Xavier Price

26

Autumn 09

Male

Town Physician

Generous, Gentle, Caring, Curious, Eager to try new things
Strong moral compass, a little dismissive at times
Bit of a chatterbox, Distant, Naive, Scatterbrained

Spring

Yellow

Peach Cobbler

Trying (and failing) to raise a garden, cooking, sewing,
learning new things, animals, spices and spicy food, sweets

Rainy days, cold days, smoke, being crowded,
being stuck in a small space, snow, feeling uncertain

Xavier doesn't really believe in the Harvest Goddess or magic of the like, but he entertains the idea because the thought of it is nice. He plays along when others sincerely believe in it, and he has seen the very real effects of "The Rot," but he doesn't contribute any good or bad fortune to supernatural forces like magic.

Xavier is an only child, and his parents live kind of far away in the city, their names are Clara and Ethan Price. His mother Clara is a real-estate agent and his father Ethan is a nurse at the city's hospital. His father's work combined with some other factors in his life guided him on his path to medicine.

Xavier cares for a few small rabbits:
Nami (black), Muffy (white), and Celia (brown)

Xavier's home is Space 4 on the map, and also doubles as the Root River Clinic
The building is a moderate size, and the entire first floor is dedicated to the clinic. It features a curtained off resting area in addition to exam rooms. The second floor is a bit smaller and features a kitchenette, bedroom, bath, etc.
Behind the clinic is a small hutch for the rabbits and small yard. Xavier is by no means a vet but he does let animals rest in the yard if they need to be quarantined from their home farms.

Despite his more recent reputation as a former city slicker, Xavier's family used to live in Root River. Xavier, his parents, and his grandfather Francis, had a modest home in the town as Xavier was growing up. They enjoyed a very happy family life, but Ethan worked long hours and had a long commute. His wife also wanted to move into the city, but Xavier was resistant. He loved his grandfather (who had no desire to move) and the town, but ultimately he had no say in the matter. When they could afford it, Xavier and his parents moved away and his grandfather remained in town. Living the city life, Xavier studied hard to get into med school, and spent nearly all of his free time working towards his goal. That and questioning his sexuality, that is. Despite that, the smog and dense populous, it wasn't an unpleasant life.
Xavier's grandfather Francis was a hearty man, but eventually time caught up with him and he needed someone to look after him. Xavier and his parents would travel back and forth from the city to Root River to keep an eye on Francis, as the old man didn't want to leave his home. The town's local clinic had been failing for the last few years, as more and more residents left for greener pastures and rumors that the entire town would be leveled spread throughout. The diminished services of the clinic meant that sooner or later Francis would have to leave Root River as well if he wanted to get the care he needed. However, Root River had always meant a lot to him as the place he grew up and met his late wife, and so after a couple years he passed peacefully in his home. His old house in Root River was sold to BigCo. by none other than Xavier's mother, since the family had inherited it. This incident caused quite a big fight in the family and although Xavier and his mother have since made up, the situation made up Xavier's mind and, now an adult, he moved back to Root River. He borrowed some money from his parents and a city bank to buy out the old clinic and fix it up. He still owes a lot.
He thought, 'No one should have to leave their home so far behind just to get care!' Using the medicinal knowledge he'd acquired from schooling in the city, Xavier hopes to revitalize both the small clinic and the town. Just to note: Xavier doesn't have a doctorate, so whenever the residents call him "Dr. Price," he gets a little embarrassed and has to correct them! He's working on it though, and continues his schooling online and some infrequent trips back into the city when needed.

Astrid Peterson

25

Autumn, 7

Female

Co owner of Freya's Feasting with her twin sister

Very welcoming, Night owl, Dedicated, Hidden kindness, generous and layered personality, More than meets the eye, very much determined to make the best of things.

Spring. Not too hot. Not too cold and no snow!

Sky Blue

White Sauce Pasta Bake

Beer and a Pie, hey, why is always for the guys!
Time to self when it all gets overwhelming.
Spring Mornings and lazy coffees on the porch
Seeing hard work pay off
Overcooked meat, if the steaks not mooing, it is overdone.
Someone to notice there's more under the surface.

Tasks that seem to have no end
Lacking control of her life
Rain and getting cold and wet
Paperwork and files
Salads
Fishing, blimey how boring can it get!
Karaoke nights, about as tuneful as 3-year-old with a drum kit and way too much sugar
Has the green thumb of the Hulk in a china shop

Mother, Amelia Peterson nee Myers, works in an office in the city
Father, Sig Peterson, Stone Mason in a larger town near the city
Twin Sister, Tora Peterson, co-owner of Freya's Feasting Hall (NPC for now. The role may be expanded later

Pet dog, a big Newfoundland type dog who a gentle giant called Fluffy, dark coloured and with blue and green eyes.

Personally wise can be very much a giant puppy at times and forgets how heavy she is or large.

(Location number 7)

Lives in a comfortable stone cottage they restored next door to the feasting hall with a large fireplace at its centre point, bright pink door and windows stand out from the old grey stonework and a covered veranda around two sides providing shelter for a coffee and a place to watch the world roll by dry and snug.

Home for both Peterson sisters with two bedrooms, modern features and technology blended into a traditional old fashioned stone cottage. It's not the fanciest home in the village but it's the one that always has a warm welcome and hot drink waiting for any guests.

The feasting hall has a long pair of benches down the sides and the central all-important fire pit in the middle keeping the large room warm. Thick sheepskins and a large wooden chest of blankets and other items to help patrons keep warm and snug regardless of how deep the snows get, long winters nights and howling winds try to bring a chill. Not minding a slow meal the hall has a large collection of board games, chess sets and other entertainments available to enjoy an evening with friends or spend a slow rainy afternoon in comfort and company. The Feasting Hall is a place to eat but also a social location too.

Though the slightly dimly lit room can be a bit smokey, and little getting used to, it's got many comforts, a very warm welcome and always a warm filling meal ready for any customers who pay a visit.

The Rot as what they called it locally was a hurdle, there was a reason the place was cheap but it's hold was broken on the old building through much hard work. Once the Rots hold was beaten back a gleaming Thor's hammer nailed above the door and the top rafters as an old fashioned form of protection and blessing to all those who feast were added under his protective hammer with Odin's raven watching from the pinnacle. Well, hopefully, it works... Anything is better than nothing right? Can never hurt to respect the old god's.

The menu has rather generously portioned meat options, thick and warm stews all year round but especially in the colder seasons and ales by the glass or horn for the adventurous. Serving a mix including traditional Nordic and Viking options and modern options like tea, lighter fares or just a chance to warm up by the large open fire pit on a cold day and a chat.

The feasting hall was one of the hearts of life, a place where celebration, gatherings and many other functions under one, particularly important roof. Hopefully, Freyas could live up to the history and be a heart of the community for anyone who decides to visit.

Born in a nearby town to a family of stonemasons and an office worker who worked on a major bridge and roadway to link there a town with the city. A fairly happy and a slightly poorer family, the twins were born and both grew up happily with a love of Nordic culture and food. Their parents met on the major project together, smiles turned to flirts and eventually Twins arrived.

Though not wealthy the Peterson's worked hard, keen to escape the grip of Big Co and decide their own path with a lot of help from friends, an inheritance and a large amount of hard work the two sisters restored an old stone cottage to live in and the rest was converted into a large Viking inspired feasting hall. The locals were less than convinced at first but there determined nature, warm welcome and an endless supply of hot stews, oversized meaty meals and more traditional Nordic offerings soon began to change the perceptions of the newcomers business.

They had a few rocky moments along the way, half the roof nearly fell in repairing it and money was tight but eventually, they managed to open with a lot of effort, some tears, blood kept from bleeding by the doctor and too little sleep.

Coming from a proud Nordic family the two could have taken an easier road but instead founded there feasting hall. A small slice of a Nordic welcome in a small village outside in the country.

Fluffy Astrid rescued as a puppy and the overly large Newfoundland became her devoted companion though it was rather mutual and often can be seen lazing in the hall and greeting customers when Astrid's at work.