Spoiler-light practical guide

Zero Parades characters

Zero Parades has a dense cast of handlers, operatives, informants, vendors, aliases, and power brokers. This index is built for fast lookup: who is a real person, who is a cryptonym, and which entries currently have detail pages.

Quick Answer

Start with Hershel Wilk / CASCADE, PSEUDOPOD, Karolina Hayato / KINDRED, Ramses Molloy / RADIAN, and Tempo del Sur / TAXMAN. Treat aliases as search helpers, not separate characters.

Spoiler-Light Hint

This hub page has detailed profiles for some entries. Click entry names with links below. Entries marked [Brief entry] are summaries only.

Full Guide

How to use this page

This hub organizes all known characters in Zero Parades. Some entries have detailed profile pages; others are brief summaries for context.

Current coverage

The entries below are based on community reports, official descriptions, and cross-checked sources. As more information becomes available, this page will be updated with additional entries and detailed pages.

Player Tips

Practical advice for using this information in your run.

How to read this index

Entries marked Profile have local detail pages. Entries marked Alias point back to another name or cryptonym. Brief entries are tracked for search coverage and will be expanded only when route details are source-checked.

Cryptonym tracking

Write down cryptonym pairs: Hershel / CASCADE, Karolina / KINDRED, Ramses / RADIAN, Tempo / TAXMAN, Ezsti / ESTOC, and Vespar / VIRTUE. The game often uses official names and field names in different contexts.

Vendor and location notes

Vendor-like characters usually matter because they unlock tools, items, or location routes. Goat Eyes, Constanz, Petre, Carmuna, and Malen are worth tracking even if they seem like flavor NPCs.

Recruitment priority

Recruit Karolina before Ramses. She is easier to find, requires less preparation, and provides early network benefits. Ramses needs faction context that you build later.

Vendor timing

Visit Goat Eyes immediately after Bootleg Bazaar. Buy the lockpick (30 sol) before any other purchase. Return to him after major story beats — his inventory or dialogue may update.

Handler check-ins

Talk to Hershel and PSEUDOPOD after every major mission. They often have new dialogue that unlocks routes or warns about upcoming problems.

Dr. Gonza prerequisite

Do not approach Dr. Gonza until you have explored Party Alley thoroughly. His prybar quest requires understanding the alley's faction dynamics.

All entries

Ancient Clothing Vendor Alias Alias for Carmuna Pessoa; clothing seller in the Bazaar.
Ansaunne Brief entry Developed-world country reference tied to background and dialogue.
Bazaar GM Brief entry Guardia Municipal officer at the Bootleg Bazaar entrance.
Carmuna Pessoa Brief entry Used-clothing vendor in Quisach's Bootleg Bazaar.
CASCADE Alias Hershel Wilk's Operant Bureau cryptonym.
Cigar-Smoking Old Man Alias Alias for Slava.
Constanz, the Photo Lady Brief entry Owner of Foto 24 and Operant Bureau asset.
Duchess Brief entry Operator of the Miracle Line payphone route.
ESTOC Alias Ezsti Newitz's cryptonym.
Ezsti Alias Short form for Ezsti Newitz.
Ezsti Newitz Brief entry Whole Sick Crew asset; cryptonym ESTOC.
Fanged Beast Alias Alias connected to the King of Trade.
Gravel-Eyed Pilot Alias Alias for Pigeon.
Hershel Wilk Profile Playable burned operant; cryptonym CASCADE.
HOLOCENE Brief entry Operant Bureau agent and former double identity connection.
Honey-Voiced Woman Alias Alias for Duchess.
Karolina Alias Short form for Karolina Hayato. Karolina Hayato Profile Whole Sick Crew asset; cryptonym KINDRED. KINDRED Alias Karolina Hayato's cryptonym.
Little Maurito Brief entry Guardia Municipal contact at the Bazaar entrance.
Loud Joao Brief entry Retired airplane pilot in the Backways drinking circle.
Malen Brief entry Party shop vendor in the Bootleg Bazaar orbit.
Man in Captain's Hat Alias Alias for Loud Joao.
Man in the Ugly Coat Brief entry Photographer figure tied to Quisach encounters.
Man with a Bag on His Head Alias Alias for Subcomandante Bagman.
Melita Brief entry Operant Bureau handler connected to Hershel's recall.
Mysterious Teenage Girl Brief entry Tuk-tuk arrival figure tied to Hershel's Bureau identity.
Party Alley GM Brief entry Guardia Municipal officer connected to the payphone route.
Party Shop Vendor Alias Alias for Malen.
Petre, the Format Fetishist Brief entry Rare media vendor who sells audio discs.
Phone Sex Addict Brief entry User of the Miracle Line in the Backways.
Photo Lady Alias Alias for Constanz, the Photo Lady.
Pigeon Brief entry Retired pilot tied to a Wolf Cup route.
PSEUDOPOD Profile Catatonic double/interface at the center of the opening mystery. RADIAN Alias Ramses Molloy's cryptonym. Ramses Alias Short form for Ramses Molloy. Ramses Molloy Profile Whole Sick Crew asset; cryptonym RADIAN.
Rare Media Vendor Alias Alias for Petre, the Format Fetishist.
Slava Brief entry Retired pilot in the Backways drinking circle.
Stranded Passenger Brief entry Tsunese passenger waiting around the unfinished aero-tram line.
Sturdy Pony Brief entry Consumable cigarette brand; appears in character/wiki cross-references.
Subcomandante Bagman Brief entry Paper-bag-headed conspiracy broadcaster.
Sword-Wielding Child Brief entry Bazaar child connected to Sixty-Six Wolves references.
TAXMAN Alias Tempo del Sur's cryptonym.
Tempo Alias Short form for Tempo del Sur.
Tempo del Sur Brief entry Whole Sick Crew bootlegger; cryptonym TAXMAN.
The Boatman Brief entry Rustamian boatman at the Old Docks.
The Boatman (alias) Alias Alternate entry pointing back to The Boatman.
The Phantom Line Engineer Brief entry Aero-tram engineer on the unfinished Line 9 route.
Transfixed Child Brief entry Bazaar child connected to the running television thread.
Vespar Alias Short form for Vespar Sondo.
Vespar Sondo Brief entry Whole Sick Crew asset; cryptonym VIRTUE.
VIRTUE Alias Vespar Sondo's cryptonym.

Common Mistakes

Related Guides

Karolina RecruitmentRamses RecruitmentBeginner GuideEarly Game Walkthrough

FAQ

Is this list complete?

This is a living document based on current community documentation. New entries are added as they are verified.

How do I find more details?

Use available detail links above, or check the related guides section below for practical walkthroughs.

Can I contribute information?

If you have verified in-game information, contact us through the Contact page with your source.

Sources and update note: This hub is maintained from official game descriptions, public launch-week guide coverage, and community route notes. Individual entries may be expanded as more player-tested details are documented.
Last updated: July 9, 2026
Disclaimer: This is an unofficial guide. Not affiliated with ZA/UM, Valve, or Steam. Buy and verify current details on the official Steam page.