Ahmad ibn Fadlan is the primary narrator and protagonist of Eaters of the Dead. The novel is presented as an authentic manuscript detailing Ahmad’s journey from Baghdad to Scandinavia. Although Ahmad ibn Fadlan is a real historical figure who did make a similar journey and documented his experiences, the character of Ahmad diverges from reality when he becomes a part of Buliwyf’s band of warriors. At this point, Ahmad is no longer the central figure in the novel. He is the narrator, and he is actively involved in the plot, but largely observes the events of the story and is incidental to the way in which the plot unfurls. Ahmad is present in the kingdom of Rothgar to satisfy the prophecy of an old soothsayer, foreshadowing how Ahmad becomes integrated into Norse culture over the course of the novel. Buliwyf becomes the primary agent of the story, leaving Ahmad to become the witness to the events and the person who turns a Buliwyf’s story into a legend. Ahmad’s role in the fictional part of the story is to witness and record so that he can share the legend of Buliwyf with the world.