John is a heavily augmented amnesiac who awakens in a medieval dimension with a charred dimensional travel handbook. Though he initially assumes he is a heroic police officer on a covert mission, returning memories force him to confront his actual history as a failed boxer and low-level cartel guard. Using his advanced cybernetic implants and modern drawing skills, he adopts the alias "Runian" and poses as a wizard to survive.

Sefawynn is a pragmatic, traveling poet and storyteller known as a "skop." She travels the countryside claiming to bind and loose spirits through her poetic boasts, a skill she secretly fears is entirely fraudulent. She uses her extensive knowledge of local folklore and her sharp wit to protect her younger brother and secure provisions from fearful locals.

Ealstan is the 42-year-old thegn of Stenford who upholds traditional ideals of duty, honor, and loyalty. Having lost his sons in previous coastal raids, he carries a heavy burden of grief and an ever-present fear of annihilation. He provides grounding leadership for his community and readily accepts John as a powerful being sent to help them.

Ulric is the Seattle branch leader of the Fabian Augments cartel, an organized crime syndicate controlling illegal body modifications. He uses military-grade firearms and technological superiority to establish absolute control over the medieval inhabitants. He demands subservience through violence and fear, intending to exploit the dimension's unique properties for massive financial gain.

Quinn is Ulric's primary enforcer and a former champion in the Enhanced Fighting League. He acts as the brutal muscle for the cartel's operations in the alternate dimension. Despite his intimidating exterior and violent methods, he maintains a twisted professional code shaped by his history in the fighting ring with John.

Ryan is a highly competent police detective and John's former friend from their home dimension. Operating undercover, he rigidly adheres to duty and a rationalist worldview, refusing to accept the existence of magic. He relies on advanced technology and scientific theories to explain the impossible events occurring around him.

Logna is a mysterious entity who travels the dimension in the guise of an eccentric elderly hearth-keeper named Thokk. She operates as a subtle guide to the main group, using her unassuming appearance to observe and influence events without drawing unwanted attention. She possesses a deep, intrinsic connection to the unseen spirits inhabiting the land.

The Hordamen are a disciplined and well-equipped collective of raiders arriving from across the sea. Rejecting popular historical stereotypes, they maintain well-groomed appearances and highly organized military tactics. They present a constant, devastating threat to the coastal Anglo-Saxon settlements.

Yazad is an enthusiastic Zoroastrian missionary from a land northeast of Persia who operates a peaceful preserve near Wellbury. He offers unconditional aid, food, and shelter to weary travelers. His cheerful optimism and belief in a benevolent creator contrast sharply with the grim fatalism of the local culture.

Wyrm is Sefawynn's younger brother, a loyal but inexperienced youth traveling the dangerous countryside with his sister. His early capture by heavily armed cartel members acts as the primary catalyst for the heroes' pursuit, emphasizing his vulnerability in the harsh medieval environment.

Wealdsig is the reeve of Wellbury, a leader driven by profound grief after losing all seven of his sons to battle. Originally allied with aggressive external forces in a desperate bid for security, his priorities shift dramatically when he encounters individuals capable of miraculous healing rather than violence.

Jen is John's former girlfriend from his home dimension, remembered for her intense passion for history and ancient cultures. Her memory heavily influences John's initial motivations, as he struggles to reconcile his grief with his confused presence in the medieval world.

Rowena is Ealstan's wife, a resilient woman who manages the affairs of the fort during times of crisis. She takes charge of the community's dead and supports her husband's leadership in the face of overwhelming technological threats.

Cecil G. Bagsworth III is the author of "The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England." He writes with a confident, hyper-capitalist tone, offering humorous but often unhelpful and dangerously dismissive advice on how a modern person can exploit a medieval dimension.

Leof is an elderly man living at Yazad's preserve near Wellbury. He maintains watch over the sanctuary and assists in caring for the weary travelers seeking shelter from the dangerous roads.