Cuthbert is Roland Deschain's childhood friend and cousin, and a member of his original ka-tet. Cuthbert, often called Bert, is first featured in The Gunslinger, but he does not play a major role in the series until Wizard and Glass, the fourth volume in the series. He is very witty and skilled with a slingshot, although he does also carry the guns of a gunslinger. During the battle of Jericho Hill, Cuthbert is shot through the eye by an arrow fired by Randall Flagg.

Alain is one of Roland's original ka-tet, and along with the gunslinger and Cuthbert is evacuated to Mejis in Wizard and Glass for safety, due to the ongoing war against John Farson. Alain is strong in the 'touch', which appears to be a Mid-World form of telepathy or other mental power.

After Mejis, Alain joined Roland, Cuthbert and Jamie on their quest for the Dark Tower.

Shortly before the battle of Jericho Hill, the last stand by the gunslingers of Gilead against Farson's men, Alain was accidentally killed by Roland and Cuthbert, who mistook him for an assassin in the night.

Patrick appears in Insomnia as a promising child artist, then again at the end of the Dark Tower series as a young adult artist with enough talent to shape the real world as he sees fit. As a young boy, he was prophesied to save two men in the future. He drew pictures of Roland and the roses as well. In the Dark Tower series, he was kept imprisoned for an unknown amount of time by the psychic vampire Dandelo and was rescued by Susannah and Roland. Patrick draws the door that allows Susannah to enter a parallel world, and erases the Crimson King from the Tower, allowing Roland to proceed.

Also known as "Vannay the Wise," he was the other primary tutor of Roland's ka-tet and of apprentice gunslingers. Known mostly for his wisdom and forebearance, Vannay's analytical method of instruction and pacific nature serve as strong counterpoints to the ruthless application of force and cynical thought process exercised by Cort. It is mentioned that he walks with the assistance of a black ironwood cane. His only known realitve was his son Wallace who played with Roland as a toddler ,however he died very young of an illness. Vannay would become one of the many victims to fall prey to the forces of John Farson in the battle for Gilead.