OK, so thoughts on a few of the things that jumped out for me, in no particular order...
Iron Bars - poor guy! ICE and SE really have it in for him. Every time we see him he's getting a beating, but really - chained to a table, your chest cut open and a psycho mage squeezing your heart!?! And still he comes out on top and has the strength to challenge Skinner? Don't think I'd like to be Skinner right now - he has to add a seriously angry Bars to the Seguleh 2nd wanting to kill him. Which brings me on to:
Crimson Guard - where do they get their strength / life-force from? We know it's as a result of the vow, but when Ussu is just about to be killed by Bars:
Stonewielder p577-578 said:
Seems to me there's more going on than just the vow. Are the Guard tapping into the strength of a god?
Skinner - yes, he has Iron Bars (and the rest of the Avowed) plus the 2nd wanting to kill him (and his Disavowed), but then he's the King in Chains, has magic armour, and a piece of the Crippled God in a box! Can't wait for that showdown!!!!
Stormriders - so they're good guys really and just wanted to destroy some fragments of the Crippled God which ended up in a box on Fist being defended by the Stormguard on behalf of the Lady? Or have I completely missed the point? Also, there's a nice bit of description of them towards the end if I can find it...yes, here we go:
Stonewielder p604 said:
Some relation to the Liosan?
The Lady - who she? Still not clear to me, but has apparently been working for the Crippled God for millenia.
Kyle - has turned into a serious force, thanks to his sword and friendship with Greymane. Grown up from the kid of RotCG. Hints that the he and his friends the Lost Boys from Assail are going to play a big part in future instalments, and I've got to say I can't wait!
Kiska - bit part player here, but one of ICE's recurring characters so expect her to take centre stage in one of the coming books.
Leoman - we knew he was up to something connected to the Queen of Dreams from Bonehunters. QoD and Agayla obviously trust him, but he still seems to be playing his own game.
Tayschrenn - we don't see him, but it's fairly clear he's still alive and has a big part to play in future books.
There's so much more I haven't remembered yet which will come on a re-read, but plenty to chew on!