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The Whateley Family Gomorra's First Family | Back to Main Page |

THE WHATELEY FAMILY HISTORY The Whateley family can trace its roots back hundreds of years, to Welsh nobility. The Whateleys moved from their family estate to Oxford, from Oxford to Georgia, and set down roots in the South long before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. They remained there, scions of the antebellum South, until thirteen years ago, when the entire Whateley clan picked up, left their plantation home, and moved to Gomorra. The Whateleys used their wealth to purchase land from Humphrey Walters, long before the auction which divied up much of Gomorra. They built a large mansion near the estate of Mr. Walters, apparently content with their move to California. After the Great Quake hit, the Whateley mansion was separated from the main mesa of Gomorra itself. Now the estate sits on a lonely mesa, all to itself. Most of the Whateley family remains at the mansion, but a few members of the family are well known in the city. Their matriarch, Wilhelmina Whateley, survived the journey from Georgia without so much as a cough. There are a number of other Whateleys recognized in the town, and a few other folk who've been 'married in' to the Whateley clan. The Whateleys purchased several mines in the secret auction that made Sweetrock wealthy, and contracts independent miners from time to time to work those mines. RANK Faction Rank Rank Title 1 Family Friend 2 In-Law 3 "Precious, Darling, Sweet Thing," 4 Grandma's Favorite 5 Grandma IMPORTANT FACTION MEMBERS Grandma Wilhelmina Whateley Wilhelmina "Grandma" Whateley, matriarch of the Whateley family. Wilhelmina Whateley is rarely seen in public, outside the Whateley home. A kindly old lady, she brought her family from Atlanta, Georgia, to settle on the western frontier. She is a very old woman, usually pushed around in a wheeled chair, but never without a warm smile or a hand wave to her acquaintances. Wilhelmina is the presiding chair of Gomorra's social activities - her family regularly patrons dances, balls, and seasonal festivals. The Whateleys frequently spend a good deal of capital on these events, leaving open invitation to any resident who can afford proper attire to attend. These occasions are the few times the Whateleys are seen outside their home; only Nicodemus Whateley, the family's appointed business manager, is routinely seen throughout Gomorra. Nicodemus is unfailingly polite but somewhat unsettling - he dresses well, but constantly plays with a deck of poker cards, unable to set them down or keep his hands still. He liaises with the foremen of the Whateley family's mines, as well as overseeing the distribution of the Whateley's various philanthropies. Wilhelmina often entertains visitors to the Whateley estate on the front porch of the Whateley mansion - a nigh-perfect recreation of their Georgian plantation home. She always has sweet tea and homemade cookies available for guests, and seems to enjoy idle chatter and local gossip with the glee that only an elderly matriarch of the Antebellum South can. Grandma's Favorite Nicodemus Whateley Grandma's Favorite Nicodemus is the grandson of Wilhelmina Whateley and the heir apparent. While there are older members of the family residing in Gomorra, Granny has taken a shine to her grandson and no one in the family has any doubt who Grandma favors. Trusted to speak for the Whateley family, Nicodemus had been the voice of the Whateley family for some time before the arrival of Ginny. Stepping back to allow her to be the 'face' of the family, Nicodemus has had more time to secure their political and financial interests. Grateful to his niece for the freedoms her presence offered him, he spoils her at every given opportunity. Nicodemus is married to the beautiful Dolores Whateley. For six years, rumors had spread far and wide that he had murdered his wife as she hadn't been seen in all those years. Recently those rumors were dispelled as his wife's presence returned to Gomorra. Little is known about their relationship though there is no indication that they have had children. Many rumors circulate about Nicodemus Whateley. So many, in fact, that it's not possible for them all to be true. While few say anything to his face, he neither confirms nor denies any of the accusations. "Precious, Darling, Sweet Thing" Dolores Whateley Dolores,Grandma's Darling Dolores Whateley is still something of a mystery to most of Gomorra. Most folks presumed that she had moved away from the city six years ago or, more commonly, that her husband had killed her. Recent events have proven that neither of those things are true and her arrest had the Whateley family quite angry. Her short stint in jail has brought to light that Dolores, while incredibly beautiful, is utterly insane. Her mind seems to be that of a child and, rather than attracting men, they seem to be disturbed by her presence. Overly friendly at times, Dolores enjoys nice people who bring her candy, will play with her and her dolly. She loves to sing though she doesn't seem to know the real words to any of the songs. Dolores is quite fond of animals and they seem to enjoy her company as well. Jebediah Whateley Jebediah, Grandma's Sweet Thing Unlike most of the Whateley's, Jeb has chosen to live outside the Whateley Estates though he visits the family frequently. Keeping his eyes and ears open, he tends to alert the reclusive family to problems that are arising in Gomorra. When possible, he will simply handle issues involving his relatives before bringing it to Granny. Due to his living arrangements, there have been some rumors that Jeb is not in good standing with Wilhelmina though there has been no evidence to confirm these whispers. He has always acted as a model family member in public. While no longer in his prime, Jeb has no problem gaining the attention of the women of Gomorra. Some say it is because he is still an attractive man and others believe it is a matter of his money. Regardless, he is never seen in the company of a woman in any romantic way. Jeb was quite pleased when his daughter decided to move to Gomorra though he worries about her often. He both dotes on his darling and keeps her in check when it's needed. He was rather surprised that Nicodemus seemed to care for his daughter but has been quietly pleased by it. Basil Whateley Basil, Grandma's Sweet Thing Unlike most artists, Basil is far from starving and lives a rather pampered life while working on his craft. From a young age, he had shown remarkable skill at both drawing and painting and the Whateley family encouraged him to hone those skills. Caught up in his passion, Basil rarely leaves the estate but, when he does, he is always immaculately dressed and has displayed impeccable manners. Most of the time, he leaves the estate to display a very select few paintings but, on occasion, someone will catch his eye and he will commission them to pose. It is a rare occasion for him to do so but always offers a handsome reward for their patience and indulgence. Recently, Granny has suggested that Basil consider marriage. Curious about the prospect, he has decided that it's time to pull himself away from his arts and begin seeking a match within Gomorra. He is hopeful but inexperienced in the ways of romance. Ezekiel Whateley Ezekiel, Grandma's Precious Not much is known about Ezekiel as he rarely leaves the Whateley estate. On the very rare occasions that he has been out, it has always been in the presence of another family member. Being a huge, hulking man, most don't forget the times that they have seen him. Not to mention that he's quite hard on the eyes. Being a mute, he doesn't interact often and only listens when a relative is speaking. In-Law, Grandchild, Cousin Virginia "Ginny" Mary Lou Whateley Virginia "Ginny" Mary Lou Whateley While other gals may have the looks, Ginny has both the looks and the charm. The Whateley name and financial backing don't hurt either, which might make her one of the most attractive unmarried prospects in Gomorra if anyone could catch her eye. She oozes so much charm, it is joked that her sweat could be bottled and sold as honey. Rumors have it that she's simply a flirt; Ginny's never the type to answer a letter or telegram if that person is looking for commitment. Still, that hasn't stopped many a man from trying his hand. A fixture to Gomorra and its lifestyle, anyone who has been around in the saloons or card tables knows her. She always good for a game of cards or the latest gossip around town and she always seems to have money to burn along with the best that it can buy. One used to find her in Casino Morongo, a regular patron to Mr. Sloane, where she ran her own table to any and all who are interested. But with Babel Tower's new opening, and after a bit of skillful negotiating with the owner, Abraham Solomon, Ginny can be found running one of the tables every Saturday Evening and Night. The evening table is for any and all with the big blind set at a silver dollar. The late night table is for the serious players with the big blind requiring a golden eagle. Hope you brought enough money, pardner. The other odd thing to note is while Ginny is normally seen in cowboy leathers throughout most of the week, from time to time, one will catch her sporting much more feminine clothes that speak of her Southern background. Pink lace, frills, the bustle, and the ever-popular corset--the whole outrageous ensemble with a Sunday hat and umbrella to protect against the sun, giving her the look of a proper lady indeed. Those times occur only when she is either attending a Sunday service, visiting the confessional for the month, or when her mother, a terrifying Southern biddy, comes into town for a visit to shop her daughter's hand for marriage. Ginny is Purty, and her Voice is to be quite soothing. However, it's also known she is a talkative bluejay with a Big Mouth. Also, to any locals in the town or anyone who knows the Whateley name, Ginny is the Whateley most often seen around the town - for good or for worse. Family Friend Paige Dunne Paige, Gallery Proprietor Five years ago, Paige and her husband moved to Gomorra to support his dreams of making it big in a boom town. His attempts at finding wealth led to his untimely death, leaving Paige a widow and destitute. Seeking whatever employment she could, she worked in several shops for short times, fighting to make ends meet. Her fortunes turned for the better when Basil Whateley approached her and asked her to run his new gallery. Skeptical at first, given the Whateley's reputation, she was hesitant to accept the new opportunity. Until he mentioned the wages he was offering. One job would allow her to pay all of her debts and allow her a nicer living in Gomorra. Accepting the offer, she began to run the establishment for the Whateley family. Paige's employment allowed her many more freedoms and, while some of Basil's artwork disturbed the young woman, she has had no complaints about working with the Whateley family. They have done well by her and even remembered her at the holiday's. David Elks David, Jeweler David traveled to Gomorra with his young daughter to help a friend with their mines. For a short time, he was an independent miner and worked directly for his friend. However, that was not to last. David was lucky enough to have been on a days leave when an accident happened in the mine, collapsing the entire mine shaft and killing everyone within, including his friend. Raising a daughter on his own, he decided not to return to the life of a miner. It was quite by accident that he stumbled into jewelry crafting. He had stepped into a shop, looking for a special gift for his daughters sixteenth birthday and saw the proprietor working on a bracelet and making a mess out of it. Offering his assistance with his knowledge of the various materials, David quickly landed himself a job as an assistant. The pay wasn't bad and the hours were great so he accepted. After a year, the proprietor retired, leaving the shop to David. It was then that he learned that the store was owned by the Whateley's. The Whateley family has welcomed him warmly and even allowed him to hire his daughter for the wages he had made as an assistant. Impressed with both their generosity, he and his daughter have remained happily employed for the family. Madeline Elks Madeline, Jeweler Madeline wasn't happy about moving to Gomorra and even less happy to see her father working in the mines. Terrified that something bad would happen to him, she pleaded with him to find something else to do. Her concerns were heard but ignored until the accident. She was immensely grateful that her father left mining and began working in the city. No longer as concerned for his life, she began to explore Gomorra and found that she didn't dislike the city as much as she thought. There was always something to do and new people to meet. When she was old enough, her father asked her to be his assistant at the jewelers and she jumped at the idea. Eager to help, she gladly took the position and even met some of the Whateley's. While she would never tell her father, she always enjoyed when Nicodemus would come to visit. There was something about the man that drew her to him though she would never act on it. He was married and, after he left, she always felt a little unsettled. THE WHATELEY ESTATE MESA A mesa unto itself, the Whateley Estate is removed from Gomorra's day to day business by a wrought iron bridge of elegant design. The mesa, situated to the south and west of the main mesa, hosts one of the most attractive and elegant homes in all the Great Maze - though the Whateley estate is not open to casual visitors. While the once lush hedges and trees that surrounded the Whateley estate have suffered the same fate as most greenery in the Great Maze, the house still stands, a three story elegant plantation manor. A model of the glories of the Antebellum South, it looks somehow amiss and yet perfectly suited to the parched landscape of the Great Maze. WHATELEY ESTATE ATTRACTIONS | Unknown | | Back to Main Page |