Zachary is a 25-year-old Emerging Media graduate student at a university in Vermont. The son of a fortune teller, he prefers books and stories over socializing. He lives a relatively quiet academic life until he discovers a library book that seemingly recounts a forgotten incident from his childhood. This impossibility drives him to investigate the book's origins.

Mirabel is a pink-haired painter of mysterious doors hidden throughout the world. She functions as an unconventional guide for Zachary, drawing him deeper into an underground labyrinth of stories. She moves with confidence through secret spaces and possesses an intimate understanding of the underground Harbor. She hands out candies that contain stories and refuses to give direct answers.

Dorian is an enigmatic storyteller with a sophisticated demeanor and a shadowed past. He recruits Zachary to help him steal a book from a mysterious organization in New York City. He possesses a deep reverence for old tales and seeks to reach the Starless Sea, though powerful forces actively hunt him for his defection.

The Keeper is an older man with braided hair who oversees the Heart of the Harbor on the Starless Sea. He perpetually writes in a notebook and tends to the needs of the underground sanctuary's few remaining visitors. He possesses a calm exterior that masks deep emotional currents and centuries of observation.

Allegra is a commanding woman with white hair and mismatched eyes who leads the Collector's Club. She operates a wealthy charity as a front for a secret society dedicated to finding and destroying doors leading to the Starless Sea. She acts with severe dedication to her mission, viewing her destructive methods as necessary protection for the underground world.

Eleanor is a child-explorer who stumbles into the underground Harbor after finding a broken door in the woods. Nicknamed for her habit of wearing a bunny mask, she wanders the Harbor's halls and explores forbidden rooms. She is characterized by her intense love of reading and her solitary nature.

Simon is the unloved ward of his aunt and uncle who longs for acceptance. Following mysterious instructions left by his mother, he discovers a hidden entrance to the Starless Sea. He is an earnest traveler searching for his place in a magical space he barely understands.

Katrina, who goes by Kat, is an analytical video game design student in the same Emerging Media program as Zachary. She possesses a keen eye for detail and holds a deep interest in interactive storytelling. As Zachary's closest social connection at the university, she grounds him in the normal world before his disappearance.

Madame Love Rawlins is a professional fortune teller who lives in a farmhouse in the Hudson River Valley. She is observant and deeply intuitive, possessing a natural acceptance of the unusual. She maintains a calm certainty about the future.

Rhyme is an acolyte in the underground temple. She communicates exclusively through gestures, having undergone the traditional initiation required for her order. She serves the Harbor with steady devotion and assists with the maintenance of the Archives.

Elena is a student library aid who helps Zachary trace the origins of the donated book collection. She is resourceful and engages eagerly in discussions about narrative structure and library archives.

Sarah is a student who attends the same university as Zachary and Kat. She acts as a covert operative for the Collector's Club, observing Zachary's movements and attempting to intercept the books he seeks.

The Pirate is a rogue imprisoned in a subterranean cell awaiting execution. He strikes up a silent companionship with the girl who brings his provisions. To pass their final hours, he spins intricate tales that nest within one another.

The Girl is a bold young woman who brings watered wine instead of water to an imprisoned pirate. She displays an unexpected cleverness and bravery in the face of certain doom.

The Owl King is a mythical figure within the stories of the Starless Sea. Characterized by his unnatural sight and imposing presence, he serves as an omen of change and a herald for the turning of ages.

The Innkeeper is a widowed man whose world has shrunk to the size of his establishment. He offers hospitality to strange travelers and finds himself caught up in cosmic affairs when an otherworldly woman visits his hearth.

The Moon is a celestial entity taking human form. She travels to a crossroads inn for a rare meeting and develops an impossible affection for a mortal man, setting off a chain of events to secure a timeless space for them.