An unnamed traveler and writer from Poland who abandoned her psychology studies due to a distaste for static personality profiling. She compulsively travels, supporting herself with temporary jobs, and attends anatomical exhibits worldwide. Driven by a fascination with preserved bodies and unusual phenomena, she uses these encounters to shape her travel writing and fictional stories.

A publishing house salesman from Warsaw vacationing on a small Croatian island with his family. Raised in a society that suppresses emotion, he expects order and predictability in his life. He experiences extreme stress and disorientation when his domestic routine shatters due to his family's sudden disappearance.

An academic and anatomist focused on preserving the human form. He catalogues collections, seduces young female students to photograph them nude, and seeks access to a specific deceased professor's laboratory.

A 17th-century Belgian scholar and anatomist. After an infection forces the amputation of his leg, he preserves the limb in a jar and obsesses over dissecting it to understand his phantom pain.

Kunicki's wife, who vanishes during a family trip to Croatia. She acts in vague and inconsistent ways that directly challenge her husband's desire for rational explanations and stability.

The young child of Kunicki and Jagoda. He stays with his mother during their vacation and disappears alongside her.

A resident of the Croatian island of Vis. He acts as the host for Kunicki's family and assists in the search efforts before involving the local police.

A traveler who dedicates her time to documenting instances of animal mistreatment globally. She compiles this research as evidence of humanity's destructive tendencies.

A depressed ferry boat captain living on a remote island. A former sailor incarcerated in a foreign country, he reads *Moby-Dick* and feels entirely alienated from conventional civilization, longing for the open sea.

A young ruler who inherits a kingdom from his father. He prioritizes his luxurious harem and the children under his care over political stability, making him paranoid about his council of advisors.

The mother of the young sultan. She develops a strategic escape route for him when a neighboring kingdom threatens their people.

The confident, 60-year-old widow of Professor Mole. A botanist and vegetarian, she searches for an academic capable of continuing her late husband's preservation work while heavily testing their boundaries.

An influential anatomist who died in a boating accident. He developed advanced plastination techniques that allow for highly realistic preservation of biological subjects.

A historical figure who rose from slavery to become a respected courtier. After his death, his body is preserved and put on display in Emperor Joseph II's collection in Vienna.

The daughter of Angelo Soliman. She writes desperate letters to the Emperor, demanding the return of her father's preserved body so he can receive a proper Catholic burial rather than remain a museum piece.

The heir to Emperor Joseph II of Austria. He controls the royal collection of preserved human bodies and fields requests regarding their display.

A respected academic and student of Philip Verheyen. He remains loyal to his mentor even as Verheyen becomes increasingly reclusive and fixated on his amputated limb.

A legendary historical anatomist. He uses a mysterious, highly effective preserving liquid to create realistic anatomical displays and hosts theatrical public dissections that treat science as a social event.

The daughter of Frederik Ruysch. She works closely with her father in his anatomical laboratory and is deeply invested in the specimens they prepare together.

The ruler of Russia who travels to Europe and becomes fascinated by Frederik Ruysch's collection of preserved specimens, deciding to purchase it for his own country.

A mother living in a cramped apartment with her chronically ill son and a husband suffering from depression. Overwhelmed by her domestic responsibilities, she escapes her static life by aimlessly riding the metro trains.

The son of Annushka. He suffers from a debilitating condition characterized by severe pain and immobility, requiring constant care and painkillers.

A homeless woman living in the underground metro stations. She wears layers of cloth and advises Annushka on how to abandon conventional society by simply forgetting her address.

A Polish-born scientist working on ecosystem stabilization through directed poisons. She lives on an island with strict biocontamination laws but returns to Poland after a man from her past contacts her.

A disgraced, divorced political figure living in Poland. Suffering from a terminal illness, he reaches out to his high school sweetheart to request a final favor.

A young man from Serbia who feels a compulsive urge to travel. He distrusts the history of the places he visits, preferring constant movement over settling in any one location.

A celebrated composer and pianist. Before his death, he makes specific requests regarding his funeral music and asks that his heart be removed and preserved.

The sister of Fryderyk Chopin. She navigates institutional barriers and takes drastic measures to ensure her brother's heart is returned to Poland according to his wishes.

A newly retired Hellenic studies academic. Exhibiting signs of dementia and physical decline, he delivers lectures on the cruise ship *Poseidon* while relying heavily on his wife.

A religious studies academic married to the elderly Hellenic studies professor. She assists him with his cruise ship lectures while resenting his dependence on her.