Lore
!NOTE: While our lore is heavily based on early American history, during the late 1800's, we must make a note that racism, sexism, or prejudice in any way is not welcomed or allowed on the server or our community. Certain aspects of our lore will be familiar to you based on American History, but these events in our universe have no bearing to sex, race, or religion. While greed, hatred, and violence certainly exist in our world, hatred based from the aforementioned topics are not allowed. Thank you!
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 (The Industrial 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.
Important Events Timeline
The Mexican-American War (1846-1848)
After a little over 30 years of relative peace, the United States found itself in conflict with Mexico. The Republic of Texas, which declared independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836, wanted to be annexed by the United States. Mexico, however, did not recognize their independence and attempted to retake Texas. The recently elected President James K. Polk ran on a platform of expansion into Oregon and Texas, proving popular within the United States. On April 25, 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico. The war would last until February 2, 1848 with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, in which Mexico ceded Texas and all territory west of Texas to the United States.
Pre-Industrial War (1849-1868)
With the end of the Mexican-American War, many new territories in the west had been opened up for settlement. For the next 20 years, the United States would focus on dividing these territories and coming to grips with the ongoing struggle between the northern and southern economies. Originally, the north had focused much on the industrial side of production and the south had mostly been agrarian. With an influx of trade and shipping coming into major southern cities, however, the southern states began to focus on industrialization. Northern states, while still harboring some industry, began to fall to the wayside as the trade centers shifted away from northern ports. To make matters worse, the north became increasingly disillusioned by the political power the southern states had maintained for so long. In 1861, a bill was introduced that would ensure a stimulation of the northern economy with backing from southern industry. The southern politicians refused, claiming the north only sought to steal business from their ports. Tensions continued to build up until the Election of 1868 when the Democrat candidate from the south, William Hurst III, beat the Republican candidate from the north, Schuyler Colfax. This election would spark the beginning of secession from the northern states and on April 13, 1869, the Industrial War would begin as the United States would declare war on the Great Lakes Republic.
The Industrial War (1869-1871)
The ‘Industrial War’’ refers to an internal conflict within America involving a collective of northern states against a collection of southern states, during the years of 1869 to 1871. The primary cause of the war is attributed to the rapid industrialization of many southern cities, including the former French colony city of Saint Denis. While the rapid modernization of industry certainly boomed the southern states economy, the northern states, which still relied mostly on labor and less-lucrative means of production, felt a large amount of hardships due to the economy and trade favoring southern states.
Animosity between, what came to be known as the Northern Union and the Southern Coalition, exploded into violence after the presidential election of William Hurst III, who was a southern supporter and businessman that mainly profited from this rapid industrialization. Northern groups, mainly consisting of ranchers and farmers, traveled into these southern areas and began conducting large raids on factories and plantations. These attacks started with small groups of fighters before eventually escalating into larger battles. Citizens on both sides began joining their respective armies in droves, due to the initial rivalry that had been boiling up to this point, and because of loved ones affected by earlier attacks.
Larger battles were fought, with each side being led by commanders, in many of the southern territories - including the county of Lemoyne, which saw much of the most violent fighting.
The fighting continued for two years, until the sudden death of President William Hurst in 1871 due to a horrible illness, and much of the violent conflicts began to slowly fizzle out. However, some areas in Monroe, such as Annesburg and Saint Denis, still have a noticeable rivalry towards each other, as many economic hardships still linger between these two cities, despite the mutual hardships that exist between them.
The Natives of Monroe
The Native Americans, also known as the indigenous people of North America, maintained a very noticeable presence in Monroe, with some tribes welcoming the expansionists moving westward and others resisting the advancements by settlers, either through attempted politics or through violence. Today, these tribes have comfortably claimed areas of land that are protected, much to the agreement of settlers as an attempts to reduce bloodshed.
The Chiricahua are an Apache band that reside in territories of New Austin, who are considered a hostile tribe due to their aggression towards expansionists that wander onto their lands. Led by their chief, Tokala, the Chiricahua utilize buffalo as their main trade and export, and can be seen riding and protecting buffalo migrations all throughout the state. Settlers and hunters that are caught inflicting harm to these buffalo and their migrations are often met with violence, with many hunters being killed from these transgressions.
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.