Colorado is claimed by both the Union and the Confederacy, but neither nation seem willing to recognize the others claim. And the good people of Colorado ain’t being asked what they want. Which for most, they just don’t care about which flag to salute or anthem to sing, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the peace and prosperity they enjoy.
Colorado has several gold and silver mines and more than few cattle ranches that make up much of the base of its economy. While few battles between the USA and CSA have been fought in Colorado, the state has been rife with skirmishes between the various rail barons in the Great Rails War.
If a person is heading out west, seven times out of ten they will pass through Denver to do so. Located on the east side of the Rocky Mountains and the Continental Divide, Denver is the gateway to the west. The easy way to reach the city is by rail. The Black River, Denver-Pacific, Union Blue, and Wasatch all have lines passing through, moving thousands of passangers and hundreds of tons of freight each year. After years of industrial espionage and sabotage, a fragile 'peace' exists between the railroad companies. Though recently rumblings of consternation, some say literal earth shaken rumblings, have surfaced with the innovative Wasatch being accused of nefarious subterfuge, which of course has been robustly denied. Rail spies scout certain railhead locations for definitive signs of rumoured secret passage in the transcontinental rail race.
Even more fragile is the peace treaty with the burgeoning collective tribes of the Sioux Nations. Buoyed by recent victories over Union forces and the continued stalemate intransigence of the CSA and US to agree political rule in the Disputed Territories, certain lesser tribes are now staking 'historic' claim to lands farmed by settlers or mined by prospectors.
With Union forces stretched and Washington reluctant to reinforce strongholds in case it provokes a reciprocating border buffing by the CSA, the area is becoming more self governing, with town militias and outlaw groups vying power and influence.
It is into this tinderbox of plots, schemes and survival that your characters experience the wild and weird West.
As locales are reached and explored I will add to this forum.
Information on towns and places of interest:
Re: Information on towns and places of interest:
Cheyenne, Wyoming.
In the summer 67', General Grenville M. Dodge and his railroad survey crew plotted the site chosen as the point at which the Denver-Pacific crossed Crow Creek, a tributary of the South Platte River. The city was named after one of the predominant Great Plains tribes which contested the railroads incursion into their traditional hunting grounds.
The construction of the railroad brought hopes of prosperity to the region and from humble foundations the town grew rapidly over the next decade until by close of the civil war, the population numbered circa 3,500 inhabitants, more than half involved in cattle ranching, buffalo hunting or mining the veins of silver ore in the far off Rocky Mountain foothills.
Built on a wide plain, the town has a a rigid planning structure, acres of square residential plots seperated by wide tree-lined boulevards. The 'town' centre dominated by guildhall, courthouse, hotels and merchant townhouses. Notable buildings include the Grenville Hotel, Cheyenne Country Club, St Clare's Episcopalian Church, and Smith & Robards Inventory.
A few miles outside of town lie the ruins of Fort Russell which was overwhelmed by an unusual flash flood which carried large rocks and boulders smashing into the palisade and demolished the outer fortifications and stables, sweeping away numerous soldiers, livestock and stores.
The town has an elected mayor, who overseas municipal policies and a sheriff, a grizzled veteran of many duels, Thom Horne and a posse of dubious deputies. Denver-Pacific has an office based in the main hotel opposite the station and corporate business is overseen by Mr Frank Bartlett.
The town is complete with trade shops, saloons (of good and ill repute), places of worship and private residences.
In the summer 67', General Grenville M. Dodge and his railroad survey crew plotted the site chosen as the point at which the Denver-Pacific crossed Crow Creek, a tributary of the South Platte River. The city was named after one of the predominant Great Plains tribes which contested the railroads incursion into their traditional hunting grounds.
The construction of the railroad brought hopes of prosperity to the region and from humble foundations the town grew rapidly over the next decade until by close of the civil war, the population numbered circa 3,500 inhabitants, more than half involved in cattle ranching, buffalo hunting or mining the veins of silver ore in the far off Rocky Mountain foothills.
Built on a wide plain, the town has a a rigid planning structure, acres of square residential plots seperated by wide tree-lined boulevards. The 'town' centre dominated by guildhall, courthouse, hotels and merchant townhouses. Notable buildings include the Grenville Hotel, Cheyenne Country Club, St Clare's Episcopalian Church, and Smith & Robards Inventory.
A few miles outside of town lie the ruins of Fort Russell which was overwhelmed by an unusual flash flood which carried large rocks and boulders smashing into the palisade and demolished the outer fortifications and stables, sweeping away numerous soldiers, livestock and stores.
The town has an elected mayor, who overseas municipal policies and a sheriff, a grizzled veteran of many duels, Thom Horne and a posse of dubious deputies. Denver-Pacific has an office based in the main hotel opposite the station and corporate business is overseen by Mr Frank Bartlett.
The town is complete with trade shops, saloons (of good and ill repute), places of worship and private residences.
Re: Information on towns and places of interest:
Allerdice Springs
Set on the edge of the High Plains, nestled in the shadow of a ridge of granite rocks is the small frontier town of Allerdice Springs. It is directly east of Cheyenne about 15 miles and served by the Denver-Pacific railroad which extends northwards from the town across the grasslands towards the town of Laramie located just across the border in Sioux Nations territory.
Since the track laying to Laramie has been halted by a renegade native atrack, the railroad labourers are encamped in various carriages around the train station which acts as the last stop for trains from Cheyenne. A telegraph office is quartered in the station building.
The town itself has several b&b guest houses and a couple of small hotels. The main one is named The Beaver Brook Hotel. It has a large saloon and bar area and a snug type study.
A small church, white painted with high gable roof is set among some landscaped gardens at one end of town. The main street has a selection of basic merchants, a livery and blacksmiths. The outskirts of the town have some larger cattle ranches.
The history of the town really begins with the death of Giselle Allerdice , a captive held by a native tribe for several years. She tragically died along with her children after a failed rescue attempt by Union forces went awry. It is rumoured that her flowing tears, crying over the death of her children, caused the rocks on the tor to split open and we'll up refreshing spring waters which refilled the nearby dry creek beds. The town subsequently grew up around the new waters.
It is also rumoured the ghost of Giselle still haunts the pool area below the waterfall and spring source, her haunting songs often carried on the wind at dusk into the town.
Set on the edge of the High Plains, nestled in the shadow of a ridge of granite rocks is the small frontier town of Allerdice Springs. It is directly east of Cheyenne about 15 miles and served by the Denver-Pacific railroad which extends northwards from the town across the grasslands towards the town of Laramie located just across the border in Sioux Nations territory.
Since the track laying to Laramie has been halted by a renegade native atrack, the railroad labourers are encamped in various carriages around the train station which acts as the last stop for trains from Cheyenne. A telegraph office is quartered in the station building.
The town itself has several b&b guest houses and a couple of small hotels. The main one is named The Beaver Brook Hotel. It has a large saloon and bar area and a snug type study.
A small church, white painted with high gable roof is set among some landscaped gardens at one end of town. The main street has a selection of basic merchants, a livery and blacksmiths. The outskirts of the town have some larger cattle ranches.
The history of the town really begins with the death of Giselle Allerdice , a captive held by a native tribe for several years. She tragically died along with her children after a failed rescue attempt by Union forces went awry. It is rumoured that her flowing tears, crying over the death of her children, caused the rocks on the tor to split open and we'll up refreshing spring waters which refilled the nearby dry creek beds. The town subsequently grew up around the new waters.
It is also rumoured the ghost of Giselle still haunts the pool area below the waterfall and spring source, her haunting songs often carried on the wind at dusk into the town.