Tracker is a mercenary with a magical sense of smell and a distinctive wolf eye. He possesses enchantments that make him immune to specific weapons, poisons, and witchcraft. Carrying deep-seated trauma from an abusive childhood, he is a fiercely independent, explicitly bisexual warrior who holds a deep distrust of women and authority.

Leopard is a shapeshifter who can transform seamlessly between human and feline forms. He works as a mercenary and draws Tracker into the central quest to find a missing boy. He is deeply entangled with Tracker in a fraught, hypermasculine relationship, frequently inspiring intense jealousy in his other lovers.

Sogolon is a powerful Moon Witch who acts as the primary organizer and guide of the questing party. She harbors numerous secrets regarding the true nature of their mission and the identity of the boy they seek. Her commanding presence and secretive nature directly challenge Tracker's deep-seated misogyny, leading to frequent verbal sparring.

Mossi is a prefect and soldier from a distant eastern, monotheistic land. He carries a curved sword and stands out due to his lighter complexion and exotic scent of myrrh. He brings a rare sense of kindness, empathy, and moral grounding to the violent world Tracker navigates.

Aesi, also known as the god butcher in black wings, is a terrifyingly powerful witchman and sorcerer. He serves as the primary enforcer and adviser for the King, possessing the ability to invade minds, command dark forces, and possess massive crowds. He acts as a looming, malevolent threat to the party's mission.

The Buffalo is a highly intelligent, non-verbal animal who joins the questing party without any logical explanation. He provides a bizarrely comedic and steadfast presence in an otherwise grim and violent world, actively protecting Tracker and other members of the fellowship.

The Inquisitor is an unseen, unnamed figure who interrogates Tracker about a series of violent events. He attempts to extract a linear, truthful confession, prompting Tracker to diverge into complex, sprawling stories about his life.

Sangoma is an Antiwitch and healer who provides a safe haven for mingi, or stigmatized, children in the enchanted woods. She teaches Tracker fragmentary magic and places a lasting, protective enchantment on him that shields him from certain supernatural threats.

Kava is a boy from Tracker's childhood who introduces him to sexual intimacy and the broader world outside his abusive home. He guides Tracker through the bush but struggles with intense jealousy regarding Tracker's growing connection to Leopard.

Sadogo is an extremely large Ogo, or giant, with a melancholic demeanor and a traumatic history as a slave, executioner, and pit fighter. Despite his violent past and imposing physical presence, he frequently shares long, oversharing stories about his life and struggles with severe night terrors.

Fumeli is Leopard's new lover and archer. He follows the questing party and actively attempts to drive a wedge between Leopard and Tracker, utilizing manipulation to maintain his hold over the shapeshifter.

Amadu is a wealthy slaver who assembles the fellowship of mercenaries to find a missing boy. Tracker deeply despises him due to his profession, though the slaver's funds and maps are necessary to initiate the journey.

Nyka is Tracker's former traveling companion and lover who previously betrayed him to a pack of hyenas, resulting in the loss of Tracker's eye. He operates as a mercenary and maintains a highly volatile, antagonistic dynamic with Tracker.

Bunshi is a Popele, a floor-birthed creature revered by some as a river goddess. She possesses significant magical abilities, controlling water and interacting with massive aquatic creatures, and holds vital information regarding the boy's origins.

The Boy is the central objective of the party's quest. Believed initially to be a slaver's lost property, he is actually a child of immense political importance who leaves a trail of supernatural chaos and monsters in his wake.

Lissisolo is the King's sister and a vital figure in the political framework of the realm. Exiled and imprisoned by her brother, she operates through proxies like Sogolon to secure the safety of her hidden child.

Nsaka is a tall, imposing woman who joins the questing party. She is fiercely loyal to Nyka, who freed her from slavery, and acts as a capable fighter in the dangerous lands they traverse.

Bibi is a former mercenary who previously rode with the elite Seven Wings. She now serves the slaver Amadu Kasawura and travels with the party into the deeply dangerous Uwomowomowomowo valley.

Tracker's father is a violently abusive man who creates a hostile home environment. His brutal treatment of Tracker and his wife directly causes Tracker to flee his village and live in the wilderness.

Tracker's mother endures horrific domestic abuse at the hands of her husband. Following a violent physical confrontation between Tracker and his father, she exiles Tracker from their home, severing his ties to his family.

Tracker's uncle is a wealthy man with six wives. He embodies the rigid traditions and deep prejudices of his people, viewing stigmatized children as curses that must be violently destroyed.

Venin is a young girl originally intended to be a ritual sacrifice. After being rescued by the fellowship, she travels with them, falling under Sogolon's guidance and learning rune magic.

Kwash Dara is the reigning King who seized power and imprisoned his sister to secure his throne. He employs dark forces, including the necromancer Aesi, to maintain his rule and hunt down threats to his lineage.

Smoke Girl, later named Khamseen, is one of the mingi, or stigmatized, children protected by Sangoma. Plagued by magical nightmares until Sangoma removes a curse, she forms a strong, silent attachment to Tracker.