Skelleyville
Located in the Hiloak mountain range ( a large forested territory that spans several nations ), Skelleyville is an archiac place where poverty runs thick, but so does privilege.
Skelleyville was initially founded by opportunistic settlers who had no intention of staying within the region. Much to their displeasure, they found that the woods, the mountains, the stone, held something within it that compelled a portion of them to stay, regardless of how much they wished to leave.
Nowadays, the town has fallen to a bit of ruin. Strange rumors flood it. Whispers of ghosts and shadow-creatures catch the ears of those who listen. It's hard to tell what's true or not, and this effort isn't helped by the locals having no desire at all to discuss the supernatural.
For the most part.
Demographics
Skelleyville inhabitants are approximately 45 percent carnivorous and 55 percent herbivorous (as per usual, the omnivorous population is counted among the carnivores courtesy of meat consumption).
Primary species appear to be moose, deer, hares, coyotes, wolves, squirrels and foxes.
Other species are catamounts, weasels, rats, and fishers.
Government
Skelleyville, as part of the country of Ester, is a democratically-run location, but in actuality the place leans more towards an Oligarchy, with old families controlling who is elected mayor and who is allowed on the school boards.
Positions of importance include:
Mayor,
Ombudsman,
Town Administrator,
Financial Observation,
Public Works Director,
Police Chief
and Fire Chief.
Industry & Trade
Mining and ores kept the town afloat in years past. Now, the town is kept afloat by being a drive-through town -- and the local legend that drives tourists.
An intermodal has been built on the western side of Skelleyville which also serves to bolster the local economy.
Infrastructure
Skelleyville has a functioning sewer system and decent waterworks. Located approximately fifty miles from Skelleyville proper is the Malson Butchery, where non-sapient animals are killed for meat.
Skelleyville's roads are made of both asphalt and dirt, with the back-woods roads being comprised of dirt and gravel in most cases. The roads, particularly those on the more affluent side of town, are well cared for.
Three watermills provide emergency power to Skelleyville's schools and hospital.
A mine, dug into the side of a mountain, was Skelleyville's initial claim to fame. Then, gold. Silver. Minerals to make you rich. The corpses of these places still stand, and Skelleyville bears them like blister wounds.
Assets
Stores of note -->
Teri's Tables & Such -> a furniture store maintained by Teri Cranshaw and her family. Much of what they provide is handmade, which naturally drives the prices up, but the work the family does is good. Teri is getting grey in the fur, and has begun considering which of her children, if any, will be given the keys to the store when she's gone.
Drink City -> a rather eccentric local bar run by Charles Sedaris. He's only been in town a few years, but he's made himself a fixture of the town, and his bar provides jobs for the college kids when they're home for break or the summer. Rumor has it he doesn't card certain days of the week, but who's to tell if that's true or not?
Guilds and Factions
Five families have had their hands in the development of Skelleyville for centuries. These are the Saint Aurons, the Josephians, the Fratelli, the Mason-Tafts, and the Whalen families. Incredibly affluent, the five families use their wealth to control Skelleyville despite the inhabitants' wishes. The Whalens, for example, are essentially known to own the SVPD.
On the outskirts of Skelleyville, Big Karen's Gang -- which has no official name -- lives in a series of trailers, manufacturing meth and moonshine. Big Karen, a massive boar, makes no secret of her criminal enterprise.
The SVPD are understaffed and highly stressed. Policing is especially difficult when there are open criminals flaunting what they are. What's worse, though, is that the SVPD is entirely on the payroll of the Whalen family, and they're usually busy enforcing what the Whalen clan wants rather than solving cases. Many of them have written it off as necessary.
Covert among the inhabitants of Skelleyville, Tyme's Circle is a cult that has been keeping the town safe for centuries. A failure in 2011 resulted in the Skelleyville massacre, which was kept suppressed with great effort. The cult-members are highly interested in making sure no individual is capable of identifying them, and recruitment is quiet.
The Skelleyville Seven are seven young women who were found abandoned in 2011 after the massacre. Rescued from a cave in the woods, the Skelleyville Seven have since split and gone their separate ways-- but a few keep in touch still.
Tourism
Tourism driven by fear and recklessness. You don't come to Skelleyville unless you want to meet a family member or friend -- or you want to spend some time in the old mines. Maybe walk the haunted trails.
Famous statement: there's no such thing as ghosts.
Famous statement: there's no such thing as ghosts.
what's in your head?
ALERT ALERT ALERT
Three missing children reported ▇▇▇▇▇▇ at ▇▇▇▇. SVPD en route to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ at approximately 0800 hours, followup report pending.
Three missing children reported ▇▇▇▇▇▇ at ▇▇▇▇. SVPD en route to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ at approximately 0800 hours, followup report pending.
Founding Date
1739
Founders
Type
Town
Population
16,000
Location under
Related Tradition (Primary)
Characters in Location
Comments