Norman Cradduck

## Character Traits

Calm demeanor, doesn't get flustered too often on the outside. Loyal to a fault and will defend those he sees as his friends. Norman like walks on the beech, quiet nights in and interesting conversation. Easily recognisable by his smart dress and bowler hat (which is **rarely** removed).

## Backstory

Norman came to the city with the promise of exploring United States culture. Tasting everything this continent has to offer.

## Early Days

### Taxi Driver

Norman struggled with early exploration of the city and being able to find profitable work. His first main career path was a taxi driver. Being new in the city was intimidating and interactions with taxi clients, although lucrative, was very brief. He needed something new to get to know others.

### Next Chapter

While interacting with others in the city he learned about a "sanctioned" fight club that was being arranged by Keith Kith on top of the IAA building. After turning down offers to take part (not really his thing), he attended because he was intrigued what was involved.

Although nervous about flying in a helicopter for the first time, he enjoyed being airlifted to the roof of the IAA building. He did his best to observe what was going on but nervous as there were a lot of people he had never met. Later that night he witnessed a controversial moment. The main event for the evening was a fight between Officer Jim Tenpenny and Arthur Trout. During the early stages of their contest, Arthur Trout was struck and went down unresponsive. Norman saw him receive medical attention on the scene and get air lifted away. He witnessed grief stricken and angry residents defending the actions of both participants. Still as a taxi driver he did his best to support members of the community and even gave Erma Gherd, Arthur Trout's widow, a lift home. During which time she let him know about her pussy at home.

That night he remained shell shocked by what happened and thought maybe it was time to re-evaluate his motivations going forward.

## Becoming a Paramedic

Norman's new direction would take him to Pillbox hospital. He enquired about becoming member of the EMS team and an interview was setup with hospital director at the time Oscar Pewitt.

During the interview and subsequent training, Norman was able to keep the use of his bowler hat which became part of his paramedic uniform.

His first day would consist of attending the autopsy of Arthur Trout with fellow staff members Oscar Pewitt and April Winter. Norman would feel queasy part way through and step out for air where he would promptly faint in the hallway. He regained consciousness to see April standing over him, making sure he was OK.

### Controversy

Norman went about his duties like usual, getting used to the procedures and systems involved. He witnessed chatter amongst members of the EMS team of a growing distrust of PD and the way they used the EMS. Altercations had arisen while staff members were on call that made them feel unsafe and in some cases become injured on the job.

Discussions were had for a way to bring visibility to these issues. A strike/sit-in was mentioned and Norman not wanting to go against other staff members went along with these actions. He was told to block the EMS doors with an ambulance and lay on the floor at the entrance. During this time a PD member (Officer Deetmore) had become very injured with gunshot wounds while on duty and was brought in for treatment. Many PD members arrived and tense discussions because PD and EMS members began. Norman, being very new to all this, didn't know what to do and remained pretty quiet throughout while one of his colleagues explained what was going on while attending to Officer Deetmore. They were later taken away to ICU for more treatment. Detective Brooks then began discussions with remaining EMS staff about the situation and trying to clear the air. Norman was scared, he didn't want to lose his job and pleased with them that this was just unfortunate timing these 2 events had collided and caused tension.

Norman then spent a number of days smoothing tensions between PD and EMS reassuring them that this wasn't going to happen in future. He took trips to the District Attorney, Damian Starr to arrange possible improvements to the EMS department during the absence of his boss Oscar Pewitt. Norman was advised to put these requests in writing to the Quiet City Mayor Marshall, which he did so.

### Back to the job at hand?

Norman attended many calls from Quiet City residents, always receiving compliments on his hat and began to build rapour with many. He would affectionately be referred to as "Norm" by Jebby who at that time worked at Tequila-la-la.

### Foul play involved

He would start to receive frequent emergency calls from one particular Quiet City resident, Suzie Crumplebottom. Norman attended an alert situated behind an building. On arrival he witnessed a black SUV exiting the archway between buildings. He found one patient left behind a set of bins and took them to his waiting ambulance. Keith Kith arrived on the scene and Norman wasn't sure if they were the aggressor returning to the scene of the crime. Another ping still remained and it was seemingly atop a building. Norman used ladders to scale these buildings to make it over to the roof containing the injured patient. He lost his balance on one ladder and took a tumble to the next roof down. Keith Kith appeared with Suzie Crumplebottom slung over his shoulder. Norman tried to gather himself while Keith lower himself and Suzie to where he lay. He handed over a medics kit to give Suzie some immediate first aid while he made his way carefully down from the roof. Injured residents were taken back to Pillbox hospital and made a full recovery.

Another such occasion he found her injured down a another side street where she explained she had been mugged. She said she couldn't say any more because she was scared of repercussions. Suzie was then taken back to Pillbox Hospital and remained there for a couple of days to rest. Norman reported these multiple events to PD because it seemed like there was a pattern forming.

Norman attended an EMS call in Paleto Bay so he drove with nurse on duty at the time, Freja Odinsdottir. Whilst searching for the injured resident a cougar stalked out of a nearby forest. Norman jumped onto the nearest car and pulled out a baseball bat to defend himself. He shouted to Freja Odinsdottir, who was busy taking selfies, to jump onto the ambulance. Norman took a deep breath and took swings at the cougar to neutralise the threat, Thankfully he was able to and they both returned to Pillbox hospital unharmed. During the journey back they received an EMS alert from Premier Motorsports. Norman dropped off Freja Odinsdottir as per her request on route and proceeded to the call. Suzie Crumplebottom lay injured in the car showroom with apparent stab wounds. Many PD members were already on scene and Norman informed them that the ambulance was running too low on fuel and wouldn't make it back to the hospital. Because of the emergency situation Norman was able use a squad car and Suzie Crumplebottom was taken back to Pillbox Hospital in a critical condition. She remained unconscious and Richard Deetmore stayed outside her hospital room.

During this tense time, the tone would be lightened by Adrien Allen's **many** trips to Pillbox Hospital for stunts gone wrong. The creation of "loyalty cards" was talked about.

After a day or two Suzie Crumplebottom regained consciousness and again didn't want to be kept in hospital. Richard Deetmore would attend Pillbox upon Suzie Crumplebottom's recovery where she promptly tried to discharge herself still with little recollection of the events of her stabbing. Norman advised against but couldn't stop her and asked if Officer Deetmore could keep an eye on her. In the days that would follow Norman would encounter Suzie in the city. On one such occasion she would be at the Premier Motorsports Showroom at the same time as Norman and she was having flashbacks of the incident that took place there and was able to give minor information. Norman then procured an extra form of protection, in this case, a firearm, because of increasing worry of injury in these tense times.

In the coming days Norman grew tired and extra stressed at the responsibility he had in the EMS department. He felt the world on his shoulders and didn't want to let anyone down. He took some well earned time off to assess things.

Logging back on duty Norman received phone calls from PD about a possible DOA patient (Beetlejuice) with many gunshot wounds brought back to Pillbox Hospital in his duty absence. This resident remained unresponsive and was pronounced dead shortly after. Norman was informed that this resident had been responsible for Suzie Crumplebottom's injuries at Premier Motorsports Showroom. Uncharacteristically Norman whispered, "I'm glad you got what you deserved!" over the still body of Beetlejuice. Drawing a line under what he thought was an end to apparent violence against Suzie Crumplebottom.

## EMS Department New Arrivals

Normal service resumed in the hospital for Norman, trying his best to keep the residents of Quiet City safe. He was made aware there would be influx of staff arriving from a nearby city to join the EMS. He would meet such characters as Malcolm Takeheart, Fox Syringe, Charlotte Hunniford, Morgan Steeler and many others. Orientation day for all these recruits was intense but Norman took on the responsibility as best he could. He would bond with April Winter over their love of Irn Bru in the city.

### Norman gets to fly

Overhearing one of his colleagues, Orion Sbelt, talk of helicopter training Norman asked if he could tag along. This was something that Norman had asked Mayor Maya Marshall about to increase the flexibility of the department if EMS alerts were received from up north. He had been spurred on by the delayed response time he had to Suzie Crumplebottom's stabbing because of how far he had to travel to attend. Chuck LeChuck took Orion Sbelt through the basics of flying while Norman sat in the back observing.

Norman arrives back at Pillbox Hospital to witness the removal of taser prongs from Adrien Allen's rear end!

NO PHOTOS were taken as evidence and posted on Twitter.

## Careers Fair

Norman resumes duty trying to recruit people into the EMS. During this event Norman learns the plural of a male mermaid is pronounced "mermen". He learns of the new owners to the Cat Café, Jimmy Tenpenny and Brenda Ballantine. He also finds out colleagues can dance on top of a slow moving ambulance. Norman also hears the interesting ethos of CrumpleForce.

## Returning in Shock

After a little time away, Norman returns to find the EMS department depleted with colleagues unaccounted for. Through asking around he finds that his colleague, April Winter, is possibly living underground in tunnels under the city. Others didn't seem to be too concerned for her wellbeing which angered Norman. There is mention of demon babies and possession. He had grown close to April Winter but never able to tell her how he felt about her.

Norman ventures underground and finds evidence that April Winter had indeed been in these tunnels. There was also signs of possible misadventure and Norman grew increasingly worried for her wellbeing. He called PD member on duty Chuck LeChuck and he joined Norman in the search. The evidence they found was worrying and it was recorded.

During the search Norman somehow became invisible to Chuck LeChuck while they were standing close to each other. Norman would call out but he couldn't be heard. Eventually this haunted behaviour would stop and both of them decided this was a sign to leave.

Chuck LeChuck and Norman were unable to find April Winter and returned to the surface. On returning back to Pillbox Hospital Norman checked Twitter and April Winter's Twitter account posted a photo of his ambulance driving out of the tunnels. They had apparently been watched unseen the entire time!!

### Helicopter crash

Later on that night Norman would attend an urgent alert from many downed PD officers. The call took them to the coast near a lighthouse where they picked up Leah LaRoux, Chuck LeChuck and Allie DeDas. They were taken back to Pillbox Hospital to get drained of swallowed sea water.

As usual Norman attends an EMS ping and gets moving in an ambulance where he encounters a speeding PD Officer Owl Zlensky coming the other direction on the wrong side of the road crashing into his vehicle. Luckily Norman was unharmed and he was able to attend Owl Zlensky at the scene. While this happened another urgent call was received from up North. Norman requests the helicopter to be mobilised while he make his way there by road. He arrives to find PD in attendance and the previously missing April Winter laying on the ground injured. Before Norman could attend to her wounds he heard the words, "Watch out, cougar!". Norman draws his taser and proceeds with caution. The helicopter containing other EMS staff arrive while cougar is still on the loose. "It's behind you!", Norman turns around to see a member of the PD getting mauled by the cougar. The animal then turns his attention on Norman. In his nervousness he tried to shoot the cougar with the taser but misses 3 times and gets bitten. The animal is then subdued and Norman makes sure April Winter is treated before him. Everyone is returned to Pillbox Hospital for treatment.

### A Party... not a fun affair

Norman attends an arranged party for EMS staff at Try Hard Studios. With the visions of what he and Chuck LeChuck found in the tunnels still fresh in his mind, he got dressed up with a brave face on. Norman had learned more background to events of the past week involving demons and possession. It all centred around Malcolm Takeheart who was still the head of Pillbox Hospital. During this period, one of what Norman considers his closest friends in Quiet City, Logan Wilde, got shot. Possessed or not, Norman was still very suspicious of his boss and his actions. In the build up to the party when people were gathering in the lobby, Norman saw April Winter getting some fresh air after seeing Malcolm Takeheart again. She proceeded to taje her frustration out on a trashcan outside the hospital.

The party got underway and members of the EMS congregated inside the Try Hard Studios bar. Car park was small and Norman thought it would be funny to block Malcolm Takeheart's fancy new vehicle in while parking. The party started inside and Norman joined, being very quiet and taking it all n.

It wasn't long before Norman learned of a disturbance outside the building and went to make sure things were OK. While assessing a striken Rihanna Richardashian trapped in her vehicle with Malcolm Takeheart attending, Norman saw Logan Wilde took out their frustration at seeing the doctor again after he had shot them. Norman tried to stand in the way to defuse the situation. Logan Wilde ran off and Norman took off after them coming to stop in the local basketball court where he sat with them alongside Orion Sbelt and Louis Stool. Norman tried to give words of encouragement to Logan Wilde. After a time they all returned to the party.

Norman still on duty and not drinking alcohol would then attend an EMS alert up north with 3 other colleagues. He came back to the party in full swing and watching his boss, Malcolm Takeheart, getting drunk and having a good time. Angered that the elephant in the room, demons and possession, was still lingering on Norman's mind. He took the opportunity for a time out from the noisy party to get some air. Somehow Malcolm Takeheart's car had mysteriously disappeared from being blocked in by his ambulance and appeared over the other side of the car park unscathed. Demon's at work? STILL?? Norman moved his ambulance behind the moved car, pushing it up the steps. Louis Stool witnessed this shouting at the top of their voice and running back into the party. Norman reparked the ambulance facing forwards so he didn't need to reverse out to attend another EMS alert if need be.

Norman walked back into the party just as other members came running out, including Malcolm Takeheart with a baseball bat in hand shouting "What have you done Norman!", proceeding to strike the ambulance multiple times. Norman approached and told the doctor to stop destroying hospital property. Malcolm Takeheart drunkenly began to follow Norman, baseball bat in hand as Norman drew taser in defense backing away. Malcolm Takeheart continued to bear down on Norman as he kept backing away so he fired at the doctor, exclaiming, "he was coming straight for me, you all saw it!".

Norman then put his taser away thinking the situation was defused. Malcolm Takeheart then threw a punch hitting Norman in the face. Unusually for Norman he was incensed, backing away from the group for a couple of seconds then returning to shout, "you wanna go!?", Malcolm Takeheart responded, "yeah I wanna go, you wanna go?". Norman accidently hit Chuck LeChuck that was standing too close. Off-duty Officer Leah LaRoux then tased Norman. More angry than ever before, Norman returned to his feet to get another punch in on the doctor and proceeded to drop him to the ground. Another taser shot took Norman to the ground and he was cuffed and escorted away.

Detective Rose Brooks was called and Norman was put in the back of their car. After a while Officer Owl Zlensky moved Norman from the back of one car and into the back of a squad car. Whilst in the back of the squad car Norman didn't really know what was going on and could only observe all the officers on scene speaking to Malcolm Takeheart. After several minutes Norman was removed from the squad car, and uncuffed by Owl Zlensky. Norman commented that Owl's arm transplants (treatment for a recent shark attack) were growing back nicely.

Norman stood awkwardly in the car park as many EMS members stood in groups nearby. He felt hurt that no one came up to check if he was OK after the altercation and arrest. Detective Rose Brooks caught Norman before he left and accused him of bobba tea theft. Norman explained that it would have impossible to steal anything while he was in their car while he had handcuffs on.

Norman left in the ambulance he arrived in, taking it back to Pillbox Hospital. He walked into the changing room, changed his clothes and exited through the main entrance passing Chuck LeChuck on the way out exchanging a quick hi/bye. Norman needed to wind down after the stress so he travelled to the Cat Café to witness Detective Rose Brooks and cafe owner, Jimmy Tenpenny, arguing about a recent purchase. He bought some sugary goods at the till and walked out as other EMS members walked into the cafe, no one said a word to Norman. He felt rejected and ultimately... ashamed?

## Soul Searching

Norman spent a while off-duty, taking time to collect his thoughts up north watching the sunset and sunrise. He had changed into more casual attire (extremely unusual), no hat and let his facial hair grow. His anger about that night hadn't fully gone away but he had made his decision. He went home and began to try and put his feelings down on paper in a letter to April Winter.

He returned to Pillbox Hospital leaving the letter on the front desk along with his paramedic badge. He had printed pictures of Malcolm Takeheart angrily scratching out his eyes and leaving them on a couple of noticeboards. He then put a letter of resignation on his desk (if he would even read it), and refilled the water machine with Irn Bru. He returned to the changing room, pulled out his bowler hat, stamped on it angrily and chucked it on top of a locker. He then collected a taser from the armoury.

Norman phoned Detective Rose Brooks and asked to have a sit down to chat. He then proceeded to PD where he found Detective Rose Brooks and Owl Zlensky waiting outside. Norman was taken to an interview room and explained everything that happened at the party, his motivations and feelings about recent events that he had been involved in. They both explained the background of the situation with the incident which gave Norman some of the closure he was looking for. A tear rolled down his cheek and he stood there for a second to gather himself before leaving the room with the officers, shaking the Detective's hand on the way out.

## Departure... to be continued?

Norman phoned (the recently engaged to Orion Sbelt) Logan Wilde for a chat. They met in Paleto Bay and Norman suggested they have a walk along the beach. They discussed their friendship, the events of the party, Malcolm Takeheart, demons, possession, getting injured and feeling hurt. The sun began to set and Norman took that as a sign that it was time to stop stalling and go ahead with his plans. He showed Logan Wilde his boat, explaining he doesn't do too well with goodbyes, it's more of a "see you later".

Norman then sailed off into the sunset.