Neek is a young, queer, Black visual artist and the primary avatar of New York City. Having survived a difficult past that included time unhoused, he is resourceful and fiercely independent but struggles with vulnerability. He connects with the city through art, observing and influencing it in subtle, compassionate ways while guarding his heart against further abandonment.

Manny is a graduate student and the avatar of Manhattan. He possesses substantial wealth from a shadowy family background he has mostly forgotten since assuming his city identity. He is protective and fiercely generous, using his vast resources to support his fellow avatars while avoiding questions about his own past.

Padmini is a brilliant graduate student and the avatar of Queens. She utilizes complex mathematics to understand the multiverse and channel her city-power. Driven by a deep love for her family, she endures workplace exploitation to secure her immigration status, showcasing both her practical resilience and her extraordinary analytical intellect.

Bronca is a queer Lenape woman, the director of the Bronx Arts Center, and the avatar of the Bronx. As the oldest of the group, she acts as a grounding force who holds the collective ancestral knowledge of the cities. She remains fiercely protective of her community and deeply aware of systemic injustices, refusing to let impending danger ruin her personal life.

Brooklyn is a Black attorney, city council member, and the avatar of the borough of Brooklyn. A former hip-hop artist known as MC Free, she manages multiple demanding roles with pragmatism and confidence. She seeks to effect change from within the political system by launching a campaign for mayor of New York City.

Aislyn is a young white woman and the avatar of Staten Island who lives with her domineering father. Her intense agoraphobia and fear of outsiders have isolated her, making her vulnerable to manipulation by dangerous forces. Despite her anxieties, she harbors a deep, genuine love for the specific quirks and culture of her borough.

Also known as the Woman in White, R'lyeh is an extraterrestrial entity representing an ancient, hostile force. She seeks to homogenize and control reality by manipulating systems and individuals through parasitic white tendrils. She uses subtle modern tactics, including political structures and public fears, to wage her war against the newly awakened cities.

Veneza is a young Black woman of Portuguese descent who serves as the avatar of Jersey City. Tech-savvy and highly innovative, she brings a fresh perspective to the group of avatars. She is unafraid to initiate difficult conversations and fiercely advocates for her friends, actively trying to bring the remaining boroughs together.

Panfilo is a mayoral candidate employing a strategy of xenophobia and exclusion to build his political base. He tacitly encourages extremist groups and represents a localized, human threat that aligns with larger, supernatural dangers facing the city.

Bel is Manny’s original roommate who shares the Harlem house with the avatars. Though not an avatar himself, he demonstrates loyalty and bravery by standing up for his chosen family when targeted by dangerous white nationalist groups in the city.

Conall is the leader of the Proud Men, a violent white nationalist organization that supports Ruben Panfilo. He uses intimidation and physical force to target anyone who does not fit his extreme worldview.

Aishwarya is Padmini's aunt, a supportive family member who fiercely protects her household. She actively defends Padmini when suspicious, deceitful authorities arrive at their door, demanding they follow proper protocols.

JoJo is Brooklyn's daughter. Her safety becomes a primary motivator for Brooklyn to enter the mayoral race and fight against the rising tide of extremism in the city.

Peter is the head of the Police Protection Association. He represents the biased elements of the local law enforcement system, using his position to monitor and intimidate the city avatars.

Istanbul is an elder city avatar who encounters Manny. He possesses deep historical knowledge and attempts to manage supernatural threats in his own territory, though he is weary of interacting with younger, louder cities.

London is an older city avatar who has consumed her own boroughs to maintain singular control. She is pragmatic and slightly ruthless; she begins taking the multiversal threat seriously after observing the danger firsthand.

Paris is a fashionably dressed city avatar who acts as a messenger, delivering news about the gathering of the elder cities and their growing skepticism toward New York.

Madison is a former acquaintance of Manny who steps in to help Bel escape a dangerous confrontation on the street.

Vadhana is Padmini's niece, representing the close-knit family bonds that keep Padmini grounded and motivated to succeed.

Marina is Bronca's romantic partner who remains completely unaware of the supernatural reality of the city avatars. She provides Bronca with a personal connection outside of her demanding duties.

Ms. Allen is Brooklyn's lawyer. She helps fight against the unjust, bureaucratic seizure of working-class properties by a corporate entity known as Better New York.

Mr. Vance is the lawyer representing Better New York in the property dispute against Brooklyn. During the trial, he becomes an unwitting vessel for supernatural interference.

Douglas is one of the first people Manny met upon arriving in New York. He offers crucial advice about the nature of chosen families.