Altea is a human woman who first appears as a smuggler operating along the border of Heaven's Lance, where she also owns an underground tavern. Her physical presence is notable, as she is depicted as a tall and powerful figure with short black hair and a familiarity with blades that exceeds that of most men. She is known to carry hidden knives on her person.

Altea's initial encounter with the protagonist Koinzell leaves a strong impression on her. She takes an instant liking to him and attempts to initiate a sexual encounter shortly after their introduction, largely because his eyes remind her of a deceased lover. Her attraction to him persists throughout the narrative, and she later offers herself to him again during a moment of rest and recovery. This boldness is a consistent part of her personality, but it does not define her entire character.

Her motivations are closely tied to a personal tragedy. In the past, a great beast killed her lover. When she later leads Koinzell and his party through a hidden pathway to cross the border, they encounter this same creature. After Koinzell is initially defeated in the fight, Altea is frozen in fear and resigned to death, but the encouragement of a companion helps her hold on until Koinzell revives and slays the monster. This event serves as a pivotal moment in her life, pushing her beyond her past trauma.

Altea's role in the story evolves significantly over time. She begins as a local operator helping smuggle individuals into the territory of the Seven Heroes. After the events in Schtemwolech, she, along with her companions Ato and Peepi, decides to follow Koinzell on his journey. Although they briefly lose his trail at the city of Jullas Abllas, they are reunited during the chaos of the Barestar siege. It is during this siege that Altea demonstrates her most crucial quality as a leader. As the lives she had previously saved through her smuggling operations begin to bicker and draw blades against each other, she steps in and convinces the two factions to unite against the pillaging Barestar army. Her intervention saves many lives and allows the city to hold out until Koinzell kills the hero Barestar.

Following this great battle, the free city of Jullas Abllas nominates Altea as their leader. She is initially reluctant but decides to stay and protect the city as a testament to Koinzell's efforts and his will to defend the empire. As the sit-in lord of Jullas Abllas, her first command is to eliminate the remnants of Barestar's forces hiding in the sewers, as well as a beast that had appeared there.

Altea's key relationships center on her smuggling network and her loyalty to Koinzell. She is close friends with a man named Vid. Her dynamic with Koinzell is complex, mixing genuine loyalty and respect for his mission with a persistent physical attraction. Her relationship with Peepi and Ato is that of a companion and protector, as they all choose to follow the same path together. The people she once helped smuggle across the border also play a critical role in her life, as their gratitude and later their conflict give her the purpose she finds as a leader.

Throughout the story, Altea develops from a smuggler haunted by a lost love into a respected and decisive leader. After feeling that her life had become purposeless, she finds new direction through her journey with Koinzell and, ultimately, through her own actions in saving Jullas Abllas. Her abilities include proficiency with a sword and skill in stealth, as demonstrated by her history of smuggling and her practice of carrying concealed knives. Her true strength, however, lies in her courage, her ability to influence people, and her talent for command, which allows her to unite warring factions and lead a city through crisis.