a place called New Orleans) during the 1920's, Facilier fled from his grandparents' house as a child after setting it on fire. His master later instructed him with collecting souls of his fellow townspeople, although François was outwitted by a girl named Tiana. As a consequence, François's master drags him to Terra Mirabilos with a new mission; to find the one thing his master was looking for. During King Roger and Queen Anita's reign over the Red Kingdom, Facilier becomes the royal mage.

Volume 1
Mela Grimmhilde seeks the position of royal mage, only to find that Facilier has got there first. Anita tells Mela that while she cannot dismiss him, Mela has Anita's permission to assassinate Facilier. Mela attempts to kill Facilier with a shard of magic mirror, only for Facilier to trick her with his shadows - having already learned Mela's plans through Jack - before Facilier transforms Mela into a frog. He later sends Mela, in her frog form, to Corona as a peace offering from the Red Kingdom to Snow White. Facilier receives summons from Anita and gives her the restored magic mirror, warning her not to stare into it for too long. It is also implied that they were having an affair. Later, after Anita's death, Facilier converses with his master about what happens next.

Volume 2
Facilier is still the royal mage when the new Queen Rose is coronated, and is among the Queen's court who travel with her to the White Kingdom. After Rose is warned by her mother Cardia about an oncoming evil, Rose marries Facilier due to his experiences in dark magic and in hopes that he will be able to protect her if the Red Kingdom is attacked. Facilier becomes King, which helps him with his master's task, as he is able to access the secret dungeons where the Onyx Vault resides. Later, he enters the throne room where he finds himself arguing viciously with Rose due to the Maleficence's return. Facilier insists they leave while Rose is adamant that they stay. They both reveal to each other why they agreed to marry, before the Maleficence attacks the palace in dragon form and kills Facilier and Rose. Facilier's last words, begging for his master's help, go unheard.

Family

 * Rose Scarlet (wife)

Trivia

 * He is based on Dr. Facilier from the Disney film, The Princess and the Frog.
 * It is possible that burning down his grandparents' house was his first act of sacrificing souls to his master.
 * As opposed to dying, his "friend on the other side" has him brought to Terra Mirabilos. Therefore, Tiana and the other people of New Orleans at the time assumed Facilier was dead.