Jim Sterling

He is a miner and one of Samuel's favorite clients.

Nikolai is a tall, burly badger with brown eyes. He has some gray facial scruff that resembles a mustache and stubble. He wears a pale yellow shirt tucked into jeans, with a brown belt. On the job, Nikolai wears a carbide miner's headlamp.

Nikolai is a man of few words, although he is very perceptive. He is deeply caring and manages to project warmth and confidence despite the adversity he has faced throughout his life. Nik is very protective of those close to him, and terrified by the thought of losing them. He is quick to help others, even in the most precarious situations, and is resolutely committed to his friends and community. He is shown to be very affectionate with those he trusts, notably valuing physical closeness with Samuel more than sex, and can become very bashful in intimate situations.

Nik also has a good sense of humor, and in trusted company he often makes deadpan jokes that benefit from his normally taciturn demeanor.

Nikolai was born on January 2nd, 1877 in Lakhia, a nation in Eastern Europa. Nik recalls life in Lakhia as being defined by loss and uncertainty, due to its frequent invasions by hostile neighbors, but also by the convivial spirit of its people, who ensured that communities looked out for each other even as the borders around them changed. Nik has never known war personally but he has a keen fear of loss, partly because he no longer has contact with his family, and he does not often talk about his past. Nik has technical school credentials that are considered 'impressive' by the co-owner of Echo's mine, and he presumably attended this school in his home country.

Nik immigrated as a young man, seemingly with his family, who now live somewhere east of Echo. He has at least two sisters who may have left Lakhia with him, although he currently does not even know if they are still alive.

He is the librarian for the library adjacent to Echo's city hall and covertly operates as an information broker. Beckett is his twin brother.

Porter is a Gila lizard with green eyes and black and orange scales. He wears a checkered gray suit with a green vest and a high-collared white undershirt, accented with a bolo tie. He also wears round silver spectacles. Porter has a prominent tail with black spikes near its base, and small orange and black ridges on top of his head.

Porter is savvy and shrewd. He is keenly aware of the value of every secret he trades, and is unwilling to give out information without first receiving something in return. He values discretion and keeps his intentions well-guarded but is also very expressive and even playfully cheerful, especially in contrast to his stoic brother.

Porter's end goals and motives are unclear, but he appears interested amassing power and influence in Echo. According to his brother Beckett, Porter is willing to use underhanded strategies and go to great lengths to serve his ambitions.

Porter's twin brother Beckett works as a foreman for CSCG in Danicka Mine. They were once very close, but five years prior to the story Beckett cut off contact with Porter and the two have not spoken since. According to Beckett, this is because of the callous behavior that Porter demonstrated while running against their cousin Amos for a job at town hall. In the midst of the election, Porter leaked genealogical records showing that several men on Amos' side of the family had developed Huntington's Disease, an inherited degenerative condition with no cure. Facing an imminent physical and cognitive decline, Amos lost the support of the town council and was deemed unfit for office, then shortly afterward committed suicide once his symptoms began to develop. Porter won the position but lost the respect of his brother

She is the youngest living member of the Byrnes family and works as an astronomer and Echo School's librarian.

Dahlia is a petite red fox with orange and white fur, brown paws, and golden eyes. She has a tuft of red-brown fur on her head and wears round silver spectacles. Dahlia wears a yellow shirt with vertical stripes, a light green skirt, and a large yellow bow tied loosely around her neck.

While getting ready for her sister Holly's wedding, Dahlia is shown wearing a simple white dress with a translucent neckline and ruffled sleeves.

Dahlia is intelligent and secretive, although she can be excitable when discussing her interests. She greatly enjoys math and astronomy and seems to have a knack for developing coded puzzles. Though Dahlia sometimes fades into the background while in group conversations, she is rarely idle in her thinking and her ability to "disappear" may function as a ward against her often overbearing family. Dahlia is determined and resourceful, and uses her quiet nature to disguise her deeper thought processes.

Dahlia eventually went away to a prestigious college on the east coast to study science, particularly astronomy. Despite the university's telescope being off-limits to women, Dahlia taught herself to use the device by sneaking in after-hours when her professors and peers weren't looking. After graduating, Dahlia returned to Echo to work under her mother as a teacher at Echo School, as well as the school librarian. Around 1910, the school secured a grant to have an observatory installed on the roof, finally allowing Dahlia free access to her own telescope.

In addition to her regular duties, Dahlia offers special classes in astronomy for gifted students who do well in arithmetic and runs an extracurricular astronomy club. Despite her achievements, however, Dahlia tends to be derided by Gretchen for her lack of initiative and outwardly scatterbrained behavior. Dahlia also joined Echo's historical society alongside Holly, Porter Moore

Jim has known Neil and Reubin since at least college, and the three have remained close despite their different professions. The three enjoy trading verbal jabs and share the same libertine openness towards sex, although Jim is implied to enjoy sexual reciprocity and intimacy with men far more than either of his friends, which they begin to judge him for after seeing the way he treats Murdoch. Jim is further mocked for his association with "new money," particularly when Neil and Reubin witness him being spurned by Murdoch and tease him for being shown up by someone of a lower class. Murdoch later states that Jim is "not as bad" when he's not showing off for his friends, and theorizes that the group's "friendship" is largely driven by their fear of being judged by one another. Murdoch further states that Jim's relationship with Holly is an unusual exception to the typical class divides, which likely prompts further judgement from Neil, Reubin, and his other peers.

Despite his relationships with Holly and Murdoch, Jim has a low opinion of their parents. Jim states that he finds Red to be a bore and is annoyed by his constantly changing temperament. Similarly, Jim refers to Gretchen as a "mirthless bitch" and derides her controlling nature and work as a suffragette. As a result, Jim wishes to return to the city and forget about the Byrnes parents rather than continue putting on a polite façade to their faces.

Jim's relationship with Dahlia is unknown, though he attends lunch with her and her siblings presumably each Sunday after church. As such, he may respect her slightly more than her parents or many other Echo residents who he classifies as "boring." He seems perplexed by Dahlia's suggestion to study the rock she throws, and refuses to do so outright.

(Джим ничего о нём не знает, кроме того, что он шериф) William is a no-nonsense type of man, and Samuel remarks that he almost never relaxes. He acts professionally in most settings and has strong convictions about justice. Despite his rough exterior, William cares for the town of Echo and its inhabitants' safety. He is rational and perceptive, and very good at reading people.

Despite his attraction to other men, William views homosexuality as unsightly and has complex feelings about identifying as loving men himself. This denial of his identity has led William to feel a strong sense of guilt regarding his past marriage and family, and sometimes causes him to lash out at those who more freely express their sexuality. At some point Will befriended a woman named Hattie and eventually married her, in part to help her get away from her family. When Will was 19 they had son named Andy, who is 16 by the events of the story. Will was baseball player when he was younger and maintains affinity for the game. He then became a detective affiliated with the BOI, the precursor to the FBI, in Windy City, a large metropolis east of Echo controlled by organized crime. At home, Will cared for Hattie but felt hopelessly trapped and stifled in a heterosexual marriage, and contemplated suicide on numerous occasions. У Уильяма и Мёрдока хорошие рабочие отношения. Уилл считает Мёрдока другом и чувствует нужду защищать его. Они нечасто общаются вне работы, но Уиллу настолько нравится компания Мёрдока, что он регулярно приглашает его поиграть в покер.

He is the only male prostitute at the Saguaro's Hip, and has gained notoriety in the desert boomtown of Echo. After murdering a miner in self-defense, he finds himself increasingly at odds with the townspeople—and maybe even the town itself—as he struggles to keep it a secret.

Samuel is an albino mountain lion with striking red eyes and pure white fur, aside from black markings on his face and the tip of his tail. He is tall and muscular, and has been described as being "built like a house." Sam wears a casual off-white work shirt and dark green slacks held up with brown suspenders. The events of the prologue leave him with a scar on the back of his head, although it is only described and not shown.

Samuel is quiet and tends to keep to himself. He often comes across as surly and aloof but is typically agreeable and accommodating with clients, and around those close to him he displays much more warmth and a dry sense of humor. Despite his intimidating looks and stoic exterior, he is very prone to skittishness. He can be reactive and even impulsive as a result, and tends to get into trouble when he lets his fears or passions, or his genuine ignorance, affect his responses to difficult situations. While he is not vindictive, Sam has a tendency to be self-interested and is not above using seduction, manipulation, intimidation, theft, or, as a last resort, violence to ensure his own safety. He starts the story much more trusting and even gullible, but quickly becomes jaded and more selfish after Jack takes advantage of his naivety

On the Fourth of July in 1905, Murdoch's youngest sibling, Seamus, died in a boating accident on Lake Emma. Murdoch's parents were out of town and Murdoch was supposed to be looking after his brother. At the time, Murdoch had returned to his house to get a drink only to be knocked unconscious by an apparent robber. He suffered a concussion as a result, which gave him reoccurring headaches that have lasted into his adulthood. Upon his awakening, he discovered what had befallen Seamus. The strain of the tragedy reshaped the dynamics of the Byrnes family to some extent, and the loss of their other son is likely part of the reason why Murdoch's parents place so much pressure on him.

She is a teacher at Echo School, the eldest daughter of the Byrnes family, and the fiancée of Jim Sterling.

Holly is a red fox with orange and white fur, as well as a carefully combed auburn tuft atop her head. While the other members of her family have black or dark brown fur accenting their ears and arms, Holly's coloration is closer to a deep maroon. She has bright yellow eyes and wears a tan button-up blouse with a white undershirt, and a long gray skirt cinched with a brown belt. She also wears an ornate golden necklace and a golden engagement ring on her left ring finger.

Holly's wedding dress consists of a white gown with a lacy black bodice and a sheer, flowing bolero over her arms and shoulders, and a lace veil accented with a white flower.

Holly is also described as wearing an emerald plaid summer dress when Samuel runs into her during school picture day, although her sprite does not change to reflect this.

On the surface Holly maintains an exceptionally polite and formal demeanor, and is patient with her students. She takes pride in her work and is a capable, organized person who efficiently solves problems. As the eldest Byrnes child, she inwardly seems to struggle with the great deal of pressure she is under to live up to her parents' expectations, but nonetheless bears her duty to the family with cold determination and expects her siblings to do the same.

Holly gradually reveals herself to be calculating and quite ruthless, and in order to achieve her goal of getting her family out of Echo she is willing to resort to extreme measures including emotional manipulation, blackmail, and coercion. While she can be extremely spiteful toward those she deems threats to her own aspirations, she is more self-serving than outright malicious in her actions. Holly was raised Catholic like the rest of her family and this appears to have colored her worldview

He is a doctor and a good friend of Jim who comes to Echo along with Neil to celebrate Jim's bachelor party and wedding.

Reubin is a broad, stout cat with long white fur. For Jim's party, he wears a dapper suit with purple accents.

Reubin is good-humored and cheerful. He seems to greatly enjoy both teasing and being teased by his friends, but his high-society background means that his amusement sometimes comes at the expense of those he feels are beneath him. He readily indulges himself, and is eager for the ribaldry that Jim's bachelor party promises.

Despite his jovial persona, Murdoch notes that he seems as though he can't seem to sit in silence for very long and theorizes that it is likely because he does not enjoy being alone with his thoughts. Murdoch further concludes that Reubin and his friends fear how they will be perceived by their peers, leading them to be just as critical toward themselves as they are toward others.

Reubin is likely from the same "big city" as Jim. They seem to have befriended each other in college, and have maintained a close friendship for several years. Reubin attended medical school and works as a physician.

Neil is a politician and a good friend of Jim. He comes to Echo along with Reubin to celebrate Jim's bachelor party and wedding.

Neil is a tall, thin greyhound with gray fur. He has a deep voice that Samuel describes as grim-sounding. For Jim's party, he wears a dapper suit with purple accents.

Neil is stoic and dour, with an air of haughtiness and a love of vice that seem to come from a refined life of wealth and ease.

According to Jim, Neil used to be 'hotblooded' but his political career has since made him 'dusty and dutiful.' Murdoch notes that all of Neil's words are carefully curated and he is constantly taking time to think about what he is about to say, theorizing that Neil secretly fears judgement from others.

Neil is likely from the same "big city" as Jim. He presumably comes from a privileged family, and he mentions that his father owns a horse barn and employs staff to manage it. Neil seems to have befriended Jim in college, and has maintained a close friendship with him for years. Neil is a politician of some local importance in his home city, although his exact office is not specified, and according to Holly he is in the process of running for Congress.

At one point, Ralph mentions that Neil has recently become the subject of a scandal involving cocaine, but has avoided legal consequences.

Jim hails from a "big city," where he attended college and received a degree in geology. He has various friends in the city who are high-level professionals in their fields, including Neil and Reubin, a politician and doctor respectively.

Jim works as a geological assayer, a job which frequently causes him to travel to various mining operations across the western side of the country. Jim is currently posted in Echo to assist CSCG Mining Operations, working indirectly for James Hendricks and Gregory Briggs. Much of Jim's role involves analyzing ore and soil samples from the mine, requiring him to operate partially at night in order to avoid the work of the miners during the day. Apart from his job, Jim has little love for Echo and eventually wishes to return to the city when his contract is up.

Four years prior to the start of the story, Jim became acquainted with Holly Byrnes, a teacher at Echo School, and the two began dating. At some point Jim proposed, and the two are set to be married in July.

Through Holly, Jim became aware of Echo's paranormal nature and the apparently impossible happenings that occur as a result. While doubtful of these claims, Jim gradually noted various odd qualities to the mines that he surveyed including irregular layouts, natural gas emissions occurring without clear sources, traces of gold veins that lead to nothing, and an unnatural amount of quartz. While Jim still seems to have reservations about paranormal influences being responsible for these observations, he does realize that his fiancée is genuinely scared of the town and takes note of such occurrences regardless.

Despite the outward happiness of his engagement however, Jim grew restless with Echo's small town ways and unhappy with the prospect of heterosexual monogamy. At some point Jim expressed this to Holly, while also opening up to her about his sexuality

He is an assayer for the CSCG mining operation and the fiancé of Holly Byrnes, the elder sister of Murdoch.

Jim is a marble fox with snow-white fur, as well as black ears and gray markings around his eyes and on his tail. He has yellow eyes. The fur atop his head is slicked back in a debonair manner. He wears a button-up shirt with the top buttons undone, and a pair of black pants with black suspenders. He also ties a dark blue ascot loosely around his neck. In more formal settings, Jim swaps this ascot for a black tie and buttons his shirt up completely.

For his bachelor party, Jim wears a suit with purple accents over a white dress shirt, along with a black bowtie and cummerbund. For his wedding ceremony he wears a dark blue tuxedo with a black waist coat over a white shirt, as well as a dark blue tie with white stripes and a white flower boutonnière tucked into his lapel.

Jim is self-confident and smug. He tends to be crass in his cockiness and is often condescending, expressing both a disparaging attitude toward women and a sense of superiority over the people of Echo. He is extremely performative in the company of those he wants to impress, such as his fiancée's parents or his friends from the big city, and seems to rely on an exaggerated sense of bravado to secure societal approval.

Beneath this veneer, Jim is shown to be conflicted about his same-sex attractions, and fears what potential exposure could mean for his reputation. He is largely driven by upholding his upper class persona, which makes him self-conscious regarding any behavior that could serve to diminish his standing among his peers. According to Murdoch, Jim is more tolerable when in private settings where he does not feel the need to show off, and unlike many of his contemporaries he is willing to accept people with "new money" into upper class circles.