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Abandoned - Westward Ho - part 7 - West Port - Story 31

Started by Abandoned, August 17, 2018, 07:40:10 AM

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Abandoned

Intro


This is the 31th story in the Smallville series and is a continuation of the Westward Ho journey that began in story 25 in the Outskirts of Smallville.  The wagons left Outskirts and headed west in year 45 SVT.  The wagon train carried 6 families plus the wagon master and his family (Domington and Doree and their 3 boys, Linwoodrow, Lion, and Greggie).  They traveled through forested valleys and over steep hills and spent over a year at the Rest Stop of story 26.  They traveled on, crossing the vast prairie, when 2 families left the train and headed north instead.  They established the town of Prairie Homestead #27 in year 48 SVT.  The remainder of the wagon train continued west and built Fort Rapids #28 in exchange for help crossing the river rapids.  They entered Bison Pass in year 52.  A year later they made it through the mountain pass and discovered a Ghost Town.  After helping to restore that town, the wagon master, Dom, wife Doree, son Greggie, and you, weary traveler, and your family traveled south to the town of West Port in year 65 SVT to pick up supplies and families who wanted to go back east.


The map seed is  #   595316674               Valley,  Small,  Mild,  Disasters Off,   Easy Start


Mods activated for this map and load order are:


Map Changing and Starting Mods:  Call of Nature Soundtrack, Banished UI Maps & UI Town Names, Labor Window, RK Minimized Status, New Flora with Gatherer

Tweak Mods:  Better Fields, Fishing Dock +25%, Hunting and Gathering v3, Hunting Season,  Increased CC, 1:1 alternative, Rocks Respawn

Major or Must Have Mods:  Nomad Sign Complete, Kid Old Town, Kid Tiny v2, Kid Westward Ho The Wagons, Kid Wooden Fort

Supporting Mods:  Campfire, Deco Sunflower, EB Module Forest Set, Fenceless Pasture, Small Tipi, Smoking Shed, Storage Crates, (Maldrick's) Wood Cottage



Yes, weary traveler, we have been away from Smallville for a very long time.  We left Outskirts and headed west 20 years ago.  And yes, we are weary of traveling.  Hopefully we will be heading back east soon; West Port is as far west as we will go.

kid1293


Abandoned

Thanks @kid1293    :)

I failed to mention that new vanilla Old Town mod will be released later today.  They will not have to wait for this story to be finished before its release. 

Also there are no special start conditions.  I delayed start of story to coincide with the time wagons left Ghost Town which gave me time to start building town of West Port before the wagon trains arrival there. 

Goblin Girl

Quotenew vanilla Old Town mod will be released later today
I've died and gone to heaven.
I'm really looking forward to this new story, Abandoned!  But I have to say, by the time your protagonists get back to Smallville, they'll be ready for the old folks home.  Weary indeed!

Abandoned

 ;D Oh, new idea for town and mod - Retirement settlement  :) oh oh, Don't tell Kid.

Two things to watch for please  :)  I had graphic problem when river boat docked, hopefully that was only temporary for unknown reason, and second a small tavern was added after I began map and story so I did not test it.  Please let us know if there are any problems.  :)

Abandoned

#5
Chapter 1


  As you know, weary traveler, we left Ghost Town in early autumn.  When we reached the fork in the path by the tree with the weathered sign, we went west and then south along the river. It was a bit  steeper and more wooded than we thought it would be but we had the donkeys and extra oxen to pull the 3 wagons.  Autumn arrived and leaves began to fall so from the hill tops we could see the port settlement in the distance and a small clearing nearby where we could halt the wagons. 

  The settlement was much smaller than we expected, not much more than a cluster of wood and thatch houses, a blacksmith, tailor, woodcutter, school, and fishing pier.  It was an old town.  On the east side was a crop field where beans were being harvested, and on the hillside a flock of sheep were grazing.  A hunter's workplace and large herd of deer lay directly in front of us.  Dom and I walked to the town center where we were greeting by several residents.  We were surprised by how young they all were.  The 2 oldest were Skylan age 22 and his wife Bril who was 19, they'd just had their first child.  No one seemed to be in charge.  Skylan said there was a vacant house we could have, a family headed east a few months ago.  As you know, it was decide that you and your family would move into that house for the winter.  That brought the population of West Port to 27, 12 adults, 1 student, and 14 young children plus Dom, myself, and our son Greggie.

  The old town was named West Port because on the river to the west of the town center were 2 old trading posts and an old wood lighthouse.  They rarely lit the fire, nobody out here to see it, riverboats were few and far between.  The building acted more as an overseer of the port and town, they kept inventory records in it.  They had a small surplus of needed items and a variety of foods but we would not be getting needed supplies for our return trip from here any time soon.   There was no decision to make, we would stay and teach these young people what we knew of survival, afterall, we came from Smallville.

Abandoned

#6
Chapter 2


  By early spring of year 2, our donkeys and oxen were secured in a pasture not far from where we left the 3 wagons. 

  One morning in spring we heard calls for help echoing from a distance.  The trees still had no leaves  so we were able to spot a group of people on the hillside across the river.  There seemed to be 13 of them, an unlucky number for sure.  We called to them to come this way, we would build a bridge.  We did not get the bridge completed in time, 3 of the 13 died of starvation.  We had no cemetery.  They were laid to rest this side of the bridge and family members built a wooden cottage to remain close by their loved ones.

  The newcomers confirmed that there was nothing on the other side of the river but wilderness and some native tribes.  Dom and a few of the men did some scouting around on this side of the river and saw 3 small tipis like the ones we saw near Fort Rapids.  We were not far north of the native settlement of Cedar Creek.  We hoped there would be no trouble.

  There was a need now for more housing.  Houses were built adjoining the woodcutter and the hunter's workplace.  Several small shacks were also built.  By the end of the year we had no homeless families and we had workers enough to make iron tools and warm coats.


Abandoned

#7
Chapter 3


  Over the winter, we spent more time teaching the town's people what we knew about running a town.  We convinced them that they needed a Hall of Records where they could keep more than just inventory information and where they could gather to discuss concerns and plans for the town.  They agreed that someone should be in charge and be responsible for final decision making.  Skylan, the oldest town resident, was the natural choice.

  We expected more nomads to arrive here, there was drought and Native unrest to the south and harsh weather and failing mining claims to the north.  Some temporary housing should be available for those who did not want to remain in West Port.  A small boarding house was built but there was not enough room for the 26 nomads that arrived in spring of year 3.  West Port needed more housing.

  If folks were to be encouraged to remain in West Port, they needed a sense of security. We sometimes heard the sound of Native drums and saw smoke signals to the south. Some of the newcomers confirmed that there has been some troubles regarding hunting grounds in that direction.   We thought that some wooden fort walls and watch towers along the south edge of town would provide some protection.  It would not be as secure as the walls of Fort Rapids but it would help.

  At the first town meeting that year, as you know weary traveler, Dom and I discussed our decision to build wagons for the trip back east.  At that time we only had our Wagon Master wagon, your family wagon, and a supply wagon.  Three families expressed their desire to go with us.  We would begin building wagons for those 3 families and a school wagon for their children.  We would need enough iron tools, hide coats, firewood, and food to get us back to Fort Rapids.

More housing and food was needed.  Newcomers began fishing, hunting, and gathering.  An adjoining house was built to the gatherer's workplace.  More wooden cottages and shacks were built.  The town of West Port was doing well.


Abandoned

#8
Chapter 4


  In spring of year 4, a third crop field was cleared and planted and a small chapel had been built.  There was a space designated as a cemetery, and another section of wooden fort wall was constructed.  Our wagons were finished and we had a tiny chopper working at storing firewood in the supply wagon.  Dom calculated we would need 300 firewood, 30 tools, 30 coats, and at least 1200 units of food to get us to Fort Rapids and beyond.  The town's people insisted that at least half the coats be warm ones made of hide and wool.  It was a cool rainy summer and a frosty autumn, we planned to roll the wagons in spring of the following year.  We felt the town's people would be well able to manage on their own after that.

  Parrie, the seed merchant, came to port earlier in the year and wheat seeds were ordered.  A water mill could be built for flour, and a bakery could then make basic bread.  Campfires were roasting venison and a smoking shed was planned. 

  Parrie brought news from Ghost Town.  Our boys, Linwoodrow and Lion, and their wives were doing well and Dom and I now had 3 grandchildren.  We wanted nothing more than to go back to see them but Parrie also brought one of the new maps the land surveyors had been making.  It showed that the trip east would be faster and safer if we followed the river south of us or the creek north of us to the Rapid River and from there north to Fort Rapids.  We would avoid the risk of again not making it through the dangerous Bison Pass, but we would not be able to return to Ghost Town for a visit.

kid1293

This 'vanilla' modding business really comes to life when I can see it working!
Thanks @Abandoned ! :)

Sometimes I work blind. I can't see the result. I don't play much (not at all).

Abandoned

 :) @kid1293 I actually see it different also when putting it on a working map mixed in with other buildings.  It is a different perspective and the sizes and proportions are clearer to see also.

Thanks for making vanilla pieces  :)

Abandoned

#11
Chapter 5


  Spring and Summer of year 5 came and went.  We were still gathering needed supplies.  We would stock 30 iron tools, 15 hide coats, 15 warm coats, and 300 each of firewood, roots, mushrooms, roasted meat, and smoke fish.  A smoking shed was built over by the fishing pier.  Extra hunters were working to supply the tailor with hides needed for the warm coats.

  In early autumn, the ordered wheat seeds arrived.  A few more trade goods were needed to make the deal.  Construction of the water mill and bakery was begun.  We were still gathering supplies. The largest crop field would be planted with wheat in spring.

  As you know, weary traveler, by summer of year 6 you and your family had settled back into your wagon and the other 3 families moved into theirs.  The supply wagon was well stocked with needed items and the donkey and oxen were hitched up and ready to go.  We took a last look around West Port and knew we were leaving the old town in capable hands.  So, wary traveler, lets roll these wagons.  We're going home.

Abandoned

#12
Chapter 6   Fort Rapids Revisited


  As you know, weary traveler, when we left West Port in summer we traveled north the way we had come but at the small creek we headed east until we reached the Rapid River.  The rapids were not as strong here but we still did not feel we could cross the river without help.  We traveled north along the river until we reached the spot where we had crossed 18 years ago with the help of the Fort Rapids soldiers.  It was 4 years before that when we agreed to help build a fort in exchange for help crossing this river.  Now in early autumn 22 years later, year 71 Smallville Time, we find that they had built fort towers on each side of the river to secure the ropes that helped us cross before.  They saw us coming and were there waiting to help us cross again.

  We were amazed at how the Fort had grown in the last 18 years.  When we left it was little more than 2 boarding houses, a fort office, school, church, storage barn, and workshop surrounded by a fort wall. 

  We took the wagons around the fort as we did when we left.  We circled the wagon in the same spot we had before but now there were 2 more potato fields and a fishing pier, several more houses, a smoking shed and small storage shed.  We were surprised to find our small pasture and old chuck wagon still there.

  The inner fort area had many more houses than it had before and the outer area to the east was now well forested.  Our small forester tents were replaced by a forester tower and the seedlings from Smallville were now full grown harvestable trees.  There was no shortage of logs now.  There was also a hunting lodge, a gatherer, a herbalist, and a cemetery.  The area was partially walled and contained a few houses.  One of the residents told me the herbalist really improved their health.  The only grain they had was the wild corn they collect from the prairie, and wild berries were their only fruit so their health was not as good as it should have been.

  The area to the south across the small creek was well forested now too.  The forester tower, another fishing pier, and a few houses were the only buildings in the walled area.  The wall had been built because of the presence of a small Native encampment and a large herd of buffalo.  There had been no trouble with the Natives.  The people of Fort Rapids respected the Native hunting grounds and preserved the prairie.  The prairie to the north was also undisturbed, the deer were not over hunted, they were protected as they were back in Smallville.  Wild foods and deadwood were collected but other than that it looked no different then when we left it 18 years ago.  The prairie was as beautiful now as it was then.  When we left in year 4 to continue our journey west, Fort Rapids had a population of 48, now in year 22 there are 94 citizens, 57 adults, 19 students, and 18 young children.  Fort Rapids had done well.

Abandoned

#13
Chapter 7  Heading East to Rest Stop


  As you know, weary traveler, we remained camped at Fort Rapids over the winter.  It was good to be within the protective walls of the fort rather than out on the open prairie in the cold wind and snow.  In early spring of year 72 SMT we once again headed east.  I knew when we passed that turn off,  you would have liked to have stopped at Prairie Homestead.  After all you spent a few years there before you were found by the Fort Rapids' soldiers and returned to us and your family.  Prairie Homestead was only a small farming community back then and is probably not much more than that today.  It was not far east of that turn off that we narrowly escape being caught up in that buffalo stampede, and it was shortly after that when the 2 families decided to leave the wagon train and head north to homestead.  Who could blame them for not wanting to continue crossing that endless prairie. 

  We were all glad when we saw that pretty pond again knowing it was just west of the Rest Stop we camped at for 2 years while fixing wagon wheels and stocking up on water and other supplies before crossing the prairie.  Well, maybe you weren't glad to see that pond.  It was where you fell asleep and the wagons rolled west without you.

  Rest Stop was much the same as it was before, our stockpile was still there and the animal pasture too but the fence was in need of repair.  We had more wagons when we were here all those years ago, we had 6 families then.  But as we did then, we set up camp and repaired wagon wheels and replenished our supplies and took the opportunity to wash clothes and fill our water barrels.

  Winter came early again and though we were so close to home, we decided it was safer to stay where we were until early spring.


Abandoned

#14
Chapter 8  Outskirts of Smallville


  It's hard to believe that it was 35 years ago when Dom and I got permission to use the old shack and shed on the Outskirts of Smallville, while we built his dream, a wagon train to help families travel west to a new life.  It took 5 years but we did it.  The wagons were built and oxen and donkeys were brought from the Animal Refuge to pull them. You, weary traveler, joined the wagon train at the last minute when 2 families decided to remain behind to build more wagon.  In spring of year 5 we rolled our wagons westward.


  And now here we are back home at last, and how Outskirts has changed.  What was little more than our shack and shed and a few houses has grown into a beautiful little town with 58 homes. Outskirts population has grown for 2 to 2 hundred and 36.  Our family has grown from just the 2 of us to 8 and more.  Our 2 oldest boys, Linwoodrow and Lion remained back in Ghost Town where they married and had families of their own.  Our 3rd son, Greggie, who was just a newborn baby when we left here, also met a girl in Ghost Town.  He brought her back to Outskirts with us.  They have 3 children.  Don and I also had 3 more children on the way home, 2 daughters and another son.


  Did you notice the crop field across the river?  As you mentioned when we talked that last day before leaving, there was plenty of room to grow crops to send food back to Smallville and that is exactly what the town's people who remained here did.  They've been loading canoes and a supply wagon with food for Smallville, yes, a lot of potatoes and apples.  Not only are the farm fields and farm houses colorful, the whole town is, the houses, the hospital, school, and town hall too.  And with the help of seedlings from Smallville, they developed 2 thriving forest areas for hunting and gathering and harvesting trees.  And if that isn't enough, the fishing is very good in the lake and the river. Outskirts has become a productive town and a great help to Smallville.  The people are healthy and happy, and have actually been raising oxen and donkeys and building wagon trains to help other families travel to a better life.


We were totally surprised that our shack has been kept in good condition for our return.  We have truly come home again.  We have come full circle.  So, weary traveler, I just have one last thing left to say before you go on your way:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcYsO890YJY




The End