Thomas Hopefield

> *"You've got family in us now. 'All that matters after all, ain't it?."*
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> ― Thomas, to Addie, after hearing her confession.
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Founder of The Establishment, manager of Coyote Crossing & member of The Trail, Thomas Hopefield is a character played by OVA.

## Life in New Alexandria

Arriving in Saint-Denis alongside his Partner, they were quick to take advantage of a state ripe with opportunities. Rumors of involvements in various crimes were spread about; none of which were officially linked to them nor proven in the end.

After a fateful night in which he lost her from the sickness, Thomas chose to put the outlaw's life behind. Affected greatly by her loss, he spent some time drifting about.

Following the C.A.R.E. act, he ended up in Valentine and tried to remain legitimate since then. Bar-keeping the saloon, he was quickly introduced to Emma Cox by a mutual friend. They developed a tight-knit partnership and founded what would later be known as The Establishment.

They quickly became acquainted with Clayton Cress & Adelaide Daventry. The latter would become part of the Establishment.

He was mostly operating out of Valentine, alongside his entourage. A business owner trying to em-better the state and it's citizen, at the very least under the eyes of the law & the common-folks.

As of late, he has been staying with The Trail and runs the Establishment alongside his fiancée, Dawn Hearte.

Following a tense altercation in their camp with a group of bandits claiming it as their own; Thomas, George & Dawn were left for dead.

They were eventually found & rescued thanks to Evelyn Hurst. Forming a posse alongside Dr Jaena Shaw, Carolina King & Warren Lee, they awaited an opportunity to strike and saved their lives.

The trail eventually took back their home, but many other threats were on the horizon. unbeknownst to them, Dawn & Thomas were marked worthy of sacrifice by Dismas Kinder after attending a reception, later revealed to be a ritualistic ceremony.

Few days after, the duo was ambushed by the Low Life's Washington gang. After nearly killing Dawn, they tortured Thomas and had him roll for his life. Lady Luck being on his side for once, he was spared and shot in the foot instead. After carving their gang's initials on his back, the duo was left for dead. Wiggling out of his bindings, he was able to carry Dawn back to a doctor.

Some time later, Thomas was ambushed by The Riddler. Then given three attempts at a riddle, the price for failure being his life. Unable to answer, he was able to talk his way out of a bullet, receiving a carved "R" over his back instead.

A recent run-in with the L.L.W. gang at Macfarlane's Ranch had them nearly killed once more. After being tortured, he was shoved in the San Luis river and shot at by the crew repeatedly from afar. Luckily, he was able to use one of their horses alongside the cover of darkness to reach shore further away. His injuries were treated alongside Dawn's in Valentine later that day.

Following a grand ceremony at the Trail's camp, surrounded by their friends and family, he has been happily married to Dawn.

Sometime after the northern storms calmed they might across the state, Thomas was back from a small hunt in Rhodes when he heard a familiar voice. Behind him stood Norman Bones, which he had not seen in months. Happy to see his old photographer friend alive, he was then offered to have his picture taken. As it turns out, Norman was a twister murderer all along, believing himself to be death incarnate. Unbeknownst to Thomas, Emma had been complicit in some of his murders alongside Tobias Plimmft and she was the reason Norman never got to him earlier. With her being currently missing, he had no reason to hold back anymore.

Following a long talk about their pasts in Thomas' cabin; Norman had him look at a painting on the wall while awaiting for the photograph to be ready and a small exchange followed:

> *"Remember how Ana Mayfield claimed my camera would steal your soul?"*
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> *"I do. Nonsense it was."*
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> *"Indeed, she was wrong in that aspect; I am the one who does."*
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Norman then pulled a knife and quickly lunged from behind, tossing Thomas onto the floor knocking his head. Trying to get back on his feet, he was slashed repeatedly over his arms and chest. Still disoriented, he tried defending himself but lost his footing, hitting his head once more on a nearby stool while falling.

Norman, leaning forward, gouged one of his eyes out following a short monologue. Left for dead, his horse was shot down on the way off the cabin.

> *"And this? This is Plimmft's cut."*
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https://twitter.com/i/status/1347246403022712834

Following the incident, Thomas was found shortly after a passerby noticed the fallen horse from the main road and decided to investigate. Unconscious, he was brought to Saint-Denis and remained this way for a few weeks, on the brink of death. While he would wake up sporadically, he was unable to recollect much, if anything at all.

After finally coming back to his senses and starting to feel better a few weeks later, he was given the O.K. to leave the office from Dr Jaena Shaw and thus, he made his way out.

Shorty after, he went on a journey alongside a few old friends down to Coyote Crossing so he could tack up his new steed, a Gypsy Cob by the name of Clarabelle. After learning about the large movement of population down in New Austin and the effort to rebuild the West, he became interested in setting the Establishment down there.

Mostly staying at the Coyote Crossing while he was establishing himself, he ended up helping out in a few matters and his own business slowly went on the backburner, particularly after he was offered a managerial position for Coyote Crossing. He was been working full-time over there since then.

## Early Life

Thomas comes from the streets of Brooklyn. He never met his father; his mother passed from Typhus when he was about six years old.

He survived off the streets with the other urchins for a few years. One day, he met a young lady. Jane Williams was her name. She changed his life dramatically, for the better or the worse.

Jane took a liking to his feisty nature. After some time, she offered to chaperone him into obtaining a larger prize than fruits off the market. He was introduced to her friends Davies and Brown, a pair of shady kids, and explained the plan of action.

She came from an affluent family, one which she despised in a shared sentiment. She wanted a chance to flee the city, perhaps travelling around the country, never worrying about income or seeing them again.

The plan was quite simple. While they were out of town for a few days, they'd be sneaking into the manor in the dark of night, leaving as fast as they came without leaving a trace. pocketful of jewels, bonds and precious metals. Everything they could inconspicuously carry.

It worked. The four of them celebrated their haul and started travelling around the country. For a time, they dressed fancily, enjoyed fine diners and drinks. Slept in prestigious hotels.

Alas, the camaraderie spirit they were sharing was to eventually be shattered. About four years after they've fled the state of New York, an incident happened.

Brown was feeling more than friendship in regards to Jane. A sentiment that wasn't shared. During a night of drinking in a small saloon on the outskirt, Brown had one too many shots. Unwisely, he spoke his mind about his merits and why he deserves Jane to be with him.

The altercation escalated, the alcohol fueling his stupor. Concluding that if she was to never be with him, no one else shall either. He promptly pointed his double-barreled shotgun at her. Davies, rushing to stop him, was intercepted by a buckshot through his abdomen. Thomas, already aiming his revolver at Brown, pulled the trigger in swift response.

A few years after the incident, The duo was still wandering about the countryside. Their funds were running low. Determined to live to the fullest, not ever going back to a life off the streets, they kept moving & planning. The duo eventually went on a crime spree which lasted almost five years. Somehow, they could always find a way to make it out unscathed. The same couldn't be said for the different partners they've gotten along the way. Their journey eventually brought them to the promising state of New Alexandria.

## Alternate Timeline

Following the wedding, the Trail got in the process of accumulating a sizeable sum alongside the rest of the Trail in hopes of moving their camp to a neighboring state, Odessa. The various means of acquisition have been questionable, at best.

He, alongside his wife & the rest of the Trail, then moved on and established themselves in a new land, where he pursues risky work as a bounty hunter alongside Gilligan Marsh.

## Trivia

* He rides a wild and feisty American Paint named Vita. He sometimes stable her, taking other steeds for a ride, but always comes back in the end. She is currently stabled in Saint-Denis, waiting to be transported to Coyote Crossing.
* His first horse was a 24 years old steed named Eliza. After being retired for a leg injury, she escaped the ranch at night and undertook a journey back home. She was found the following day and given a proper burial.
* Although lacking proficiency with long-arms, he is a decent archer.
* He finds the industrial revolution reshaping the country fascinating.
* Thomas bears an half-native Iroquois heritage from his father, albeit unaware of it.
* He owns a Labrador Retriever, gracefully named D.O.G. by Lyra Woods.
* He was able to retrieve a pair of unique compasses. One was gifted to Dawn, later revealed to be containing an engagement ring.
* A few things lead to believe Norman intentionally gave Thomas a chance at surviving the encounter. He was aware this was the cabin he and his wife Dawn stayed at and he could've easily dumped the body in the lake. The cabin has a close proximity to the main road as well. For the attack itself, he was slashed repeatedly rather than stabbed or shot. Sloppiness could be to blame, although it would be uncharacteristic of Norman Bones.
* His current steed is a Splashed Piebald Gypsy Cob by the name of Clarabelle.

## Gallery

Boating Expedition, New Austin, *Circa 1899*"Donkey Ride", Blackwater, *Circa 1899*"A Friendly Trio", Saint-Denis, *Circa 1899*Enjoying a drink, Saint-Denis, *Circa 1899*Gimsu Kray's Funeral, Armadillo, Circa 1899Cursed Trip to Mexico, Circa 1899Claytons, Valentine, Circa 1899Barkeep, Valentine, Circa 1899Mexico - Encore, Circa 1899Thomas, New Alexandria, Circa 1899Troublemakers, Saint-Denis, Circa 1899Thomas Hopefield, Artistic Depiction, Circa 1899Old Elizabeth, Circa 1899Vita Nova, Thomas' current steedTommy & Dawny, New Austin, Circa 1899Circa 1899"A Friend in Me", Braithwaite Manor, Circa 1899Through The Valley, New Austin, Circa 1899Sunset Walk, Saint-Denis, Circa 1899Post-Coma, Circa 1900Recovering, Lemoyne, Circa 1900