Rump is a twelve-year-old boy living in a magical kingdom where a person's name dictates their destiny. His mother died before she could speak his full name, leaving him with an incomplete moniker that he believes causes his unusually short stature. He lives in a small cottage with his grandmother and longs to change his unlucky fate. When he discovers his mother's old spinning wheel, he begins experimenting with the dangerous magic of spinning straw into gold.

Oswald is the local miller who controls the village's food supply. He is a plump man with ten equally well-fed children, standing in sharp contrast to the starving community he oversees. He is highly observant of magical abilities and harbors a deep, remorseless greed that drives him to exploit vulnerable people for personal gain.

Opal is the beautiful daughter of the village miller. She boasts golden hair and ruby lips, resembling a traditional fairy-tale princess, but she demonstrates a vacant and easily flustered personality. While the rest of the village starves, she enjoys a well-fed life under her father's protection. Her limited intelligence makes her highly susceptible to poor decisions and bad bargains.

Red is a fierce and practical girl living in the Village on the Mountain. Superstitious villagers fear her because she is named after a color rather than a traditional name, marking her as an outsider. She possesses a bold temper, feels entirely comfortable walking through the eerie Woods, and acts as a steadfast protector for those she values.

Gran is a frail, deeply loving woman who raises her grandson alone. She frequently sacrifices her own meager food rations to ensure the growing boy has enough to eat. She harbors heavy secrets regarding her late daughter's magical abilities and tries fiercely to guard her grandson from making the same dangerous mistakes.

Frederick is one of the miller's ten plump children. He spends his days at the mines bullying weaker villagers and demanding respect. He learns his cruel behavior from his father, looking for opportunities to mock those who have less power or food.

Bruno is another of the miller's well-fed sons. He acts as a follower for his brother Frederick, eagerly participating in the harassment of the smaller villagers. He mimics the aggressive, greedy example set by his family members.

The Witch of the Woods is an old, wizened woman residing in a secluded forest cottage. The villagers spread frightening rumors that she eats children, but she actually possesses deep wisdom regarding curses and destinies. She offers cryptic advice and warm stew to travelers brave enough to approach her door.

Kessler is a hollow-cheeked, redheaded peddler who wanders the kingdom. He attempts to use minor spells to generate wealth, but his magic is highly unpredictable and often causes sudden disasters, demonstrating the dangers of meddling with enchantments.

King Bartholomew Archibald Reginald Fife is the selfish ruler of the kingdom. He obsesses over hoarding gold and completely ignores the severe food shortages devastating his subjects. He distrusts magic but willingly uses the threat of imprisonment to secure enchanted riches for his own vaults.

Martha is a garrulous, maternal cook employed at the royal castle. She provides a rare source of practical kindness in a greed-driven environment, offering food and medical attention to those who suffer injuries within the castle walls.

Helmut is Martha's son, living and working in the shadow of the royal court. He assists his mother in the kitchens and observes the erratic behavior of the king and his wealthy guests.

Anna is Rump's late mother. She was born with the rare magical ability to spin straw into gold, a power that brought her immense sorrow and led her to flee her home in the region of Yonder. She died shortly after giving birth, managing only to whisper the first syllable of her son's name.

Ida is a cheerful young woman who lives in the region of Yonder. She practices magical weaving, creating impossibly bright fabrics with her older sisters. She possesses a nurturing demeanor, loves baking cakes, and enjoys inventing rhymes.

Balthilda is a skilled Wool Witch living in the forests of Yonder. She spins magical yarn and remembers the painful history of women who fell victim to greedy merchants. She is quietly kind but highly cautious about the dangers of drawing too much magic from nature.

Hadel is the most wary and protective of the Wool Witches in Yonder. She understands the heavy cost that magic exacts from its users and remains suspicious of outsiders who might bring the dangers of curses to her family's door.

Slop is a troll who lives in the woods, guarding ancient magical objects to prevent greedy humans from abusing them. He prefers a simple existence and spreads frightening rumors about trolls eating people just to keep trespassers away from his community's camp.

Mard is a sensible troll who resides with her companions in the forest. She finds human behavior needlessly complicated and enjoys simple pleasures, taking part in mud fights while helping protect her community's hidden treasures.

Bork is a thoughtful troll who watches over a magical apple tree in the forest. He possesses a deep understanding of nature and destiny, holding the unique belief that living things can make choices that overpower the dangerous magic they inherit.

Nothing is an extremely obstinate pet donkey. The animal earns its lack of a proper name by constantly refusing to follow directions, requiring immense effort to budge, though it provides necessary transport during long journeys.