Amanda Peterson
A reporter in her 30's, she's smart and seasoned and has a talent for sniffing out good stories. She's been at her current newspaper, The Westend Daily Journal, for eight months. She's well-liked by her co-workers and actually writes pretty well. She definitely appears very well-rounded, seeming to know something about everything. She's very good with history facts.

What the audience doesn't know is that Amanda is also a 220-year old vampire. She doesn't forget those who have wronged her, especially other vampires or demons.

Jeck Beal, the Hotel Owner
The owner of the October Hotel. He reputedly has mysterious powers, works magic, and has strange things in dungeons beneath the hotel. He definitely has strange sway over the hotel staff, which could be written off as some kind of country loyalty.

Jeck is also a demon, and one that, unfortunately for him, crossed Amanda's path about 200 years ago.

Giant Serpent (male)
Under the hotel, Jeck has been using his magic and science to transform human captives into humanimal creatures. One of his most successful to date is the giant serpent, who obeys Jeck's every command.

Giant Serpent (female)
Jeck has a dream sequence where he visualizes Amanda transformed into one of his giant serpents. A mate for his favorite male serpent.

Tiger
From the hills of October Country, watching Amanda arrive and watching her from afar, comes the Tiger-man. We don't know who he was, but we get the idea that maybe he was a man that Jeck has turned into a tiger-beast. If that is the case, then this beast managed to escape the catacombs and cages under the hotel, because he wonders about the island, hiding in the trees.

At the last moment, just when it looks like Jeck may kill Amanda when she attacks him, the tiger jumps in and distracts Jeck enough that Amada easily gains the upper hand. Thereafter, the tiger likes hanging around Amanda, and Amanda accepts him, curious to one day find out his story.

Skeleton
Hanging from one of the gallows in the graveyard, Amanda sees a skeleton. Another skeleton might be chained up in the catacombs under the hotel. Mostly background / props level of character.

Amanda's friend
Female, 30's. Chats with Amanda as she is packing for her trip.

Amanda's co-worker #1
Female, 20's-40's, professional-casual attire, normal human, newspaper staff. Talks about the Hotel a bit an Amanda overhears.

Amanda's co-worker #2
Male, 20's-40's, professional-casual attire, normal human, newspaper staff. Talks about the Hotel a bit an Amanda overhears.