Quintet

A hardened seal hunter traveling with Vivia, driven by a desire to reunite with his brother Francha. Resourceful and persistent, he adopts Redstone's identity to stay alive within Quintet and navigate a cruel system. He confronts Grigor and question the prize, ultimately rejecting the game's seductive offer. His resolve anchors the moral tension of the story.

Essex's pregnant partner and the daughter of one of his late hunting partners. Her presence intensifies the stakes, imbuing the journey with a sense of hope and fragile life. She becomes a casualty of the violence surrounding Quintet, underscoring the human cost of the game.

Essex's brother, whose reunion with Essex motivates the northward journey. His apartment becomes a pivotal setting where violence erupts, linking family ties to the brutal world of Quintet. He embodies the human connections that the ice-age world endangers and tests.

A gambler whose murder in Francha's apartment triggers a chase across sectors. He leaves behind a list that becomes a key to the mystery, drawing Essex into the depths of Quintet's intrigues. His fate highlights the precariousness of identity in a world where appearances mean everything.

An Italian gambler who murders Redstone and later faces Essex in a climactic showdown. He embodies the ruthless, competitive edge of Quintet and the danger that each participant carries. His death in the ice-strewn arena marks a turning point in the game.

A mysterious player who always assumes the role of the 'sixth' in Quintet, embodying the game's mystique and manipulation. She pursues Essex to ensure he is counted as a player, illustrating how control extends beyond physical prowess. Her demise underscores the perilous illusion of being indispensable in the game.

The casino dealer who embodies Quintet's appetite for spectacle. He welcomes Essex under a false identity and presides over rounds where the fight to survive is built into every move. He reveals that the prize is the thrill, sustaining the cruel tides of the tournament and keeping players eager for more.

The first victim in Quintet's deadly lineup, whose death signals the brutal stakes of the game. His downfall sets the pace for the remaining rounds and amplifies the sense that no one is truly safe. The tournament's cruelty becomes immediately personal for those still alive.

A participant whose fate follows Goldstar's in the early rounds of Quintet. Her presence reinforces the ensemble nature of the game and the velocity with which players are picked off. Deuca's arc contributes to the mounting tension as the list of names circulates.