Amelia is a popular cloud program host who streams her adventures relocating endangered animals to safer habitats. She lives on the 40th floor of the Met Tower and leverages her massive audience to advocate for environmental causes. Though she often plays up a scatterbrained public persona, she is fiercely dedicated to her mission and bravely faces harassment from extreme activists.

Stefan is a resourceful, orphaned boy who lives in an inflatable boat near the Met Tower. Despite his youth and inability to read, he skillfully searches the flooded ruins of New York for historical artifacts and salvage. He relies on his wits and his close bond with his best friend to survive the harsh intertidal environment.

Roberto is an intrepid, orphaned boy who explores the dangerous submerged zones of the city alongside his friend Stefan. He is an adventurous risk-taker, eager to find sunken treasure and uncover the mysteries hidden beneath the waterline.

Inspector Gen Octaviasdottir is a methodical, traditional detective for the New York Police Department and a former water sumo champion. She resides in the Met Tower and prefers chalkboards over digital policing tools. She leverages her extensive underground network to investigate complex cases of sabotage and disappearances.

Charlotte is a pragmatic attorney specializing in immigration and intertidal law who advocates for displaced refugees. Living in the Met Tower, she actively resists political pressure to restrict the city's growing population. She balances the overwhelming demands of her job with her responsibilities on the building's executive board.

Franklin is an innovative day trader who profits from distressed intertidal real estate using his proprietary pricing index. Initially motivated by the thrill of high-stakes gambling in the market, he begins to rethink his financial philosophy after interacting with other city residents. He possesses a sharp mind for market trends and urban survival.

Vlade is the dedicated building superintendent of the Met Tower, managing its vulnerable submerged levels. He takes pride in keeping the floodwaters out but is haunted by a past tragedy involving a child. He channels his protective instincts into maintaining the co-op and looking out for two orphaned boys who linger near his docks.

Ralph Muttchopf is a financial coder who recently quit his job at a major hedge fund after uncovering illegal activities. He acts as a grounding, pragmatic force for his more volatile partner. He believes in systemic political reform over chaotic disruption.

Jeff Rosen is an idealistic and fiery financial coder who is deeply disillusioned with the global banking system. Driven by a desire to spark a revolution and exact retribution against the wealthy elite, he uses his programming skills to subvert the established financial order, placing himself in extreme danger.

The Citizen is an unnamed, cynical resident who provides omniscient historical context about the city's flooded past. He observes the changing city with a jaded perspective, detailing the climatological failures and capitalist greed that shaped the 22nd-century version of New York.

Idelba is a tough and capable barge worker who helps transport sand to reinforce coastlines. She separated from her husband following a shared family tragedy, but she remains a dependable ally and skilled maritime operator when her expertise is needed.

Mr. Hexter is an elderly man with a massive collection of books and historical maps. He acts as an intellectual guide to the young orphans, helping them research sunken historical artifacts in the flooded ruins of the city.

Jojo is a day trader at the Eldorado firm. While she works in the financial sector, she desires to use her wealth productively to invest in the real economy, a mindset that sets her apart from her more ruthlessly capitalistic peers.

Hector Ramirez is a wealthy and mercenary angel investor who funds lucrative ventures regardless of their social impact. He acts as a father figure to his younger protégés, though his calculating approach to capital represents the entrenched financial elite.

Larry Jackman is the Chairman of the Federal Reserve and a former executive at the Adirondack hedge fund. He holds significant power over the national financial system and faces pressure to use his position to mitigate impending market crashes.

Mayor Galina Estaban is the powerful and controversial mayor of New York City. She frequently clashes with advocates and law enforcement, prioritizing the interests of wealthy uptown developers over the needs of refugees and intertidal residents.

Thabo is a skilled boat pilot and crewmate who assists in operating heavy dredging machinery in the flooded zones of New York.