Ann is a newly graduated art history student specializing in early Renaissance art. Grieving the recent death of her father in a traffic accident, she moves to New York City to put physical distance between herself and her past. When an administrative error leaves her without her intended position at the main museum, she secures a research role at the smaller Cloisters museum. She possesses a practical belief system and a talent for translating historical languages, a skill she learned directly from her father.

Rachel is a wealthy, privileged academic researcher working alongside Ann at the Cloisters. She moves through the competitive sphere of professional scholarship with an effortless grace that masks a fierce ambition. Having lost her parents years earlier, she seeks companionship despite her self-assured exterior. She harbors a deep fascination with tarot cards as historical artifacts while maintaining a strict boundary against using them for actual fortune telling.

Patrick is the head curator of the Metropolitan Cloisters museum, currently compiling an exhibition on Renaissance-era divination and tarot cards. Funded by his family's wealth, he approaches his research with genuine belief in the mystical properties of the items he studies. He acts as a surrogate father figure to Ann, encouraging her to look beyond rigid scholarship and open her mind to unknown possibilities.

Leo is the groundskeeper and gardener at the Cloisters, managing rare plant specimens including belladonna and mandrake. Outside of his day job, he plays bass in a band and writes plays. He operates entirely outside the rigid academic hierarchy of the museum, moving through the city with a sense of freedom and self-determination that draws Ann's attention.

Moira handles administrative duties and visitor coordination at the Cloisters museum. She serves as a grounding presence amid the intense academic focus of the researchers, managing tour groups and staff logistics. She keeps a watchful eye on the interpersonal dynamics between the museum's employees.

Aruna is an established academic scholar who moves in the same elite circles as Patrick Roland. She holds a more skeptical, rigorous view of historical artifacts than Patrick, actively questioning the authenticity of his recent acquisitions. She serves as a voice of caution for younger scholars managing the intense pressure of the academic community.

Ann's mother lives in Washington state, struggling with deep grief following her husband's recent death. She harbors a strong fear of travel and change, preferring the safety of her hometown. She frequently attempts to contact Ann, hoping to convince her daughter to abandon the city and return to a quieter life.

Ann's father worked as a janitor at the local college but possessed a deep, lifelong passion for studying languages. He often rescued discarded academic papers from wastebins to study them with his daughter. His sudden death serves as the catalyst for Ann's flight to New York and her intense drive to succeed in the academic world.

Professor Richard Lingraf is an elusive scholar who rarely takes on students. He served as Ann's mentor during her undergraduate studies in Washington. His past research into Renaissance astrology and divination unexpectedly intersects with the work Ann begins doing at the Cloisters.

Stephen is an antiques dealer operating out of a shop with a hidden back room. He specializes in sourcing rare, sometimes illegally obtained historical artifacts for wealthy collectors. He provides Patrick with the incomplete, mysterious deck of 15th-century tarot cards.

Laure is a fellow student from Ann's former college who is also moving through the elite New York academic scene. She holds a very low opinion of Rachel Mondray due to past events. She attempts to reconnect with Ann, bringing warnings about the company Ann is keeping at the museum.