Gravesend
Located at the base of the Hell’s Fingers, the town of Gravesend is a smokey, slapdash town built from old, broken machinery and rusted train cars. It is the home of the Monroe Corporation, and survives off the wealth stored within the Hell’s Mouth mining complex.
Government
Gravesend is organized like most settlements in Union. Most deputies within the town get their paychecks directly from the hands of the Monroe Corporation, and are more akin to a Monroe militia than an actual police force. The head of the deputies is Sheriff Jessie “Quickdraw” O’Niel, who has seen an increase in wages since taking office nearly 10 years ago. His interests, unsurprisingly, lay with the Monroe Corporation.
The Gravesend Council has traditionally been a puppet group of Monroe associates. Recently, however, and in no small thanks to the local Severance cell, Councilors with real public interests have been elected. Some, especially the Monroe, believe that the elections were rigged, but the public has been staunchly opposed to any investigation. And with talks of mine workers unionizing, the corporation has been hesitant to stir the pot further.
Like most mayors in Union, Mayor Rhavea Coletti only seems to hold minor amounts of power. Many wonder how she even ended up mayor; she was born and raised in Rivia, the capital of Messino, and has no real loyalty to the Monroe Corporation. She is, however, always tired and worn down, driven to apathy by the unending corruption, and everyone knows that’s the reason she is still “in charge” of the town.
The Regional Attorney of Gravesend, Eniser Fineriver, holds the real power in the town, only overshadowed by Elkoris Monroe himself. In his 2 centuries of “service” to Gravesend, he has sent countless union organizers to The Vale and protected corporate interests accordingly. Interestingly enough, according to the local Severance cell, he and Elkoris have been at odds for the last few years, though it’s not clear why.
Defences
Not only do the dams protect from floods, it also protects from invasion as well. The town has never been invaded by any force, even by Belcarra’s military 250 years ago.
Infrastructure
A mining town through and through, Gravesend is a mix of decaying wood, scrap metal, and fine brick. There is a stark class divide in the town, with the southern side a large shantytown and industrial sector, and the north belonging to the more privileged classes - usually Monroe sycophants.
The town itself if built into a red rock canyon with only three ways in and out, one of which is a busy rail line. To the north, the canyon leads directly to the largest entrances to the mining complex, and the south opens up to the Union desert. Beyond both gates are large, moveable dams which can be mechanically lowered in moments during flash floods.
Assets
Gravesend sits on top of a major platinum vein, and gold and silver veins are easily reached to the southeast and northwest. Their main export is raw and refined ore, but the Gravesend campus of the Spiritworks Technical Institute also allows for a significant export of warforged and mechanical war machines.
History
The settlement of Gravesend was technically founded in 11E, 473, but wasn’t officially recognized until 12E, 73. For the most part, Gravesend functioned as any other boomtown, its history one of expansion. In 12E, 246, as Gravesend began to really flourish and an outflow of citizens from Belcarra arrived in the town, the then-capital city of Belcarra launched an attack to gain control of the mines and resources of Gravesend. The attack ultimately failed, and the town remained in Monroe hands. Within the next decade, its control had expanded throughout Union. In 12E, 451, Gravesend’s founder, Lorsan Monroe died of natural causes, leaving his son, high half-elf named Elkoris, in charge of the company and, by proxy, Union itself.
Founding Date
12E, 73
Type
City
Population
10,000
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments