FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

• Tobias Lewandowski

Apt to respect authority, rules, and the intended usage of school-owned hardware and property, Toby is not one who appreciates joking around (especially if any aforementioned items are at risk). Oftentimes he may be led astray by his comparatively less jejune peers to act 'out of line', though he comes to his senses quickly. Many consider Toby a 'jock', but he doesn't like labels. Sure, he plays varsity football and baseball, and has countless trophies to prove it, but he doesn't like being lumped in with everyone else. This may be because of The Royals, Povey's resident greaser gang, who target jocks; and as a natural pacifist, Toby wants to avoid conflict as much as he can. After all, he wouldn't want to tarnish his squeaky clean permanent record, which he prizes more than any sports trophy he has. This doesn't stop trouble from coming to him, though. Much to the delight of his several detractors, who blame conflict on him and use any unfavorable situations he might find himself in to justify their idea of him being a meat-headed thug. He couldn't care less what his classmates think though. He prefers the company of adults anyway.

• William Lewandowski.

Some would say the expectations of an overbearingly sports-centered family, and Billy's physical inability to meet any expectations of any kind led to him taking a completely opposite path to his brother's; others would say it was when Toby and his less talented brother went to separate summer camps two years ago, and grew apart since. Either way, Billy Lewandowski is a lazy beatnik. He rarely completes class assignments, much to his brother's shagrin, considering they are often paired together to work on collaborative projects. He's prone to goofing off, and making off color jokes, which his mordant sibling also doesn't appreciate. But it's not Billy's fault that weather systems and atomic theories are boring. Surf magazines and 'alternative music' is just much more appealing. A pack follower as well, Billy will usually go through with whatever he is told by his friends without second thoughts. Possessing a fairly high degree of cowardice on top of this though, if presented with any adversity, he backs down at the first sign of trouble.

• Annalise Sharpe

Annie has a simple dream of settling down with her boyfriend after high school, raising a family, and passing down her euphonium skills to her children. It's too bad that everything wants to get in her way to stop that. Annie is Toby's girlfriend, and similarly boring and square, but much more of a curmudgeon. She appreciates the crassness of her peers even less than her boyfriend, though she lacks his level of confidence. When people make snide remarks about how comically out of touch she and her boyfriend are, she won't make much of an effort to retaliate in any way. Unlike Toby, who has his own small group of friends but doesn't care about his own popularity or his peer's perception of him, Annie cares dearly. She has several friends from the school's marching band she's a member of, none of whom are terribly popular. Despite this, they have a better standing with their fellow pupils as they all agree that the "jocks" are no good. This leaves Annie, who is dating a "jock" as the odd one out, effectively ostracized for associating with an undesirable group. At least she get the respect she craves when she goes to work at the local diner, Richard's, as a waitress. There she is held in high esteem by her adult co-workers for being "so mature and responsible for her age".

• Delores Dunn

Delores is Annie's best friend, and plays the clarinet in marching band. Often overlooked by the other students at school because of her lack of common interests, or because of her grating voice, Delores spends most of her time bill-deep in music history books. She has a passion for the classics, and considers herself good enough to play with Beethoven were he still alive. Delores pities Annie, and genuinely wants to help her improve her school life, which naturally means to stop schmoozing with an unfavorable crowd. Like most, she distances herself from the group that regularly faces harassment from The Royals as much as possible. Delores takes it a step farther though, and believes it's deserved, as in her eyes, jocks don't give the marching band the credit it deserves. She is repelled by anyone with athletic ability, and is disgusted by how much more attention sports get compared to the arts. Delores asserts her moral superiority wherever she can, which is most places aside from around adults, where she instead shrinks and acts more in a humble manner.

• Micheal Dean

Mike loves a good joke. It's a good thing too, since his standards for what qualify as funny are so low that 6/10 times you see him, he's laughing. He's more immature than most, and it gets him in trouble more times than it's worth; not just with teachers and school staff, but also with his best friend Toby, who urges his lifelong pals to act more seriously. That doesn't stop Mike from snickering at any utterance of words possessing multiple meanings, however. Despite being tall and awkward, Mike is surprisingly suave, and is considered by many girls a heartthrob. For one reason or another, they just gravitate toward him. Might it be his clothes, wealthy family, or impressive antlers, Mike is a lady-magnet. Because of this, he is the only jock who students (the female ones anyway) consider worth talking to. Relationships don't last long though, after whichever girl is dating him that week grows tired of his constant sophomoric jokes.

• Gabriel Greenwell

Gabe lives to impress. The only son out of seven siblings, he is constantly given praise by his ever-proud father. He'll do just about anything for a laugh. Normally egged on by his friend Mike and dissuaded by his friend Toby, he uses his intense strength and endurance to do things most adults couldn't do. The absurd practical jokes usually land him in detention most days, but as long as he makes his buddies laugh, he's happy with himself. Not very bright, Gabe is prone to making quick, rash decisions which compound situations that are already sour. His heart is in the right place though, as he's endlessly loyal. He's also one of the few people The Royals are actually somewhat intimidated by, simply because he's a brick wall that can withstand punches, kicks, and glass bottles without a scratch. That, and his poor hygiene is enough to repel anybody with half a brain or anyone who hasn't been friends with him for the past ten years. It's good for him that he has such good friends though, since he rarely thinks for himself, and without anyone to tell him what to do he'd be totally lost.

• Nicholas Nolan

Nicholas doesn't possess many talents, only joining the marching band as a flag-twirler to become closer with Annie, whom he yearns to impress. Ignoring the fact that she's already taken, there are a myriad of reasons why she rejects him, none of which relate to his wimpy and diminutive appearance. Nicholas is a sarcastic, snarky knowitall driven only by jealousy and "retribution". His petty detestation toward those more popular or fortunate than him culminates in various schemes to usurp those he deems undeserving of their status. Abusing his powers as a hall monitor, he'll report anyone he has a problem with, and making up lies that the school staff will believe because of his perfect reputation of never getting in trouble and having exceptional grades. The Royals are naturally the only ones he never tangles with. In exchange for letting them skip school whenever they want, and ignoring any bad deeds he witnesses them commit, Nicholas is rewarded with exemption from the normal physical torment the greasers like to dish out. Besides that, they have a similar goal, and to snitch on them would only be setting all of them back. The cottontail sees no issue in bending rules if it means his enemies suffer as a result.

• Todd Willows

There isn't anything Todd hates more than his roommates. Mike, Gabe, Toby, and even his friend Billy, are all extremely loud and disruptive. Todd is a quiet fellow and just wants to spend his time reading and sleeping. In fact, he does a lot of sleeping, more than should be healthy. He manages to turn all his assignments in on time and get good grades though, so who am I to say. Todd's favorite genre to read is horror, and in his own words it's because "It's nice to see how it compares to my real life," referring to his roommates. He works part time as a clerk at the local general store, and is often the target of many pranks and practical jokes, usually by Mike and Gabe. Toby often advises his friends to leave Todd alone, though his pleas are rarely heard by either party, as Todd considers Toby just as bad as his friends. Because of Todd's situation, his only acquaintance is Billy, since he finds him the least annoying, and he also doesn't try to replace his shampoo with sour cream twice a week. Even though he doesn't necessarily care for or pay attention to any of the new age yuppie stuff he's always going on about, Todd thinks he's good company, and is a refreshing change of pace from the three troublesome jocks that plague his daily life.

• Margaret Moore

Fitting of her role in the theater club as an extra, Margaret blends into the background. She's meek and shy, only becoming noticeable when someone needs confirmation of an opinion, to which she'll always nod her head. She's always writing, scrawling notes here and there, making observations of what the more popular students like, do, and say. She plans to one day use these notes to join the ranks of the popular girls, but she doesn't want to rush right in. If she moves too quickly, she might slip up and accidentally reveal her most clandestine secret: her father is the totally embarrassing yokel Jackson Moore, who runs the local garage! If word got out that this was true, her dreams of popularity would be done for. Ironically, her best friend Janice Powell is much more of a socialite than her, despite being just as much a "hick" as Margaret's supposedly mortifying father. In her free time when she isn't writing notes, she's proof-reading scripts written by Janice, or waiting in the school's office to call her dad and tell him to stop asking the school when her next play is.

• Janice Powell

A young woman of culture, Janice is the school's assistant theater director. Insisting that scripts for plays, especially classics, be left untouched, while making small tweaks she herself finds appropriate. From behind her large incisors, she speaks with an eloquent and sophisiticated tone, constantly citing literature between lisp-ridden sentences, she is nothing short of a poet. As much as she adores classic tales, she makes it abundantly clear that there aren't enough about the wild west. She considers Louis L'amour high art, and rewrites centuries old plays with Cowboys and Indians in her free time for fun, which she occasionally presents to the school in hopes that her work will be accepted for a production. They're always rejected, but Janice doesn't give up hope. Janice's family owns a large barley farm, and she spends a lot of her time with them as she values family greatly. She often invites her friend Margaret on such excursions, feeling that she doesn't get out much and would benefit from talking to other people. Unsurprisingly however, she's not anymore sociable there than at school, making visits awkward. Janice tends to get along with most people, though she shares the common apprehension toward interacting with jocks that most students have. She isn't above it though, as she doesn't have anything against them.

• Alice Lewandowski

The eldest Lewandowski child, Alice is two years older than her brothers. Naturally, this means she's two years more intelligent, mature, wise, talented, refined...the list goes on. If it exists, Alice will claim to be better at it than her brothers. Aside from football and baseball of course, which to her are absolutely barbaric when compared to her own leisure pursuit, tennis. Alice spends a lot of time with her boyfriend, Bruce Sharpe, Annie's older brother. The Sharpes live in town, so she can be found at their home when not at school. She often warns Annie that Toby isn't worth dating, citing her own constant bickering with him at home. Alice also likes to hog the telephone, talking in excess to her friends and boyfriend, to the point where it annoys them, and anyone within earshot. Especially Bruce, as many dates have been ruined by Alice excusing herself to go call somebody, and going missing for hours. Her sense of entitlement and superiority comes from her mother spoiling her and giving her special treatment. Alice is her favorite child, and she gets more attention from her mother than Toby and Billy. It's the opposite with their father, where he's more proud of his sons, though he doesn't spoil them nearly as much as their sister's been. For this, Alice openly expresses her dislike for her father, sometimes to his face to manipulate him to give her something she wants. It usually works.

• Shubie Dunhurst

Shubie is the youngest daughter of the wealthy Dunhurst family, and as the only child to not have left home yet, she is spoiled terribly. A mischievous troublemaker, she can often be found jumping fences and pulling pranks. Not one to take anything seriously, any scolding she receives runs off her back like rain off a coat. Rarely do her parents punish her, and if anything it's barely a slap on the wrist. Seeing that her parents run the local diner, she can usually be found there, annoying customers and getting in the way of the waitresses. She isn't all bad though, as she looks up to Annie for whatever reason, and tries her best to make nice. Annie of course doesn't appreciate it, and just wants to be left alone most of the time, dreading going to work on days when Shubie's hanging around. However, the young tomboy isn't disheartened and seemingly can't take a hint. She lacks friends since she's homeschooled by the family's maid. Being cooped up in the large family home too much is the reason she sneaks out and gets into so much trouble.

• Ronald Dole

Ronnie is a greaser, and a member of The Royals. The trust people put in Ronnie is as low as his height (especially his fellow gang members). A conniving trickster and habitual liar, the only person who puts complete faith in the mouse is his girlfriend Nancy (who is eleven years his senior). Facing constant opposition to her leadership of The Royals, Ronnie was her perfect yes-man. His elocution is impeccable; verbal manipulation is Ronnie's art form, and everyone and anyone is his canvas. Through constant bootlicking, and a real attraction to the leader, Ronnie was able to earn his spot close by her side. More than appreciative of the affirmation and compliments, the 27 year old Nancy quickly fell for the mouse, admiring his silver tongue and versatile range of criminal skills. It's not uncommon for Ronnie to brag about "scoring" with an adult woman, though everybody knows they only ever kiss. In fact, he brags a lot about things that aren't true. He claims to have autographed photos of Elvis Presley, Bill Haley, and Jerry Lee Lewis in his wallet, though of course if anyone asks to see them, he always coincidentally left it somewhere else.

• Roger Lewis

Roger is the most level-headed of The Royals, and the most likely to negotiate with outsiders. A natural diplomat, he's also able to diffuse internal arguments within the group, which are common. He's a talented guitarist as well, and writes songs when he isn't stealing things or smashing mailboxes. Sadly, he doesn't get to do this much though, since it isn't often he finds time alone. He secretly wishes that one day he can escape his life of crime and pursue a career in music. Roger doesn't really like doing wrong, but the way he sees it he doesn't have many options, and also considers The Royals close friends that he wouldn't want to abandon. Although mostly unintentional, he sometimes shows his reluctance to commit harmful acts, to which he's always met with his fellow juvenile delinquents calling him a "sissy". He also does most of the grunt work of the group, not only because he's the most presentable and well-liked by regular people, but also because he simply volunteers. It's his way of making up for his "softness" to his friends.

• Christopher Walker

Chris was the previous leader of The Royals before Nancy came along and stole everything from him. Before she showed up on the scene, The Royals was simply a group of troubled teens that liked to skip school and smoke cigarettes, and Chris loved being at the center of it. Then suddenly, someone comes along promising them there's big money to be made in committing crimes in secret for old gangsters. Chris was immediately opposed to Nancy's take over, and wasn't swayed by her seductive words. In his eyes, she isn't fitting to be the leader of a teenage gang. She hasn't been in high school for six years like he has, and she certainly can't relate to the youth like he can! He channels this intense frustration into violent aggression toward the 'wimpy' and 'privileged' students of St. Thomas Senior High School. Chris comes from a poor family in Vonneville, the large industrial city northwest of Povey, a far cry from the upper-middle class that makes up a majority of the school's students. A rough background, constant frustration, and no consequences makes for one of The Royal's most threatening members; an angsty, trigger happy thug, who will do anything to feel powerful.

• Nancy Pagliacci

Ever since leaving home at age fifteen, Nancy has made a name for herself in the organized crime community as a reliable operative with impressive communicative skills. When drifting to Larue County, powerful mobster Richard Dunhurst approached her with a proposition: if she could assemble a worthy gang, he would pay her to help him pull the strings necessary to allow his smuggling of stolen goods pass right through Povey, the perfect secluded area for such clandestine activities. Setting out, she befriended The Royals, and became their fearful leader. Now she directs her band of juvenile delinquents to threaten local police, and anyone who might know too much. When she isn't smashing cars and leaving severed livestock heads on doorstops, she also maintains her three year winning streak at the drag races. If there's one thing she loves more than clubbing smart idiots with blunt objects, and herself, it's driving fast cars. Though she lives in a trailer, as long as she's got a good collection of racing awards, and a constant flow of money, she's satisfied.

• Richard Dunhurst

For being the eponymous owner of Povey's premier eatery, Richard is seldom seen around town. If asked, few townsfolk would be able to give an accurate relation of the man, or his current goingson; the most that might be divulged would be seemingly distant memories of buying alcohol from him during prohibition years ago in the diner's basement. He of course makes appearances when evaluating his employees and occasionally checking to be sure that the trains run on time, but he is otherwise largely absent. This is because behind the façade of a simple proprietor of a country diner, he is secretly knee-deep in the murky brine of organized crime. Specifically, he smuggles stolen goods and counterfeits from Vonneville to Conrad, two major industrial cities which Povey lies between. He is the sole link between the regions, and instrumental in illegal trade, using his hired goons to keep people quiet while his more trusted 'business partners' transport the swag. Personality-wise, he has a sharp wit and is stolid, nearly expressionless some may say. He is never late, and has very high expectations of anyone he associates with. This leads to arguments with his goons, The Royals, whom he feels don't take their job seriously enough. While being an aloof professional, his high standards don't just come from his own personal moral code. As is with most jobs, he has bosses as well, men infinitely more powerful then he, who will not be dissatisfied. So much as the tiniest mistake from a few unscrupulous hooligans would create an upward ripple throughout the elite ranks of the gangster world, one for which Richard, directly responsible for said hooligans, would certainly pay.

• Lynnette Dunhurst

In Lynn's eyes, she's lived her best possible life. She's an accomplished mother, having successfully reared six children, and now being in a stage of life where she can simply lay back, and do the things she enjoys. Lynn's pastimes include sewing, painting, and most importantly, cooking. She has a special affinity for the culinary arts, and still has a need to put her skills to use. Once her fifth child had come of age and left home, she was only left with two people to cook for; her youngest daughter Shubie, and her husband Richard. Figuring this wasn't nearly enough, she found employment at her husband's luncheonette as the main cook. There she can be happy feeding more mouths than she could ever have dreamed of, and getting to meet all manner of lovely people. It's hard to find someone who has a problem with Lynn; most anyone who knows her would confirm what a joy the bubbly chef is to be around. She is exceptionally amiable, genial, and outgoing. Though, that doesn't mean she is without faults of course. Years of being pampered by her wealthy husband has left her soft and docile. She is rather oblivious to even the most obvious things, and naive to the point of ridiculousness. Foolishly unjaded and guileless, she is unable to put together that her own husband who she has known for thirty years is a crime lord. Even if all the evidence was presented in front of her, her genuine and trusting nature would lead to her ultimate refusal in accepting the truth, and going about as normal.

• Rosanna Lee Pirkins

Despite being twenty-three years old and married, Rosa Lee pictures herself as very much still with it. She listens to all the popular music, and knows all the dances and voguish fashion trends. She is a waitress at Richard's, and can be seen (or heard, rather) doing more singing than waiting, in that high pitched, warbly voice of hers. She inserts her own records into the jukebox, and discards the ones she deems unchic and obsolescent. She makes it perfectly clear though that her decisions to modernize the diner are not discourteous in nature, rather she is only trying to help. Rosa Lee is very altruistic like that. She's willing and wanting to help anyone she can, no matter how big or small the task. She gives advice of varying use to her coworkers Annie and Susan, and is always the first to get her opinion in on their daily struggles. As well-intentioned as she may be, she more often than not comes off as overbearing. None of her friends, or husband for that matter, have the heart to tell her though. They just appreciate what it is that she's trying to do. These maternal actions are rooted in her increasing fear of infertility, as her efforts to have a child have so far proven unsuccessful. These insecurities she withholds from everyone but her husband, Clark, a military physician. Their relationship is a close one, and they love each other dearly, having been smitten with each other since early high school. As previously mentioned, her fears of loneliness most definitely manifest themselves in the form of her loquaciousness and desire to help and be around others. Ironically though, she can also be very judgemental and cavilling towards people she deems undesirable, and will go as far as to advise others to stay away from them if they seem unsavory enough.

• Susanna Meilleur

On the surface, Susan is a cheerful, happy-go-lucky young lady. She is a waitress at Richard's, and new in town. As she is new, she's eager to make friends, and new connections. Too eager, some would say, as she can sometimes be very pushy and even obnoxious. Especially to those who aren't as keen on meeting new people, such as her neighbor, Jesse (ironically the person most adverse to the idea whom Susan attempts to cozy up to). Rosa Lee tries her best to guide her, though Susan isn't always receptive. Underneath her cheery exterior however, Susan is a psychological timebomb, only thinly veiling her emotional hypersensitivity. If any small thing were to set her off, she would try her best to hide her perturbance, and then weep quietly later in private. She perseveres though, as her drive to establish her new life and finding a new lover, while hiding from a tragic past is great. The only one who knows of her previous misfortunes is her best friend, Rosa Lee, who generously helped her through those trying times. Her life up until a year ago is in fact, one of the only things she isn't wishing to talk on and on about. Anything else is fair game for the chatterbox. Ask her one question about her personal life and opinions, and she'll be jumping from what her favorite color is, to why she loves gardening.

• Franklin Greenwell

Frank is the ever-proud father of Gabe Greenwell. A family man and father of seven, he supports his wife and kids through his job as a serviceman at Moore's Garage. There he displays his decent knowledge of cars and mechanics, though it is evident that that is about the extent of his intellect. It's good that he does though, as he does a majority of the work at the garage, with help from the odd trainee every once in a while. He never complains though, that while he's doing the tough work of replacing car parts largely by himself, Jesse sits behind the front counter reading magazines and his boss sits in his office tinkering. He's content with his life, and likes things how they are. In fact, Frank really lucked out as he puts it, scoring a loving wife from a relatively wealthy family, and working a job he loves with his childhood friend, Jackson Moore; why complain? He's a simple man living a simple life, and wouldn't want it any other way. He attends his son's every football and baseball game, and cheers wildly even when they lose. Thankfully Gabe has good friends to set him straight, since Frank lets him get away with murder.

• Jackson Moore

From a young age, Jackson has always described himself as 'mechanically inclined'. He likes to take things apart, learn how they work, and then put them back together again but with a couple of pieces backwards or upside down. He never lets anything go to waste, and if it breaks he will try his damndest to jerry-rig it back together again. Nearly everything he owns is like this; broken window pane? Just tape some cardboard in its place. Hole in your boot? Literally why would you throw it out there is practically nothing wrong with it. (He is also very frugal). He's a bit of a hoarder as well, and piles old mechanical parts, clothes, and newspapers in any space that'll fit storage. If he can save money and learn how something works at the same time, he's all for it. The most recent example of this is his collecting of burnt out lightbulbs, in hopes that he can somehow replace the filament. If he can find the time, that is. He doesn't finish any projects he starts, opting instead to drink with his pal Frank, and occasionally service cars at the garage that he owns. As a matter of fact, if not for Frank (and Jesse to a lesser extent), he probably wouldn't be in business today. He shows up to work like everyone else, sure, but because he's the boss, he gets to sit in his office all day and disassemble toasters.

• Jesse Sanders

Jesse is a chain-smoking, alcoholic shut-in who lives by himself and works as a serviceman/gas jockey/clerk at Moore's Garage (truly a jack of all trades). He hates the world and most everyone in it, and just wants to be left alone. No matter how abundantly clear this wish is made however, it seems that someone will always disrespect it. His coworkers, the weird group of teenagers that seem to follow him around everywhere, and especially his new neighbor Susan. Everywhere he turns, Jesse runs into someone wanting to have a conversation, or ask some question he doesn't have the answer to, or offer a baked pastry as a sign of neighborly friendliness. When he isn't pumping gas, or selling overpriced car fresheners, he's punishing his liver, while watching Gun Smoke in his underwear on the couch. He prefers mostly solitary excursions, like watching television as previously mentioned, fishing, or working on his truck. Jesse isn't completely alone, fortunately, as he's still in contact with the one friend he had in high school who didn't ditch him for being a loser, Avery Gilhooly; they mostly just get drunk together. Avery runs a club of conspiracy theorists, and Jesse let's them use the barn on his property for meetings. Jesse rarely attends them, and if he does it's even rarer that he's sober. He doesn't mind them coming around, since they pay him in beers.

• Avery Gilhooly

Avery is the proprietor of Povey's resident scrapyard, and lives by himself in a bunker on the property, buried in junk. He's a collector of firearms, canned food, and trash of course. Avery considers himself a 'Free Thinker' and only associates with those he deems free from the influence of The Man. Avery runs a clandestine coterie of these like-minded individuals, where they meet every Tuesday night to discuss the current goingson in town, and how they would fix things. Avery is ex-Air Force, after serving two years before being dishonorably discharged (though the reason why varies depending on who you ask). He doesn't much care for details anyway, as he's pushed all menial and trivial thoughts from his mind, to make room for the much bigger picture. Unless it's about the absurd amount of foreign weapons and tactical gear he acquired during his short time overseas, which he could talk about for hours on end. Avery also considers himself a TRUE detective, and embarks on his own investigative endeavors. His current working theory: the staggering rise in disappearances in the local area is the result of a psycho in the woods kidnapping individuals and sacrificing them to a cult that worships a giant snake.

• Barnabe Howe

Barnes rarely speaks, but when he does, it's in your best interest to listen. He is one of Avery's inner circle, and is a town garbage man. Since he works for the city, he acts as an insider Avery can trust. He was in the Air Force with Avery, but served five years longer. Six feet and five inches tall, and with a deep, gruff voice to accompany it, Barnes' imposing air isn't unlikely to dissuade people from approaching him. He is strong in his convictions and wants nothing but to see the organized crime purged from his beloved home. This he keeps secret, of course, as is the very nature of the conspirators. Consequently, to the uninitiated he simply appears as an intimidating, dispassionate cur. If one were to sit down and initiate a conversation with the indomitable crow however, they would find that he is wise beyond his years, and has a large array of helpful advice to give. (Though much of it will seem vague at first. Barnes wants you to work for your conclusions and learn something.) It's a shame that he seemingly only talks with three people consistently, none of which would be willing to accept guidance from anyone. Despite the infighting and squabbling over priorities within the group, Barnes still sticks by them, as to him they're his best bet at liberating Povey.

• Jonathan Wizzhunt

John is a local police officer, and one of the newer members of Avery's group. He still lives with his parents, and like Avery, is very paranoid. That's where their similarities end however, as the two don't quite get along. The donkey fashions himself as a 'realist', disregarding Avery's crackpot fabrications. In John's eyes, the problem they face is very clear, and cut and dry: the town is under the boot of the mob. According to John, he's done more research, and had more 'real world experience' than Avery. He has been enamoured with crime-solving and police work since he was young. He would spend all his allowance as a kid on Dick Tracy comics, and hog the radio, eager to find the latest crime-drama. Given this inclination, it was only natural that he would go on to join the police force at the age of twenty-two. Imagine his surprise (and disappointment) when he discovered he wouldn't be busting gangsters every other day, instead, organizing files in the archives. Feeling left out, he decided to start following the other officers in secret when they were on duty. Seeing that they all would meet up at a bar and slack off while he was supposed to be organizing papers only confirmed in his mind that they were keeping him from knowing something. Covering up for the gangsters? Bailing them out? Directly helping them?! Whatever the answer is, it has nothing to do with any of Avery's psycho cult nonsense.

• Harold Walton

Harold is Povey's resident sheriff. Slow and calm, he treats every situation with the utmost diligence. Whether it be watching West Bend Drive for speeders, or guarding Old Brickford Lane from people going above the speed limit, or making sure Third Creek Street is safe from joyriders. When he's not on duty (or when he is but doesn't feel like sleeping on the side of a quiet road), he can be found at The General, a military-themed bar where the local law enforcement congregates. What he doesn't get is why the new recruit keeps calling the bar's phone asking for him, or how he always knows he's there. Harold will always tell him the same thing: he was called for emergency backup in Vonneville (between mouthfuls of pretzels) and that the filing cabinets need sorting. He just can't be left alone. Either it's John interrupting his game of pool to ask a question he hasn't the answer for, or it's his wife messing up his dart throw to tell him the lawn needs mowing. "Why can't the next call say I won the lottery," Harold says. With as clear he makes his annoyance with the unending disturbances, you'd think he'd be less enthusiastic to answer the dial. But even though it's usually someone out to interfere with his leisure, there's the chance that it's from Richard Dunhurst, who pays him to ignore the doings of his personal thugs. And a missed call from him surely wouldn't be worth winning a game of pool over.

• Leonard Rowe

In his day, Leonard was possibly the best officer on the force. He could round up thirty crooks in forty-eight hours! But his day was about fifteen years ago. Nowadays the croc can be seen taking calls from behind the police station's front desk, half asleep and snout buried in a crime novel, wanting to go back before he had mild arthritis. John Wizzhunt looks up to him as he followed his investigations closely via news reports when he was more active, and even asks him for advice. Such advice is rarely answered meaningfully, or more than half awake for that matter. Like most of his fellow officers, he enjoys spending leisure time at The General, and leaving the entire station to the rookie. Besides answering calls, Leonard is also the keymaster of the station, and holds onto the cell keys, among other important tools. One such tool is the typewriter in the break room. Most officers have assigned typewriters at their desks for writing reports, but the one in the breakroom is considered the best, but is locked away in a suitcase. (He uses his awesome key privileges to write his memoir).

• Kenneth Yates

Ken isn't really suited to be a policeman, let alone a deputy, but they keep him around because he gets discounts at The General. He's very nervous and unconfident, and can barely shoot a gun. The other officers make jokes at his expense, which always go over his head without fail. A well-meaning follower at heart, he's only good for being ordered around. Given his naivety, he's one of the few that don't come across as condescending to John (unless of course everyone else is and he just goes along with it). In fact, he's the closest thing John's got to a friend at the station. That's not to say they're especially close, but they can at least have (one-sided) conversations, even if it all goes in one ear and out the other with Ken. All he does is in earnest, so getting mad wouldn't be right. He has some insight into his lack of understanding; he isn't very sharp, and he understands this to some degree. Many miss this, so he's capable of surprising some people from time to time. If only he had insight into other people, he might ditch the sheriff and see the corruption which strangles the local law enforcement.

• Wilbur and Ruth Lewandowski

Wilbur and Ruth are the father and mother of Alice, Toby, and Billy. They live a few miles north of Povey in the lake resort town, Cedarside. Wilbur runs The General and occasionally takes tips from Richard to give the police holed up there. Keeping this small exchange under wraps, he lives a rather normal and unassuming life, his time spent bartending, fishing, or golfing. He's very lenient, unless sports are involved. He goes to every one of Toby's games, and forced Billy to join teams up until Billy started purposely sabotaging games in order to be dropped.

Equally sports driven as her husband, Ruth was responsible for putting Alice in tennis. She only visits The General if she absolutely needs to, since she isn't fond of the rude and loud barflies. Because of this, she is unaware of Wilbur's legally and morally questionable dealings, but has her suspicions. Such suspicions are easily forgotten though, through daily household chores and daytime hospital drama television programs.

• Herbert Adkins

Mr. Adkins controls St. Thomas Senior High School with an iron fist. Or as much as he's allowed to anyway. He'd love to crush the three greasers who cause all the school's problems and just be done with it, but the powers that be who breathe down his neck prevent him from doing this. Powerless, he instead chooses to lash out at every other student instead. As much as he doesn't like the situation, he doesn't make much of an effort to stop it either; after all, what's he gonna do about it? He's already got his own kids (conveniently going to a different school) to worry about. It's much easier to simply yell at everyone else. Especially the perceived jocks, who are the motivation behind many of The Royal's schemes. He has much more bark than bite thankfully, so many of the more serious threats he does make are usually hollow. That doesn't mean he isn't intimidating though. Herbert's been known to make students take up the groundskeeper's duties for a week, or sanitize the locker rooms, or make students paint his house. Truly a force to be reckoned with.

• Callahan Vance

Callahan is St. Thomas Senior High's football coach. Soft spoken, amiable, and full of wisdom, he acts as somewhat of a father figure to Toby while he's away at school. He seems to know more than he shows, routinely leaving sentences incomplete as he trails off, lost in thought. He offers help and advice to Toby when he senses he needs it, and defends him whenever he's spoken poorly of. Like most Povelians, he shares a hate for their rival town, Palaski, and only sheds his relaxed comportment when facing off against them particularly in a game. Callahan resorts to snapping clipboards or ripping off his whistle and stomping it into the ground during matches, even when they're winning; and once it's over, not unlike Dr. Jekyll, he reverts to his usual cool and collected demeanor, as if nothing ever happened.

• Milo and Diane

Milo is the older brother of Jesse Sanders. Always somehow outdoing Jesse in everything he did, Milo was always held in high regard by the community, unintentionally putting his much less impressive brother in his shadow. While he is mostly congenial, he can sometimes let his ego get the better of him. He's away at college, and is letting Jesse stay in the house he bought while he's away. He's been away a long time though, and the brothers haven't spoken in years. This has allowed Jesse to grow a little too comfortable with his situation. Even though it's been a long time, Milo could knock on that door any day now...The real reason he's been away for so long is partially because of him meeting a woman, Diane, who would eventually become his fiancé. Diane is a kind, quiet woman who's always got her snout in a book. She particularly likes mystery novels, but also enjoys her fair share of drama. She's also proficient in sewing, and in the years she's known Milo, has hand made him countless articles of clothing.

• Patricia Whitaker

Patty was St. Thomas Senior High's premier acting student. Before she found acting though, she dated Jesse. She and Jesse at the time they first met related to each other with their lower social status, and they began seeing each other. Their relationship lasted until the end of their senior year. As Patty found her niche in theater, the couple grew more distant. As her prestige grew, so did her ego, and she over time quit making an effort to see Jesse anymore. Where once she was a modest, polite girl, she slowly became more crass and entitled. By the time they both graduated, Patty was ready to become an actress in show business, and saw the desperate Jesse still clinging on to the hope that they could still somehow make the relationship work as a pathetic orbiter. She abandoned him, and left for Hollywood. Patty did see some success early on, but her popularity quickly waned for one reason or another. Her current whereabouts are unknown, but rumor has it she's back where she came from, living in plain sight.

• Hudson

Once a timid and unconfident outcast, who we know today as 'Hudson' is a completely different person than who he used to be. While in college, he was taken under the wing of one Professor Lancaster, who claimed to see potential in him. Lancaster manipulated 'Hudson', and groomed him to believe he was much better than what others thought. Invited to stay with him and help with his personal research, 'Hudson' obliged, unknowing of what he would endure. As soon as they were alone, Lancaster dropped the act and immediately put his new assistant to work, with little resistance. 'Hudson' was disallowed from leaving the lab, and did most of the research. Any missteps were met with harsh punishment, mental and physical. Overwhelmed, but lacking the courage to leave, the poodle stays. The constant mental and physical torment would only degrade 'Hudson's' weak psyche. Compounded by the self-experimentation he was forced to conduct, it was no surprise he would eventually break. Slowly at first, he begins exhibiting neurotic behavior such as constantly brushing his growing hair, or talking to himself in a shaky voice. Years of abuse, and experimental shot injections and pills later, his mind is now lost to a twisted sense of narcissism and exaggerated feminine traits. As Lancaster's health begins to deteriorate, Hudson takes more liberties in leaving the lab. Going under numerous disguises, he lures unsuspecting locals and vagrants back home, where he then uses them in experimentation, as they are blank canvases, untouched by any transformative drugs. After being pushed around for so long, he feels a rush of satisfaction and catharsis in being in complete control over someone else's life. Many who he kidnaps end up murdered by the end as a result. That, or reshaped entirely through a manner of pills, shots, and stitches.

• Rudolph Lancaster

Dr. Rudolph Lancaster is a giant copperhead snake. He and Hudson have been working together to create his greater vision for humanity through science for a lot longer than Lancaster would like. Ill tempered, he blames all setbacks on his poodle lab partner, often violently. As he lacks appendages, he has to rely on Hudson to conduct all the experiments, something he doesn't trust him fully to do. He harshly criticizes Hudson for his constant 'guests', since he wants their operation to be as covert as possible. Between his limited mobility and rapidly declining health though, there isn't much he can do about it. He's begun to get desperate, begging Hudson even, to drop whatever research he's currently doing to help find a way to prevent him from dying before they can finish his master plan. It has been his goal to turn everyone into feral animals for many years now, and the last thing he needs as death grows imminent, is for the monster he created in the process to continually set him back in the most idiotic ways imaginable.

• Charlie Stephenson

Charlie is one of four constant associates of Richard's. Charlie operates in Conrad, and is as such, the recipient of stolen illegal goods smuggled by Richard. Given how much Richard's goons falter and delay, Charlie has developed very little patience for them. He's often left waiting on whatever stock of unregistered firearms or outlawed drinks he was supposed to receive the week before, resulting in himself coming under fire from higher powers within the mob. Young and new, he desperately wants to please his bosses and establish himself as being a reliable and useful asset, but is hindered by things outside of his control. Richard and the others don't really care much for his hotshot attitude, but understand his desires, although Charlie doesn't seem to get this, and can act rudely towards his co conspirators. Being that they're higher ranking and more experienced than him though, more often than not that sets him even farther back from his goals.

• Malcolm Duncan

Mac is the inverse of Charlie. Where he's new and full of ambition, Mac has been around the block, but is entirely unaccomplished. Nothing seems to work for him, so much so that he's been assigned a partner to help pick up the slack. He is routinely humiliated, and his friends never pass on an opportunity to remind him of his misfortunes. His plans always fall flat, no matter how hard he tries. All this affliction and ridicule has taken a toll on his attitude and general outlook, leaving him gloomy and pessimistic. Mac isn't afraid to get snappy when time comes to defend himself though, and he gives his associates an equal amount of ribbing if provoked. He naturally takes a disliking to Charlie due to their opposing personalities, and loves to point out his shortcomings. The two bicker almost every time they meet, and if not for Richard and Berezovsky to break things up, nothing productive would ever get done.

• Yusef Berezovsky

Where Berezovsky is from or why he sounds like Peter Lorre is as unclear as his eyesight. Nobody bothers questioning however, as he is a highly efficient and respected member of the mob, able to undertake any task presented to him with skill and expertise. This recognition is precisely why he was assigned to assist Mac. He gets along well with others and can take a good joke, but knows when he's being insulted - and when to subsequently brandish his tommy gun. Thankfully it rarely comes to this, as his partners know what he's capable of. That, and he's difficult to understand at times so they never truly know what kind of mood he's in. Berezovsky is a loose cannon in that regard; one moment you may think everyone is enjoying light-hearted banter, the next he's loading a fresh drum and shouting something about the "Old Country". That's at least two things they know for sure about him: his love of a nondescript homeland, and firepower.

Spencer McDovall

Spencer is somewhat of an enigma. He keeps to himself, always showing up to gatherings, never saying a word. When speaking to the other mobsters he has an unwelcoming and almost hostile tone, as if he doesn't like to talk. One thing is known about him among the circles he frequents though: he's a kleptomaniac. He can't help picking pockets or stuffing his coat with small, plastic confectioneries from convenience stores. This would be a bad quality to have in just about any other line of work, but Spencer's true occupation is an intel-gatherer. He works in direct connection with the highest ranking officials in the mob, and hangs around the other gangsters to silently observe what they say and how they act, and report it back to his superiors.

Dove Sherman

Dove is the next step up from Richard, Charlie, Mac, and Berezovsky. He's a supervisor of sorts, and makes sure the trains run on time. If there's a problem, chances are Dove will creep in from the shadows of the dimly lit room everyone's playing poker in and threaten things back into order. He's stone cold, and can't be persuaded; it's one strike and you're out with him. Thankfully he doesn't call all the shots though, as if everything were up to him, nobody would last a week. Aside from showing up to check in on things, he is usually a rare sight. Despite this, he's still seemingly omniscient though, appearing out of nowhere to scold severely moments after an incident. He clashes with his slightly more lenient superiors often, and isn't afraid to let people know his feelings. If he hadn't been in the game for so long, as well as a product of nepotism, he would've been whacked a long time ago.

Stuckley Matthews

The local police force of Povey wasn't always as it is now. Where presently it's a crooked institution which turns a blind eye to the gang activity in the region, before it was quite the opposite. Helmed by Stuckley Matthews, the old sheriff, the Povey Police Force of the 30's was an effective and revered squad of law-enforcers, hunting down and rounding up gangsters at a breakneck pace. They worked alongside other nearby police forces, and together were a serious threat to the mob and came very close to putting an end to their operations in Vonneville. All these efforts were instrumented by Stuckley, and after his retirement, crime has escalated again, much worse than before. Currently, the old horse resides in Cedarside, regularly broadcasting his radio show where he recounts old stories and encounters with the mafia. Stuckley is proud and adroit, satisfied with his accomplishments, but still humble. His time away from work as well as the epicenter of criminal activity has left him jaded however, and he is ignorant to the current state of things in Povey. Trusting as he was, he couldn't possibly imagine that his old teammates would fold to the mob they once fought so adamantly. If only he knew the truth, his outrage would be so great he just might come out of retirement and pick up that old badge again. However, the confidence he has in his fellow cops keeps this from being a reality.

Hoyt Waylon

Every town needs a general store, and Povey's is run by Hoyt Waylon. Hoyt has been running "Waylon's Pick-Pack" since it was passed on to him by his father, and his father had been running it since it was given to him, and so on and so forth. The family business has lasted a century, and the reason lies in the family's stingy business practices which have been passed down from father to son for generations. Like his father before him, Hoyt was taught above all else to be cheap, and this simple rule informs every decision he makes. Time is money, and he never lets his employees forget it. He wants everything done quick and under budget, with no space for mistakes. Seemingly impossible to please, he's always yelling at someone about averages, employee or customer. Hoyt knows exactly how to run his business and accepts no less.

Gale Burgess

Gale runs the town boutique with her husband, selling carefully hand-sewn garments. She is close friends with Lynn and Rosa Lee, and meets with them periodically to discuss fashion, scrawling down ideas for new patterns and color combinations in her notebook. Many of said ideas come from Rosa, who always brings fascinating new concepts she reads about in her fashion subscriptions. Gale herself is cheerful, open-minded, and altruistic. She always keeps the second story of the boutique open for rent, and hardly refuses anyone the comfortable living conditions of the loft. She is known to bite off more than she can chew, however. Taking on large workloads with limited time and bringing in unsavory guests are only two examples. She also has trouble saying no as well, believing it would tarnish her reputation of being a trustworthy and dependable person.

Clark Pirkins

Clark is Rosa Lee's husband, as well as the town physician. He is gentle and kind, as you would expect from a mourning dove. As a result of his mild temperament, he is a bit of a pushover. When gangsters call his phone at one in the morning in need of medical aid after a shootout (and for no pay either), he can't say no. Not just because they'd break his wrists if he didn't, but also because the thought of someone suffering somewhere and having the potential to save a life regardless of whether they're a bad person or not weighs heavy on his conscience. It's something he's ashamed of and constantly in turmoil over. He knows that what he does is helping the bad guys, and that if anyone he knew found out they would be appalled. Not only that, but concerns of impotency between him and his wife in their efforts to have a child add to his inner anguish. He always manages to stay optimistic though, and never reveals how he is truly feeling.

Bruce Sharpe

Bruce is Annie's older brother, and a new recruit in the Air Force at Fort Wagner. He graduated early from St. Thomas, where he was revered by students and staff as being bright, and wise. Toby often asked him for advice when he needed it, but never took as much advantage of his council as he should have. Bruce still occasionally visits his friends at school to catch up and shoot the breeze. Now that times are increasingly growing tougher however, he couldn't visit enough. He is wiser than most his age because of his past experiences running with a bad crowd. He used to be a member of The Royals, and very close to Chris, the leader at the time. He eventually left the group after a number of incidents when his father gave him the options of either ditching them or being sent to a reformatory school. Choosing the former, he became an enemy of The Royals, and a constant target for them up until his graduation for betraying his old friends. Now that he is free, he never passes the opportunity to warn others younger than him of the dangers of hanging around the wrong people.

Dennis and Marianne Sharpe

Dennis and Marianne are parents of four. Dennis works at the Cooper-Lane Quarry, specializing in handling large steam shovels and other such equipment. Most days his tasks consist of meticulously loading limestone boulders into freight cars on the rails, and then coming home and watching the tube, covered in dust. Marianne complains often about the gray imprint of her husband he leaves on the furniture, and how often she has to clean it. Dennis doesn't listen though. Sitting in a chair at work is exhausting, and when you come home all you want to do is sit in another chair, you know? The pair are both somewhat obsessive in their own daily jobs, making painstakingly sure that every detail is perfect. For Marianne, it's cleaning; for Dennis, it's stacking rocks. In addition to being the mother and father of Annie and Bruce, they have two younger children as well: Philip and Edward, twins. They are in fourth grade, and hardly see their older siblings anymore.

Earl and Bernice Dean

Earl and Bernice are Mike's parents. Earl is the foreman of the Cooper-Lane Quarry, and very hard to please. He's an uptight military man, who spent twenty years in the Air Force, and runs the quarry like he never left, although not as boisterous as one might think. He is extremely patient, and possesses a thorough devotion to logic and reasoning. His adherence to strict military protocol and his enforcement on others however makes him rather unpopular among those who work alongside him. Thankfully, his wife is more tolerant. Bernice is quiet, shy, but no less scrupulous than her husband. Together, the two are very demanding of their son, and are routinely disappointed by his immaturity. "Why can't you be like your friend, Toby?" Is a question commonly thrown Mike's way. He just rolls his eyes and continues reading his magazine, much to his parents chagrin.

Shirley and Clive Wizzhunt

Shirley and Clive are the embarrassed parents of John Wizzhunt, who still lives with them at the age of 23. Shirley is more forgiving, treating John like a child at times, while Clive is less so, and is often sarcastic regarding his son. When John first joined the police force, they were ecstatic, hoping he would finally be able to move out of his childhood home; he has unfortunately chosen not to. Shirley reminds Clive endlessly to have a talk with their son about things like moving on, growing up, and to stop leaving dishes in his room. According to Clive though, "he's hard to get to these days", which is partially true. On the other hoof, he may just be afraid of confronting his boy. Someday, though.