Intro
This is the 70th story in the Smallville Series and tells the tale of 5 families of swamp dwellers who, with the help of Elves that came to their aid, developed a small swamp settlement into one of the major food producers in the swamp. Their settlement is in Summerset Swamp east of the town of Summerset of story 24 which was the main target of the giant frog attack in year 62 SVT. This story begins a few years later.
The map seed # 191178016 Swamp, Small, Swampy, Disasters Off, Swamp Start 5 Families
Mods activated for this map and load order are:
Map Changing and Starting Mods: Banished UI Maps, Labor Window, RK Minimized Status, CC Light Rain, New Flora Edit, override Fewer Trees
Tweak Mods: Better Fields, Fishing Dock +25%, Hunting, Increased CC, 1:1 Alternative (Voeille), Rocks Respawn, Tiny Smoke
Major or Must Have Mods: An Empty Square, Nomads (Kid), Storage Crates, Kid Abandoned Places SE, Kid Forest Deep, Kid Swamp Thing, Kid Tiny, Kid Workplace
Supporting Mods: Campfire, Kid Deco Farm Animals, Kid Deco Magic Mushrooms (new, testing, 4 textures 1 shown), Kid Deco People, Kid Farmyard, Kid Fish n Ships, Kid GrowHuntFish, Kid Home Grown (testing continued), Kid Mist, Kid Some Boats, Kid Swamp Legend, Kid Work Shop, Shroom, Tiny Chopper, Water & Other Decorations
Story Note: The storyteller, know as Swamp Elf, is not physically on this map.
Yes, weary traveler, I'm the one they call the Swamp Elf, but I was not born in the swamp. I came from the Green Woods to the northwest, I'm a Wood Elf. I don't know Elven magic but I know about healing and about things that are green and growing. We got word from the swamp shortly after the giant frog attack and were asked to come and help. We stopped at several other swamp settlements along the way so it took a while before we reached this one that we later called Marshfield.
The last few days have been very anxious. Log in no new posts, one or two posts the next day. Starting to get worried.
The today there it is, just what I was hopping for.
Yeeeha !
Thank you
@Abandoned and
@kid1293 .
Looking forward to this one.
:) oh, not to worry. :) I rather like posting Intro on the last day of the month, then chapter 1 is on day 1 of new month, chapter 2 on day 2 :) And there will be another story after this one, Greenwood :) home of Swamp Elf. shhh - secret :)
Chapter 1
We found 5 young families who were sick and barely surviving since the frog attack, and for the most part had been hold-up inside their houses for safety. They recently received food and other supplies from a river boatman who was helping the swamp dwellers.
They had been doing well before the attack. They had 5 houses, a school, a swamp hall, a workshop, a fishing pier, and a large barn. They were growing mushrooms and a few other crops and had an apple tree growing in a low lying mushroom patch. They collected eggs from a duck pond.
Then came the frogs.
Several of the residents were severely injured before everyone made it to safety. Then came the crocs after the frogs. When the remaining frogs began dying off from starvation the crocs went after the ducks and wild grouse. It was no longer safe to go near the shore. There were no frogs and not enough birds to eat the snails that came to the field and patches to feed on the crops. There were snails everywhere. Wild boars showed up looking for food, they went after the ducks and duck eggs but were repelled by the crocs. They went to the fields and took over the apple wallow. The crops couldn't be tended and it was difficult and dangerous for the survivors to even gather the mushrooms and apples. They need help badly.
Then came the Elves. We arrived in late spring, the 2nd year after we set out from Greenwood.
Chapter 2
There were 11 other elves besides by husband and myself, 8 adults with 3 children. Our children were grown and on their own back home. We Elves are very adaptable and resourceful and quickly carved out homes for ourselves in the mushroom grove just south of the mushroom field. Things grow large in the swampy climate and marshy soil. I believed the condition of the soil and the fields after the frog die-off may be part of the reason most of the survivors were ill. I went farther afield to gather herbs. There were not many to find because the swamp reeds were growing out of control even though some were being packed by the survivors to use as firewood. Poor diet also contributed to their poor health.
There were only apples, fish, and mushrooms in storage but one of the women said they all had beans and corn in their pantries that the boatman brought. They were very relieved that we were there to help and they gladly left decision making up to us while they healed.
We began by herding most of the wild boar from the crop fields over to the apple wallow, the rest we added to the storage barn as pork. It was now safe to gather the mushrooms from the field. The wild boar had shown no signs of aggression but even elves are wary of wild animal when they are hungry or protecting young ones. Next we built a small storage shed and a cleaning shed by the mushroom field. The plant debris cleaned from the field would go into the compost bin we built along with a garden supply shed. The compost would be used in the small onion patch. Onions and mushrooms fried in pork fat would be good served with a nice piece of pork.
I advised that all foods should be thoroughly cooked for some time to come. To that end we built a small campfire. There were 2 small herds of deer nearby and a flock of grouse that escaped the crocs. We hunted both with Elven bows and pain-free enchanted arrows. Roast venison and wild game was added to the storage barn. We would not over-hunt. Until the croc situation was under control no one ventured near the closest duck pond, but I discovered a 2nd pond in the marsh south of the mushroom grove, we would have eggs and duck meat. A few more herbs and some wild oats were gathered and our diet was much improved as was our food surplus.
Like the use of the avatar.
Yes I agree, this is the other reason why we didn't hear from Abandoned for a few days - she was off to the hair dresser for a makeover. ;D
:) :) :) Got the ears done over too ;D
Chapter 3
The duck pond not only provided eggs and duck meat but down as well. Along with leather from the deer or boars we could make warm clothes in the workshop. The summer months were hot and humid here in the swamp but winter and early spring were cool and damp. We needed the warm clothes. We also need logs and firewood. We gathered as many branches as we could find, there weren't many, they decomposed fast in the marshy swamp. We gathered more reeds to be packed and cut a few trees. A tiny chopper was set up next to the reed packer. We did not want to over harvest the trees. Trees did not grow readily in this part of the swamp and we needed some shade, but to the west was a large marshland with a lot of trees. It was unusual to have such a large area not covered with water in the swamp. The area would be good for farm fields if cleared, they would be marsh fields. We need seeds and we needed grain.
The harvest was good from the mushroom field and, with compost added, the onion patch did well also. Root crops as a rule do not do well in swampy wet soil but with the heat and sun they grew rapidly and were harvested before they could rot. Because the field and patch were cleaned of plant debris and were now being worked, the snails made their way to the remaining patch. There were a few onions there among the plant debris of other vegetables but the patch was small and we thought it would provide more snail meat than vegetables. As you know, weary traveler, many snails are edible. So are crocs.
Chapter 4
One of the men who had a bad leg from the frog attack began making nets to protect the shore from crocs. Another survivor began croc hunting from shore near the duck pond. It was then that 4 boats sailed up river, 2 families of swamp dwellers asked if they could stay. One couple was a widower with 2 children and a new bride who was expecting their first child and was too sick to continue sailing. The other couple had a toddler and a newborn. Three of the boats immediately sailed on while the wind was favorable, those boats were loaded with sacks and crates and potted fruit trees. Someone said they were lemon trees.
The families that stayed with us moved into one of the mushroom houses and 2 swamp houses that were built. They had some seeds with them and planted patches of tomatoes, peppers, and squash. They were glad to see we had compost and snails. They advised we eat the smaller snails and harvest the fertilizer left by the bigger ones, when added to the compost, the vegetables grew larger and faster.
The rest of that year and well into the next, we continued work on the roads and on cutting trees and gathering reeds for firewood. We were short of logs.
In spring of year 4, 9 more swamp dwellers arrived. The group was largely made up of young singles who had survived the frog attacks and were struggling to survive on their own. A family of 3 and a single male moved into the 2 mushroom houses across the pond. We build a small storage shed and firewood storage nearby. We found a mother tree not far from there and had 2 foresters cutting trees. Because we were short of logs, the first group of swamp dwellers that arrived brought over a large squash and gave it more compost and soon they were adding a door and windows to turn the squash into a house. We were impressed. They began growing another squash nearby.
Chapter 5
With the help of the 2 foresters and another reed packer our wood and firewood supply increased and in year 5 we began building a jetty across the lagoon to the river. We knew a river boatman would not want to row to shore through croc invested waters. We were eager for a boatman to come so we could send a message to our children back home letting them know where we were and that we were well.
We built a small jetty across the pond near our mushroom house. I gathered what berries, flax, and herbs I could find and planted them in pots out on the jetty. The marshland still had too many reed to allow many other wild things to grow.
The trading post was completed and a lighthouse was built next to it. We would continue building the jetty to the shore where the mother tree grew. In late autumn, Genni, the food merchant arrived. He confirmed what we already knew about the condition of life in the swamp since the frog attack, everything was in short supply. He would accept most anything in trade for the corn, wheat, and wild oats we ordered. We didn't have much except food that we could trade but we could trade our surplus for the grain. I hoped the other traders would accept seeds we had in exchange for seeds we needed. The compost fed tomatoes, peppers, and squash grew large and produced a lot of seed as well. We built a seed collector where we could put the extra seeds we collected in sacks to take to the trading post.
Chapter 6
As our surplus of food grew, we were concerned with the keeping quality. Tomatoes and peppers would not last long in this heat and humidity. The swamp dwellers who grew them suggested we make salsa, they could grow more onions if we needed them. A salsa store was built by the main storage barn.
We had a surplus of leather and flax. We built a workplace tailor to make hide coats and linen clothes to use as trade goods. We were hoping that a resource merchant would come to port, we were short of iron for our tool maker and the only surface iron was far to the northwest or across the river. We were short of laborers and had only 1 builder. There were several students ages 10 and 11 who would finish school soon but it would be a while before we needed houses for young couples. Our labor shortage became worse when one of the workers died of a weak heart. It was sad we had no cemetery. Our happiness and overall health were both down.
In early autumn, Gartha, the general goods merchant, came to port. She had wheat seeds and we had just enough trade goods to make the trade. We cleared land for a 10x12 wheat field and a small cemetery. Hopefully the grain would improve our health and time would heal our hearts.
Chapter 7
When Genni, the food merchant, returned in early spring we traded for corn and wild oats. Our wheat field would soon be planted. Genni said what was needed was foods that kept well in this heat. Kylandro, the river boatman who was helping the swamp dwellers, was delivering apple, walnuts, herbs, iron tools, linen clothes, firewood, and peg legs to anyone who needed them. There would soon be sea biscuits but trade of frog legs had been banned. We didn't need any of those thing but would keep in mind what others needed.
We hoped our overall health would improve with the corn, wild oats, and our first harvest of wheat but until then we built a tree stump herbalist by the main storage barn. The barn and other storage units were filled to near capacity. We built a jetty storage unit on the small jetty next to the plants and berries. A large jetty house was built there for one of the swamp dwelling families that just arrived, the struggle to survive had become too much for them. There were 9 adults and 3 children. A small jetty house was built for another family on the main jetty as well as a jetty fishing spot. On shore we built a smoker, smoke fish would keep longer and could be traded to help others.
What we needed was logs and iron. With more laborers we could cut a few more trees and gather the last of the iron far to the west. Because we were short of logs, 2 more squash were grown into houses for the remaining new arrivals. Everyone was housed by late autumn when Carling, the resource merchant came to port. We ordered logs and iron.
@Abandoned ;D :-[Sorry - you don't like it when someone bothers you - but I have an idea and a request at the same time - can you add peat to your story? additional fuel from the bogs to increase the survival rate - this is favored by cutting no down trees and people from the marshes would be happy for such a gift. Would @Kid - Modders
Banished Expert agree to my request? :P :-[ Sorry :-[again, but I don't know where to put this idea - which chapter? Maybe add this peat to the to the base of the Banished game - as fuel? ;)it would be cool . There is such peat only in "North 7.1 Bogland" Greetings
@taniu I will make note of peat suggestion, but there are no plans for swamp update anytime soon. There is a category for Suggestions and Mod Ideas where you can always start a new topic to post your ideas.
Chapter 8
When Uniqua, the seed merchant, arrived early in year 8, we ordered potato, cabbage, and pumpkin seeds. The pumpkins would also grow well in a compost patch but we needed another compost bin. Another option was to temporarily stop growing the perishable tomatoes and peppers. We had some in stock and now had a nice variety of foods, including grain. Our overall heath had improved to 100%. We did both, we stopped growing tomatoes, peppers, and mushrooms and built another compost bin by the cleaning shed. Another garden supply shed was built by the wheat field and another 10x12 wheat field was being cleared. The wheat was taken out of storage almost as soon as it was put in. We traded pork for more wheat and corn.
A single young adult girl who was living in one of the squash houses, planted another squash patch. Two smaller crop fields were being cleared by the wheat field so they would be ready for planting when our ordered seeds arrived. A crab jetty was built on the pond and a single young adult male became crab fisherman and soon had crab traps set out in the middle of the pond.
There were still young singles living at home, we had 27 families but only 22 homes. By early winter we had 2 more squash houses built. Our log supply was still very low but Carling, the resource merchant, only had iron when he returned. We traded reeds for all 66 pieces of iron that he had.
Mod note: regarding log and firewood shortage on this Swamp Thing map. There are sufficient trees on the map if cut, and gathered reeds are bundled as fuel bricks which are used as firewood. I am using experimental override fewer trees mod to make the map more difficult and give a reason for building the squash houses which are part of the featured Kid Home Grown mod. There is no need for addition fuel such as peat to be added to the swamp.
@Abandoned ;)Thank you for clarifying the fuel issue, I wanted to know your opinion on the peat idea. Ok I like your new avatar, great for a new story. Greetings
:) Thanks Taniu
Chapter 9
We were disappointed that the seed merchant had not returned in time for spring planting but we were glad to see that the recently planted trees were doing good. The resource merchant returned twice and we again traded for iron, he still had no logs. When we had cut enough logs, we built a jetty storage unit by the lighthouse. We also began installing rope railings on the jetty. There were still crocs in the lagoon waters but the croc hunter was keeping their number under control. The ducks were again multiplying.
The increased variety of food improved our overall health but our happiness was still a little low. We built a swamp chapel by the cemetery and by autumn we had a brewer workplace brewing ale from our wheat surplus.
In late winter, Uniqua, the seed merchant, returned with pumpkin seeds and with word from our children back home. All was well and they missed us as much as we missed them. They hoped we would be returning home soon to meet our new grandchildren. We hoped so too.
I've been noticing what appear to be mushroom trees ( not the Shroom ) in this story and wonder how they originate, ie, in the terrain or are you adding them as deco?
@Glenn Those mushrooms are from new soon-to-be released Kid Deco Magic Mushrooms. They are placeable deco that come in 4 colors - only one color is used in this story.
Magic mushrooms - sounds like an alternative to witches brew. :-\
;D ya, Actually Kid made the smaller ones while we were working on Fairy Garden but never decided what to do with them. The were too nice not to do something with them so he added a few more colors and sized and made them deco. The name remained :-\ :)
Chapter 10
Year 10 began with a cool wet spring but the pumpkins got planted in the field next to the wheat. When the weather warmed and the sun again began to shine, the pumpkins grew rapidly. So did the pumpkins in the patch that was planted by the squash houses. The warm wet summer had more giant mushrooms sprouting in the mushroom groves too.
Our food surplus was very good but we were still always short of iron and logs. Carling, the resource merchant returned again with iron but still no logs. Swamp survivors were still struggling with the more difficult tasks of cutting trees and firewood, gathering stone and iron, and clearing land for crops. Since frog legs had been banned, most were surviving on fish and what little wild foods they could find. They depended on the supplies brought to them by the river boatman, Kylandro and his son Brette. They were trying to encourage the swamp dwellers to raise pigs and eat pork. With our large surplus certainly we could help supply some needed food supplies. Carling said he would get word to the Cove which was the base of operations for the relief effort.
Chapter 11
I had gathered seedlings from the apple wallow and had enough now to begin planting a large apple forester. Planting had just begun when 17 swamp dwellers arrived. They had been driven from their settlement by repeated raids from pirates. The raiders were not Kylandro's men but small groups of other survivors who thought it better to raid their neighbors than do the work themselves. So, Kylandro was a pirate and the base of operations was Pirate's Cove and these folks came to help us supply him with goods. Many of the swamp settlements were returning to normal and wanted to trade rather than except hand outs, they got better deals and fairer trade from Kylandro's men. That would continue to be possible if they got goods from us rather then from Riverboat Junction. Okay then, these newcomers were welcome here, all 15 of them and their 2 children.
Another giant mushroom had sprouted in the mushroom grove on our mainland and 2 in the grove across the small jetty. They would house 3 families. A jetty cabin and fishing spot were built on the small jetty for another family. One young adult male promptly moved in with one of our adult females. And because we were still short of logs, 2 pumpkins from the field were placed nearby and fed enough compost to grow them into good size pumpkin houses for the remaining 2 families. The families helped cut some trees and gather branches and reeds for firewood.
Chapter 12
In spring of year 12, we took inventory of what items we could stock the trading post with to donate to the relief effort. We had a large surplus of pork plus smoke fish, pumpkin, squash, and apples that kept well, plus salsa, crab, and croc meat. We had hide coats, linen clothes, seeds, and seedlings too. It would take a while to get our trading post stocked. We could not trade tools that were needed because of our constant shortage of iron. When Carling returned he had logs but no iron this time. Even though we had logs from the tree cutting we did over winter, we traded for the logs he had.
We wanted a steady supply of iron and tools so we built a bridge across the river. There was plenty of surface iron to be had. We built an toolsmith anvil by the main stockpile, the workshop could make hide coats from leather or linen clothes from flax to trade. The workplace tailor could make warm coats for our use from leather and down.
We had the first apple harvest from the apple forester who was still gathering stone, logs, and reeds as he continued to plant apple seedlings. The fruit gatherer gathered wild foods as well as apples. Another pumpkin house was being grown by the crop fields and Uniqua, the seed merchant, brought our ordered cabbage seeds that would be planted in the small field next to the pumpkins the following year. By early spring of year 13, a swamp house and shed were built across the river.
Chapter 13
Marshfield had certainly grown since we Elves arrived to help 12 year ago and there was still plenty of room to expand, both across the river and on this side by the crop fields. Marshfield was well on its way to becoming a major food supplier to the Summerset Swamp dwellers. Those crop fields produced wheat, pumpkins, and cabbage. The main part of town still produced snail meat and onions, and made salsa, and smoked fish. The apple wallow produced pork, mushrooms, and apples. There was a croc hunter and a fishing pier nearby. The mushroom grove grew mushrooms, tomatoes, and peppers. The small jetty produced berries, herbs and flax, and fish. The main jetty provided more fish and the trading post shared what we had with other swamp dwellers. The citizens of Marshfield were 100% healthy due to the variety and abundant supply of foods.
Chapter 14
This is the summer of year 13 and we know that our help here in Marshfield is no longer needed. The town and townspeople are thriving. The population is 116, 64 adults, 22 students, and 30 young children. There are still young adults living at home, Marshfield has 37 families living in 32 homes. There are swamp house, jetty houses, mushroom houses, and Home Grown squash and pumpkin houses.
Yes, weary traveler, we have every confidence that the swamp dweller will manage fine on their own and we can head back home to Greenwood. It was nice talking with you here in Marshfield and hope you enjoy the rest of the summer.
The End
Very nice story.
Scratching head, hmmm maybe something new in the works?
Thank you :) Stop scratching :) a few things in the works :)
Kid Home Grown and Kid Deco Magic Mushrooms mods have been released. Find info and link to downloads here:
Home Grown http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=3999.0
Deco Mushrooms http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=4000.0
YeeHa, slapping knee with gusto.
@Abandoned I love your stories. You and
@kid1293 make a fantastic pair. Great work, thanks to both of you. Adding the new Mods to my library.
Oh wow, this is lovely! I would never have guessed a swamp town could be so cozy and inviting!
:) Thanks :) After over 70 stories it still amazes me how the whole atmosphere of a town can be changed by adding a few mods. :)