Otto: Our protagonist, a fun-loving man who lives in a cabin somewhere in Cook County, Minnesota. The layman might be tempted to call him a wizard, but Otto prefers to think of himself as a strong-willed individual with a firm control over his own reality. Whatever you call him, he uses his abilities and his large collection of firearms to keep things tranquil in the north woods.

Rolf Gertz: One of Otto's best friends, Rolf is a semi-retired electrician who lives in Grand Marais. His affinity for firearms and willingness to drive gets him included in a lot of Otto's peacekeeping activities. However, being a very practical man, Rolf isn't really sure what to make of some of the strange things he's seen in Otto's company.

Amy Gertz: Rolf's wife, also a very close friend of Otto's. Amy is a Professor of English at the University of Minnesota in Duluth, requiring her to spend a lot of time on the road. While she generally doesn't participate in the hands-on work that Otto and Rolf do, she knows all about it and frequently offers advice and information. Amy worries about Otto's solitude out in the woods, and is not above attempted matchmaking.

Smilin' Charley, the Whiskey Hobo: Formerly a hotshot banker in Minneapolis, Smilin' Charley became disillusioned with the consumerist lifestyle, sold his possessions, and moved into a shack in the woods. He spends most of his time sitting near hiking trails with a jug of whiskey, offering sips to anyone who passes by. Smilin' Charley and Otto frequently sit around and pass the time with whiskey.

Julie Fedders: A friend and former student of Amy's at UMD, Julie is an outdoor slacker living in Duluth. She works at a ski shop in search of low stress and employee discounts. Julie also represents Amy's most recent attempt to find Otto a girlfriend.

Cole Younger: An outlaw and bandit in the 19th century, Younger rode with Jesse James and led the infamous James-Younger gang until their attempt to rob a bank in Northfield, Minnesota went horribly wrong. Although Younger went legit after that robbery, his ghost and those of his gang periodically (and inexplicably) show up to raise hell on Otto's turf.

Maudite: The damned spirit of a French-Canadian fur trapper who made an unfortunate deal, Maudite is forced to paddle his flaming canoe through the sky above the Great Lakes for all eternity. Although Maudite's status as one of the Damned frequently pits him against Otto, the two like and admire each other, recognizing that it's just business.

Eddy: As one of The People Who Run Things, Eddy helps to determine the arbitrary laws and numbers that define the universe. Alone among his people, he worries about deeper, more fundamental laws being contradicted.

Bruce: A mysterious man who really, really seems to like entropy and shares Eddy's distrust of The People Who Run Things. Bruce is up to something, but only he knows what.