So there were four other spirits besides Bartimaeus that were in bart's employ. They were:

• Affa
• Methys
• Penrenutet
• Teti

From what little info we received, they were all similarly faithful to Ptolemy and when Kitty Jones was reading up on Ptolemy herself, her book said that he had an "unusual bond" with them.

We know that Affa occasionally did spy work for them:

wrote:By night I floated on the winds above the palace, conversing with the djinn.

"What news?"

"News, Bartimaeus, of the king's son. His brow is heavy with wrath and fear. He mutters daily that Ptolemy might send a demon to destroy him and seize the throne. The danger pulses in his temple like a beating drum."

"But my master lives only for his writing. He has no interest in the crown."

"Even so. The king's son chews on the problem late at night and over wine. He sends emissaries out in search of men that might aid him quash this threat."

"Affa, I thank you. Fly well."

"Fly well, Bartimaeus."

And we also know that Affa was the one who gave Ptolemy the information he needed for his Gate idea to work:

wrote:As usual, the merest mention of the Other Place was enough: my master's eyes sparkled with a far-off light; his face became dreamy and reflective. "Rekhyt, my friend," he said, "you have told me much, but there is more that I wish to learn. I believe that a few more weeks' work will suffice. Affa has had some experience with the shamans of a distant land; he is advising me on their methods of departing their body. When you return - well, let us wait and see."

We also know that when Bart was away it was Penrenutet who was given the task of protecting Ptolemy, and even took his form as well:

wrote:"Penrenutet's last task was to take my guise and ride south along the old highway. He let himself be seen. The spies will be following his caravan. So you see, dear Rekhyt, I have thought of everything." He motioned to me. I stepped into the circle.

But that's about it really, which is honestly too bad. What do you guys think their personalities were like in life? What do you think would have happened if Bartimaeus wasn't in fact the only spirit from that day to survive?

It would certainly be confusing if there were several spirits in the Ptolemy-guise running around.

It sounds more like Penrenutet was just taking the guise of Ptolemy to fool the enemy, not for devotion. Besides, Bartimaeus never took Ptolemy's form until after Ptolemy had died.

Yes, but if other surviving spirits felt the same about Ptolemy as Bartimaeus did, would't they also want to take his guise?

Maybe. But of course they're all dead except Barti

Yes, but in this hypothetical situation they're not.

Guess so

Didier wrote:It sounds more like Penrenutet was just taking the guise of Ptolemy to fool the enemy, not for devotion. Besides, Bartimaeus never took Ptolemy's form until after Ptolemy had died.

Yes he did. Don't you remember that scene with the assassins at the beginning of Ptolemy's Gate? Someone even animated it if I recall.

Oh yeah I forgot about that! Still, that was a calculated plan for Ptolemy's defense

True, but it wasn't the only time Bartimaeus took his form to protect him from assassins, I am fairly certain.

Besides, you could argue the same thing for Penrenutet; it was indeed a calculated plan to draw Ptolemy's enemies eyes away while he performed the experiment with Bartimaeus.

I wonder if the other sprits would have done the same as Bartimaeus, had they survivied.

Imagine Bart and Penrenutet later running into each other both in Ptolemy's form and it's just all like

"Well...one of us is going to have to change."