1887 - Wild West, Outlaws and Scoundrels - Recruitment

[GnothiSeauton]

1887

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”

   

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

GMs are Grizzly, Rustic, and WickedLittleWitch.  Please PM all three for inquiries and character submissions.

1887 is a story guided free form group roleplay that is centered around a criminal outlaw gang and one last heist before going their separate ways for good.  This is largely inspired by the television show 1883 as well as the video game Red Dead Redemption 2.  There is no need to be absolutely familiar with those two, as this is a separate and stand alone story, but for a good sense of flavor those two are excellent sources.

The story itself follows the disbanded McGraw Outfit.  Following a botched and disastrous robbery in 1882, the gang went their separate ways.  Some seeking fortune.  Fame.  A chance to make a name for themselves.  Others went out into the cold and unforgiving world in search of a place to call their own, or a place to live out the rest of their lives in search of a little bit of peace. 

However, those dreams have forsaken them, leaving them alone in the world until a letter arrives for them...

Earl McGraw is getting the gang back together for one more heist, one that will make them richer beyond their wildest dreams, one that could give them all the life they truly want and yearn for, to give them the American Dream they've always wanted.

Overview

Each character will be sent a letter inviting them to come together for one last heist.  It's been a long five years, but old Earl has been keeping tabs on most of the crew.  Wherever they are in the United States, and North America for that matter, a letter will arrive telling them, in Earl's congenial and charismatic prose, that he's getting the gang back together for a heist that can't fail, that will make them richer than they ever could imagine.  All he asks is for a little bit of faith in him and the plan. Every letter will tell the member of the outfit to come to one of their old but memorable safehouses in Texas on September 21st, that all will be explained and fortunes will be made.

The story itself will be focused on a narrative and plot, guided by the GM(s). 

While the world itself in this time in history is a bit closeminded and biggoted, the gang itself will not be.

Structure

The story itself is going to be a hybrid of a plot and GM driven narrative, plus free form and open world story line.

For the first part of the story, the group will be focused on a singular heist and plot that will be orchastrated and driven by the GM(s).  Characters will be given leads and bits to write for their character if desired, as well as interacting with NPCs written by both GM(s) and other group writers to advance the story.  This will lead to the culmination of the heist and the job to get the loot and hit their target.

After the heist that brings the group together, the group itself will become a bit more democratic and organized in a sense that future heists and plots will be open to writer submissions and ideas.  This is intended to be a group game after all, and as such, driven by a group dynamic that will foster collaboration and unity.  Anyone can submit ideas and it can be voted on OOC, with GM(s) being a tie breaker.

Characters

This game is intended to be fun.  While it is set in a time that is bigoted and backwards in it's societal views and equality, this game will not tolerate race play themes or dialogue.  Those that violate this, without consent of all parties involved, will be asked to leave the game completely.

This is a game.  It is intended to be fun.

This is intended to include a diverse cast.  As previously mentioned, while the world might be a bit bigoted, the gang itself won't be.  They come from all different walks of life, but are driven by the common cause of bettering themselves and their lives, and helping one another.  It's truly a family that looks out for one another.  Now there might be a bad seed or two in the group, but overall the group is intended to be a close knit family with at least some respect for one another.

Historical Accuracy

This is first and foremost a writing game.  I strongly believe that these groups are meant to be fun and engaging exercises, not an immersive text reenactment.  While some general knowledge is recommended and things are requested to be in line with the timeline, I won't nitpick if something is not entirely accurate (i.e. a railroad where there shouldn't be one yet, clothing, etc).  I also expect this from those who join.  Don't harass or badger someone if something is not to the day historically accurate.

Rules and FAQs

• Real life comes first.  This is supposed to be fun and a game, not an obligation. There are more important things to life than getting posts in.  Take care of yourself and your life first before writing.
• Do not pester others to post.  A tie in to the rule above.  Not everyone has an abundance of freetime, nor do they have matching schedules.  Don't pester or harass people to post just because you want something sooner than later.
• All Characters MUST be 18 Years or Older.  This is for the comfort of everyone involved and potential writers.  Underage characters will not be approved.
• Please utilize the Content Field in the Post Header to warn against triggering content.  Not everyone wants to read things of a graphic and/or sexual nature.  Please use the Content field in the header to help those stay within their comfort zone and make sure people aren't uncomfortable.
• Be Polite and Leave the Drama at the Door.  IF you have issues with another writer here, please be an adult about it.  This is supposed to be fun and exciting, not a daycare.
• Only Real People or Realistic/Classic Art will be allowed for face claims.  This group will not allow characters that are anime or consist of cartoonish proportions.
• Do not Historically Accurate Shame other writers over trivial details.  If something is egregiously out of place for the story, please do so privately or through the GM.  Minor things will largely be ignored, as this is intended to be fun.
• Come to the GM if you have issues.  Please contact the GM if you have an issue that can't be resolved.

How many characters can a writer have?
Each writer will be allowed one character per writer.  This character can be a member of the gang.  They are, however, allowed to create multiple NPCs and will be capped at a reasonable number.

Where will this game be placed?
This will be placed in the Extreme Section of the group.  This is to allow characters maximum creativity, and will utilize a content warning field in the header to help writers avoid troubling elements.

Can I create undercover law enforcement characters?
No.  Not at this time.

How many characters will you be accepting?
The group will be accepting a limited number of characters into the group to avoid having the group become bloated.  A very large gang would be very easy to find, but also the group should be a cohesive unit.

Does my character have to be an outlaw/murderer?
You have the option to create camp followers who are in essence accomplices and aid the group in doing the background work on setting up scores and heists.

Is this LGBTQ friendly?
Absolutely! 

Will there be a Discord?
Yes.  There will be a discord server in addition to a forum OOC for announcements and chatting/plotting.

How will this be run and played?
This group will be, in the beginning, largely guided sandbox with a central heist and elements guided by the GM. After the first heist, this group will be a bit more democratic and allow for vested, proven members of the group (i.e. members who have proven to be able to play by the rules and have stuck around) chances to create their own heists for the group to follow and run.

Character Sheets

A Few Things for Character Sheets

Character Requirements

All characters must be eighteen years of age or older.  There are no exceptions.  All characters must be accompanied by a photo for a visual/physical reference.  It is encouraged that they be real, actual people, but classical styled art will also be accepted.  Anime or overly cartoonish character images will not be permitted.

Honor

In the Character Sheet there is a section called Honor.  This section is to help illuminate what kind of character you're creating.  Are the good and upstanding?  Or are they scoundrels and monsters?  It is on a scale of 1 to 10, with ten being highly honorable.  A middle ranking of 5 is in the grey area, and perfectly acceptable.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Every character is required to have at least two strengths and two weaknesses.  They can be physical or mental. The goal with this field is to make characters both stand out, but to also make them normal people with problems.  If the GM does not feel the weaknesses are strong enough, you may be asked to elaborate or add more.

Character Sheet Review and Approval

Character sheets will be reviewed in the order of which they have been received via PM to myself.  If you post it in the recruitment thread and not submitted, I will assume it is a work in progress and will not review it until it is finalized or if you have questions or concerns about your idea.  The review process can vary depending on my own schedule outside of work, so please be patient.  If you have not received a PM from me clearly and explicitly stating that your character is approved, DO NOT post it in the character thread.

Face Claims - Reserved and Active

Writer GnothiSeauton GnothiSeauton Wyatt Rustic xPeachyPuff Kuroneko Kuroneko Wolfing72

Playby Josh Mario John Emily Blunt Idris Elba Karl Urban Elizabeth Wood Rodrigo Santoro Zahn McClarnon Denise Vasi

Status Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved (NPC) Reserved

Code Select Expand

[float=right][img height=400 padding=10][/img][/float]

[center][size=18pt][font=georgia][color=red][b]Character Name Here[/b][/color][/font][/size]
[size=16pt][font=georgia][color=red][i][b]Any Alias[/b][/i][/color][/font][/size][/center]

[font=georgia][color=red][b]Character Name and Aliases:[/b][/color]  Insert your character's name and any aliases they might be known by.[/font]

[font=georgia][color=red][b]Writer Name:[/b][/color]  Your Elliquiy Username[/font]

[font=georgia][color=red][b]Face Claim:[/b][/color]  The name of the model you are using for your character's appearance. If you can't find a name or are using art, please put N/A.[/font]

[font=georgia][color=red][b]Age:[/b][/color]  Your character's age.[/font]

[font=georgia][color=red][b]Physical Information:[/b][/color]  A general description of your character.  Height.  Body type. Any identifiable scars or features.  Etc.[/font]

[font=georgia][color=red][b]Personality:[/b][/color]  A brief accounting of your character's personality and demeanor.[/font]

[font=georgia][color=red][b]Known Biography:[/b][/color]  This biography would be what is known to the group.  Anything about your character that could be considered general knowledge.[/font]

[font=georgia][color=red][b]Since the Botched Job:[/b][/color]  What has your character been doing since the botched job five years ago before the start of the game?[/font]

[font=georgia][color=red][b]Specialty or Role:[/b][/color]  Does your character have a specialty or certain role in the gang? If so please mention it here.[/font]

[font=georgia][color=red][b]Notoriety:[/b][/color]  Your character's notoriety out on the frontier.  This can also be where you can list past crimes your character is wanted for and any bounties.[/font]

[font=georgia][color=red][b]Honor:[/b][/color]  On a scale of 1-10 how honorable is your character?  The more honorable they are, the more just and fair they are.  The less honorable they are, the more of a scoundrel character.  Being a 5, in the grey, is acceptable.[/font]

[font=georgia][color=red][b]Horse:[/b][/color]  If your character has a horse, please name them and attach a link to an image, or a brief general description.[/font]

[font=georgia][color=red][b]Weapons:[/b][/color]  Just a general listing of your character's weaponry, what would be unique to them, any backstory behind the weapon, etc.[/font]

[font=georgia][color=red][b]Skills:[/b][/color][/font]
[list]
[li][font=georgia]A general stating of your character's skills.  They should balance out with their weaknesses.[/font][/li]
[li][font=georgia]A general stating of your character's skills.  They should balance out with their weaknesses.[/font][/li]
[/list]

[font=georgia][color=red][b]Weaknesses:[/b][/color][/font]
[list]
[li][font=georgia]A general stating of your character's weaknesses.  They should balance out with their skills.[/font][/li]
[li][font=georgia]A general stating of your character's weaknesses.  They should balance out with their skills.[/font][/li]
[/list]

[font=georgia][color=red][b]Goals:[/b][/color]  What is your character striving towards?  What are they trying to save up for in the end?[/font]

[font=georgia][color=red][b]Likes:[/b][/color]  A general stating of your character's likes and preferences.  Can be normal or sexual.[/font]

[font=georgia][color=red][b]Dislikes:[/b][/color]  A general stating of your character's dislikes and pet peeves.  Can be normal or sexual.[/font]

[font=georgia][color=red][b]Other Important Information:[/b][/color]  Any other important information that you feel needs to be known to the group.[/font]

GMs are Grizzly, Rustic, and WickedLittleWitch.  Please PM all three for inquiries and character submissions.

[GnothiSeauton]

1887

A History of the McGraw Outfit

_{Earl McGraw}

The Beginning and Rise
The McGraw Outfit's origins began in the crucible of the American Civil War.  Shaped and molded by the horrors witnessed by the war, many of these soldiers, on both sides of the war, struggled to find a way to fit in and integrate into a society that had been ravaged by war.

It is a time of opportunity for most, as the nation tries to heal and turn it's attention towards the west, and the vast open land and resources that lay waiting.  As civilization begins to expand west, so too does opportunity.  It is in this moment that men (and women) begin to seize upon the riches that are ripe for the plunder, seeking to build new lives and and fortunes out of the wreckage of a fractured nation. 

Earl McGraw is one of those men.

One of the early maurauders of the western frontier, the wiley outlaw put together a band of outlaws of his own.  With his charm and charisma he sought out people who could be molded and shaped to his will, seeking those of talent and strength.  What began as stage coach robberies and petty little crimes began to grow into more fruitful opportunities.

The Good Times...
As the successes and notoriety began to pile up, so too did the hunger and thirst for more.  The swell of success only made the group hungrier and bolder in their efforts.  From stage coaches the gang progressed to robbing trains and small town banks along the frontiers, increasing their coffers as well as their noteriety among not just law enforcement, but among those wishing to join the ranks. 

Life was good.  The gang had food in their bellies and gold and silver in their pockets.  Rivals were made, the law scorned, and alliances brokered.  From camp to camp the gang moved, growing richer every step of the way as they navigated their newfound success.  The future was looking brighter than the gleam of gold in sunlight.  By the start of 1882, the gang had reached infamous levels, their wanted posters dotted along the frontiers as bounty hunters and U.S. Marshalls searched high and low for the McGraw Outfit.

Their infamy preceded them in most parts of the territories.  The stories and gossip passed from town to town, camp to camp only inflating the mythos of the McGraw Outfit.  Not a shot had to be fired in some instances, their mere presence enough to force even the strongest willed bank manager and guard submit to their demands.

It was only a matter of time before the law caught up with them.

The Dorinda Springs Heist and the Downfall of the Outfit
All good things must come to an end, and for the McGraw Outfit, that end came by the name of Dorinda Springs.

It was supposed to be an easy job.  In and out, with enough gold to satisfy even the most hungry of desires for wealth.  This was the kind of score the outfit could retire on, the heist that many could only dream about.  Some said it was too good to be true, but with Earl's backing and sweet talking, the Outfit fell in lock step with their leader.

Dorinda Springs was a quiet little town in the New Mexico Territory.  With a rail station, bank, and telegraph, it seemed to be the edge of civilization in the wild and turbulent west, with no other town around for hundreds of miles.  It was isolated, and served as the depot for a mining operation a couple of dozen miles away where silver was being mined.  And with rail disruption from tracks being sabotaged, the bank seemed to be bursting with wealth.

And so it began.  That perfect little heist that would be the doom for the group.  Jesse McGraw, Earl's brother, discovered that the bank was going to be full of silver, gold, and bonds from the mining operation, and with no way out except over land by stage, it seemed like a heist of a lifetime.  As Sunday Church service was going to be in full service, and only inexperienced miners conscripted to maintain watch until better security arrive, the bank was just waiting to be robbed.

Yet, instead of silver and gold and wealth beyond imagination, the Outfit only found a trap.  Carefully orchestrated by Pinkertons, the Outfit walked right into it, and found themselves in an ambush.  Those that survived had to fight their way out of the bank and town to find salvation.

Some were captured.  Many more wounded and killed.  Those that got away scattered to the four winds, the McGraw Outfit broken and shattered forever.

Five Years Later and The Promise of Something New
It's been a long five years.  Five years of silence.  Five years of growing apart and trying to establish new lives. 

Those shattered remnants of the Outfit have gone off in search of better lives.  Some have tried their hand at farming.  Ranching.  Others at saloon keeping.  Try as they might to find their way in an ever changing world as civilization comes crashing down upon them, there is still that feeling in their gut.  That need, yearning, for something more.  Something real and true.  Earl knows it, because he too has felt that stirring within, and when a job comes across his path, one that could set right the wrongs of the past, one that could make them all rich, he knows he has to reach out, to try and get the gang back together for one last shot at freedom.

And so, with keeping tabs on his former mates, and the hiring of detectives in some cases, Earl reaches out to those long lost gang members.  A letter, personal and charming in Earl's own way, was sent out, inviting those select few surviving members of the gang to come and chase glory one last time in the saddle with him. 

The Coffman Place, or When Times Were Good
Members of the gang who are reached out to by Earl will be asked to gather at the The Old Place as it were called, or also known as the Coffman House in northeast Arizona.

This hideout and base of operations was a favorite of the group.  An old farm house and ranch, it had seen better days, but for the outfit, it was far better than nothing but canvas to shield them from the wild and ever changing elements out on the open plains.  It was once a thriving little boarding house, but after skirmishes of the Natives and a cholera outbreak, the old man Coffman left the house for good, and all of it's heartbreak as he the house had become a place of misery and death for the old man.

It was a run down house, stricken by the elements, but for the gang it was a home.  With plenty of space and rooms, and wide open vantages around them, the outfit could see threats coming for miles while having a semblance of a normal life.  There were many good times to be had at the Coffman Place, and certain heartbreak when it came time to leave in search of the next big score for the gang.

Rivals and Fiends

Cyrus "The Undertaker" Hill and the Hill Gang
The chief rivals for the McGraw Outfit were the Hill Gang, led by Cyrus "The Undertaker" Hill.

Cyrus started out in the service of the Union Army as a grave digger for the recently deceased at field hospitals.  The grim and disturbing deeds gave the man the nickname the Undertaker, a moniker that Cyrus seemingly embraced to help further his notoriety and legend among similar social circles.  It was said that both he and Earl used to run together in the Templeton Gang immediately after the Civil War, and the two men were fairly close companions before the gang broke up and the two men went their separate ways.

The two gangs often competed for the same prizes, and a rivalry was born from those competitions.  There's been a bit of bad blood between the groups, with things getting grewsome and rough.  There's no love lost between the two groups, and would often fight one another if seen out in the wider world.

Preston Walker and the Grey Marauders
The Grey Marauders are an old group that has evolved over the years, with its beginnings stretching back to the end of the Civil War.  Made up of mostly Confederate soldiers with no place to go and no fortunes, the group was formed in order to help establish a livelihood for the group while seeking to find a new way of life in an ever changing world.  Often more organized and precise, using their military training and methods, the group are a formidable gang that is disciplined and merciless.

Leaders have come and gone over the years, but they are currently led by a man named Preston Walker.  A young man during the war, he had seen his fair share of horrors and sights through a stint in a Union prison.  Disenchanted and betrayed by the Confederate surrender, he is a hardliner with no tolerance for Unionist men and women who had ravaged and destroyed his life.  He is a brutal, sadistic, and calculating man and tactician when it comes to jobs. 

The group's goal is to garner enough cash and goods to begin an organized rebellion in the territories or Mexico in the hopes of establishing a Confederate safe haven.  They are a group driven by a racist ideology, and often seek to enslave those captured before working them to death.  Soldiers of the Union, current and former, often meet grisly ends.

Nathaniel Hawkins, or the Pilgrim and the Divine
One of the most notorious gangs and fearful are a group called the Divine, led by a man nicknamed The Pilgrim.

On the surface, The Pilgrim is a congenial and well mannered man.  Charming and a sweet talker, with a gift for slight of hand and magic tricks.  His charms can be disarming and persuasive, but do not let the man fool you. 

He and his group are savages.  Pure and simple.

He is the leader of a group called The Divine.  They are a blood thirsty and savage band who believe in their own divinity through the consumption of their enemies.  It is common for the group to strip pieces of flesh from their slain, dismembering and disfiguring those in their wake before consuming pieces of their flesh.  It is this that gives them the belief that they are higher and transcendent beings, greater than mortal men.  Many will choose suicide over being captured by these individuals as the reputation is a rightfully frightening one.

[Rustic]

Sounds interesting. I suppose it depends on how fast the group game moves and if I can keep up with it, as sometimes big events in games move too fast for me.

[GnothiSeauton]

Sounds interesting. I suppose it depends on how fast the group game moves and if I can keep up with it, as sometimes big events in games move too fast for me.

Something I definitely forgot to address!

I'm of the mind that this should be fun and exciting, but also at a gradual pace.  I don't expect people to post once a day, as I definitely don't have the time for that, but once a week or ten days would be ideal.  Enough time to give people opportunity to post but also so that it doesn't bog down.

I'm also thinking that this is not going to be a huge big group, like twenty or thirty characters.  I was hoping for at least eight members of the gang, but I am open to other writers creating NPCs and playing them in the furtherment of heists, jobs, etc.

[Rustic]

Sounds good, I'm interested then

[GnothiSeauton]

Sounds good, I'm interested then

Sweet!

[Wolfling72]

I have come because of Kuro. I tried to stay away, but first I was told to look at the world-building thread and fell in love.

Plants da flag of interest.

[GnothiSeauton]

I have come because of Kuro. I tried to stay away, but first I was told to look at the world-building thread and fell in love.

Plants da flag of interest.

Definitely not blushing here.  Nope. 

I'm glad to have your interest!

[Wolfling72]

No idea why you are blushing. You've done excellent work. so much nodding.

And of course, if you decide to whup this buggy into motion, I wanna be along for the ride.

[GnothiSeauton]

I tend to world build the fudge out of things. And I always worry if I'm doing way too much or not enough.  So I will take any and all reassurance I can get.

I have a feeling that this is going to get going.  My muse has been incredibly high on this for a while.  How much interest is something that remains to be seen before I put stuff all together in place.

[GnothiSeauton]

I have also added in some world information and history of the gang to further give this some flavor.

[Wyatt]

Intriguing, very, very intriguing.

And I am totally not letting my mind run off into the wild thinking of character concepts, nope, uh-uh, not at all…  ;)

[Grizzly]

I am intrigued.  Consider my interest piqued. 

[GnothiSeauton]

Intriguing, very, very intriguing.

And I am totally not letting my mind run off into the wild thinking of character concepts, nope, uh-uh, not at all…  ;)

I am intrigued.  Consider my interest piqued. 

Excellent!

With enough interest I am going to go ahead and start assembling some things and turn this into a recruitment thread.

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to shoot them at me.

[Kuroneko]

You know I'm in with a gang member  :D

[Wyatt]

I mean if this was…is…will be a recruitment thread AND if one could reserve a FC, I mean then Idris Elba is calling to me as that FC, if available   :-)

[Raven Rawne]

I'm intrigued, and pondering the possibility of a medic type of character. Either a woman, in which case she would be an ex army nurse, or perhaps a male character,  an ex army doctor.  Considering the setting, I don't feel that a female doctor would fit, since women would nor be able to recieve such education during Civil War times.

[GnothiSeauton]

You know I'm in with a gang member  :D

:D  Yee-haw

I mean if this was…is…will be a recruitment thread AND if one could reserve a FC, I mean then Idris Elba is calling to me as that FC, if available   :-)

I could totally reserve him for ya.

[GnothiSeauton]

I'm intrigued, and pondering the possibility of a medic type of character. Either a woman, in which case she would be an ex army nurse, or perhaps a male character,  an ex army doctor.  Considering the setting, I don't feel that a female doctor would fit, since women would nor be able to recieve such education during Civil War times.

Female medics are more than welcome.  She could have been like Clara Barton, a nurse during the Civil War, and learned most of her medical knowledge and experience in the battlefield hospitals.  Might not be an official doctor with a degree and everything, but that wouldn't matter.

I'm not going to play this as must be 1000% historical accurate.  If you can stretch it and make it fit to a way that it makes sense, I think it should be alright.

[Kuroneko]

If we're at faceclaims already, then I'd like to reserve Rodrigo Santoro for my gang member, and Zach McClarnon for an NPC.

[Kuroneko]

I'm intrigued, and pondering the possibility of a medic type of character. Either a woman, in which case she would be an ex army nurse, or perhaps a male character,  an ex army doctor.  Considering the setting, I don't feel that a female doctor would fit, since women would nor be able to recieve such education during Civil War times.

Elizabeth Blackwell (1821–1910) was the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. In 1857, with her sister, Emily Blackwell, MD; and Marie Zakrzewska, MD, she opened the New York Infirmary for Women and Children. She also published Pioneer Work in Opening the Medical Profession to Women in 1895.

[Raven Rawne]

That's what I meant, kind of. A woman wouldn't be able to get formal education and a degree, but for a gang of outlaws, someone who can tend to wounds and common diseases with enough success is, reasonably speaking, good enough.

Thanks for the reference Kuroneko. Though I am looking to make a character that is average enough to make money robbing banks. Those women were exceptional in their age. I doubt they would get their degree and then join a gang. Still, writing freedom, I do get that we can have some leeway in this aspect. I'll think about it.
One thing to consider is that you can't be accused of medical malpractice if you don't have a license to begin with! Just imagine the back and forth as someone is complaining on the care after being shot and she replies  "well go and find a real doctor then!"

And since this is before the Geneva Convention, she could pack a mean Winchester (still picking the exact model) and a LeMat revolver, for that extra bit of buckshot to go with 9 shots...

[xPeachyPuff]

I love me a good western 😍 I am absolutely interested in this concept!

[GnothiSeauton]

I love me a good western 😍 I am absolutely interested in this concept!

Sweet!

[Kuroneko]

Thanks for the reference Kuroneko. Though I am looking to make a character that is average enough to make money robbing banks. Those women were exceptional in their age. I doubt they would get their degree and then join a gang. Still, writing freedom, I do get that we can have some leeway in this aspect. I'll think about it.

One thing to consider is that you can't be accused of medical malpractice if you don't have a license to begin with! Just imagine the back and forth as someone is complaining on the care after being shot and she replies  "well go and find a real doctor then!"

Sure thing. I'm full of all kinds of useless information, lol. I totally get what you mean regarding the character idea, too.