Immanuelle is a seventeen-year-old outcast living in the puritanical settlement of Bethel. She carries the social stigma of her mother's past transgressions. This history brands her as inherently sinful in the eyes of the community. As a descendant of an Outskirter, her physical appearance visibly separates her from the homogenous society. She works on her grandfather's farm as a shepherd and secretly nurtures a deep love for forbidden books.

Grant Chambers serves as the absolute ruler and religious Prophet of Bethel. He wields the Holy Protocol as a tool for maintaining personal control. He demands strict obedience from his followers and aggressively punishes dissent. He presides over a patriarchal theocracy that heavily restricts the rights and education of women.

Ezra is the privileged son and designated heir to the Prophet of Bethel. Despite his high status, he privately questions the severe tenets of his father's faith and the brutal punishments inflicted on the populace. He harbors a quiet intellectual rebellion. He secretly reads forbidden texts and recognizes the deep hypocrisy of the local laws.

Martha is Immanuelle's stern grandmother and a respected midwife in Bethel. She is deeply devout and enforces the Prophet's Protocol within her household with uncompromising severity. She fears that Immanuelle will repeat the fatal mistakes of her mother. Martha relies on harsh discipline and strict religious adherence to protect her family.

Leah is Immanuelle's gentle and pious childhood best friend. She embodies the conventional ideal of womanhood in Bethel. She shows strict obedience to the religious laws and accepts her predetermined role in society. She currently prepares for her marriage to the Prophet and views the upcoming union as her sacred duty.

Judith is the newest and youngest wife of the Prophet. She asserts her status over those she deems inferior to survive the strict theocracy. She frequently mocks Immanuelle for her marginalized background. Beneath her haughty exterior, she actively searches for ways to escape the suffocating constraints of her marriage.

Miriam is Immanuelle's deceased mother. Her scandalous past casts a long shadow over her family's reputation in Bethel. She was originally intended to marry the Prophet but refused. She fled into the dangerous wilderness instead. She leaves behind a forbidden journal detailing her traumatic history and encounters with dark forces.

Abram is Immanuelle's grandfather and a former apostle of the Church. His family fell into extreme poverty and disgrace following the scandalous actions of his daughter. He now works as a farmer. He attempts to keep his remaining family afloat while he bears the weight of his lost social standing.

Vera is an older woman who lives in the village of Ishmel, far beyond the reach of Bethel's restrictive laws. She is a practitioner of natural magic with deep ties to the Outskirts. As a rare source of knowledge about the true history of the woods, she maintains a secluded life alongside her partner.

Lilith is the powerful queen of the four witches residing in the Darkwood. She is a towering figure adorned with a crown of antlers. She represents a primal force that directly opposes the male-dominated leadership of Bethel. She harbors ancient grievances against the settlement and seeks to use Immanuelle to achieve her goals.

Delilah is a water witch and one of the Unholy Four who haunts the Darkwood. She controls the aquatic domains of the forest. She uses her power to manipulate the rivers and ponds surrounding the puritanical settlement. She acts as an eerie, silent guardian of the deep waters.

Jael is one of the four witches inhabiting the Darkwood. Along with Mercy, she is known as one of the Lovers. She exists outside the boundaries of Bethel's strict moral code. She lives freely and openly in the forest while she maintains a spectral, intimidating presence.

Mercy is a witch of the Darkwood and the devoted companion to Jael. She represents the uninhibited freedom and natural power that the theocracy of Bethel actively suppresses. She observes and guides those who wander into the forest's depths.

Esther is one of the Prophet's wives and Ezra's mother. She lives quietly within the Prophet's Haven. She bears the physical and emotional scars of her husband's harsh rule. Despite her subjugated position, she is fiercely protective of her son and keenly aware of the power dynamics within the household.

Apostle Isaac is a high-ranking religious official in Bethel who strictly enforces the Prophet's doctrines. He is quick to assign blame to witchcraft and demands public confessions. He represents the fanatical and unyielding nature of the town's religious hierarchy.

Daniel is an Outskirter and the man Miriam Moore fell in love with. He comes from a class of impoverished immigrants. His relationship with Miriam severely violated Bethel's laws. His tragic fate sets off a chain of events that haunts the settlement for years.

Glory is the young daughter of Abram Moore and his second wife, Anna. She lives on the Moore farm and acts as a younger sister figure to Immanuelle. She helps with chores around the property and witnesses the terrifying effects of the emerging plagues.

Honor is Abram and Anna's young daughter. She is raised alongside Immanuelle on the family farm. She is an innocent presence in a household burdened by the strict rules of Bethel and the looming threat of the dark forces surrounding the settlement.

Anna is Abram Moore's second wife and the mother of Glory and Honor. She lives a quiet, domestic life on the impoverished Moore farm. She submits to the strict religious rules imposed by the local church and the severe household governance of Martha.

Saul is Ezra's half-brother and a commanding officer within the Prophet's Guard. He acts as the militant arm of his father's theocracy. He aggressively enforces the Prophet's will and tracks down those suspected of witchcraft or treason.

Sage is a resident of the Outskirts and the long-term domestic partner of Vera Ward. She provides a protective presence in their home. She represents a way of life that exists entirely outside the suffocating regulations of Bethel.