Town History for Steel Horse Crossing
Location:
Steel Horse Crossing is located just off the waters of The Great Lake, northeast of Mill City in what was formerly Ironworks territory. Nestled between an old Ironworks naval shipyard and Mill City proper, it is both a home for the few that live and work there on a permanent basis, and for the off-duty sailors and privateers that frequent the well-stocked saloon.
History:
Unknown Year - The Beginning
Originally founded by the first Diesel Jock family in the area, The RPM, it was no wonder that Steel Horse Crossing was declared a holy place once The Boneyard was established. Once just rumors, The Great Lake was quickly confirmed to have been the home for a great many Hawgs, both stored locally and long ago shipped across the Lake into the eastern reaches of Wishigan and Motor City. Other larger metal containers were found to have many different types of rides, all useful for transportation or work. The wide variety of parts made the perfect Boneyard for the Diesel Jocks. They were quick to name the town after the Hawg legends, and Steel Horse Crossing was born.
After the Ironworks had seated itself as the great power of the Midwest, the powers that be quickly established a naval base within walking distance of Steel Horse Crossing, ensuring that the nearby waters would be safe to travel. Shortly after, a rail line extended through the local area, ensuring the handiwork of The RPM could make its way to the Ironworks proper. Suddenly the Diesel Jocks were joined by sailors and Salt Wise looking for a port to rest in, and Rovers sought to make trade with visitors and negotiate travel with the ruthless privateers running across the Great Lake to the northern reaches of the world. Bartering with the rail-runners to ship goods down into the Ironworks proper via the railroads became a normal process, and the town found its first legs.
Approximately 40 Years Ago
As the small town began to blossom into a true trade port, it saw others traveling in from Madtown, Mini Soda, and even Canuckistan. With the influx of people, the Iron Works began to take notice of the various resources in the area. They sent in a group of surveyors to take stock of what natural resources the area had to offer to an expanding empire. This resulted in an effort to dig out a mine of iron and silver among other farming, logging and production pushes. During this time the town was at its peak, bringing in enough profit to make many of the residents a tidy little sum.
Unfortunately the mine ran dry just under ten years after it had opened, and was closed without further ado. It was a difficult time for anyone who had put their faith in the mine, and money had to be diverted to keep the community afloat.
~30 Years Ago
The Ironworks had already put a great deal of time and money into this community and was not interested in letting it flounder. With recommendations from both the local lighthouse keeper and the naval admiral on site, the Ironworks made Steel Horse Crossing their main trade post to those northern territories outside Iron Works immediate control, inviting more commerce through consistent use of the rail lines and bolstering business in the area with goods and services not easily found that far north.
There was a brief scuffle with a large group of Lascarians who had moved into the mine beneath the town and claimed it as their own, trying to secede from the ‘above ground’ Ironworks. Their intention was to avoid established taxes and laws and live outside the confines of the town, its people, and the Ironworks as a whole. They were both belligerent and aggressive, caring little for those their actions affected. That didn’t last long. The tunnels seemed to harbor their own dangers, and a wave of irradiated animals flooded up from the deep, removing the Lascarian threat as the Ironworks was still negotiating with their leaders. The mines were sealed off and abandoned, and the town decided to forbid any Lascarians from living in Steel Horse due to the danger their tunnels posed to the town. This was evidenced when a small group of traders were found not too far into the mine, partially consumed, with sharp implements that had torn away their flesh. Generally, the experience left the town sullied on tolerance for such tunnel dwellers. Most citizens tended not to ask many questions, as rumors had quickly spread that Lascarians were unable to control their cannibalism and had begun attacking people wantonly for their meals.
~20 Years Ago
With Steel Horse crossing becoming a popular place to find the standard fare of the Ironworks without having to pay the exorbitant prices to pass through fortified walls, it began to attract attention from further out than initially expected. Madtown residents - particularly the Red Stars - found it an excellent place to set up their cells as most folks didn’t bother them much, and they were insulated from the harsh reality the Ironworks imposed closer to major establishments. Rovers and caravan drivers made it a point to stop in while passing through. Diesel Jocks flocked from faraway places when looking for new parts, and to spend some quality time in The Boneyard when allowed. Some visitors found themselves settling, finding a viable life and new opportunities.
Leveraging the title of Consul, the Ironworks drew on their network of contacts to find and institute the perfect person to govern the town and their interests therein - a Solestro, adept at governing estates for extended family. With a fair amount of expense, they shuffled the new Consul into place after she was fully apprised of the situation. Consul Zell-Ann quickly adapted, opening an inn for visitors and taking on a motherly role in the community. She handled interfacing with the Ironworks, and freed the community to live a more relaxed life, while keeping a hands off approach to the town as a whole.
~15 Years Ago
Whether instigated by regional Natural One scavengers, enacted by the organized machinations of the Reclaimer strike teams of Canuckistan, or maneuvered by The Cheez, a great culling began around the area of Steel Horse. With the situation creating hostility in the region, machinery began to pour into the area for distribution to local farmers and smaller settlements – primarily weapons for their own protection. The Ironworks sent a variety of investigative teams, and Steel Horse conducted their own reconnaissance, which revealed nothing that could be attributed to any of these groups. With both local Rovers and Natural Ones forming the vanguard of the defense, many of both strains were struck down in defense of the town and its local settlements. Some reports returned that zed were responsible for much of the devastation, but the truth of the matter was that the strikes were too surgical for any undead to organize.
~10 Years Ago
On and off, the attacks continued for a handful of years until the dwindling Rovers and Natural Ones allied, and developed plans to take the resources available from Steel Horse and eliminate the threat entirely. For a year, they scoured the region, running patrols in circles outward from Steel Horse, purging any threat they found. A number of stories returned with those that slowly trickled back – animals that were part machine, Cheezhead raiders that had evolved to militaristic proportions, massive ravens that would scoop a man up whole, and even one of a zed so large it towered over the tops of the local forest. Whatever the full truth, it created a schism with the local Natural One tribes, and decimated the ranks of the Rovers. Their display of sheer force did bolster the belief that the Ironworks could protect the town, however, and the local population that had begun to trickle away experienced a resurgence.
Refounding, Year 1 (2016)
Refounding, Year 2 (2017)
Refounding, Year 3 (2018)
Refounding, Year 4 (2019)
A New Government, Year 5 (N/A - 3 Year Time Jump)
The resilience of the people of Steel Horse Crossing had been tempered with years of living within the Iron Works. When the Iron Works fell, the townspeople proved themselves capable of taking on the enormous tasks of rebuilding the structure of their town, Public Works, and own governance. Even with the enormous horde of undead that came from the war against the ‘Works and the epidemic plague of radioactive fungal infections that sickened its people, the town somehow managed to evolve and survive.
The radiation and fungal infections eventually waned significantly, and the people were painstakingly cured. There were still significant patches of irradiated fungal infections around the town, but they were clearly marked so as to prevent further outbreaks and contamination of the populous. Bloom Industries made an offer to the Elder Council to establish a small outpost nearby in order to better study the impact of the Great Tree and the surrounding areas, having sensed a missed opportunity.
The constitution created by the citizens of Steel Horse Crossing was approved, delivered, and enacted. Different factions within the scope of this constitution each moved comfortably into their new roles. The RPM shifted the majority of their efforts into the general border protection of all zones around Steel Horse. The Ridge Tribes began to drift into the town-proper more often, learning a lesson from the fall of the Kishwaukee, and make a more concerted effort to keep an eye on their own people. The Hamilton-Tarens Clan worked diligently to open up land-based trade routes to a much wider audience than previously, allowing commerce to flourish in areas of town where it was fostered. The Steel Bloods, having been invited to live in and participate with town politics, were granted citizenship by the Public Works, integrated with the town by building a large camp, and gained a seat on the council with the first formal election. The Children of the Starless Sky, as well as a few other clans of Lascarians, were seen in town more often, discussing the tunnels and their previous home, as well as telling stories about being chased away from town many years ago by worrisome monsters and vicious lies & rumors. Even a few Unstable began to trickle in from the outskirts of the area, prompted by the one scout that fought alongside others from Steel Horse Crossing against the Iron Works, coming in small numbers during trade-meets.
The people in this formerly Iron Works territory continued the legacy of being technologically advanced and proactive towards the advancement of their civilization. The large radio tower built in Steel Horse Crossing broadcasted the radiowaves needed to eliminate the slave collars every week for months, eliminating all remaining signals in the area. Seemingly overnight, people started carrying small, handheld devices that emitted the same tones that quickly became commonplace among those who wanted to ensure the collars could never be used again.
Privateering and outright piracy became rampant on the waterways with the sudden fall of the Iron Works and the Iron Navy’s protection. Captain Maggie, at the behest of the townspeople and those who formerly worked for the Iron Navy, worked on an arrangement with the RPM for use of the naval yard and its ships. Citizens who had formerly worked for the Navy worked diligently to assemble, train, and support those who were previously enslaved to build their careers into what was quickly becoming a civilian water-faring militia they called the SHC Navy. These people worked closely with the developing town and its government to increase security for its citizens from a significant amount of waterborne threats.
A New Government, Year 6 (N/A - 3 Year Time Jump)
The first year after the fall of the Ironworks proved to be highly productive, considering how much rebuilding needed to be done. After that first year of physical and economic rebuilding, people started to steadily move into the thriving towns in higher numbers, Steel Horse Crossing included. From farmers looking for better quality land to scavengers looking for the scraps of the fallen empire, every sort of person imaginable wandered through, analyzing whether Steel Horse was a good place to live or “ripe for the pickins”.
The town’s population grew significantly, and housing, food, and basic supplies started to run short of the demand. Those who had known the starvation of Winters past knew the telltale signs of potential supply shortages and started to teach the newer townspeople how to prepare for the worst. They reached out to the multiple production services (e.g. Rooftop Farmers Association, IBC, and Livestock Ranching Federation) they’d worked with before to secure plans for safer and more productive farming & brewing facilities. They talked with the Ridge Tribes to help teach more people to hunt and scrounge food sources in the area. The Winter was difficult with so many more mouths to feed, but Steel Horse Crossing came through with better, more secure facilities for brew & food production than before. The need to develop these sorts of systems and alliances was not isolated to Steel Horse, but needed across the entire area that Winter, and this subsequently led to the forming of The Labour Union across many towns and territories.
With this wave of settlers coming into the area, criminal activity rose and the residents had to evaluate and increase the security on their homes and possessions. In response to the need for better town security, the sheriffs created an extensive network of deputies that could be called-on when needed. The Steel Bloods offered to assist with managing the crime by sending out groups of patrols to wander the town’s perimeter so that the sheriff and their deputies could manage the central areas of town and the RPM could cover outside threats. The SHC Navy had their hands full securing the safety of the local waterways and ports, so they reached out to some trusted privateers to start teaching some of the townsfolk how to sail and work the boats & docks. This collaboration proved to be priceless in many ways, particularly when other water-bordering settlements started reaching out to discuss trade, security, and salvage operations. After six months of negotiations and paper-shuffling, the Great Lakes Trading Company was formed and many people within Steel Horse Crossing were eager for the development of trade and salvage operations.
As the town steadily grew, it encroached dangerously close to the irradiated zone. People who had recently settled on the outskirts of town started coming into the city-center sick. Those who had survived the raider wars and its consequent irradiated fungal sickness, recognized the tell-tale signs of exposure to the disease. People started getting sick all over, and once again, there weren’t enough doctors to cure people quicker than the disease was spreading. The local scientists and doctors appealed to, and invested in, Bloom Industries for assistance in studying the fungus and its infection to facilitate the local doctors developing a cure. After three grueling months, the infection within the local mycorrhizal fungi was cured and the new settlers were moved further away from the irradiated zone for good measure.
The political unrest that came two years prior with the New United Kinship movement hadn’t grown much beyond its original size until they decided to join forces with the Steel Bloods. The NUKM loyalists not only added the Steel Bloods’ colors to their ensemble, but they assisted with the perimeter patrols and business. In exchange, the Steel Bloods offered the NUKM members access to more people & resources as well as a base of operations. At this point, the Steel Bloods have grown in numbers so significantly that they now hold half of the elected positions in Steel Horse Crossing.
A New Government, Year 7 (N/A - 3 Year Time Jump)
The third year following the fall of the Ironworks found Steel Horse Crossing settling into its population growth. Secure systems were regularly being built and put into place to produce enough food, brews, equipment, and medical treatment for its populous. Much like most cities, Steel Horse had found itself large enough to have different neighborhoods, districts, and communities within its confines, and settlers would choose where they were most comfortable to make their homes. There were communes, compounds, plantations, and encampments with different families, clans, and gangs in each. Crime had become relatively manageable and mostly went back to dark alleys and the Wastelands where it belonged. Some people even started to make enough money that they began investing in local businesses to further grow the economy and the town’s capabilities.
The most sizeable district in town was protected by the Steel Bloods, and their numbers grew steadily every day. They had a penchant for absorbing smaller groups and gangs into their district and larger organization, adding to their numbers, abilities, and power. The increasing size of this district and group only elevated their ability to govern the area, and their insistence that all their members vote as soon as they became a citizen allowed them to hold the majority of the seats and positions in Steel Horse Crossing’s elected government by the second election that year. It was easy enough to accomplish because each candidate on the ticket identified themselves as their original, smaller gang, group, or clan so that they would not go against the letters of the law. The town was large enough that not everyone knew where each candidate lived, and many non-Steel Bloods lived within their district for it to be not too questionable by the populous. By the end of the year, it had become abundantly clear to some that the Steel Bloods had played an exceptional long game and now the town was begrudgingly beholden to the laws it had created just a few years prior.
Trade had increased in the area with the GLTC’s introduction of the Quarterly Marketplace events held in March, June, August, and November. The town of Steel Horse Crossing hosted the event and the SHC Navy and local law enforcement provided the event’s security necessary for such a gathering. Restaurants, sales of wares & equipment, entertainment, and parties became the hub of the local economy during these events and people came from all over to see what the settlement had to offer. Makeshift booths, bars, and stages decorated the city center and each Quarterly Marketplace grew larger and more diverse with its offerings. The local ports and ships stayed busy with the escort, transport, and protection of merchants and patrons of the market.
The Lascarian population continued to grow and had become a notable part of the community. They were working with the Helldiver Society, and subsequently the Helldiver’s Association, to find and dig more functional, safe tunnels beneath Steel Horse Crossing for their homes. They also started working with the townspeople in safer mine placement and facilitating underground salvage operations. Soon the rumors that had been spread about the lascarians many years prior were barely whispered by only the most curmudgeonly of codgers in the back corners of taverns.
There have always been contradictory folks in every town throughout all of time, but it was hard to shut the discordant dipsomaniacs up when the raiders started getting through the layers of defenses into the city proper. “Told ya they’d be back soon enough! I TOLD YA!” could be heard from the doors & windows of taverns every time a few raiders ran through town to break into a building and take their goods. One or two times was completely probable and understandable, but the regularity of it had become worrisome and the dissonant drunks, annoying.
A Dark Winter, Year 7.9 (Late 2019/Early 2020)
The winter months brought yet more change to Steel Horse, not all of it unexpected.
In the late fall, the Steel Bloods agreed to limit their occupation (and policing) to the southern half of the territory, formerly the town’s winter lands. The offer was negotiated with numerous neutral and respected parties present, as well as representatives from the Steel Bloods themselves. “Commander” Junior Black even deigned to make an appearance, and the entire affair was witnessed by neutral parties on behalf of the Elder Council.
The Elder Council responded favorably to the agreement, and to help maintain the truce between the two sides, appointed several respected townsfolk to act as liaisons between the Council and the populace so they would not lose touch with goings on of the area again. The town’s financial institutions also supported the decision as one that improved their overall profitability.
Politically speaking, this action also freed up nearly all seats in the town’s governing bodies (Judges, Sheriffs, and Town Council), essentially preparing the “real” citizens of Steel Horse to hold a proper election in June. Locals are advised to examine their constitutional rights so that appropriate candidates can be chosen as swiftly as possible. Townspeople can expect further direction from the Elder Council as the weather improves and more people return to the area, presumably at the May Trade Meet.
Around the same time the deal was reached, it became clear that RPM had invested considerable effort in ensuring the end of the Iron Works and in the town’s subsequent recovery. Finally free of these responsibilities, many of the gang took the opportunity to return to life on the road. In December, RPM President Dick Berkin suddenly abdicated his Council seat, choosing to travel North to the crew’s sacred scrapyard. Although the compound still exists as an oasis for traveling DJs, it is now run by a skeleton crew and fiercely protected by a gang of (presumably?) Tainted and Diesel Jocks.
Similarly, there has been a change in the rest of the strains that make up of the city. In recent months, more Solestros and Digitarians made their presence known while Pureblood families consolidated their power. Many decided to retreat to bigger cities until the railroad could be rebuilt. Quiet Ones and Mericans made new claims on the local land, seemingly at ease with the Natural Ones in the area. The Unstable established several smaller winter encampments closer to town, though the permanency of these remains to be seen. Tainted continue to increase in number; but they are often mistaken for raiders, leading to increased tensions and wariness.
Long known for its strange flora and fauna, sightings of cryptids like the Wendigo, over-sized praying mantises, bees, giant snails, and Murder Birds continue to be the talk of local legend. A milder winter indicates higher than normal populations of rad bear and rad deer. Further, Bloom Industries suspects that any strangeness in the town’s natural environment is caused by the same thing that led to the rapid evolution and changes recently experienced by the strains.
Another noteworthy alteration in the landscape near Steel Horse has been the relative calmness of the fiery sinkholes that gave rise to the legendary Helldives. As soon as the ground around the town began to thaw, Lascarians began work shoring-up old tunnel networks. The process appears to have abated the seasonal tremors normally experienced as the ice melts. While local experts, as well as the Helldivers & Helldiver Society, refuse to be optimistic that the problem is solved, local farmers are already calling it a win.
Another positive: the disease that had quickly decimated the populace after the Iron Wars appears to have died off with the recent winter. However, unpredictable psionic hot spots continue to affect those in tune with aberrant energies, and the raider and zed hoards, though smaller in size, have become increasingly unpredictable and unusually fierce. Further, the same changes in the environment that have impacted the town’s natural surroundings have also resulted in a lack of a functional morgue, presenting the town’s educated and grave attuned with a considerable challenge.
A New Beginning, Year 8 (2020)
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Who will join the community next?