Abandoned - Newburg - Part 2 - Story 5 NWS

[Abandoned]

Intro


  This story is a continuation of Newburg Story 1.  Jenser and Shie, river boatmen from the other side of the world, and you, eager explorer, left Newburg in the late spring of year 20 NWT.  You were off to see the world, to explore the area, and to hopefully find stops for a new trade route.  You found Rainbow Falls of story 2, Green Pastures of story 3, and Fisherman's Cove of story 4, before returning now to Newburg in late summer of year 21 NWT.






The map and mods are the same as in Newburg Story 1 except Mega Mod Deco Animals mod was added for this story:

Map seed # 413244047   Valley,  Small,  Mild,  Disasters Off, North Easy (5 Families, seeds, animals)


Mods activated for this map and load order are:

Map Changing and Starting Mods:   Banished UI Maps

Tweak Mods:  Fishing Dock +25%

Major or Must Have Mods:    An Empty Square, Nomads (Kid), North 7, Nordic Stone Hut, Stone Tools, Kid Alotofseeds Trader 2, Kid WorkPlace Village, Mini Buildings

Supporting Mods:   Deco Tombstones, Kid Animal Barn Plus, Kid Deco Farm Animals, Kid Fruit and Nut, Kid Hedgerow, Kid HouseBoat, Kid Market Food, Kid Wind Sawmill, Small Well, Tiny Quary



  Oh, eager explorer, I have so much to tell you.  While you've been settling into the longhouse, I've been spending time with my two daughters who stayed behind when we went exploring.  I've also been talking to my neighbors.  We've been gone only a little over a year but a lot has happened in that time.  I'll tell you all about it. 

[Abandoned]

Chapter 1






  Just after we left, eager explorer, some building was done, mostly workplace houses up by the mead hall and chapel by the mine.   A small house was built across from the longhouse and farm field for Alvadore.  Yes, the young man who was sweet on our daughter Mericka.  His mother, the hunter, died, leaving her husband, Lamberly, with a teenage daughter and a toddler.  Mericka moved in with them to help with the young one, we thought it was because of Alvadore but we were wrong, by autumn he had moved out.  It wasn't long after, according to my neighbor, that a 15-year-old girl moved in with him.  By spring of this year, our Mericka had a child, a boy she named Skylan.  Yes, Jenser and I are grandparents.  When we left, the population of Newburg was 146, 86 adults, 10 students, and 50 young children.  Now when we return, the population is 162, 88 adults, 14 students, and 60 young children.



  There were visitors to the town while we've been away.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 2




  While we were gone, there were a few groups of migrants who did not stay; they wanted to go south where it was warmer.  One group must have gone west because earlier this year, a riverboat came down the small stream from the northwest.  His boss heard from migrants that there was a growing settlement here and he was hoping to find a supplier of furs.  The supply of furs from the New World was dwindling; those migrating there by ship still made deals to pay their passage by supplying furs but as more migrated the game they trapped and hunted became less plentiful.  Even after the railroad went further west business did not improve much, transporting took time.  Warm fur coats and fur home goods were still a hot item here in the north; a new supply of furs here locally was desired.  Newburg could be one of those suppliers. 

  Eager explorer, it sounds very much to me like the New World he talked about was our world and his world here is the Old Country the ancestors talked about, the Old Country they migrated from. 

  Well, the town elders told the man that we did not trap animals for their fur, we hunted deer for venison and hides and had sheep that provided wool; we had plenty of warm coats and hides for other uses.  The boatman said that most small game trapped was also edible and he could instruct our smith how to make traps that killed the animal instantly, it would not suffer.  They learned this from Elves.  We could trade the furs for all manner of building materials, useful items, and foods.  He suggested at least one trading post be built downriver as close to the small stream as possible; it was not easy traveling up this river at this time of year after all the spring rains and snowmelt. 





  The boatman left with a list of needed items and work began on a trapper cabin and a small trading post.  A forester workplace had just been set up southwest of town so the trapper cabin would be built to the southeast; it would be closer to the river and the trading post.  As suggested, the trading post would be built where the small stream flowed into the river.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 3






  The trapper cabin and trading post were completed shortly before we returned; we saw the new trading post as we went by.  The first of the furs were already being taken there.   It was so good to be back home.  Our 4 girls were all happy to see each other again.  Sharmaniel, who remained home under the watchful eye of her older sister, was now 13 and still a student.  She was delighted with the 2 cats her sisters brought home with us; one or both of the cats would go with her to school right outside our front door.  Other children now wanted one of their own; that was likely to happen since we thought one of the cats would have kittens soon. 





  Our daughter, Mericka, also wanted one of the kittens.  She saw the cats go after the mice by the barley field; they've had one or 2 of the little rodents in the house.  Oh, you saw one in the longhouse too, eager explorer.  That's not surprising since the barley field is right outside the longhouse's front door.  We can only hope for a lot of kittens then.  Perhaps our first river boatman to Rainbow Falls could pick up another pair of cats for us, they are in need of stone just as we were before we dug the tiny quarry.  The next visitors to Newburg while we were gone can provide our river boatman with the needed stone.

  The Dwarves to the west, who traded tools for food before we arrived, came to the Nords again to trade or work; their underground city was getting crowded, and food was scarce.  Our town elders asked if they'd be interested in establishing a settlement close by to provide our riverboat traders with stone; in exchange we would supply them with food.  They agreed.  The Dwarves built a bridge and headed east over the river.  Dwarves are good at building things.  They headed east through the pass in the mountains planning to find a good place to settle by a river.  They left here in late autumn last year; those Dwarves are a hardy bunch.
 

[Glenn]

Ah, such is life on the River of No Return, but Marilyn and Robert are nowhere to be seen. 

[Abandoned]

Chapter 4


 I know you are eager to get back to exploring, eager explorer, but we have a favor to ask, actually 2 favors.   The houseboat is yours, eager explorer, to go where you want, but we were hoping you would be willing to make the first trade run for us.  We have 2 young singles wanting to be river boatmen; a second riverboat has just been built.  You're familiar with the new route and customers and could probably teach the boys a thing or two about navigating.  You know we would go ourselves if we hadn't just had a baby boy.  Yes, four girls and now finally Jenser has a son.  You would, oh that is wonderful, eager explorer, we greatly appreciate it.

  The first stop, of course, is Rainbow Falls.  They need stone and wool; we can send some stone from our Tiny Quarry to tide them over until the Dwarves can produce more.  We also can spare some wool from our sheep pasture.  The Elves will likely trade apples, walnuts, and leather for the stone and wool, but accept anything they have.  And don't forget to ask about the cats.





  The second stop is Green Pastures.  They need tools and grain; we can spare some tools and we have barley from our fields and oats from our greenhouses.  If they trade fertilizer, we will be able to build more greenhouses.  They can replenish the wool supply and they also have salted meat and goat cheese to trade.  They have some ores that the Dwarves might be interested in once we have them on the trade route.  Again, accept anything they are willing to trade.



  The third stop is Fisherman's Cove.  They could use some of the leather and wool you've accepted as trade goods from Rainbow Falls and Green Pastures.  They need grain also and we'll send potatoes; they ration their harvest over the winter so they have some to plant in spring.  They have smoke fish and linen clothes to trade; we are sure to find a market for those items sooner or later. 

  Jenser and I are thinking of settling a Trade Depot along this river where the accepted trade items can be dropped off until needed by another customer; rather like Riverboat Junction back on our side of the world, but until then return trade goods here.  Be sure to take special orders if there's anything the customers need.  We will try to provide those items.

[kid1293]

  Great chapter!

[Abandoned]

Thanks @kid1293   


Chapter 5






  Yes, eager explorer, I did mention another favor.  The 2 riverboats are ready to go but we need to find exactly where the Dwarves are and what they need in exchange for stone and possibly tools.  The deal was to provide food; we're building another greenhouse so there will be more potatoes, onions, carrots, oats, and blueberries. If you get fertilizer from Green Pastures, we can build more greenhouses.  We have turnips and barley too. By the time you get to the Dwarves, they should have some sort of food supply established, but leave whatever food you got in trade with them.  It will be their payment for establishing the settlement.  Once the Depot is established, we plan to build a barge to transport the Dwarves stone to the Depot for the river boatmen to pick up from there.   Also, keep an eye open for any other settlements that would want to become a stop on our trade route.  We really appreciate you doing these favors for us, eager explorer. 

   We know you are eager to be on your way but it would be best to wait until after the snow melt and spring runoff; the river will be slower and easier for the new boatmen to navigate.  It won't be long; it'll be late spring before you know it.  And don't worry, you won't miss a thing here; I'll keep a journal of events for you to read when you return.  It will be interesting to see what the fur trader's boat will bring.  We won't leave to establish the depot until after you return.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 6   The Journal




Late Spring year 22 - Eager Explorer and 2 young river boatmen left on maiden trade route run.



Early Summer year 22 - Three kittens were born.  Daughter, Mericka, took one of the kittens, farmer Ranco took another.  He would leave the longhouse door ajar during the day for the kitten to control the mouse population.  The 3rd kitten went to Parrison who worked the grinder.  The kitten would keep mice away from the sacks of grain and flour.  Karandie, the baker, was seen feeding tidbits of bread to the kitten on more than one occasion.



Early Summer year 22 - Colleena, a local merchant, arrived at the small trading dock.  The merchant was not happy to leave without furs but she had nothing we needed, just food and textiles.  We needed panes of glass and a Bible for the Wooden Chapel we planned to build.  Our overall happiness was still low.



Autumn year 22- The harvest was almost complete when the first snowfall of the season occurred.  Ranco, the farmer, would close up the longhouse and take the kitten home with him.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 7  The Journal Continued


Late Autumn year 22 - Bogland had to be reclaimed in order to build roads to the trading posts; a Big Trading Dock was under construction. 





Early Winter year 22 - Brantlee, a Frankish Merchant arrived and took our order for rope, panes of glass, and Bibles. 

Late Winter year 22 - all the building materials finally got to the Big Trading Dock construction site.  We had 13 laborers but the distance was considerable.



Spring year 23 - Local merchant, Audrian, arrived with fresh caught salmon.  We could not resist.  We traded 10 furs for 150 fish.

Early Summer year 23 - building materials were taken to the site chosen for the new Wooden Chapel.  We still waited for our special-order Bibles to be delivered.  The chapel would hold 100 citizen and was sure to raise our overall happiness.





Summer year 23 - The Big Trading Dock was completed.

Early Autumn year 23 - Laborers discovered 4 gold nuggets along the shore by the trading dock, probably dislodged by the construction.

Late Autumn year 23 - Jasence, the Ami Trader, arrived at the small trading post with much the same goods to trade as the others.  Kyman, from the Volga trade route, arrived at the Big Trading Dock with the same.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 8  The Journal Continued


Late Winter year 23 - Two workplace houses were built, halfway between the trading posts and the town, for the traders.





Early Summer year 24 - a Depot Barge was built.  Starting supplies could be transported on it to the Depot settlement.

Summer year 24 - Irenee from England arrived at the Big Trading Dock.  We did not know where England was.  She took our order for panes of glass and Bibles.





Late Summer year 24 - Our riverboats did not return yet with fertilizer from Green Pastures so we built another cleaning shed by the new greenhouse to insure a steady supply of fresh vegetables.  We expect the houseboat and riverboats to return at any time.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 9


  Welcome back, eager explorer.  It's nice to see you again.  I see you remembered to bring more cats from Rainbow Falls.  Yes, the boys have been back and gone again on a 2nd run.





  And yes, our family is doing well.  Oldest daughter, Merika, and her family is doing fine.  Second oldest, Sharmaniel, finished school and is living in the small hostel with Garet who is the priest at the small chapel next to it.  I don't know if they're a couple, Shar doesn't say much; she's a lot like her older sister that way.  Third daughter, Amia, will be starting school soon.  She wants to stay here like her sister Sharmaniel did, with her older sister to look out for her.  We agreed but will not leave here to establish the Depot until she is in school. We will again be taking our 2 youngest children with us.



  We think the next year few years will be a struggle.  Our population has grown but our food supply is not keeping up.  There are a lot of young children to feed and hunting and harvests have not been very good. 

[Abandoned]

Chapter 10


  See, eager explorer, I was proven right.  Our food supply has been a struggle.  We had to collect what wild foods we could find several times.  Our clothing supply was also a bit low because of the poor hunting.  At least Wendolyn, the Sami trader, brought some leather and reindeer hides, but they weren't cheap.  Nothing these traders have is cheap and they will only give us a good price for furs; they will only give 1 trade value for our mead.  We have to expand our trade route and increase our products once we get our food supply stabilized. 





  We found another apple and walnut fruit and nut patch but it is encroaching on the forest and hunting area.  We just built another bait shop and fishing pier.  The catch of salmon is not very big.  Our overall happiness is still a bit low but finally the Bibles we ordered have arrived.  We have hopes that the Wooden Chapel will increase Newburg's happiness.  We would hate to leave not having done all we could to repay the Nord's for their kindness. 

[Abandoned]

Chapter 11



  By autumn, we had more bogland reclaimed.  Next spring turnips will be planted in the new field by the bait shop, and turnips and barley will be planted in the new fields by the forester's apple and walnut patch.   







  The 2 builders were finally able to finish the Wooden Chapel but sadly even though the last of our citizens had a place to worship, the town's overall happiness did not increase.  The fact that winter came a season early and killed half the harvest did not help either.



 But, eager explorer, there is hope.  The riverboat boys should be returning soon with more fertilizer from Green Pastures, and the new crop fields will be planted.  We plan to leave to establish the Depot next spring; our Amia has started school, she will be fine; her sisters Mericka and Sharmaniel will watch over her and we will not be that far away.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 12




  As you know, eager explorer, things did not go well last winter here in Newburg.  When we arrived here 26 years ago, there were 13 citizens counting us, 10 adults with 3 children. In early winter of year 26, there were 196 citizens, 111 adults, 9 students, and 76 young children; the food supply was critically low.  That early snow took its toll.  By late spring of year 27 the population was down to 180, 99 adults, 11 students, and 70 young children, and still falling. 

  The gatherer and her 2 young children were the first to die of starvation. Their deaths were followed by those of a forester, fisherman, trader, and several children.  There was nothing we could do to stop the death toll from rising.  There were no wild foods to gather and no riverboat merchant came to port until it was too late. We had no spare workers to help move the food we traded for out of the trading posts.  Our small cemetery was full and we had no workers to clear bogland for another one.  Our health and happiness dropped further.





  Jenser and I wanted to cancel our plans to go establish a Riverboat Depot but the town elders and our children convinced us that now more than ever we needed an affordable and reliable trade system.  It was so kind of you to make an emergency food run to Rainbow Falls, eager explorer.  It may be enough to tide the town over until harvest time.  And you brought an assortment of seeds and baby chicks back with you from a new customer, how nice.  We're heading south so we should still have time to establish a settlement and food supply. We'll take some of the seeds and chicks with us. The last group of nomads that arrived will follow us with the depot barge and new riverboat.  We won't be far downriver.  We know we will be seeing you again, eager explorer.  Fare thee well.




The End