Iron and Jade

1. #1Continental Railroad Company

   Keys: Mountain central, southern desert, mcreedy, railroad, rail, pacifica west, the company, scrip, money

   While there are small, regional competitors, the Continental Railroad Company is the ubiquitous transport and services company west of the Mississippi, so much so that locals just call it 'The Company'. The three main lines it operates are:

   • Mountain Central Line - Runs from Vancouver, to Virginia, with major stops in Denver and Missouri.
   • Pacifica West Line - Runs from Angel City in New California to Aleutia, with major stops in Saint Francis and Vancouver.
   • Southern Desert Line - Runs from Angel City to Florida, with major stops in Mesa and Texas. The railroad is the largest employer and builder of towns in the West, and often at odds with the Feds on many issues, though they cannot openly oppose Columbia. The President of the company, E.M. McReedy, sees himself as a sort of President of the West, with crew chiefs acting as mayors and governors of railway towns, which accept Company Scrip as well as Columbian currency at most businesses.
2. #2United Territories of Columbia

   Keys: law, feds, columbia, fed, lawman

   The United Territories of Columbia, or 'Columbia' is the governing body of the North Columbian continent, spreading from the frigid north all the way to distant southern jungles. The eastern coast is well developed and urban, pushing the poorest and those seeking opportunity westward to colonize and seek their fortunes. It is a common phrase by those running from the law out east that 'Columbia stops at the Mississippi', and in practice it is almost accurate. Federal Lawmen,'Feds', are an uncommon sight.

3. #3New California

   Keys: angel city, southern desert, california, pacifica west, dust gulch

   A network of gold towns, coastal cities, mountain passes, and dusty ranches along the western coast. Its capital is Angel City, and is one of the few major cities in the west with a permanent posting of Feds.

4. #4Costa Alta

   Keys: pacifica west, saint francis, Costa alta

   Costa Alta is the mountainous and heavily forested territory north of New California. Sparsely populated aside from the coast itself, its capital, Saint Francis, is a shipping stopover between Angel City to the south and Vancouver to the north.

5. #5Pacifica

   Keys: pacifica, asian, pacifica west, asia, vancouver

   The far northwestern reaches and last civilized territory. Pacifica is a haven of fur trappers, loggers, and those who wish to disappear in remote mountain valleys. Fishing and lumber are major exports out of the capital city of Vancouver, which exports by boat to Angel City or by rail to Denver in the Painted Mountains Territory. Vancouver is the gateway to Columbia from Asia, as nearly 90 percent of immigrants from Asian countries pass through en route to Angel City or further east.

6. #6Shoshone Country

   Keys: wasatch, natives, mountain central, reno, tribes, tribe, shoshone, native

   Inhabited by interconnected tribes of eagle, coyote, and deer demihumans, Shoshone Country is only lightly inhabited by anyone swearing any allegiance to Columbia. Shoshone Country is largely high mountain desert and pine forests. The only large settlements of note are Wasatch and Reno, which are rail depot cities along the Mountain Central Continental Railroad line.

7. #7Pueblo Territory

   Keys: pueblo, natives, skinwalker, tribes, tribe, thunderbird, native

   Pueblo territory is a region inhabited largely by tribes of elk, wolf, boar, and sheep demihumans, while other species tribes are in the minority. It is a largely desert territory, with ridges of mountain desert separating bands of lower elevation sandy desert. It is a land of superstition and ancient history. Cities older than Columbia itself are carved into mountain sides, and local legends like the Thunderbird and Skinwalkers color the people's distrust of outsiders.

8. #8Arizona

   Keys: mesa, arizona, red rock, southern desert

   Arizona is a thirsty desert territory, filled with abandoned mining towns, cattle ranches, and mesa-top communities overlooking rail spurs. The only reason someone comes to Arizona is because they want to get to Angel City in New California, and the only reason anyone would stop is either because they can't continue onward or they like Arizona's lawlessness. 'Ain't no Fed brave enough to step foot in Mesa' is a common Arizonan sentiment.

9. #9Vega

   Keys: Vega

   Vega is a small city in northern Arizona Territory along the Vega Cutoff, running from Yuma to Reno. Originally a watering hole in the desert where laborers stayed, it's become a hub town in the desert Southwest. About 6000 permanent residents work ranches, mine precious metals, and support a bustling service industry of large brothels, saloons, and casinos that draw the wealthy from as far away as Missouri.

10. #10Mesa

    Keys: Mesa

    Mesa is a small city of about 2000, and the central hub of the Southern Desert Line through Arizona. The Company has a strong hold on the city, influencing everything from local politics to law enforcement, often standing in the way of any meaningful enforcement to preserve its own interest. Mesa has a large warehouse district along the rails, as well as the normal goods and services expected of a bustling, but largely lawless, frontier town.

11. #11The Rattlers

    Keys: mercenaries, rattler, rattlers, viper, bandit, outlaws, kingley, bandits, mercs, merc, sidewinder, mercenary

    The Rattlers are a group of brutal outlaws and bandits masquerading as a mercenary company. They are regularly contracted by the rich and powerful to do jobs that they don't want pointing back to them, often with no witnesses. Many of the top officers of the gang are reptilian demihumans, led by brothers Charlie 'Viper' Kingley, and Bill 'Sidewinder' Kingley, but humans, other demihumans, and even the odd werewolf make up the bulk of the crew. Rattlers in the field wear white cowboy hats with black bands and black bandanas over their lower faces.

12. #12Turquoise Syndicate

    Keys: mercenaries, turqs, law, turquoise, mercs, turq, merc, lawman, mercenary

    The Turquoise Syndicate, or just "The Turqs" are a loosely affiliated mercenary company of retired lawmen, ex soldiers, and bounty hunters. They are hired for protection details, caravan guards, and deputy lawmen in times of need. Members of the syndicate wear silver feather bolo ties with a turquoise stone in the center, and usually black or grey double-breasted vests. Turqs tend to operate where the reach of a settlement's lawman ends. The Turqs have a very simple code: No slaving, no murder in cold blood, no rape. Outside that, nearly anything is fair game.

13. #13E.M. McReedy

    Keys: the company, railroad, Mcreedy

    E.M. McReedy is the president of the Continental Railroad Company. Since the completion of its major lines, he’s been at work building spurs and infrastructure out west, and kept out of the public eye. He dispenses his will through his Crew Chiefs. Since he rarely is seen during the day, rides the rail in a car which famously has blackout curtains, and has appeared pale the few times he has been seen, rumors about that he is sickly and dying, or that he may have allowed himself to be turned by a vampire so he can enjoy his wealth and power for eternity.

14. #14Cillian ‘Colt’ McCarty

    Keys: mesa, colt, cillian, sheriff

    Sheriff Cillian ‘Colt’ McCarty is the current Sheriff of Mesa, taking over after the last Sheriff disappeared two years ago. Originally from back East, Colt is a mostly honorable man who often butts heads with self proclaimed power brokers, while still knowing how far he can actually push. It’s said he headed west to escape gambling debts in Atlantic City. 8 deputies work under him. He hopes to restore some order to Mesa and the Arizona Territory, and actually do some good with his life. He is a centaur, is 37 years old, and is an absolute deadeye with a rifle. Speaks with a faint Irish accent. A stingy bastard.

15. #15Grayson Thompkins

    Keys: thompkins, silver moon, southern desert, grayson, outlaws, outlaw

    Grayson Thompkins is a 32-year-old human outlaw and leader of the Silver Moon Gang. They are bank robbers, stagecoach interceptors, and cold blooded murderers. He prefers Company owned targets, the harder the better. Hates the company after his family’s land was seized to build the Southern Desert Line when he was a boy. His father drank himself to an early grave, and Grayson found that killing and robbing was more enjoyable than being a laborer for hire. Grayson is a werewolf, and has enough rage inside him to bring out his inner wolf even without the moon. He is a gunslinger, but prefers the feel of blood on his claws. Wherever vice is traded, his boys can be found spending their ill gotten gains on liquor, women, and sin.

    The Silver Moon Gang is about 200 strong, but operates in smaller cells typically. They are outlaws that roam from Shoshone Country through Arizona, Pueblo Territory, and into Western Texas

16. #16Yui 'The Shadow' Takagi

    Keys: Yui, assassin, Vega, the shadow, bounty hunter, Jade Maiden

    Yui 'The Shadow' Takagi is a solo bounty hunter and contract killer operating in Arizona and Shoshone. She is a 29-year-old female kitsune demihuman who was once forced into brothel work as a teen after being trafficked from her home country. She killed her mistress at 18, strangling her with a curtain pull. Kills up close and personal, either with blades or a garrotte. Her hair and the fur of her tail and ears is midnight black.

    Uses her body like a weapon when it suits her. Privately somber and homesick, but doesn't want to return home 'dirty'. Hates being touched when she isn’t expecting it, and has broken mens’ fingers before for doing so.

    Currently the madam of The Jade Maiden, a brothel and hub in Vega where she houses and cares for the girls she's rescued from less scrupulous establishments and trafficking rings. The girls are surprisingly well cared for, and operate as her eyes and ears, bringing her information.

17. #17Fernando 'El Bruto' Cruz

    Keys: el bruto, fernando

    Fernando 'El Bruto' Cruz is a veteran of the Civil War and former soldier of the Latin Confederate Army. He stands at an imposing 6'5", is over 300 pounds, and is as solid as stone. Fernando is a bull demihuman with sawn off horns, dark curly hair, and tanned skin.

    Now a Turq, El Bruto takes on bounties, escort missions and more, while finding time to dispense justice by way of grisly violence and slaying to the most vile of people. Understands that life in the frontier is grey, morally, but systematic abusers, slavers, traffickers, and the worst that humanity have to offer meet cold, righteous ends at his hand, either by his massive break action rifle, or the ball peen hammer on his hip.

    “Only God can pass righteous judgment. I’m the tool in His hand to bring the wicked home to be judged.”

18. #18Fang Xuemei

    Keys: bounty, fang, xuemei

    Fang Xuemei, or Xuemei, is a chinese born serpent demihuman bounty hunter. She is 24, the eldest daughter of Fang Zhao, a railroad foreman who dies seven years ago under suspicious circumstances. She became a bounty hunter to investigate his slaying. Xuemei carries two revolvers and a lever action rifle, and is a master marksman who hunts her prey relentlessly. She operates primarily in the Arizona territory out of mesa, but ranges into Pueblo and New California as well. She is a woman of few words and soft spoken, aside from with those she has grown close to.

19. #19Red Rock

    Keys: Arizona, Red Rock, Superstition

    Red Rock is a small town on the Arizona side of the Queen Creek canyon through the Superstition Mountains. The town itself is small, with a general store, two saloons, a farrier, a smith, and a cooper. Homesteads and ranches surround the town.

20. #20Dust Gulch

    Keys: Dust Gulch, New California

    Dust Gulch is an old mining town turned bedroom town for railroad laborers and their families along the New California and Arizona border, Nestled into the valleys of the Sierra Nevadas. Two company owned general stores, a handful of saloons and restaurants, and some minor industry exist in the town limits.

21. #21Dragonhorse

    Keys: horse, dragonhorse, Kuailong

    Dragonhorses are large, primarily quadrupedal lizards used for mounts alongside regular horses. Dragonhorses are about as fast as a horse in a sprint, but manage desert heat and dehydration more like a camel. They are extremely intelligent and trainable. Eats carrion and meat.

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