Orona

Orona is cheerful, eccentric and committed to the idea that laughter can save people. His jokes are deliberately simple and sometimes poorly received, but his belief in humor is sincere rather than merely part of a performance.

Behind the comedy is a perceptive mentor. Orona immediately recognizes the anger and self-destructive tendencies in Chocolove and refuses to respond to them with fear. Even when threatened, he tries to redirect the younger man's aggression rather than defeat or humiliate him.

He also possesses considerable moral courage. His teachings emphasize resisting revenge even when anger appears justified, an idea that becomes central to Chocolove's later development.

Orona possesses 1,300 Furyoku and is an experienced Amazonian shaman. His Guardian Ghost is Mic, the spirit of a jaguar.

He uses jaguar claws and his own body as media for his Over Soul, allowing Mic's characteristics to enhance his movements. The resulting fighting style emphasizes the speed, agility and predatory movement associated with a jaguar.

Orona eventually passes Mic to Chocolove. His importance as a teacher extends beyond supplying a Guardian Ghost: he establishes the principles that later allow Chocolove to develop his own distinctive shamanic techniques.

Orona originally comes from an indigenous South American community. As younger generations leave traditional life behind, he travels and eventually becomes a street comedian in New York.

He meets Chocolove on Christmas in 1998. When Chocolove threatens him, Orona realizes that the young man can see Mic and therefore possesses shamanic potential. He begins training him and teaches him that laughter can be used to improve the world.

Members of Chocolove's former gang eventually attack Orona. Even while facing them, he urges Chocolove not to surrender to hatred or revenge. Orona is shot and killed, leaving Mic and his ideals to his student. When Chocolove later enters the Great Spirit after dying, Orona guides him toward further training and introduces him to Pascual Abaj.

Chocolove McDonnell is Orona's pupil. Orona teaches him shamanism and comedy, gives him a new purpose and eventually entrusts Mic to him.

Mic is Orona's jaguar Guardian Ghost before becoming Chocolove's partner.

Pascual Abaj is a powerful spirit whom Orona introduces to Chocolove during his training within the Great Spirit.