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Mayor Lee runs Smith Falls with a strict agenda to turn the town into more of a bustling trading hub and increase its technological standards. He views Fort Hammer and Lord William Stein as a nuisance but necessary for raw trade and goods. He finds Lord Stein as a deluded religious fanatic who believes himself to be a descendant of God himself.

Considered a good and ethical man, he has taken on foster children to keep from being lonely and to have people to share his experiences with. He currently fosters Lysanthra Di'Artigo, Emily Jones and Marshal Bateman.

With well-groomed brown hair that always falls into his deep brown eyes, Sam carries the lanky, slightly awkward build of a teenager who hasn't quite grown into his full height yet. His face is often set in a thoughtful, almost-brooding expression, though it breaks into a genuine, easy grin around his closest friends.

In a place like Smith Falls, everyone has a story. For Sam, that story begins with his grandfather, "Old Man Kessler," who started the town's first and still-standing hardware store nearly 70 years ago. This history isn't a badge of honor for Sam; it's a quiet burden. He works at the store most weekends, learning to mix paint and cut keys, all while feeling the unspoken expectation to one day take it over. The store, with its familiar smell of sawdust and varnish, is a constant reminder of a predetermined path he isn't sure he wants to follow.

Beyond the well-worn paths of Main Street and his school, Sam's real world is a private, imaginative one. His greatest joy is the creek that runs just past the old, rusted railroad tracks, a place he has meticulously mapped in his notebooks. It's here, surrounded by the rustling cottonwoods and the low murmur of the water, that he feels most himself. He can spend hours there, observing the wildlife and sketching landscapes, all while listening to obscure indie music on his headphones. This secret hobby is both a solace and a rebellion—a place where his identity isn't defined by the town's history.

Sam's closest friends are Steve, an energetic, rule-breaking skater, and Maya, a sharp-witted aspiring journalist who sees the cracks in their small-town facade. The three of them form a tight-knit trio, finding ways to turn the mundane into small adventures, whether by exploring abandoned buildings or sneaking out to watch meteor showers from the highest hill overlooking Smith Falls. His relationship with his parents is loving but strained by the generation gap. They see his quiet thoughtfulness as a sign of his steadiness, while he experiences it as a feeling of being misunderstood and cornered by their expectations.
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Since the events of the Fort Hammer Summer Festival, Sam's love interest, Megana Damodred has disappeared; presumably kidnapped. When he isn't working at his father's shop or trying to make extra money with his artwork. Once in a while, he'd hang out with Steve and Maya, but usually, he finds himself joining search parties to try and find Megana, never losing hope. Otherwise, he takes his earnings, trying to gamble and win more, but is rarely successful.

In the past several months, Sam's managed to sell some extravagant artwork for a large sum of money. A second job, working with Francis Coulee, decorating a large sheet cake for a fancy wedding, scored him another windfall, allowing him to start searching for a vehicle to purchase and possibly a private investigator.

Sam's even visited with Marshal Hewlett about the events of the Festival and the two have become closer friends in the process. On weekends, he sends messages asking for any news from Megana's mom and grandmother. For now, he's doing his best to raise funds, keep his family happy and plan out his search for his lost love.

Steve Campbell was a restless kid from the very beginning. His parents, cautious and conventional, struggle to understand their son's constant need for motion and danger. While other children are content with backyard games, Steve likes building makeshift ramps out of discarded wood and trash cans. His long, untamed brown hair and intense brown eyes give him a swashbuckling appearance, which only intensifies as he gets older and becomes more dedicated to skateboarding.

By his teenage years, Steve's known around Smith Falls for two things: his height and his recklessness. The town's quiet streets and tidy parks are his personal playground, and he's often been seen pushing the limits of what's possible on his board. He's impulsive and fearless, known for dropping into empty backyard swimming pools or attempting tricks on treacherous, crumbling staircases. This behavior, while exhilarating to his few close friends, causes constant worry for his family and annoyance among the town's more conservative residents.

Steve's recklessness eventually caught up with him. One night, while attempting to grind a handrail at the local school, he accidentally damaged some property. Though no one was hurt, the incident led to a run-in with law enforcement and a stern lecture from his parents. This near-miss forced Steve to confront the consequences of his actions for the first time. He began to realize that his dangerous stunts had an impact beyond just himself and could hurt the people around him. Even so, Steve has taken up wrestling, creating an avenue to vent his need for death defying adventure.
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The events of the Fort Hammer Summer Festival had very little influence on Steve other than inspiring him to work harder at winning extreme competitions. The obstacle course loss enlightened him that small mistakes can cost an entire competition. In the months following the festival, he's competed in BMX races, climbing challenges, motocross racing, skateboarding competitions, wake boarding stunts and even off-road car races. His latest venture was winning the snowboarding challenges outside of Smith Falls during the first snow of the season. The massive prize money allowed him to find his own apartment and buy his dream motorbike, 'the wastelander.' Now he strives to get himself a hovercycle.

He still visits with Sam and Maya on occasion. When Sam isn't painting or doing murals, he spends his time grieving or joining search parties, trying to find Megana. He does his best to avoid seeing Emily, which he's only had to do once. Recently, Steve has turned from a local ruffian and troublemaker, to a celebrity, being offered stunt double rolls in some shows, including "Eagle Rock Spuds."

Maya is a homeless teenager from Smith Falls, who keeps mostly to herself, when she isn't in school or hanging out with Sam and Steve. She has taken on photography and writing articles for the Smith Falls periodical to make money to eat. She has kept her homelessness a secret to everyone except Steve, who has let her stay at his house, in secret, on occasion.

Maya is Chinese American, or so the old timers say. She looks quite young for her age and has had to grow up early. Her father left, when Maya was twelve years old, to find a better place to live, but never returned. Her mother passed away from a mysterious lung infection a year ago. Since then, times have been hard and she refuses to be placed in the care of strangers, who would likely sell her into slavery. Most people are unaware of her age, so she poses as someone a few years younger so that she can attend school with her friends. This allows her free food and warm place during the cold months.

Larry Elmore, who is a coursemaster for different festival obstacle courses, lives in Smith Falls. He spends his summer, traveling to local carnivals, festivals and fairs and sets up his four stage obstacle course, which the grand prize is one thousand credits. He has become so successful that he only needs to work about three months out of the year. He spends the rest of the year either promoting his course or vacationing wherever he pleases. He is known to be an opportunist and tends to be insensitive if his course is considered dangerous.

Lysanthra's parents, Lorenzo and Sofia Di'Artigo, were direct decendants of Italian immigrants who brought with them the ancient traditions of their homeland. They practiced herbalism, a family tradition passed down for generations. From a young age, Lysanthra was immersed in the world of nature. Her parents, who spoke fluent English, instilled in her a deep respect for the Earth and its healing properties. They took her on foraging trips in the nearby forests, teaching her to identify various herbs, their properties, and how to prepare remedies from them. Under her parents' tutelage, Lysanthra learned to prepare healing salves, teas, and tinctures for a variety of ailments. She became proficient in using a mortar and pestle, grinding herbs and mixing them into effective remedies.

The Di'Artigos found a welcoming community in Smith Falls, and Lysanthra's parents soon became respected members of the community, known for their healing abilities. Tragedy struck the family when Lysanthra was a teenager. Her parents were involved in a fatal accident, leaving her an orphan. After her parents' death, Lysanthra inherited their small home and their extensive collection of herbal remedies and recipes. She initially struggled to cope with her grief, but eventually found solace in her parents' legacy.

Unfortunately, several unsavory business moguls swindled their way into "watching" over her house and business by placing her into foster care, where she has been since she was twelve years old. Now she wants nothing more than her freedom from Max and Byan Johnson.

Emily is a foster child of a prominent family, the Johnson's. She's viewed as spoiled and rather defiant. Her mother died in childbirth and her father disappeared not long after. Because of her attitude, she has a difficult time making friends, causing her to socially lash out whenever possible.

Marshal Hewlett is a seventeen year old foster kid who's had a hard run at life. His parents were gunned down in Smith Falls, when he was just eight years old. Since then, he's tried to find out the truth about his parents. He lives with the Johnsons, a family who've taken in him and two younger girls, Lysanthra and Emily.

Marshal is bitter and has a tough time relating to people. He struggles to keep friends and would rather be anywhere but in foster care, where he feels like a prisoner.