The narrator is an unnamed man who defines his entire existence by his prodigious consumption of palm-wine, drinking hundreds of kegs daily. Rather than possessing traditional heroic virtues, he relies on a vast collection of magical charms (juju) inherited from his wealthy father to solve problems. He is deeply lazy and boastful, dubbing himself the "Father of gods." When his tapster dies, his intense addiction drives him into the dangerous bush to find the man.

Initially introduced as the headstrong daughter of a town chief, she impulsively follows a beautiful stranger into the forest against all warnings. Following her rescue and subsequent marriage to the Drinkard, she proves to be an incredibly resilient and practical companion. While her husband relies on brute magical force, she possesses quiet wisdom, keen observation skills, and pragmatic competence. She endures numerous bizarre traumas while acting as the vital grounding force on their journey.

Baity is an expert palm-wine tapster who single-handedly sustains the Drinkard's idyllic lifestyle by supplying 225 kegs of wine every day. His sudden death from falling out of a palm tree abruptly ends the Drinkard's paradise. As the object of the protagonist's obsessive search, Baity represents the unattainable past and the uncrossable boundary between the living world and the Deads' Town.

The Chief is the headman of a town the Drinkard visits early in his quest. He possesses crucial information about the tapster's whereabouts but refuses to share it unless his daughter is brought back safely. After the rescue, he gives his daughter to the Drinkard in marriage and hosts the couple for several years.

The Complete Gentleman is a stunningly beautiful figure whose appearance is so flawless it is valued at 2000 British pounds. He completely ignores the women who pursue him. As he walks deep into the forest, he systematically disassembles his body, revealing a grotesque reality hidden beneath his borrowed exterior. He is cruel and possessive, keeping captives in a subterranean hole.

An old man residing in the bush who possesses divine status. When the Drinkard boastfully introduces himself as the "Father of gods," this old man decides to test the claim. He promises to provide directions to the tapster only if the Drinkard can complete two seemingly impossible tasks, setting the stage for the first magical challenges of the journey.

The personification of mortality, Death is a dangerous entity targeted by the Drinkard to fulfill a divine task. He employs magical traps and attempts assassinations to protect himself from intruders. His capture unleashes chaos, demonstrating the danger of meddling with fundamental cosmic forces.

Zurrjir is the unnatural first child of the Drinkard and his wife. Born already speaking, he possesses immense physical strength and a terrifying, insatiable appetite for food and palm-wine. He quickly becomes a violent tyrant within the household and the broader town, creating a crisis that forces his parents to take desperate measures.

A bizarre, partially formed creature that emerges from the ruins of the couple's former home. He speaks with a low voice resembling a telephone and exerts magical control over the Drinkard and his wife, blinding them until they agree to carry him. He acts as an inescapable parasite, consuming entire food supplies in single gulps.

The Faithful-Mother is a benevolent supernatural being who acts as a sanctuary provider for travelers in distress. Her domain within the white tree operates outside the ordinary rules of the dangerous bush, featuring a grand hall with endless entertainment, food, and healing services. She enforces a strict rule that no one may stay in her sanctuary for longer than a year and some days.

Named Give and Take, this unseen creature is a powerful laborer from the bush who offers his services for a tiny loan. Operating only at night, he performs impossible feats of work, such as clearing entire landscapes or shaving the entire town. However, his efforts are literal and extreme, lacking human judgment, which quickly escalates into chaotic destruction.

The personification of rhythmic movement. Along with Drum and Song, she possesses the overwhelming power to compel living creatures and natural forces to move to her rhythm. Her performances are so powerful that she eventually becomes a permanent feature of the natural world.

The personification of rhythmic music. Drum is a powerful entity whose beats are so compelling that anyone who hears them is forced to dance uncontrollably for days without rest. His mesmerizing performances provide an unusual solution to some of the Drinkard's most persistent burdens.

The personification of vocal melody. Song works in harmony with Drum and Dance to generate a mesmerizing performance that strips travelers of free will, forcing them to participate in the music.

The ruler of a cursed town where everything and everyone is stained red. He explains that his people were transformed after he attempted to cook a magical red fish and bird, leading to a curse that demands an annual human sacrifice. He is a fearful leader who relies on outsiders to solve his community's existential threats.