Born as Weasel Plume of the Small Robes band, Good Stab is an Amskapi Pikuni man who becomes a vampiric creature following a violent 19th-century military encounter. He possesses superhuman physical abilities but suffers from a ravenous hunger that directly threatens his cultural identity. He spends decades protecting buffalo and waging war against white hunters before tracking down Arthur to confess his actions. His existence forces him to balance his survival against the gradual loss of his humanity.

Arthur is a Lutheran pastor in 1912 Miles City who positions himself as the unquestioned moral authority of his community. He harbors a deep bias against Indigenous American people and works actively to conceal his connection to the historical Marias Massacre. When Good Stab begins sharing his fantastical life story, Arthur grows increasingly paranoid that the stranger is responsible for a series of local murders. He routinely uses his religious station to mask his personal failings.

Etsy is a junior communication and journalism professor who lives a solitary life apart from her estranged, dying father. She seeks academic validation by transcribing a recently discovered 1912 journal written by her ancestor. Her ambition pushes her deep into a historical mystery that bridges the gap between the violent past and her present reality. She slowly realizes that her research subjects might not be strictly metaphorical.

The Cat Man is a pale, feral creature originally brought to North America from Europe. Possessing monstrous strength, immortality, and an endless hunger for blood, he survives massive physical trauma. He acts as a dark reflection of vampiric corruption. His complete lack of morality threatens both the Pikuni people and Good Stab's attempts to hold onto his humanity.

Weasel Plume is a rare white buffalo calf saved and raised by Good Stab in a hidden mountain sanctuary. Named after Good Stab's own childhood moniker, the calf represents hope and the purest parts of Good Stab's fading heritage. He serves as a symbol of the natural world that Good Stab fights to preserve.

Wolf Calf is Good Stab's father and a respected member of the Black-Patched Moccasin band. He provides Good Stab with a crucial link to his history and heritage. He offers his son unconditional acceptance even after Good Stab transforms into a creature of the night, attempting to heal him through traditional practices.

Napi is a Blackfeet creator deity who watches over Good Stab during his centuries-long existence. He occasionally takes the disguise of an old trapper to offer Good Stab shelter, teachings, and blood when the younger man is severely injured. He pushes Good Stab to confront the consequences of his actions.

Tall Dog is Good Stab's closest friend and hunting partner in the Amskapi Pikuni band. He possesses sharp deductive skills, quickly realizing that a battlefield has been staged by soldiers to justify military retaliation against their people. His memory haunts Good Stab long after his mortal life ends.

Yellow Kidney is a dutiful Pikuni youth who tends to his band's horses. He forms a bond with Good Stab and holds critical knowledge about the events surrounding the Marias Massacre. His vulnerability highlights the constant threat hanging over the next generation of Pikuni.

The local law enforcement officer in 1912 Miles City. He relies on Arthur's presence for religious blessings at crime scenes and attempts to maintain order as gruesome murders strike the community.

Dove is a Pinkerton detective dispatched from San Francisco to locate a missing wealthy family. His investigation leads him to Miles City, where he seeks Arthur's help in gathering information from the local congregation.

Amos is an Indigenous American man living near Miles City in 1912. Arthur repeatedly seeks him out, offering bribes of food and alcohol to extract information about local Indigenous practices and legends.

A postal clerk in Miles City who remembers the brutal history of local buffalo hunts. His knowledge of skinning and poisoning carcasses provides context for the gruesome state of the recent murder victims.

A young Pikuni girl who communicates through sign language. She helps protect Good Stab's eyes from the sun and keeps his secrets, becoming a focal point in the conflict between Good Stab and The Cat Man.

A young Pikuni boy whose accidental injury from Good Stab's gun severely damages Good Stab's social standing. He later crosses paths with a transformed, starving Good Stab in the wilderness.

A young Pikuni boy with an associated raven spirit-animal. He grows up hearing stories of The Fullblood and eventually recognizes Good Stab from his childhood visions, acting as a bridge between Good Stab and the surviving Pikuni.

Tall Dog's mother and an elder of the Small Robes band. Good Stab encounters her in her final days, and their reunion forces him to confront his grief over losing his human life and companions.

A peaceful Pikuni chief who leads a camp largely populated by the sick, the elderly, women, and children. He attempts to negotiate with US soldiers by presenting documents that guarantee his band's safety, only to face devastating violence.

A scout working with the US Army during the 1870 military expedition. He fires the first shot at Chief Heavy Runner, an action heavily influenced by Arthur's religious rhetoric and demands.

A scout familiar with the local Pikuni bands. He recognizes that the military is attacking the wrong camp and attempts to stop the Marias Massacre before being threatened with death by his superiors.

A member of the hunting party that discovers The Cat Man. He bravely sings a death song to draw the soldiers' attention away from his friends during the ambush, allowing The Cat Man to escape his cage.

An Amskapi Pikuni man who accompanies Good Stab, Tall Dog, and Peasy to investigate a raided wagon train. He orders Good Stab around, indirectly fueling the resentment that leads to Good Stab's fateful decision by the pond.

A librarian at Montana State University who facilitates Etsy's research. She connects Etsy with Arthur's excavated buckskin-wrapped journal and provides digitized copies of the pages for study.

Etsy's pet cat and primary companion in her Wyoming apartment. Taz demonstrates affection by hunting small animals, grounding Etsy in her solitary academic life as strange events begin to unfold.

Etsy's grandfather, whose birth to a housekeeper provides the vital missing link between the Beaucarne family line and the Flowers family line. His history helps Etsy validate her ancestral research.

The heir to a San Francisco newspaper who disappears from his home along with his three sons. His disappearance sparks a Pinkerton investigation that reaches Miles City, drawing the attention of local authorities.

A US Army major dispatched to launch a military strike. He ignores crucial intelligence from his scouts about the peaceful nature of Chief Heavy Runner's camp, pushing forward with a devastating attack instead.