A resourceful, dark-skinned young Black woman who escapes slavery in Mississippi. She is intensely curious and independent, yet she craves the stability of a family. Initially known simply as the Girl, she eventually adopts the name of her mentor. Throughout her long life, she embraces a fluid identity, favoring practical, gender-neutral clothing and working various professions, from beautician to singer.

A powerful, 300-year-old white woman who runs a brothel called Woodard's near New Orleans. She moves with deliberate strength, often wearing men's breeches and smoking cigars, presenting a striking blend of masculine and feminine traits. Despite fiercely protecting her found family, she carries a profound exhaustion from centuries of witnessing human cruelty.

A Lakota woman with braided black hair, an earthy scent, and deep ancestral ties to the land. She serves as a co-manager at Woodard's brothel in New Orleans. Having survived smallpox and exile from her tribe, she possesses an ancient, unshakable resilience and remains fiercely devoted to her chosen family.

A joyful, large-hearted patriarch of partial African descent. He runs drinking establishments and gambling parlors throughout history, celebrating life with infectious enthusiasm and champagne. As the oldest anchor of his lineage, he provides steadfast fatherly love, guidance, and sanctuary to those in his social circle.

A remarkably cruel pimp operating in Boston. Unlike others in his profession, he treats the women who work for him as property, pursuing them with predatory, relentless violence when they try to escape.

A small-framed, quiet man with deep blue eyes and forgettable brown hair. He has been Sorel's constant companion since they met in 1800s France. Preferring red wine to Sorel's champagne, he serves as a steady, attentive listener who offers grounding advice to those around him.

A striking, pale-skinned woman with red hair and a breathless voice. She is highly provincial, having remained near the San Francisco Bay for much of her long life. Drawn to luxury, material possessions, and the thrill of conquest, she struggles with selfishness and often treats others as subordinates.

A young, full-figured mortal widow with a broad smile living in Rosebud, Missouri. After inheriting wealth, she searches for purpose and becomes deeply inspired by the burgeoning social and artistic movements of her era. She is deeply rooted in her local Black community and eager to start programs to aid the poor.

A thin, broad-shouldered young Black man with freckles, brownish-red hair, and a sapphire earring. Deeply influenced by the Black Power movement, he possesses expansive activist dreams and a profound desire for family after losing his parents. He manages theater productions efficiently and brings an optimistic energy to his work.

An ancient woman with a youthful appearance and an understated but striking fashion sense. Originally enslaved in ancient Greece, she possesses an extraordinary mastery over her abilities, allowing her to carefully obscure her true nature from others. She carries a vast perspective on time and existence.

A tall, brown-skinned woman with a soft Afro living in a ruined future. Overcome by the hopelessness of a collapsing dystopian society, she attempts to end her life but is offered a second chance. She demonstrates deep resilience, a comforting connection to Southern gospel roots, and a willingness to journey toward an uncertain future.

A disdainful, racist man who harbors deep resentments. Trapped in an aimless existence due to the irresponsible manner of his introduction to the family, he acts as an antagonistic force, policing the borders of his territory with unmanaged anger and hostility.

A successful, indomitable sex worker living in Boston's South End. Brash, wise, and highly independent, she supports herself adorned with diamonds and an audacious hairstyle. She fiercely protects her community and possesses a sharp sense of self-created power.

A terrified young sex worker in 1950s Boston. She is on the run from a cruel, abusive pimp, seeking safety and a way to escape back to her home.

A kindly young pimp and former drug addict in 1950s Boston. Unlike his foil, Fox, he exhibits a gentle demeanor and provides crucial assistance and resources to help protect the women in his life.

A famous speaker, author, and mixed-race Black activist. Deeply involved in movements for suffrage and anti-lynching, she represents the flourishing of Black women's thought and serves as a profound inspiration to the local community in Rosebud.

A kind, funny, and self-possessed gay man living in Chelsea. He welcomes his neighbors warmly, offering genuine camaraderie and stylish gifts during a culturally fraught era.

A deaf girl living in the modern era who maintains a treasured, ongoing correspondence with a reclusive novelist. She is the great-granddaughter of Aurelia.

A loyal guard living in a dystopian future where society has largely collapsed. He dreams of escaping the ruined planet to live "Off-world" but lacks the exorbitant funds required to buy a passage.