Lore

The State of Monroe

The year is 1899, and the many citizens of Monroe have found their home in the state for a multitude of reasons; some looking to take advantage of the gold and silver rush in order to find wealth and prosperity beyond their wildest dreams, build a family homestead with ranching or farming, and explore the great wilderness and regale in stories of adventure. With these opportunities also came those with another goal in mind - to take what they want and the risks that come with it. Greed, violence, and cruelty exist; and the citizens of Monroe will do what they can to fight against it to ensure a bright future, or embrace these evils and build their own destiny from it.

Thirty years after a great civil war nearly ripped the nation in two, mostly fought over the economic setbacks after industrializing the south and the rights of the state regarding these economic policies - some citizens in the state still feel the pain of war, while others have grown significantly because of it. Hardened men and women emerged from these dark times with a stronger resolve, and took those skills into their lives - whether they became lawmen or deadly criminals. The Native tribes that inhabit the state only added fuel to the fire, with some picking sides for their own benefit and the benefit of their tribes - or other tribes taking the fight to both sides to protect the sanctity of their lands.

Now, in times of peace, settlers still look to expand further west to find their fortune, much to the disdain of some native tribes. While some looked upon the expansionists with peace, working together to civilize the wild lands - other tribes fought back to protect the land that was rightfully theirs.

The Counties of Monroe

New Hanover

A large territory characterized by it's dense forests and open plains, rich with fertile soil that welcomed homesteaders to settle their ranches and farms. The county is not fully settled, with only two towns, Valentine and Annesburg; and the small, run-down settlement of Vanhorn. Being of notable size, the county is rife with wildlife which has made it a profitable place for hunters, as well. However, due to it's size and activity, the county has brought its own stock of outlaws as well, with highwaymen prepared to ambush travelers on the roads and cattle rustlers raiding ranches to steal animals and other goods.

New Hanover is bordered by Flat Iron Lake to the southwest and the Dakota River separating Ambarino and New Hanover to the northeast, Lemoyne to the south and Grizzlies East to the east, bordering Cumberland Forest and Roanoke Ridge.

Ambarino

A massive county that is mostly untamed and unexplored, due to a sparsity of inhabitants living there. It is characterized by large mountains, steep cliffs, and the occassional spots of lakes that provide adequate fishing for those daring enough to explore its reaches. The territory is divided into two regions: Grizzles East and Grizzles West. Grizzlies West is the most dangerous region due to it's large mountain ranges and dangerous animal population, which heavily consists of wolves that frequently attack mountaineers. Grizzlies East is rockier and forested, with little snow cover and an isolated Indian tribe situated in the area.

Many hunters typically find valuable animals in the unforgiving north, including wolves, moose, and grizzly bears. However, due to the danger present in the territory, many hunters do not return to tell their tales.

Lemoyne

The smallest county out of the five, but the most heavily populated and industrialized. Containing the largest city in the state, the former French colony of Saint Denis, is located on the eastern shore of the county. Factories, farmlands, and orchards litter the wet swamplands of Bayou Nwa. Large-scale plantations can be found in the Scarlett Meadows, as well as the bustling town of Rhodes. Lemoyne had seen most of the violence of the civil war, as much of it's land has been location of destructive battles and much of the damage done can still be seen today.

There is a rumor going around in the towns and taverns of Lemoyne, speaking of an abandoned settlement called Pleasance, which was the location of brutal murders and a deadly plague. The town is completely uninhabited, but many travelers say that they sometimes see the dim glow of candlelight emitting from the boarded-up windows of the Pleasance Church.

West Elizabeth

West Elizabeth is comprised of three regions: Tall Trees, Great Plains, and Big Valley. Once the beacon of modernization in the state, only recently overtaken by Saint Denis, Blackwater is still a thriving port-town situated along the edge of Flat Iron lake. Another prominent settlement is Thieves Landing, a port town consisting mainly of dockworkers that are employed at a local shipping yard. However, no law offices reside there, which brings a fair number of criminals and outlaws to reside there, making the town a fairly unsafe place. Duels and shootouts are fairly common.

In the Great Plains, herds of bison can be seen grazing the lands. While a profitable resource for hunters, many would rather leave the bison alone as a native tribe that resides in West Elizabeth lives off and protects the bison that roam the lands. Hunters that have harmed these bison have often times been attacked by these natives, with most being killed for their transgressions.

Another large settlement is Strawberry, as well as camps, ranches, and reservations that dot the territory.

New Austin

The territory is characterized as a large rugged and arid desert in the early process of westward expansion. Because of this, dangerous wild animals and outlaws run rampant in this territory. A fairly rural territory and the second-most sparsely populated territory, second to Ambarino, it consists of two towns being Armadillo and Tumbleweed. The territory has become a popular location for mining exports, as the cave systems that dot the territory are rich with precious ores and gems. While the town of Armadillo continues to grow due to the mining exports and the construction of the railroad station; its regional rival, the old decaying frontier town of Tumbleweed, has been reduced to rough-and-rowdy town that consists of dangerous criminals and a hideout for outlaws in the desert.