Elspeth is a young woman who has lost control of her physical body to the ancient soul of the Shepherd King. She exists entirely within a shadowy mental construct resembling a dark ocean and a solitary shore. As she slowly regains her memories, she watches the actions of the entity possessing her and learns about his distant past and true motivations.

Ravyn is the Captain of the Destriers and an infected magic user. He leads an expedition to secure the Twin Alders Card to save his younger brother from a degenerative magical illness. He carries a heavy burden of guilt over his failure to protect Elspeth and works tirelessly to gather the magical cards needed to free his kingdom from an ancient curse.

Elm is the Second Prince of Blunder, known for wearing the black attire of the Destriers instead of his family's traditional gold. He despises his cruel older brother and deeply resents his father's attempts to control his future. Although he cultivated a reputation as an unruly prince, he possesses a strong sense of justice and secretly works to protect those his family oppresses.

The Nightmare is the disembodied soul of Aemmory Percyval Taxus, the historical Shepherd King. He currently possesses Elspeth's physical body and guides a group of adventurers through the dangerous woods. He uses cryptic riddles and ancient magic to orchestrate a quest for the final Providence Card, seeking to correct massive mistakes he made centuries ago.

Ione is Elspeth's beautiful cousin and the reluctant fiancée of the Crown Prince. Because of magical compulsion, she constantly uses the Maiden Card, which heals physical injuries but completely suppresses emotions and desires. She strikes a dangerous bargain with the Second Prince to maintain some freedom within the hostile royal castle.

Hauth is the ruthless Crown Prince of the Rowan family. Though initially unconscious and broken in body, his past cruelties heavily influence the other characters. He is a brutal man who enjoys inflicting physical and psychological pain through magical compulsion.

Quercus is the King of Blunder and a harsh, demanding ruler. He focuses his anger on anyone he perceives as a threat to his family's power while desperately trying to suppress court gossip. He uses intense pressure and forced loyalty to maintain his grip on the kingdom.

Jespyr is a skilled fighter and the only female member of the Destriers. She is fiercely devoted to her siblings and insists on taking an active role in the dangerous mission to secure the Twin Alders Card to save her younger brother.

Emory is the youngest Yew sibling, afflicted with a severe magical infection that allows him to glimpse the future and read intimate details about people. His illness slowly erodes his mind and body, providing the urgent motivation for his older brother's quest.

Erik is the former Captain of the Destriers and Elspeth's father. He is a serious, austere man who kept his daughter's magical infection a secret for years to save her life. He reacts with intense violence when he learns the truth about how his daughter was placed in danger by her relatives.

Tyrn is Ione's father and a scheming nobleman who previously traded dangerous magical artifacts for political advantage. He pushed his daughter into a royal betrothal out of ambition but shows signs of regret for the danger he caused his family.

Opal is Ione's mother and Elspeth's aunt. She is among the infected who were cast out into the mist and now resides with a group of survivors in an unknown fortress.

Linden is a fellow Destrier and Hauth's closest ally. He harbors deep resentment toward Ravyn and his friends, taking pleasure in their legal and physical peril while executing the King's commands.

Gorse is a Destrier forced upon Ravyn's group by Quercus to act as a spy. He actively looks for opportunities to report Ravyn's secrets back to the throne.

Petyr is one of the Ivy twins recruited to help retrieve the Twin Alders Card. He faces severe physical peril during the dangerous journey through the forest.

Wik is the twin brother of Petyr, joining Ravyn's group to navigate the treacherous magical forests in search of ancient cards.

Filick acts as a healer and confidant at the royal castle of Stone. He treats the injuries of the main characters and offers quiet advice regarding court politics and personal relationships.

The Spirit of the Wood is an ancient, clawed deity figure with silver eyes who controls the wild, degenerative magic of the mist. She operates on a strict system of bartering, requiring a heavy personal price for any magical power she grants.

Brutus is the first Rowan king, seen strictly through the historical memories of the Shepherd King. Originally a close friend to Taxus, their relationship deteriorates as magic corrupts the kingdom, leading to extreme violence.

Ayris is the beloved sister of Taxus, seen entirely through historical memories. She supports her brother early in his reign but becomes highly critical of his obsession with his magical work.

Tilly is the youngest daughter of Taxus, existing as a remnant spirit tied to her father's legacy. She waits with the rest of her family's souls for her father to complete his centuries-long task.

Bennett is the gray-eyed son of Taxus, seen in historical memories. He possesses unique magical abilities that make him highly significant to the history of Blunder.

Fenir is the patriarch of the Yew family and father to Ravyn, Jespyr, and Emory. He provides a secure base for his family at Castle Yew amid the kingdom's political turmoil.

Morette is the sister of King Quercus and the mother of the Yew siblings. She represents a bridge between the hostile royal family and the tight-knit Yew household.

Petra is the historical wife of Taxus, seen through his memories of the past. Together they parented six children before tragedy struck their family.