The Meijer family earned their last name on account of Zechariah’s father. A mayor in Bohemia (today known as the Czech Republic), the patriarch of the family had high ambitions for his sons and stern expectations of his daughters.

Raised traditionally Conservative Jewish, most Meijers probably feel uncomfortable if they skip Shabbat – but beyond that, their level of observance is open. They had an English nanny, and so all speak comfortable English (perhaps even more so than their native Yiddish or Czech).

Currently, Zechariah has 2 older sisters, 1 elder brother (with the brother being 3rd born), 1 younger sister (born after him, the 4th born), and 3 younger brothers.

Face claims are suggestions rather than set in stone – it is also possible there may be some bastards, known or unknown (of any race).

If any of these characters catch your interest, hit me up! I respond to posts and inquiries within this thread, through board PMs, Discord DMs, and also @s in the Discord #characters channel.

Penina Humphries nee Meijer
34. Taken and relinquished by Dropbear and listed for chronological reference. Married a wealthy gentile, had a young daughter and son.

Ruth Meijer

31. Ruth is the secondborn sister, and her mother’s favorite. At her age she has most likely married and had children, though alternatively she might be widowed. Ruth herself has a lot of free time and vacations frequently to visit her siblings and extended family. Her relationship with their father is likely cordial, but strained, given how much control he had over all her major life decisions (what hobbies to partake in, who to marry, etc.). Boisterous and extroverted, Ruth would be known to German circles as a singer, harp player, or for some other musical aptitude that puts her up front.
Possible Faceclaim Pictured: Grete Forst
Taken by BrokenBaroque and listed for chronological reference.


Chaim Meijer

30. Being the firstborn son, he has had a lot of expectations to carry. No matter the reality, Chaim has (at least up until now) always managed to appear as though he has it together. Quietly idolized by Zechariah. Went to a Bohemian academy, possibly furthering education in Germany. May or may not be married.
Possible Faceclaim Pictured: Enrico Ravenna

Noah Meijer

28. Less ambitious than Zechariah and less suave than Chaim, Noah has that middle brother frustration of always being compared to the others. In comparison to him, Zechariah is presented as a goal to be striven for. Has Noah come to town to even the score? Bury the hatchet? Start anew only to disastrously realize half the rest of his family has already moved or vacationed there?
Possible Faceclaim Pictured: George Gerschwin

Menachem Meijer

24. Taken by GreatTallywhacker and listed for chronological reference.

Nesah Meijer

23. Zechariah’s younger sister. He balked at the loss of attention with her birth. Whenever their father bemoans his sons falling short of his expectations, their mother is fond of saying “they take after you” whether it is true or not. Nesah has also occasionally weathered this ‘compliment’. She and Zechariah learned piano together, and he writes her frequently. The pressure for her to marry and settle down is there, but Nesah might have other plans – plans she may or may not have roped one of her siblings in Whitby into.
Taken by Jack.
Possible Faceclaim Pictured:  Alla Nazimova

Uriel Meijer

22. Taken by Kimmie and listed for chronological reference.

HOUSE STAFF

In June 1895, Zechariah through some stroke of luck managed to hire help that is:

• Not a Ward
  
• Not a redhead
  
• Nobody who shares the last name of someone he despises (unless hiring them would embarrass that family)
  
• Actually doing the work

How these characters manage to get the work done is up to you. What their backgrounds are – also up to you. Have they suffered from scandal? Zechariah would have still hired them so long as the work itself was good.

Positions include:

• Cook: Must keep a kosher kitchen and have some actual cooking skills; expertise in serving drinks a plus.
  Maid: As long as she cleans, she can be any age; pre-existing family and children would not have her turned away. While more likely to hire a woman for the role, he would also consider a neat freak man.
  Butler: Occupied by a … pirate? Anyway, he’s a butler now.
  Valet: Earns every damned shilling with Zechariah’s neuroticisms.
  Footman: Will be exceptionally skilled at making up excuses for why Zechariah cannot come to the door right now.
  Laundrymaid: In addition to her actual work, highly skilled at fielding complaints from Zechariah over his clothes, most nonsense, in an overly tactful manner.

As a Jewish man, Zechariah is more likely to accept oddballs and misfits than the average household. Those under his employ can expect to get dragged into strange feuds, be protected from some of their own strange feuds, and generally being mixed up in disaster according to the player’s preferences/interests.