Dr. Theodore Toussaint

General Information

Name: Dr. Theodore Toussaint (Formerly Major Toussaint circa the Civil War)

Nationality: African American.

Alias/Nickname: N/A

Age: 66 (born 10th of August, 1810)

Gender Identity and Pronouns: Gender and such were never of any importance to Theodore. He never paid any heed to that whole ‘each sexe has a distinct role to play’ stuff, after all, all that mattered was that one had a gut, and good intentions. In today’s terms agender would fit Theodore best, although he goes by he/him.

Appearance Information

Eye Color: Chocolate brown.

Hair Color: Dark brown, which has begun to grey.

Skin Color: Brown

Height: 6”1 

Build: Theodore is of a slimmer, bonier build. Despite being well nourished in his youth (hence his height), as of late he’s been known to skirt eating three meals to continue working. 

Usual Hairstyle: Theo sports shortly cropped hair, and a finely coiffed set of mutton chops- as well as moustache in a similar style of that of the ‘chevron’.

Usual Outfit: When not donning his typical Victorian era Doctor’s outfit, he can typically be found wearing an off white collared shirt, and a pair of black trousers and suspenders. Occasionally he’ll add a bowtie or pocket watch to his casual attire. He also can generally be found wearing a set of small, round spectacles.

General Appearance: Theodore dresses quite well for a man of his personality- outwardly appearing like your average gentleman… In contrast to the overworked curmudgeon he is.  His silver glasses are more so to aid with reading than anything else, and he can see just fine otherwise.

Identifying Features: Tall stature, well coiffed mutton chops, a long- ragged saber wound from his left shoulder to lower mid chest.

Miscellaneous Information

General Skills: Heavily resilient, and well suited to survival in the wilderness (mostly due to his three trips down the Oregon Trail, to aid his town emigrate West. Since, he was after all, the only doctor they had.)- as well as basic tracking, plant identification, and navigation. Skilled surgeon and doctor, as well as a firm believer in the theories of Marcus Varro (the existence of Germs)- and, unsurprisingly for the time, this gives him some knowledge of Mixology. A speedy reader, as well as the ability to write fine cursive. 

Residence: Theo resides in a rather large house (larger than average, not rich large*)- attached to which is his clinic and pharmacy. With an attached stables for his, and Clarence’s horse.

Vehicle(s)/Mount(s): Theo has a black and white pinto by the name of Quixotic- and Clarence has an American quarter horse named Hardtack.

Pet(s): Theodore technically doesn’t own the hound, but he occasionally watches after Clarence’s (old time) Scotch Collie Aelius.

Religion: Atheist- despite his frequent use of ‘goddamned’.

Combat Information

Weapon(s): His sabre, and a hunting rifle. Technically his medical equipment could be considered as such as well.

Armour: None.

Combat Skills: Fencing training (from both the war, and casual study), hunting practice from his time on the Trail, still and precise hands, patience.

Combat Weaknesses: His combat skills aren’t really applicable beyond his fellow humans, and game animals. No skill whatsoever in hand-to-hand combat.

Equipment: General medical equipment, typically carrying a canteen of water, pocket watch, glasses?

Personality Information

General Personality: Theo is serious, no nonsense, and quick to throw a quip… Yet he is well meaning, and tends to give advice to those he feels needs it.

Personality Strengths: Alert, analytical, calm, patient, centred, efficient, pensive, organized, intelligent, witty.

Personality Weaknesses: Stubborn, introverted, snappy, spontaneous, callous, outwardly grumpy, workaholic.

Likes: Quietude, reading (especially by lakes), botany, saving others.

Dislikes: Vacations (although he will occasionally allow Clarence to force him to take one), loud- or rowdy people, aggression, people moving his things, itchy clothing, snow.

Goals: To help as many people as possible before he dies- and help Clarence make the most of his life.

Fears: Failure, and getting lost in the snow primarily.

Hobbies: Reading, writing, botany, studying science, and fencing.

Sexuality: aro / ase. 

Mental Conditions: OCD, ASD, Insomni.

Background Information

Living Family: None- however, Clarence is pretty much his adopted son at this point.

Living Friends: Clarence.

Deceased Family: His parents (died in 1835 of Cholera and a gunshot wound from an improperly stored rifle respectively)

Deceased Friends: Although they wouldn’t really be considered friends per se, there were four members of the first caravan from the town to Oregon he was marginally closer to.

General Reputation: Positive. He’s pretty much that beloved, wise, grumpy old codger every town seems to have.

Backstory

  Theodore was born in 1833, to a free black couple living in a small farming town by the name of Aldridgeville. It was anything but prosperous, but its few inhabitants had a strong belief in helping each other out.

   He was deeply bothered by the significant lack of medical care, and knowledge in their town- after all, farmers typically didn’t know more than how to pop a knee back in, or how to roughly sew a wound… But what bothered him most was how many would buy those cure-all tonics from the odd travelling merchant, without question.

    He eventually left to study in one of the few schools at the time that were offering medical degrees to black students (In what is now known as Rush Medical School), returning years later to set up his own small clinic and pharmacy hybrid out of his parent’s land.

     All was well for quite some time… But in 1854, Aldridgeville was hit by a long drought over the summer months- which wasn’t exactly aided by the presence of a new dam upstream, which had been built a few years back- decimating the crops, and causing most livestock to perish… After it became evident that the water wasn't going to return any time soon, the town began debating whether or not to continue weathering it… or to try to stake land in the west… and risk the Oregon Trail.

    The decision was unanimous- after all, their kids were starving, what else could they do?

    The town set out in three separate caravans- the first consisting of the strongest in the town, who would claim land, then return with a small group to lead the next. Theodore ended up being in all three groups… After tending to a slew of injuries, and losing his father to cholera, he couldn’t bear to let the other two caravans suffer worse fates with nobody to tend to their ailments.

    Once again they settled by a river, and, rather uncreatively, declared the new town to be… New Aldridgeville.

    But peace wouldn’t last… Soon the United Colonies would be torn apart in the civil war…

    In 1863 Dr. Toussaint enlisted as a surgeon in the Union army, his experience in the role thereof giving him the rank of major… It was during his service he met Clarence.

[wip]