Porchwood Hollow

A note from The Keeper: Whenever I find an item at the thrift store that seems to shiver a little when I walk by, I begin a character development on them to give them a new life and story among Porchwood.

ArchiveMouse and Minnette and frequently mentioned, and the main characters in the story. Here are their bios.

Archievemouse- Keeper of Forgotten Things:

Physical Appearance:

A small, soft-grey field mouse with a dusting of silver around his muzzle, as though history itself has brushed against him. His round spectacles are comically large, perpetually slipping down his nose.

He wears a stitched, ink-stained waistcoat with deep pockets that always seem to hold something important. For example, an old key, a rolled scrap of parchment, a crumb of biscuit.

Around his neck hangs a length of twine . A thimble lantern, polished to a gentle glow. One whisker is always tipped in dried ink.

His items:

*Oversized glasses

*Thimble lantern 9always lit because he leaves the Hollow after dark)

*I leather-bound pocket ledger tied shut with a faded ribbon

*A tiny compass he swears” points to what matters, not where”

Archivemouse is meticulous, deeply observant, and convinced that every story, no matter how small has its place in the grand record. While his demeanor suggests a he is scholarly smart, he has a knack for sudden dry humor that catches others off guard. He dislikes being made to wait, not because he is impatient, but because he wants history to keep moving so he can keep collecting it.

His habits and quirks:

*Pushes glasses up with the back of his paw mid-sentence

*Rolls out maps even when they are not needed, pretending it’s “for accuracy”

*Leaves ink smudges on his whiskers, which he never bothers to clean quickly

* Mutters critiques under his breath while reading, sometimes in Latin

*Sighs dramatically when told to delay an investigation

* Keeps his thimble lantern lit even in daylight : “just in case the light changes suddenly”

Role in Porchwood Hollow:

As the Keeper of Forgotten Things, Archivemouse catalogues not just events, but feelings, scents, and whispers that might otherwise be lost. He keeps the official scrolls of the Hollow, mapping connections between the residents and recording subtle changes no one else notices.

The other residents trust him with their stories, even the parts that they don’t want remembered, knowing that he will keep them safe until the right moment.

Archivemouses’ Relationships

Minette: His traveling companion and fellow collector of curious truths. They balance one another, she keeps him from disappearing into his books; he ensures that her findings are preserved.

Egeltine: Consulted for historical accuracy, and prophecy alignment. Archivemouse pretends to not be impressed by her visions, but adjusts his maps after every meeting.

The Keeper: respects her deeply, though he grumbles when she delays his work or “aesthetic placement” or “atmosphere building.” He suspects she is right more often than not, which annoys him in principal.

His quote:

“If we do not keep it, it will vanish,. If we do keep it, it will change. My job is to notice how.”

Minette: The Whisper Collector

Physical Appearance:

A sleek, cinnamon brown mouse with a pale cream belly, and an ever so slightly bent ear from a childhood misadventures she refuses to discuss. Her eyes are a rich, warm amber, bright enough to catch the lantern light and hold it. She wears a patched satchel across her shoulder, decorated with tiny pressed flowers sewn into the fabric. A slim ribbon, the color of dusk, is tied around her tail in a tidy bow.

Signature items:

*Pressed flower satchel filled with folded slips of paper, ribbon-wrapped bundles, and curious tokens

* A miniature spyglass tucked into a hidden pouch

*a wind-up music locket that plays three soft notes when opened. She plays it to calm her soul on a restless night.

Minette is the soft voice in their partnership, though she is no less sharp. She notices what people aren’t saying, and can coax a truth from even the most guarded Hollow resident. Where Archivemouse gathers the concrete (dates, maps, events), Minette gathers in the intangible glances, pauses, and feelings too delicate to be written in ink. She is warm, approachable, and can disarm suspicion with a wink and a laugh.

Role in Porchwood Hollow:

Known as the Whisper Collector, Minette gathers the small truths that slip between the cracks of conversation. She pairs her findings with the Archivemouse’s formal records, creating a fuller, more human portrait of the Hollow’s history. The Keeper has entrusted her with the, “Invisible Ledger, ” a private account of things too tender to be stored in the public archives.

Relationships:

Archivemouse, her oldest companion, she tempers his impatience with a knowing glance or a baked scone. He teases her for being, “too poetic, ” but secretly relies on her observations.

The Keeper: Shares an unspoken alliance with the Keeper, knowing when to step in quietly to smooth tensions or nudge events along.

Egeltine: Occasionally trades symbolic items for insight, the owl seems to like her patience.

“Some stories are told in words, some told in silence between them. I keep both.”