Lila Mae is the city's second Black elevator inspector and the first Black woman in the Department. She practices Intuitionism, a method of inspection relying on feeling and visualizing an elevator's vibrations rather than mechanical testing. Serious and highly skilled, she maintains a perfect safety record until a sudden accident threatens her career. She holds a deep dedication to her profession and the theories of its founder.

Chancre is the powerful Chair of the Elevator Guild and the city-wide chief of inspectors. A staunch Empiricist, he relies on traditional mechanical testing and actively campaigns against the rising Intuitionist movement. He is currently running for reelection in a highly contested race, fiercely protecting his authority and the status quo of the industry.

Fulton is the deceased founder of Intuitionism and former Dean of the Institute of Vertical Transport. His visionary books, collectively titled Theoretical Elevators, revolutionized the inspection industry. Though no longer living, his philosophies and the rumors of his final, perfect elevator design heavily influence the current political struggle within the Guild.

Raymond is a pragmatic corporate consultant working for Arbo, one of the world's leading elevator manufacturers. He monitors the ongoing election and the search for James Fulton's lost blueprints, prioritizing commerce and corporate dominance over philosophical or political debates.

Lever is a progressive elevator inspector running for President of the Elevator Guild. As the political face of the Intuitionist movement, he represents a modern challenge to the established Empiricist administration. His campaign operates out of the Intuitionist House, seeking any advantage to secure an election victory.

Mrs. Rogers is the loyal former maid and caretaker of James Fulton. She looked after him during his final years after the Institute pressured him to resign. Living in a campus home provided by Fulton's will, she guards the history and records of his life's work.

Ben is an investigative journalist working for Lift magazine, a trade journal dedicated to the elevator industry. He covers the political developments within the Elevator Guild and the rumors surrounding James Fulton's unpublished work. His commitment to the story quickly makes him a target for corporate enforcers.

Pompey is an Empiricist and the city's first Black elevator inspector. He manages a hostile work environment by adopting an agreeable, unthreatening demeanor toward his white colleagues and superiors. This survival strategy creates friction between him and the newer generation of inspectors.

Mr. Reed serves as the campaign manager for Orville Lever. Operating out of the Intuitionist House, he orchestrates the political strategy to defeat Frank Chancre. He is pragmatic and quick to act, bringing individuals of interest under his protection to further the Intuitionist cause.

Chuck is an escalator enthusiast and an inspector within the Department. He stands out as one of the few welcoming colleagues in Lila Mae's professional circle. He keeps an ear to the ground, providing crucial updates about office politics and internal investigations.

Jim is a violent enforcer involved in the elevator industry's shadow conflicts. Operating alongside his partner, he relies on intimidation and physical force to secure information and silence journalists investigating the mysterious black box blueprints.

John is a hired thug working to suppress information about James Fulton's final elevator design. He operates as muscle in the escalating war between elevator industry factions, willing to inflict severe harm on anyone who gets too close to the truth.

Johnny Shush is a powerful organized crime figure operating within the city. He maintains lucrative ties to the Empiricist faction of the Elevator Guild, providing muscle and illicit services to maintain their grip on the industry.

Bart is an agent for Internal Affairs investigating the recent elevator freefall. He meticulously pieces together forensic evidence and mechanical reports, viewing any inspector connected to a failed elevator with suspicion.

Marvin is Lila Mae's father, a trained engineer who was denied a position as an inspector due to his race. Relegated to working as an elevator operator at a department store, his unfulfilled ambitions fuel his daughter's historic career path.