Kinch is a Galtish thief heavily indebted to the powerful Takers Guild. His cheek bears a tattooed open hand, marking him as a debtor and subjecting him to regular public humiliation. He possesses a natural gift for languages and a supernatural sense of his own luck. Though trained in larcenous arts and willing to make ethical compromises for self-preservation, he retains a reluctant loyalty to his companions.

Galva is an Ispanthian warrior and veteran of the brutal Goblin Wars. She follows a strict martial code and serves the death goddess Dalgatha. Clad in armor and wielding a magical springwood shield, she travels west on a vital mission to locate her kingdom's displaced heir. She relies on tactical advantages and lethal efficiency in combat, maintaining a practical approach to survival.

Norrigal is a young Galtish witch-in-training with significant but unrefined magical talents. She joins Kinch and Galva on their westward journey, providing essential magical support through cantrips and charms. She brings a practical, often optimistic perspective to the group, contrasting with her companions' cynicism.

Malk is a hardened veteran of the Goblin Wars and a former Coldfoot Spear from Kinch's hometown. He resents Kinch for dodging the military draft years ago, a choice Malk connects to his own father's death in battle. Malk is fiercely loyal to his military background and operates by a traditional code of honor.

Sesta is an Assassin-Adept employed by the Takers Guild. Her body is covered in complex magical tattoos that grant her supernatural abilities, including heat generation and lethal combat enhancements. She operates as a ruthless enforcer for the Guild, ensuring their debtors and assets remain compliant with their hidden agendas.

Guendra, widely known as Deadlegs, is a formidable independent witch residing in the magically inverted Downward Tower. She operates outside the control of the Magickers Guild, practicing untamed and potent forms of magic. She provides crucial aid and cryptic warnings to travelers who earn her favor.

Mireya is the displaced heir to the Ispanthian throne and the former queen of Oustrim. She possesses powerful nature-based magic, including the ability to communicate with animals. To survive her usurping uncle's political purges, she feigned madness, eventually using her authority to expel the Takers Guild from her lands.

Yorbez is a practical, highly skilled veteran of the Goblin Wars. She serves as a senior military instructor and embodies the strict martial traditions of Ispanthia. Like many devoted warriors of her generation, she underwent a ritual double mastectomy to honor the death goddess Dalgatha.

Fulvir is a legendary magicker known as the Father of Abominations. He specializes in bone magic and the creation of human-animal hybrids called mixlings. He resides in a mobile house made of bone, operating completely outside conventional magical institutions. His demeanor is erratic, characterized by deliberate lies and manipulative games.

Bully Boy is a blind tabby cat that Kinch adopts during his travels. Despite his lack of sight, the cat manages to follow Kinch through various dangers and across vast distances. He provides a small measure of comfort to the travelers.

Dalgatha is a giant war corvid, an illegal magical creature bred for the Goblin Wars. Bound to Galva, the fierce bird provides devastating martial support in battle. She shares her name with the Ispanthian goddess of death.

Pagran is the leader of a desperate gang of highwaymen that includes Kinch. He ignores warnings about magical defenses, choosing to attack a lone traveler for potential profit.

Hornhead is a notorious mixling outlaw, a magically created human-animal hybrid with bull-like traits. He leads a gang of brigands and relies on a protective Old Kesh tattoo to deflect incoming weapon strikes.

Captain Boltch commands the Molrovan whaler, the Suepka Burney. He maintains absolute ship's law during his voyages and wears a distinctive necklace made from a juvenile kraken's beak.

Korkala serves as the first mate aboard the Molrovan whaler. She enforces the captain's orders aggressively, willing to threaten passengers' belongings and pets to coerce their participation in whale hunts.

Menrigo is an Ispanthian crewman aboard the Suepka Burney. He initially appears friendly but holds hidden loyalties that drive him to sabotage members of Kinch's party.

Gormalin is a harpooner aboard the Molrovan whaler. Practical to a fault, he immediately suggests extreme survival measures when stranded on a desolate island.

Chedradra is an expatriate Ispanthian thief operating in the lace-making city of Grevitsa. He sells maps and magical artifacts, providing crucial information about traveling through the dangerous capital of Oustrim.

Ürmehen is a thief-king who controls the makeshift society hiding in the sewers of the fallen capital. Operating independently from the Takers Guild, he hoards valuable intelligence and wagers it in high-stakes card games.

Misfa is a female giant captured by the Takers Guild. Her skin is covered in magical tattoos applied by her captors. She clings to survival long enough to share her experiences through a traditional truth-telling ritual.

Bavotte is a Takers Guild magicker responsible for capturing and experimenting on giants. He utilizes shrinking spells and magical tattoos to transport massive prisoners discreetly.

Pettrec is Kinch's stepbrother who was maimed for theft and later died during the Daughters' War. His grim fate influenced Kinch's decision to join the Takers Guild rather than face military conscription.

Coel was the local musterman in Platha Glurris and Malk's father. He faced heavy fines when Kinch dodged the military draft and later died in battle during the Goblin Wars.

King Kalith is the tyrannical ruler of Ispanthia who usurped the throne by murdering his brother. He uses assassins to maintain his power and sent his niece Mireya into exile to secure his position.

King Hagli was the ruler of Oustrim and the husband of Queen Mireya. He is reported dead following the sudden and devastating giant invasion of his capital city, Hrava.

Dubbed "Deerpants" by Kinch, she is a member of Hornhead's brigand gang. She later faces execution by hanging in Pigdenay, prompting a moment of silent recognition from Kinch in the crowd.