Hitomi Kanzaki is a typical high school girl, with all the regular high school problems. But when a vision of a young man battling a dragon becomes a reality, her life changes forever. Transported into a strange vortex with the swordsman called Van, Hitomi is thrust into the strange world of Gaea. Hitomi's latent psychic powers are enhanced on Gaea and she quickly becomes embroiled in the conflicts between the Zaibach Empire and the several peaceful countries that surround it. Entangled in a struggle over life and death, Van must learn to master the suit of armor, Escaflowne. Chased by the Empire of Zaibach, Van and Hitomi will encounter both allies and enemies in an effort to unlock the secrets within Escaflowne.
(summarized from wikipedia, animeinfo, and escaflowne fansite)

Picture	Real Name	Description
	Hitomi Kanzaki	As an athletic girl, Hitomi has a hobby of reading fortunes using tarot cards and a pendant which was given to her by her grandmother. She is transported to Gaea when she runs into Van Fanel who has mysteriously traveled to earth in order to slay a dragon. While on Gaea, Hitomi is faced with war, love, and loss. Her powers increase there, but she gradually moves away from using such things and learns to depend on her heart.
	Van Slanzar de Fanel	Van Fanel is the young half-Draconian king of Fanelia who must learn to cope with drastic changes in his life after Fanelia is destroyed by Zaibach. He is often brash, impulsive, moody, and arrogant, but he has a good heart. He is the pilot of Fanelia's protector, Escaflowne. A Guymelef made by the misterious Ispano makes him bound to the Escaflowne by a blood contract.
	Allen Crusade Schezar	One of the twelve "Heavenly Knights" of Asturia and an incredible swordsman. He is popular among the girls and looks like Hitomi's high school crush, Susumu Amano, which leads Hitomi to fall for him. Allen is one of the most skilled fighters of Gaea under the expert tutelage of Balgus of Fanelia. He joins Hitomi and Van on their journeys after his fort is attacked by the Zaibach army who are in search of Escaflowne and its pilot.
	Folken Lacour de Fanel	The Strategos or tactician of Zaibach, Folken is revealed to be Van's older brother and the original heir to Fanelia. After he failed to kill a dragon, he lost an arm to the beast and was later picked up by the Zaibach, who nursed him back to health under Dornkirk's instructions and fitted him with a mechanical arm.
	Dilandau Albatou	The leader of an elite group of Guymelef pilots called the Dragon Slayers in Dornkirk's army. He is also a maniac with a penchant for fire and destruction who abuses his soldiers, although he is also emotionally-dependent on them as well (he gladly kills anyone who has caused any harm to them, such as the Doppelganger Zongi).
	Emperor Dornkirk	The emperor of Zaibach and main antagonist of the series. Dornkirk oversees the ravaging of the countries of Gaea in his relentless pursuit for the secrets of the ancients. The ultimate goals of his machinations and the reasons for his obsession are as mysterious as his origins.