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Month: January 2026
Conning
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Conning likes to think that she’s the smart one in The Space Girls, the one with a head for business. In Manx Conning is pronounced KonYing.
She works part time at her parents’ shipbrokers and that keeps her directly in touch with various Manx speakers, both back home and in Lancaster.
Conning likes to write poignant, thoughtful songs, whereas Kayt is more into “boy meets girl”. Which is a bit paradoxical really, because neither of them has ever found a steady boyfriend.
When they collaborate on songs, they can come up with some of the most ingenious lyrics.
However, unlike Kayt, Conning is not sure that a life as a singer is sustainable. Life in 2450AD is tough, and it’s wise to have a plan B.
FunFacts
| Favourite school subject: | Music |
| Hobby: | Karate |
| If you were an animal what animal would you be and why? | A bunny! Translate Conning from Manx into English! |
| Is most likely to say: | Don’t invade my personal space! |
| Is least likely to say: | Max is so clever. |
| Outlook on life: | I’m going to be a big success. Whether I’m a pop star or not! |
Profiles of the Supporting Characters can be found on page 375.
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Kayt
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Kayt and her best friend Conning are both descended from Manx families. That aside, they are not directly related. In Manx Kayt is pronounced Cat.
Like all Manx people Kayt and Conning are particularly attractive, and that sometimes brings them unwanted attention from the boys at school. But the boys had better keep their distance! Kayt and Conning are both karate experts!
The taller of the two, Kayt is the lead singer in their duet The Space Girls, a name which is derived from their catch phrase “don’t invade my personal space!” Kayt is more into the choreography of their dance routines than Conning, and there is clearly a karate influence in the dance moves.
They are aged sixteen, in the same year group as NutJob and KristalClear, and they particularly like Mr Rafone. That ensures that they regularly feature in the line up for Saturday Night Fun Night at The Noble Coliseum.
Fun Facts
| Favourite school subject: | Music |
| Hobby: | Karate |
| If you were an animal what animal would you be and why? | A kitty! Translate Kayt from Manx into English! |
| Is most likely to say: | Don’t invade my personal space! |
| Is least likely to say: | Max is so handsome. |
| Outlook on life: | We’re going to be a big success. We’re going to be pop stars! |
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Benet
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An itinerant but loveable rogue, Benet wanders the land, sleeping in the woods at night, and earning a trivial income from story telling during the day. He looks scary. A big hairy giant of a man. But once they get to know him and know his patterns the locals look forward to his visits and his almost true true stories. No matter the town, nor the real name of the market place, it is always renamed “Jackanory Square” when Benet calls. And his seat “The Stump” is always ready for him.
His background is a bit murky, but he claims to be from a long line of story tellers with a peculiar family tradition. The youngest boy is named Ben. The older man Benet, then Benedict, and finally Benedictine. When Benet’s grandfather Benedictine dies, the names all transition. For now he is Benet and his name will change to Benedict when he’s older. That means that when Benet visits town this time, people are never quite sure if it’s the same Benet as last time! All that facial hair, and all that shabby clothing, mean that they all look exactly the same.
Fun Facts
| Favourite school subject: | Cooking |
| Hobby: | Eating |
| If you were an animal what animal would you be and why? | A woolly mammoth.
You want me to explain? Seriously? Why even ask? Just look at me! |
| Is most likely to say: | This one is completely true! |
| Is least likely to say: | I can retire now. |
| Outlook on life: | One of these days I really am going to ride a horse into Jackanory Square! |
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CandiCrush
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A senior officer in the Garrison, Commander Crush is 33 years old and shares her time between naval duties on fully rigged sailing ships, and army duties at Lancaster HQ.
Charming and courteous, and somewhat attractive she’s lovely, but she will not tolerate disorder.
Incredibly efficient, she runs a tight ship, with a place for everything and everything in its place.
A skilled horse rider, CandiCrush joined the Garrison rather than the Constabulary, because the Garrison has more horses! As a youngster all she wanted to do was ride. Now she wants to rule by diplomacy not might. She’s a firm believer in using wise words, and technology, to maintain peace, and law and order.
As a result, CandiCrush is well respected, and her opinion is highly valued. She’s open minded yet also highly focussed, and that means that some people delight in her friendship whilst others find her a little bit distant.
FunFacts
| Favourite school subject: | Welsh |
| Hobby: | Horse riding |
| If you were an animal what animal would you be and why? | A dove. Free to fly wherever I please, bringing out the best in the people around me. |
| Is most likely to say: | When would now be a good time? |
| Is least likely to say: | We’ve always done it this way. |
| Outlook on life: | The best way to win a war is not to have a war. |
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HayWire
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An apprentice watchmaker. Eighteen year old HayWire would really like to come up with a new sort of viable battery technology, and explore using batteries to power watches again. If that can’t be done, then he is convinced that clockwork mechanisms can be made even more efficient by using different, or better materials.
At school he was brilliant at maths and science, and he was a complete disaster with nearly everything else. He left school two years ago and is now really happy to be working one on one with a master watchmaker, and not have to deal with big groups of people.
He chooses his friends carefully, and prefers small close knit communities of like minded people. Everyday life, being a bit of a melting pot, full of people with different ideas, is something he’s not yet ready for. He’s not sure he ever will be.
It takes HayWire time to get to know people. When he does, he is exceptionally sincere, honest, and loyal. His best friend is MaxChaos.
Fun Facts
| Favourite school subject: | Maths |
| Hobby: | Sub atomic particle physics |
| If you were an animal what animal would you be and why? | An eagle. In control of my own space, and I can focus on one thing. |
| Is most likely to say: | I don’t have enough spoons. |
| Is least likely to say: | More sugar please. |
| Outlook on life: | Never be defined by your past. It was just a lesson, not a life sentence. |
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MaxChaos
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MaxChaos is a likeable misfit. Not wicked, just a bit of an oddball with a unique ability to make the predictable unpredictable! He claims to have a trace of Viking heritage! He left school before he was allowed to, and started work as a labourer. Now aged twenty he’s still rough around the edges though he’s friendly, and he’s especially popular down at the docks. Just don’t ask him to handle fishing nets unless the intention is to have all the fish back in the sea! Fascinated by weaponry, MaxChaos is one of Wolfland’s best hunters, but stalking deer does not excite him. He wants to stop the pirates!
Fortunately, MaxChaos is extremely conscientious when handling weapons. That’s when he’s most focussed and at his best. The local Constabulary actually like him because he’s big, brave and strong, and his heart is in the right place. He knows who’s side he’s on, and he’s very supportive of the Wolfland community. They think he’d make a good constable if he could only follow instructions and wasn’t quite so unpredictable. However, without qualifications, his best prospect right now is some sort of future in shipping or farming. Whatever he does, people want to have MaxChaos on their side.
Fun Facts
| Favourite school subject: | Archery |
| Hobby: | Booby traps |
| If you were an animal what animal would you be and why? | Animal, from The Muppet Show. Because he’s kinda weird like me, yet eminently loveable, like me! |
| Is most likely to say: | Where can I get some gunpowder? |
| Is least likely to say: | Personal hygiene is important. |
| Outlook on life: | You’re only supposed to blow the ruddy doors off! |
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KristalClear
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A sixteen year old who is leaving school this year. She’s fond of animals and has a unique affinity with them. Almost a sixth sense, knowing what they think and how they feel. Animals of all types seem to reciprocate. She’s compassionate, and she’s interested in everyone’s wellbeing. Her passion for animal welfare makes her very popular, and she has a part time job already, down at the stables in the Garrison.
KristalClear’s family are Wolfland born and bred, though they have some French Heritage. Sometimes her parents still call her Mademoiselle!
Monsieur & Madame Troyes have retained a quaint, yet weird family tradition of styling their names the French way in spite of their distinct Lancashire accents. The story goes back 300 years to the original Monsieur Troyes who settled in London after leaving France during The Great Famine.
FunFacts
| Favourite school subject: | Civics |
| Hobby: | Horse riding |
| If you were an animal what animal would you be and why? | A wolf, caring, loyal and disciplined. An expert in subtle ways of communication. |
| Is most likely to say: | And how does that make you feel? |
| Is least likely to say: | We should put a man in charge! |
| Outlook on life: | The dots will join up. We don’t know how or when but it will all fall into place. |
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NutJob
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A student aged sixteen, NutJob will be leaving school at the end of this year. He loves maths and the sciences, and he’s a “nuts and bolts” man. He wants to know how everything works, to take everything apart, and put it all back together again.
His ridiculously oversized pencil case contains absolutely everything anybody could ever need at school, and that earned him the nickname NutJob. Need a pair of tweezers? NutJob will have some!
He’s a bit of a geek, but in a nice way, and definitely not a nutter in spite of his nickname! He’s intelligent, resourceful and trustworthy. The sort of friend that everybody would like to have, as long as they can put up with his obsession for analysing anything and everything that moves.
FunFacts
| Favourite school subject: | Engineering |
| Hobby: | Model aircraft |
| If you were an animal what animal would you be and why? | A horse, big, strong, dependable, and absolutely vital in the world of today. |
| Is most likely to say: | Must dash! |
| Is least likely to say: | My horoscope says … |
| Outlook on life: | The best way to persuade somebody to do something is by showing them that it’s in their own best interest. |
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Principal Characters
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Prependix 2 – Principal Characters
The SlenderWolf – in Folklore
Soon after 2150AD when wolves had been reintroduced into Scotland, they gradually began to spread south. It wasn’t long before they returned to the Lake District.
As the climate changed. The species evolved. The SlenderWolf combines some features of the Eurasian Wolf and the Iberian Wolf.
Legend has it that the first SlenderWolf became a pack leader just to the north of Ulverston. It may have been a trick of the light, but there were multiple reports of people who claimed to have seen a sleek, powerful wolf with one blue eye, and one copper coloured eye.
The myth of the SlenderWolf was born.
The ElderWolf – in Government
In the years following The Decimation and The Great Famine many smaller territories and governments evolved across the British Isles.
In Wolfland they wanted a distinct and different name for the governor of their new territory. Taking inspiration from the myth of the first SlenderWolf, the Penrith Nobles agreed that the governor should be called the ElderWolf.
It signifies power and wisdom.
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