Doctor

Founded: 1848 | Founder: Dr. Jacob Whitfield

Owner: Dr. Harold Whitfield (Grandson of the Founder)

Type: Medical Infirmary, Surgery Ward

Notable Figures

Dr. Jacob Whitfield (Founder): The town's first doctor, Jacob was known for treating miners during the early coal rush. His medical practices bordered on folklore, blending Cherokee herbal knowledge with surgical precision.
Dr. Harold Whitfield (Current Owner): Grandson of Jacob, Harold is known for his calm demeanor and sharp eyes. His ability to "know what's wrong before you say it" unsettles some patients, but none doubt his skill.

Overview

The Shadewood Hollow Infirmary isn’t just a place to mend broken bones — it’s a line between life and something else. Built in 1848 by Dr. Jacob Whitfield, it started as a simple shack of rough planks and a leaky roof. But it wasn’t the walls that made it matter. It was Jacob himself. The miners called him "Doc Folk" — a healer who mixed medical skill with folklore. He stitched wounds with thread in one hand and pressed roots and poultices into wounds with the other.

Jacob didn’t just heal bodies — he healed trust. Miners came to him before they’d see a company doctor. That kind of loyalty didn’t sit well with Monaghan, but Jacob never bowed. At night, lantern light would flicker in the woods as he gathered roots and bark, and some swore he wasn’t alone.

But not even Doc Folk could outlast the Hollow. One autumn, after pulling a miner from a cave-in, fever caught him. He worked through it, hands steady until he couldn’t lift them anymore. Three days later, they buried him under the old hickory tree on the ridge. No name on the stone. Didn’t need one. Everyone knew. To this day, miners leave sprigs of sage and dried lavender at its roots.

But Jacob wasn’t the last Whitfield to stand between the town and the grave. His son, Dr. Harold Whitfield, took over the infirmary years later. If Jacob was a wildfire, Harold is the cold, steady drip of rain. No roots. No folklore. Just steel, thread, and precision. Where Jacob listened to the land, Harold listens to people — but his gaze is sharper than any blade. He only looks at you once, and somehow, he just knows. "That cough ain’t from the dust," he’ll mutter. "Your tooth’s gone bad, Mr. Lyle." He never misses. It’s not comforting. It’s unnerving. Being seen like that makes people feel weighed. Judged.

The infirmary still carries the old bones of Jacob’s original shack, but now it’s larger, colder, quieter. Every tool, every bandage, every jar on the shelf sits in perfect order. But it’s the backroom that gives people pause. Just shelves lined with jars. Some of the jars have things that look like roots. Others have things that… don’t. The labels are old, written in Jacob’s handwriting.

But the strangest story is about Milo Graves, a miner caught in a collapse at Mine 4. They pulled him out after three days, face gray as stone, lips blue, eyes wide open but seeing nothing. Everyone thought he was gone. Everyone but Harold. “Put him on the table,” Harold said. He rolled up his sleeves, placed his hands on Milo’s chest, and told him, “Breathe.”

Milo gasped. A deep, drowning man’s gasp. His eyes shot open, too wide, too still. No one speaks of what Milo saw under that mine, but when someone pressed him on it, Milo started shaking so bad they had to carry him home. “Whitfield brought him back,” the miners say, “but he didn’t come back alone.”

Harold’s patience is a thing of legend. He doesn’t rush. Doesn’t push. He waits, watching like a man counting heartbeats. The only sound in the infirmary is the ticking of his pocket watch. It’s old, not quite on time, but never quite off. Miners say it’s just a watch. But the older loggers tell a different story.

If you ever have to see Dr. Harold Whitfield, you’ll feel it right away. The glance. The shift in his eyes. The quiet, precise way he measures you, like a man fitting you for a suit you’ll only wear once. He doesn’t smile. Not really. Just a thin, hollow curve of the lips. Not a welcome. Not a warning. Just a knowing.

And you’ll know — just like he does —
That watch isn’t ticking for him. It’s ticking for you.

Secrets & Lore

The Waiting Room: A cramped space with rough benches worn smooth by anxious hands. The faint smell of antiseptic hangs in the air, mixed with the scent of burnt sage.
The Treatment Room: The heart of the infirmary, where Dr. Whitfield performs surgeries and treatments. The leather-strapped surgical chair is a holdover from his grandfather’s era, and few dare ask why the straps are still used. A jar of blue fire, burns on a high shelf. No one has seen him light it, and no one has seen it go out. Some claim it reacts to the presence of death.

Infirmary Roles

Orderly – Handles basic patient care, cleans medical equipment, and assists the doctor with non-medical tasks.
- Weekly pay: $5.00
Nurse – Provides medical care, administers treatments, and assists the doctor during more serious medical procedures.
- Weekly pay: $10.00
Doctor – The head medical professional, responsible for diagnosing, treating, and performing surgeries on townsfolk.
- Weekly pay: $20.00

Services

Diagnose and Assess: Full-body inspections, pulse checks, symptom reviews and injury diagnostics.
Treatment: Tooth extraction, foreign object removal, realigning broken bones, wound closure, application of herbal salves or ointments and daily cleaning of wounds with alcohol, vinegar, or herbal solutions.
Emergencies:
- Amputation: Last resort surgery for life-threatening injuries. Includes post-surgery care.
Bloodletting (Controversial): Rarely performed but offered for certain illnesses like "bad humors" or fevers.

Supernatural Care (Under-the-Table Services)

“Calming Root Draught”: A mix of mistleaf, wolfsbane, and peppermint root brewed into a tea to keep "the beast" at bay. Used during full moons or moments of heightened rage.
“Iron Hand Liniment”: A pungent oil made from chestnut, hickory ash, and Hollowroot. Applied to the hands and arms, it supposedly "hardens the skin against flame and blade."
“Breaking of Threads” Ritual: Involves a combination of thread-cutting, symbolic knot-burning, and the application of purified water. Used to "break the bonds of a hex" placed on an individual.
“Bone-Echo Treatment”: A method used to "silence echoes" caused by proximity to certain supernatural energies. Involves a combination of Hollowroot elixir, feverfew compresses, and "three nights of cold silence."

Wares & Supplies

(Hand-Crafted by Doctor or Witch Assistants)

Healing Salve: Made with comfrey, yarrow, and calendula. Used for cuts, bruises, and minor wounds.
Burn Ointment: A blend of honey and lavender. Used for burns and scalds.
Pain Relief Poultice: Mash of willow bark, peppermint, and ground violet leaves. Applied to swollen joints, bruises, and muscle pain.
Chest Decongestant: Made from eucalyptus, peppermint, and mullein. Used to clear lungs and treat respiratory ailments.
Herbal Plaster: Sticky paste of sassafras root and blue cohosh used to "draw out poisons" from snake bites or infected wounds.
Fever Tonic: Sassafras, willow bark, and goldenseal tincture to reduce fever.
Cough Syrup: Honey, mullein, and peppermint blend to relieve coughing and respiratory issues.
Pain Tincture: Alcohol-based tincture of willow bark, used as a natural painkiller.
Sleep Draught: Chamomile, and valerian root used for insomnia and restless nights.
Stomach Soother: Peppermint, ginger, and charcoal powder for upset stomachs, cramps, or food poisoning.
"Blue Tonic" (Local Favorite): A vivid blue tonic made from Hollowroot, blue cohosh, and honey. Said to "clear the mind and sharpen the senses."
Nerve Soother: Passionflower, skullcap, and wild lettuce tincture used to calm nerves and anxiety.
Blood Purifier: Sassafras and dandelion root blend to "purge the blood of toxins." This remedy is known as "spring cleaner" among the miners.
Anti-Parasitic Drops: Black walnut, wormwood, and garlic extract used to expel worms and parasites.
"Spirit Draught": A highly potent mix of Belladonna, Wolfsbane, and Hollowroot. Only administered by Dr. Harold Whitfield himself, and only in extreme, life-or-death situations. Rumors claim it "brings a man back from the brink," but with lingering side effects.
Minor Injury Kit: Bandages, salve, antiseptic, and pain tincture.
Midwife's Kit: Shears, towels, compresses, fever-reducing herbs, and pain remedies. Often requested by pregnant women and midwives.
Traveler's First Aid: Small pouch containing gauze, small bottles of tinctures, and strips of fabric for makeshift splints.
Splints & Braces: Custom-sized for broken arms, legs, or twisted ankles.
Bandages & Wrappings: Linen strips used for wound wrapping. Available in clean, unbleached, and pre-soaked herbal versions.
Compress Cloths: Cloth squares soaked in herbal solutions for use as fever compresses or eye soothers.
Wolfsbane Extract (Rare): Rarely dispensed, used as an emergency repellant for werewolves.
Belladonna Essence (Rare): Used for "unconsciousness" or calming frenzied patients. Used sparingly due to its lethality.
Silverleaf Tincture (Rare): Used to "calm the body" and "still the mind" in cases of extreme delirium. It's said to help slow supernatural influences.
Hollowroot Powder (Rare): A highly potent root powder mixed into "resurrection potions" and "emergency elixirs" — only administered in dire situations.
Spirit Watcher’s Balm (Rare): A thick, gray ointment with ingredients from witch folklore, claimed to “veil the spirit” and shield the soul. Used when "walking the dream path."
Hunter’s Ward (Rare): A foul-smelling mix of rosemary, mugwort, and wolfsbane oil applied to hunters’ necks and wrists before chasing “wild things.” It is said to mask the scent of human flesh.
Eye of Night Drops (Rare): Eye drops made from nightshade blossom. It is whispered that it allows you to "see what walks behind you" for a short period of time. These are only provided to trusted individuals.