The Umineko When They Cry visual novel series features an extensive cast of characters created and originally illustrated by 07th Expansion's Ryukishi07.
Also on the island are three family members who live there, five of Kinzo's servants, and his personal physician, for a total of 18 people.
In Umineko, there is a rumor that Kinzo turned to the Golden Witch Beatrice and sold his soul for ¥20 billion worth of gold, allowing the Ushiromiya family to prosper more than it ever had before.
Witches who gain the ability to move into other territories called "Fragments" (カケラ, Kakera), such as Bernkastel and Lambdadelta, are known as Voyagers, to whom few other witches can compare, though their sense of worth is often deterred, and they are even at the risk of losing their souls on their voyages, which they often hope will be endless.
It is suggested that the real human servants are actually furniture created by Kinzo's hands through magic, and are permitted to bear the One-Winged Eagle on their uniforms (a majority of the real servants were raised in an orphanage owned by Kinzo, and when on duty, they utilize pseudonyms, consisting of the kanji 音 as a suffix.
In addition to special powers, such as transformation and barriers, most furniture have the ability to conjure a magical ornate blade of light from one of their hands for offensive purposes.
Unlike normal furniture, demons are not created by witches or sorcerers, but are contracted to do their bidding.
Only powerful mages can control the Stakes of Purgatory, but they cannot hurt any who have not committed the sins, or have strong magical resistance.
In Turn of the Golden Witch, the Stakes of Purgatory first appeared in human form, taking the shape of young girls, each with a different personality, but all have red irises.
It is said that there is no escape from the Chiesters' attacks, and they can even locate targets from far parts of the island and retrieve the corpses of whom they have killed; despite this, the Chiesters appear to be far from fearless, being terrified away twice when it appeared that their attacks had been useless against both Beatrice and Battler in Banquet of the Golden Witch.
It is a redemption enforcement agency supervised by the Great Court of Heaven, tasked with carrying out interrogations and executions of those who have committed heresy, particularly witches.
Eiserne Jungfrau boasts a great number of spectacular achievements in witch-hunting, and is extremely well known among other agencies.
The Blue Key is used to cause concepts to waver and create self-doubt in the intended target, though it can be defended against.
SSVD is another famous redemption agency supervised by the Great Court of Heaven, formally introduced in Requiem of the Golden Witch.
Inquisitors from SSVD are generally more rigid and fundamentalistic in their jurisdiction than Eiserne Jungfrau, and their conservative values garner both criticism for being outdated and praise for preserving their original intentions.