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Garrick Brambleclove is just about the most gruff, disagreeable man you could ever have the honor of shaking hands with. He's surly, unfiltered and doesn't like to beat around the bush during conversation. If he doesn't like you, you'll find out pretty quickly, he's about as opinionated and blunt as they come. This weak-backed tutor moves at his own damn pace, and if you dare to hurry him along, you'd best know how to duck from a swinging cane. While he is fully capable of controlling his temper, he prefers to let his emotions fly out into the world around him without an anchor to reel them back in. He gets an odd feeling of satisfaction from the reactions people give him after a good rant or two. It's one of his only sources of amusement.

With irritability and crudeness aside, Garrick is a rather simplistic, low maintenance man. He likes his rituals, his daily cup of coffee, his favorite book, and a good shot of brandy or two in the evening to help him sleep. He doesn't fret much over the state of his hair or his clothing, and you can be assured that he could care less about how you look on any given day. As an accomplished tutor, Garrick values the mind and what it can accomplish rather than how much money you make and where you get your hair done. Idle gossip bores him into a glazed over state, or if you're ever so lucky, directly into the realm of sarcastic comments and gestures. If you really want to get him talking, without fear of disrupting his good mood, picking topics about nature, education or antiques would be the best bet. You can engage Garrick in meaningful discussions, as long as you don't start trying to sell him something, he has a strong distaste for unwanted salesmen. Even if you're selling something he has interest in, it's always best to ask him permission before you make your sales pitch.

While he may not care too much for the appearance of himself or others, Garrick has a degree of pride for the stasis of his home and property. After working tirelessly for years as a tutor to afford his lovely fruit orchard homestead, he doesn't like to leave it neglected for too long. You'll often see him cutting the grass or picking fruit from the trees to keep his yard from becoming overgrown. His house is almost always clean and decorated nicely, something you wouldn't necessarily expect from a man with tied back unkempt hair and rough personality. He tends to be more welcoming and humorous when he's in the comfort of his own home, which is a nice surprise to those who stop over for dinner or come by for a tutoring session, but it's uncertain if this is because he's comfortable, because he has direct control over the environment, or if it's because he knows he can kick you out at any moment and not have to deal with any repercussions. Whatever it is, it's best to take his "hospitality" as a treat, because you may not catch him being this nice anywhere else in the world.

Garrick Isaac Brambleclove was born in the region of Helena to a very happy, but older couple. He was the third born in a family of five children, three girls and two boys, and was the only child to develop a love of learning rather than be content with the farming life he had been born into. He and his parents often butted heads about his "priorities", which to him meant leaving his intelligence to rot while he sowed the wheat on the farm. His hatred of farming extended up into his early teens until his mother's brother dropped by for an unexpected visit. His uncle was a scholar and an accomplished tutor from Faleen, which astounded young Garrick, he couldn't believe that he was related to such an intelligent person. That night, Garrick pleaded with his uncle to take him back to Faleen and tutor him, despite the lack of support from his parents. To his joy, his uncle agreed to tutor him and, the next weekend, he was on his way up to Faleen.

The trip had taken them ages but Garrick knew that it would be worth it in the end. Once situated in Faleen his uncle developed a rigorous routine of subjects and daily chores for him to complete during his stay, which Garrick took very seriously. He had longed for a chance to prove his intelligence ever since his parents first denied his request to seek higher education, and as the weeks rolled on, he was given the praise and feedback he so desperately craved. It was months later that his uncle would pat him on the head and introduce him to one of the very best tutors and educators that ever taught on the island of Faleen. He was being passed on upwards to a more adequate tutor and Garrick was more than ready to continue his journey.

Months turned into years and those years accumulated into a decade or more before he reached the end of his schooling and transitioned into the very role that had made the whole entire trip possible, the role of the tutor. Now a young man with white stubble growing upon his face, Garrick left Faleen with a higher sense of self and a mind filled to the brim with information. He had received letters from his home in Helena almost every weekend, usually from the desk of his brother, Thomas. But as he approached his childhood abode, he was greeted by the faces of a different family, one that was certainly not his own. He was told that his parents had died the previous year and all that was left over was given to their children, who had all gone and moved away. Garrick became distraught and left the property with a heavy heart. He hadn't received a letter from Thomas about their deaths, nor did he receive anything from their wills. More so, all efforts to contact his siblings either fell on deaf ears or were returned with spite. Garrick's family had all but disowned him when he left for Faleen, and there was nothing he could do to change it.

Over the next year or so Garrick rented a small house in Helena while he tried to reconnect with former friends. The family that he rented from, called the Turants, were very kindly to him and offered him all the love he could ask for. They had a lovely daughter, named Daisy Marie, who he fell head over heels for. After two years of wooing, courting and gift giving, Garrick finally asked Daisy's father for permission to marry his daughter. The happy couple were married in the middle of July, one month shy of the birth of Jonathan, Garrick's eldest child.

Nineteen years later, the Brambleclove family had moved to the region of Amies to be closer to where Daisy chose to work, the capital city of Aimes. Though they weren't a short walk away from the city, the family was very happy with the property that Garrick had chosen. After a much needed reunion with his siblings, Garrick was given a share of his parent's wealth, which Thomas had held onto for him. Combined with the money that he made tutoring, Garrick was able to buy a lovely, spacious property on a fruit orchard. It was lovingly dubbed "Brambleclove Farms" and earned the approval of all of the children. It had enough room to run in, grow in and play in, which was a big plus. Garrick was assured that everything would be in the clear for many years to come if they kept their little farm running during the peek fruit buying season while he tutored the many young men and women that come through their gates everyday. Life was a splendid as fresh apple cider.

Then, less than a year later, tragedy struck. The carriage that took Daisy to work in the city had crashed into a river and buried her under the wreckage, drowning her in the waters below. Garrick had been in the middle of a tutoring session when the telegraph arrived, and he broke down in tears. All of his dreams of growing old with the love of his life were smashed to pieces. While he waited for her body to be brought home for burial he couldn't bring himself to tell his daughter, Natalie Rose, about what happened. Though she was physically a teenager, she had the mental capabilities of a ten year old. Worse than that, she was still as innocent as a small child. But as they said their final farewells, all of his children broke down in sobs, and he, too, soon followed.

There were a few months of quiet in the household before Garrick felt the need to honor one of his wife's greatest wishes. He went down to a local orphanage and spent time with as many children as possible. Finally, a ten year old, red headed tomboy named Piper captured his heart, and the papers were signed. She was the perfect addition to the family after such a gutting tragedy and everyone, even the "perfect lady" Maisie, agreed. Piper was very much like Daisy, given that she was ever a tomboy, and Garrick knew that his wife would have been enamored with the girl just as he had been. Two years later, the family had began to form a steady routine again. With Maisie away studying etiquette with her grandmother and the addition of Daisy's brother, Roger, and his family's loving smiles popping up all around the property, a lulling calm has returned to the property.

But...

How long will this calm last?

Daisy: Wife; 46; Deceased Born Daisy Marie Turant, Daisy was the sweetheart of the Brambleclove household. Her kind heart and mothering touch was always something that Garrick looked forward to everyday when he came home. She died in an accident while traveling to the capital city of Aimes. The horses on her carriage were spooked and went berserk, landing the carriage in a river where Daisy drowned under the wreckage. She's buried on the Brambleclove orchard where her favorite pear trees used to stand.

Johnathan: Son; 22 Jonathan Brambleclove was born in the midst of a unusually hot summer day, which Garrick says is what caused him to become so damn lazy. Though well out of his teen years, John Boy, as his father calls him, hasn't made any effort to move out and get a job since he finished his schooling. He's a regular sweet talking moocher, says his father. You'll often see him out by the apple trees, snacking away on the pick of the crop like a greedy pig.

Maisie Daughter; 18 Unlike Jonathan, Maisie was born in the dead of winter, and grew to be as hard headed and strict as could be. As soon as she could talk, Maisie was handing out orders and taking down the names of those who "disobeyed" for "further notice." Mommy and daddy could barely keep up with their little tattle tale and were more than relieved when she packed her things and left to study etiquette with her maternal grandmother at 16. And when she returned for the holidays, she brought a list of "issues" for her family to "correct." Needless to say, Garrick was more than happy to wave his "little girl" good bye at the end of that month.


Natalie Rose: Daughter; 16 Natty Rose, as her doting daddy calls her, was born with a mental handicap that gives her the developmental age of a 10 year old girl. At the time of her birth there didn't appear to be a problem, but once she hit her early teens, clearly something just wasn't right. Her doctors recommended placing her in a mental hospital or even giving her up for adoption, but Daisy and Garrick couldn't give up on their precious baby girl. She was, and is still, as sweet and inquisitive as a child and her parents couldn't imagine their life without her. She can be found swinging on the rope swings near the lake or playing with her dolls in her bedroom.

Piper: Daughter; 12 The youngest of the Brambleclove family, and the only other adopted child! (Besides Reggie) Piper is the tomboy of the brood and always trying to butt in on her father's business. She was adopted when she was ten, shortly after Daisy had passed, and quickly latched herself onto her new father, "baby sister" Natty, and lazy older brother John Boy. Though she admits she loves Maisie, too, it's a struggle for the pair to get along when one likes wearing overalls and getting dirty and the other despises dirt and promotes "proper lady attire."

Roger: Brother-In-Law; 44 Roger David Turant is the perfect picture of what a crazy uncle should be. He brings over all the latest toys, offers ice cream to everyone and always has a joke book ready to go. Admittedly, Garrick finds him a bit bothersome, but the two get along rather swimmingly. When Daisy passed away, Roger took it upon himself to move closer to his brother-in-law and his nieces and nephew. Ever since then, Roger is a common sight on weekends and often drops by for dinner when Garrick least expects it. He probably won't admit it, but Garrick greatly appreciates Roger's kindness and love.

Dolly: Roger's wife; 44 Born Dolly Jean Braidbaum, Dolly was the perfect addition to the Turant family, and eventually, the Brambleclove as well. Dolly can be rather sporadic and clumsy, but that doesn't stop her from being one of the best friends a person can have. She's known as Mrs. Fix It because once she has a wrench and a problem to tend to, she won't stop working until the issue is resolved. She loves to follow Roger over to Garrick's house for dinner when she isn't off with her friends or helping someone out with their problems.

Oswald: Roger's son; 13 Ozzie Turant is the shy, skittish son of Dolly and Roger Turant, our simply Garrick's nephew. He's a very quiet child with little complaints about where he is or what he's doing. He stops by the house to study or play games with Piper and Natalie when the weather permits.

William: Roger's son; 4 Little Willie Turant has trouble keeping up with the rest of his family, mostly because of his partial blindness. But the tyke makes up for his lack of sight with his nosy, giggly demeanor. Garrick often laughs and says that he'll turn out just like his father one day if he keeps trying to read his father's joke books upside down.

Beatrix: Roger's daughter; 9 months Beatrix Turant was born nine months ago while her parents were out on a morning walk. While her time of birth was quite a surprise, the baby herself is actually mellow and even tempered. Garrick hopes and prays that she remains that way...

Floss, Dover, and Pace: Garrick keeps three pets that he holds very near and dear. Floss is an elderly female Collie with a loyal, sweet disposition. The family has had her since they moved in before Jonathan was born. Dover is a young male Ferret that popped up on the property and "assumed" the pet status after being fed and let inside the home. He's a sneaky little bugger that likes to steal the food off of your plate. Finally, Pace is your typical mix breed cat, he lays around on the floor and sleeps most of the day away. Sometimes, if you pick him up off the floor, he curls up in your arms and lets you cradle him like a baby.