Callby
Not-So-Homebody Halfing InnCook
Callby Littlepot and Merrybelle "Merry" Littlepot nee Halftrot were childhood sweethearts and married as soon as they were both of age. Merry, however, had been sick from a young age; it had always been part of her life. Callby loved her bubbly personality, loved how she would get talkative when no one else is there, and despite knowing she would die long before they could truly build a family, he married her and loved her with all his heart.
He learned to cook so that she wouldn't have to, quickly finding he enjoyed cooking be it for one or for many. She died before the age thirty but it didn't change his caring, jovial personality.
After twenty some years, he left their town because she had always wanted to see the world beyond their home so he said goodbye to their shared family - Junibelle "June" Stormshield nee Halftrot (older sister), June's husband Kole Stormshield (dwarf), their son Brax Stormshield (younger twin), Brax's husband Ulnroth Stormshield nee Velcronthereth (half-orc), Brax and Ulnroth's adopted daughter Juniko (halfling), and leaving notes for June and Kole's daughter Kelsca (older twin), Kelsca's husband Zerros, their sons Tyorn (older) and Pik (younger), Belleen "Bey" Halftrot (younger trans sister) and her wife Applelily "Lily" Halftrot nee Basilspoon (halfling) - and traveled for a bit before settling in Sunset Bluff at the age of 64 because she would have loved it having always wanting to see the ocean and the work was good. He also settled because he was more of a homebody than she was but he was just as all for seeing more of the world, too. Part of the reason he won't say no to joining a pack of rugrats on some crazy adventure.
He started working at the bakery/inn when he settled and took notice of Gilfry, the youngest of nine. When the boy looked for work at the age 13, Callby took him in as a cook's assistant, keeping an eye on the boy. The boy turned into a bit of a son to Callby and when the boy started struggling against the bonds of society expectations and while he keeps up a sort of gruff appearance, he lets Gilfry wander off early, letting the boy be a boy for a little bit longer.
Sometime shortly before he turned 74, Gilfry gains a new roommate named Seath. Callby isn't too sure about the new person but he eases up when Gilfry seems content and not at risk of any serious harm - children would be children and the best way to learn was by making choices, be it a good or bad choice, and handling the consequences.
A year and a half later, he met Akoya when she first settled in the ocean. He unknowingly stepped into her territory, an area he didn't frequent often but did for some more rare ingredients. She was ready for a fight but he was able to talk her down and after a few visits, they became friendly acquaintances with mutual respect between them. Just over six months later, he takes note of Gilfry and Seath dipping out more regularly with an odd sword. Digging through the supplies of the attic, he would catch sight of the sword in odd places and occasionally hear it fall, though he doesn't figure that out till later. He figures out the sword's name is Hektor from the brief whisperings he catches from Gilfry and Seath.