The Boy - called "Randi" in the Japanese version of the game - is SoM's main character. He is the strongest, when it comes to weapons, of your three characters. He uses no magic.
"Randi" was orphaned when he was young. He was raised by the Elder of Potos Village. When he pulls the Mana Sword out of the stone near the falls west of Potos, he is banished from the village.
Home Town: Potos Village
Alliance: Resistance
The Girl - called "Purim" in the Japanese version of the game - is SoM's female lead. With weapons, she is stronger than the Sprite but not the Boy. Most of her magic is defensive, but some is offensive.
You first meet "Purim" when Goblins attack you south of the Water Palace. She was looking for her boyfriend Dyluck, stumbles upon you, and saves you. She leaves, but you meet her again either in Pandora or in the Witch's Forest (your pick.)
If you don't want to fight the Werewolves in the Witch's Forest but want her in your party before Tropicallo, get her in Pandora and walk up to the pillars in the Witch's Forest. She'll offer to go to Gaia's Navel, and will now go in there!
Home Town: Kingdom of Pandora
Alliance: Resistance
The Sprite - called "Popoie" in the Japanese version of the game - is mostly the sidekick character. He is weak when it somes to weapons, but he has the strongest offensive magic in the game. Keep his magic ready for the bosses.
You first come across "Popoie" in the Dwarf Village. He and the Dwarf Elder manage to get you to pay them money so he can go back home. When you discover the truth, they return the money. After fighting Tropicallo, the Sprite joins you, in hopes of regaining its lost memory. Even after he regains his memory, he stays with you.
Home Town: Sprite Village in Upperland, but you find him in the Dwarf Village
Alliance: Resistance
Timothy is a friend of the Boy. He and Elliot are with the Boy as they walk across the falls at the beginning of the game.
Home Town: Potos Village
Alliance: None
Elliot is another friend of the Boy. He's the one who falls in the hole when you fight the Mantis Ant. He looks big and tough but he's really a scaredy cat.
Home Town: Potos Village
Alliance: None
The Potos Elder is the man who takes care of the Boy once he's been orphaned. He's the one who also makes the final decision to banish the Boy.
Home Town: Potos Village
Alliance: None
Jema is an old warrior from Tasnica. He was friends with the Boy's father - Serin - when he was alive. He's your guide through parts of the game, so listen to what he says. You first meet him in Potos's café, but he won't talk to you until you fight the Mantis Ant.
Home Town: Tasnica
Alliance: Resistance
Luka is the 200-year-old sage (I bet most girls are dying to know her secret! :) who takes care of the Water Palace. She gives you advice during the first parts of the game and gives you the Pole Dart (Javelin) weapon. Little-known fact: look for her after the Sunken Continent arises, and she'll be trapped down in the dungeon.
Home Town: Water Palace, if that counts
Alliance: Resistance
The Cannon Men can be found near many major towns. They can blast you in their cannons to other areas of the world.
Home Town: Kippo Village, but are found worldwide
Alliance: Resistance?
Neko is a salesma… salescat. He sells most of his goods at double the normal price, but some things can only be bought from Neko. The only time he does not double the price is when he is behind the Tree Palace. He will also save your game and in his shop, you can rest (for an outrageous price.)
Home Town: Neko's Shop near Potos, but can be found just about anywhere
Alliance: Resistance
Dyluck is the Girl's boyfriend. You first see him, with his troops, just south of the Water Palace, ready to take on the witch Elinee. When you get to Elinee's lair, she sends him to Thanatos. Thanatos has plans for Dyluck to be his new body. However, he resists too strongly and Thanatos ends up destroying him instead.
Home Town: Kingdom of Pandora
Alliance: Resistance, but is controlled by Thanatos
Phanna is the Girl's best friend. She's a bit jealous of the Girl and Dyluck, and Thanatos uses this to his advantage. He controls her until near the end of the game.
Home Town: Kingdom of Pandora
Alliance: Resistance, but is controlled by Thanatos
Watts is the best blacksmith on the planet. Give him a weapon orb and some money and he'll strengthen any of your weapons.
Home Town: Dwarf Village, but appears in almost every major city
Alliance: Resistance
Elinee is the witch that first captures Dyluck. When you find her, she sends Dyluck away and has her "pet" attack you. When the Spikey Tiger (her pet) is deafeated, she comes to her senses, gives you the whip and some information, and sends you outside with the last of her power.
Home Town: Witch's Castle
Alliance: Empire at first
Thanatos is this game's major bad guy. He's big, bad and strong. You first find him draining the energy of the Pandorans. Then he escapes but returns way too many times later. He's the second-to-the-last thing you fight, as the Dark Lich.
Home Town: Northtown?
Alliance: Empire, but betrays the Emperor and leads himself
The Scorpion Army - Boss and her robotic "yes-men" the Boys - are after global domination. They are more comic relief than they are dangerous. You meet them thrice in your journey. The first time, they stole the Water Seed and use it to power Kilroy the super-robot. The second, they kidnapped Salamando the Fire Elemental and used him to make a resort in the Ice Country. (The Boys themselves ruin that plan, with help from you.) The final time, they are near the Underground City for unknown reasons and send Kilroy's silver-colored twin after you, Kettle Kin.
Home Town: Unknown
Alliance: Scorpion Army
Geshtar, I believe, is the second-in-command of the Imperial Army. He appears here and there. You first find him in the Water Palace trying to steal the Water Seed - which isn't in the Water Palace. When he finds you with it, he takes it and has the Jabberwocky attack you. He is also known as the Mech Rider, which you fight three times (though the third time it isn't Geshtar.)
Home Town: Northtown?
Alliance: Empire
The grandfather of the Sprite and keeper of the Wind Palace. He gives you Sylphid's powers and will heal you any time.
Home Town: Sprite Village
Alliance: Resistance
The king of Matango, the mushroom village. He's a tad strict but kind hearted. He takes care of Flammie until the end of the Empire incident.
Home Town: Matango
Alliance: Resistance
Your ride through the second half of the game. You first meet him in the Matango Caves, but Truffle takes care of him until you clear Northtown Castle.
Home "Town": Matango Caves
Alliance: Resistance
First met when you stow away on the Sandship. He helps you get off. You can also find him behind the Tree Palace, after you resink the Sunken Continent.
Home Town: Unknown
Alliance: Resistance
SANTA??? In an RPG? Well, it's true. He stole the Fire Seed to make a big Christmas tree, and it backfired, turning him into the Frost Gigas. He returns the seed when he changes back. Rudolph is his reindeer (where are all the other eight? Dasher and Dancer…)
Home Town: Ice Country
Alliance: None, I think
She's a Tasnican spy. Her husband was discovered with the key to the Golden Tower (aka Light Palace) and captured. She gives you the code to get into the Southtown sewers. Later, look for her with the key to reach the Golden Tower.
Home Town: Tasnica, but she lives in Southtown
Alliance: Resistance
When you arrive at the end of the sewers, you meet Krissie. She's the Resistance leader. She appears here and there and tells you many things to do.
Home Town: Northtown?
Alliance: Resistance
The neurotic emperor. He, at first, commands Thanatos and the gang, but is later killed by Thanatos.
Home Town: Northtown
Alliance: Gee, let me think
You fight this minor character twice: once as the Dark Stalker, and once as the Aegagropilon (try saying THAT three times fast. Heck, try saying that once at all!)
Home Town: Northtown?
Alliance: Empire
She appears a couple of times but only really DOES something when you fight her as the Hexas.
Home Town: Northtown?
Alliance: Empire
Rather like Yoda (I say as if the whole game isn't based on Star Wars.) He at first doesn't say who he is, and ends up sending you through a large cave where you end up fighting yourself (or, more accurately, magicless losers named ShadowX1, X2 and X3.) He even implies that he isn't himself. And he's not humanoid. How much more Yoda can you get without actually BEING Yoda?! I mean, if he were a little shorter and more wrinkled and spoke without conjunctions or verbs…
Home Town: Mandala Mountain
Alliance: Resistance
I use the Robin Foot picture because that's EXACTLY what he looks like. All he does is allow you access to the Moon Palace.
Home Town: Unknown
Alliance: Resistance?
The combined forces of the women of the Tribe of Mana became this tree. That includes the Boy's mother. This tree is the final goal of the game before the Mana Fortress. It's almost completely destroyed by Thanatos. She/it is what allows you to use Level 8 (and, truthfully, Level 9) magic.
Home Town: Unknown, but there's probably more than one
Alliance: Resistance
Gee, it doesn't seem that there were too many new characters of any importance after you get Flammie (ironic, because Flammie is what lets you get to many places you normally can't go.) Just Joch and the Tree (and I included Karon for good measure.) Oh, well.