Characters

Check back here periodically. Changes will be made to this page as new people are met and detail revealed through the course of the story. I’m not above dropping hints either.

In order of appearance:

Newsi

Newsi Morles has lived her whole life on the same farm, just outside of Ableton. She was born into a large, happy family, but, one by one, first her father and then her siblings were claimed by either Death or the Road.

She didnt marry until relatively late. She was always too busy helping her mother run the farm to find a husband. Someone eventually pointed it out to her that two women really weren't supposed to be able to run a farm alone. Embarrassed to be caught doing something impossible, she set her mind on meeting a man. Unimpressed with the bachelor inhabitants of Ableton, Newsi left town. She came back three weeks later, having acquired one husband, by the name of Kip.

Together the couple has raised four sons. The youngest manages to see his parents every couple of months, but others live farther away. One lives in the distant capital city.

Kip

Kip Morles grew up in a town a little bigger than Ableton, but with less traffic. His family ran a General Store, and thought that he was marrying-down when he and Newsi picked each other out. At first, Kip wasn’t much help on the farm; Newsi had to teach him everything. He remains a little squeamish about certain elements of farm life to this day.

All four of his sons turned out hardier than he ever was, which remains a source of distance between them. He never felt like he could live up to the expectations of the hard-working family. Though a diligent and responsible man, Kip has an unfulfilled appreciation for the finer things in life.

Kip has a very different disposition than his wife. Where she is erratic and excitable, he is steady. Where she is inventive, he has a trusted approach. Their differences do create conflict sometimes, but usually this conflict takes the form of spirited theoretical debate. When their neighbors see them in town they are usually in the middle of one of these discussions, and give the impression they’ve already been in the middle of it for several hours.

Brisa

Brisa set out on the Road at the age of twelve. She’d come an indeterminate distance before arriving in Ableton. She carried a cup, blanket and change of underclothes. Her feet were such a mass of blisters that her shoes barely fit.

She knocked on the Morles’ door because Kip had put up a sign to let travelers know they had fruit and water to spare. Newsi took one look at her and started clucking like a hen. The Morleses convinced Brisa to stay through the winter. Come Spring, no one brought up Brisa’s departure. Kip and Newsi were afraid that mentioning the new green leaves would cause her to fly away like a slightly-oblivious migratory bird.

Just before Brisa’s arrival, an increasing amount of Newsi’s time had been devoted to her ill mother. So Brisa, being both a cheerful worker and cheerful company, was welcome for more than one reason. Kip and Brisa soon thought of her like the daughter they’d never had.

Brisa is unfailingly charming and thinks the best of everybody she meets. Her odd self-assurance could be interpreted either as lingering innocence or premature wisdom. It’s probably some of both if you ask me.

San

San isn’t originally from Ableton. No one knows much about his history. However, he makes a point of telling everyone his full name and hometown (although he usually mumbles), so I’ll make a point of it too.

His name is San Hain Bowered. He’s from Felderville. That’s north of Ableton. Just two valleys over. Easy to find if you wanted to.

He’s been earning his keep by working as a field hand for the Hassers. They’re not that picky about their employees, or else they probably wouldn’t have hired San. He prefers to work in the middle of the night, doesn’t visit the town’s chapel, and says some pretty incoherent things sometimes.

Ella

Abbess Ella is the Headmistress of the Nuns of Accession of... well, the Road at the moment. There are about 20 of them with a couple heavily-laden beasts of burden, a wagon, and assorted other gear. It seems that they're taking their entire abbey with them, oddly.

No one in Ableton seems to have heard of the Nuns of Accession, so until someone asks, it'll be a mystery what the order's specific resposibilities are. Of course, anyone over the age of four could tell you that the robes and face paint mean they're associated with the god of death... Which may be part of the reason why no on has asked what they specifically do.

Ella's a spry, tiny little woman. She looks about sixty, but is probably pretty well-preserved. She makes for a somber, dignified presence, but has a way of punctuating that impression with unexpected jokes and jibes.

It's obvious that Ella is a remarkble leader, both in practical and religious matters. The other nuns seem to treat their Headmistress with a respect and deference that borders on awe.