Land of the Free, Home of the Brave (OOC/OPEN)

[Imperial Idaho]

Shoutout to New Grestin for the banner.
LAND OF THE FREE, HOME OF THE BRAVE

When our forefathers set out on this continent, they saw the strength in unity and intended to see it under one banner. The North America we see today however, is a divided land ripe with resources to take and blood to spill.

Current Date: July 10th, 1914

The North America of this timeline is a divided one, two Native American nations rule in the great plains, a Hyper-Nationalistic Texas dominates the south and pressures its neighbors in the Mississippi. Alaska is a territory of the Russian Empire, a Mormon Theodemocracy rules in the nation of Deseret, and the Confederate States of America is foolhardy and attempting to reclaim the former glory of Dixie. The Union is a mere shadow of its former self, the few patriotic among its population pushes its government into the possibility of liberating one of its neighbors. The lands of what would've been the United States and Canada are shattered, no longer destined to become a minor piece of a nation greater than itself, but to be a country of its own, and to set the course of history, politics, and warfare for decades to come. As the First World War comes to a land never intended for it, the nations of North America are at each others throats as they set their swords and rifles outwards in the name of conquest, nationalism, or liberation.

Your Story starts in the town of Chester's Mill, a unique lumber and railroad town of 15,000, its prominent feature being that half of it is in California and half in Oregon. It was inhabited by people of a variety of nationalities, many moved for work on the railroad or the lumber mill, a few to follow those who had. You sat and went upon your daily business as the tensions rose in both Europe and North America, partially unaware of the impending conflict that would ensue. As armies mobilized and the declarations of wars started few had time to properly leave their homes on the border. The first major battle of the war between the Frontier Pact and the Continental Concord happened in Chester's Mill, and the town was destroyed, it's residents scattered out or dead. You however are not to be buried in a nameless grave, but you have survived the first few days of the battle, and have taken shelter at a farm at the outskirts of the city on the Oregon side of the border along with many others.

In this RP you will take control of one or more characters in a transcontinental trek across a divided and war torn North America. Starting in a ruined city in Oregon and California, you will become refugees and travelers in a journey for a home accepting and not torn by war. Many cultures, nations, armies will be interacted with on this trek for safety. The main themes of this RP will be how a nation changes during the stress of war and exploring the culture and history of a North America that could've been our own.

TIMELINE

July 4th, 1776: Declaration of Independence was signed by the founding fathers, bring the United States into Sovereignty.
September 3rd, 1783: End of the American war of Independence.
June 16th, 1788: A fire breaks out in Independence Hall during the constitutional convention, killing several of the Founding Fathers and burning the draft of the Constitution.
June 25th, 1788: The Charter of the Union is ratified instead of the Constitution, similar with personal freedoms, and including secession clause and less generous in state rights.
June 1st, 1812: The United States enters the Napoleonic wars with declaring war with Great Britain, starting the War of 1812.
August 19th, 1815: After losing the battle of Albany and Siege of Providence to British forces, the United States surrenders to the British Empire
December 4th, 1815: The treaty of New Orleans is signed, the UK grants New England independence over their region and part of New York, blocking the USA from Lake Ontario.
March 12th, 1816: The first President of New England is elected, patriotism boosts and American ties sever as they remember the US focus on the west instead of them at home.
October 2nd, 1835: American Settlers in Texas rebel against Mexican authority, and declare the Republic of Texas independent from the Mexican Empire.
May 24th, 1832: The Seminole Tribe of Florida agrees to relocation in Oklahoma, the Seminole wars never happen.
November 5th, 1835: The Trail of Tears occurs, the Cherokee and remaining tribes of the Deep South are forced at gunpoint to move to reservations in Oklahoma.
April 21st, 1836: The Texan Republic becomes fully independent from Mexico, and southerners flock to the newfound nation, bringing slaves and industry with them.
February 14th, 1839: Nationalists win offices in Texas, the movement to join the United States dies out and is replaced with the start of Hyper-Nationalism.
April 25th, 1846: The Mexican-Texan war begins over a border dispute, America joins in on Texas's side against Mexico.
June 14th, 1846: John Fremont raises the Bear Flag over a Mexican outpost in California, and declares the Californian Republic Independent.
July 22nd, 1847: The first Mormons enter the Salt Lake Valley and establish Salt Lake City, hoping it to be the capital of the state of Deseret.
January 29th, 1849: The treaty of Houston is signed, splitting the Northern parts of the Mexican Empire between the United States and Texas.
January 29th, 1849: In the Treaty of Houston Santa Fe becomes an Independent nation, a compromise between the United States of Texas over ownership of it.
March 24th, 1849: The Californian Republic is declared illegitimate by the United States, and John Fremont and his followers go underground, taxing frontier trade routes.
May 30th, 1850: Gold is discovered in the property of a California Republic Movement Member, and Americans migrate to the Gold Rush, and the Movement grows rich off gold.
December 30, 1853: The Gadsden Purchase is never made, as the United States cannot afford to after the expensive war against Mexico from the lack of New England.
October 17th, 1859: The California Republic Movement, influenced by Fremont and wealthy through the Gold Rush, revolts against the United States and Occupies Sacramento.
June 10th, 1860: The California Republic has occupied most of its current borders, and the US Army began losing a war of attrition against them in the deserts and mountains.
November 6th, 1860: Abraham Lincoln is elected President of the United States, leading Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Florida to secede.
April 12th, 1861: The Battle of Fort Sumter begins, Virginia and Tennessee join the Fledgling Confederate States, the US army is divided against the CSA and California.
August 9th, 1861: Texas cuts its ties with the United States, and aligns itself with the Confederacy, though retains its independence.
March 2nd, 1862: The US Army of the West is pushed out of California, supplies dwindling with focus on the East, California Declares itself to be Independent once more.
July 4th, 1863: Vicksburg is captured by the US Army of the West, redeployed on the Mississippi campaign, the Mississippi river is now under Union Control.
July 4th, 1863: A stunning defeat is suffered by the Union at Gettysburg, the Confederate Army runs rampant in the North, though is later pushed back into Virginia.
September 1st, 1863: The French court is insulted by the Confederate Diplomat sent to garner allies, and Napoleon the Third declares war on the Confederacy.
September 29th, 1863: With the lack of New England industry, and after a series of defeats the Union Surrenders to the Confederacy, unaware of the French declaration of war.
October 18th, 1863: The Treaty of Boston is signed, granting the CSA Missouri, West Virginia, and Kentucky, and the Cherokee in Oklahoma independence over the region.
November 1st, 1863: The Capital of the United States of America is moved to Philadelphia, away from the Confederate Border.
November 3rd, 1863: The French army lands in New Orleans, originally planing to bolster the Union forces presumably there and march east into Alabama.
February 15th, 1864: France has gained control over Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas after beating the Confederate Army, which still hadn't recovered from the Civil War.
June 23rd, 1864: The Treaty of Havana is Signed, returning Northern Missouri and West Virginia to Union control, the three Mississippi states France continued to occupy.
May 25th, 1865: Maximilian the First of Mexico flees the country due to stresses from its populace, France offers him the throne of the Mississippi states it occupied.
May 31st, 1865: Maximilian is crowned Emperor of Louisiana, and moves his court to New Orleans, and starts the process of abolishing slavery.
July 1st, 1867: Canada is split between Columbia and Quebec upon Independence, though remain British Dominions.
June 12th, 1867: The Texan Republic declares war on the Cherokee Nation and seizes southern Oklahoma, a treaty isn't signed but after the first offensive in effect the war ends.
April 28th, 1869: The Mormon population in Utah nearly triples from new converts in the east and migrants tired of war along the Confederate border.
September 13th, 1871: Utah is admitted into the Union, although not holding its desired lands is a sore topic among the Mormons.
December 18th, 1871: A massive blizzard hits Minnesota, the majority of food stores in the state are destroyed by the frost, the United States does nothing to end to the famine.
June 2nd, 1872: Utah secedes from the Union due to religious divides after a Mormon temple was burnt by the backroom orders of a Nevada Senator.
August 16th 1872: Minnesota secedes from the Union, the scars of the recent famine still fresh in their minds and joining the bandwagon of Utah.
October 22nd, 1872: President Grant declares the seccessions illegal, and invades the two fledgling nations, hoping to bolster faith in the Union.
May 3rd, 1873: The Texan Republic joins the Deseret-Minnesota war for Independence against the United States, while the tribes of the plains begin to unite against the US.
June 17th, 1873: Maximilian's efforts in Louisiana result in the outlaw of slavery, he continues efforts to bring equality to the blacks and french of the Kingdom.
July 4th, 1874: The Mormons of Deseret secure their current borders, while the Texan Army cuts into Colorado and distracts the US army from Minnesota.
August 21st, 1875: President Grant is forced to surrender to the Texas-Deseret-Minnesota alliance, their current borders are earned and Colorado is formed as a country.
October 11th, 1875: Ulysses Grant concedes Independence to the Idaho Territory, Oregon, and Washington, in a bid to elevate the status of the United States.
November 16th, 1875: Oregon and Washington merge into the Republic of Oregon, the Idaho Territory pushes for bringing in Population and Industry and native integration.
March 25th, 1879: A border dispute between the United States and Louisiana leads to a compromise, granting Independence to Kansas City as largely a US protectorate.
October 31st, 1882: France and the United Kingdom pressure the Confederate States and Texan Republic into freeing their slaves.
November 13th, 1882: In rural parts of the CSA and Texas a slavery style system is put into place, blacks getting paid just enough to buy food though not enough to leave.
June 27th, 1914: A diplomatic meeting in Lakotah is bombed by a Nordic citizen, killing the Heir to the throne of Louisiana and diplomats from the rest of the Frontier Pact.
June 29th, 1914: After talks break down between the Pact and the Concord, the Confederate Army mobilizes, Texas follows later in the day.
July 1st: 1914: The American Army along with the Idahoan and Nordic Mobilizes.
July 3rd, 1914: Deseret Mobilizes, Louisiana and Kansas City do the same.
July 4th 1914: Lakotah and Louisiana declare war on the Nordic Republic, pulling the Frontier Pact and Continental Concord to war.
July 6th, 1914: Nearly every North American army is Mobilized, California spearheads an invasion of Oregon, and Lakotah sends its horselords into Idaho.
July 8th, 1914: The Battle of Chester's Mill begins, its inhabitants flee for fear of destruction.
July 10th, 1914: End of the Battle of Chester's Mill, the Californian Army of the Frontier wins and the Oregonian Army begins to rout back to Eureka.

ALLIANCE BLOCS

Members: Deseret, California, Lakotah, Texas, Mississippi League, Confederate States of America
Capital: Charleston, South Carolina, Confederate States of America

Members: Oregon, Idaho Territory, Nordic Republic, United States of America, Kansas City
Capital: Chicago, Illinois, United States of America

IC

MAP

KEY

[Imperial Idaho]

NATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA

Leader Position and Name: Governor Samuel Brianson
National Flag: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Idaho_territory_coat_of_arms_%28illustrated%2C_1876%29.jpg
Capital: Boise
Government Type: Constitutional Federal Republic
Rough Army size and Composition: 30,000 rifle Infantrymen, 5,000 rifle Cavalry, 6,000 artillery, 4,000 tankers,
Population: 1,023,416

Leader Position and Name: President Brandon Kiser
National Flag: https://cmgstatesmanaustin.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/texas_flag__large_by_dallasx.jpg
Capital: Austin
Government Type: Hyper Nationalistic Authoritarian Republic
Rough Army size and Composition: 115,000 Rifle Infantrymen, 35,000 rifle Calvary, 20,000 Artillery, 10,000 Tankers,
Population: 2,595,467

Leader Position and Name: Doge Neal Archer
National Flag: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/u/us!mokss.gif
Capital: Kansas City
Government Type: Presidential Democracy
Rough Army size and Composition: 10,000 Rifle Infantry
Population: 476,683

Leader Position and Name: Prophet Judah Black
National Flag: http://www.loeser.us/flags/images/states/ut/deseret.gif
Capital: Salt Lake City
Government Type: Theodemocracy, priests have more votes than non-priests and non-Mormons aren't allowed to vote.
Rough Army size and Composition: 50,000 rifle infantrymen, 20,000 rifle cavalry, 15,000 artillery, 5,000 tankers,
Population: 1,467,586

Leader Position and Name: President Tim Stein
National Flag: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/u/us-1795.gif
Capital: Philadelphia
Government Type: Constitutional Presidential Federal Republic
Rough Army size and Composition: 350,000 rifle Infantry, 30,000 Cavalry, 25,000 Artillery, 15,000 Tankers
Population: 39,483,405

Leader Position and Name: President Scott Clark
National Flag: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/New_England_pine_flag.svg/1280px-New_England_pine_flag.svg.png
Capital: Boston
Government Type: Federal Republic
Rough Army size and Composition: 30,000 rifle infantry, 5,000 cavalry, 10,000 artillery, 5,000 Tankers
Population: 6,459,564

Leader Position and Name: Chief Chaska Eyota
National Flag: http://www.declarationproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/flagrepublicoflakotah.png
Capital: Porcupine
Government Type: Tribal Federation
Rough Army size and Composition: 15,000 Rifle Infantry, 35,000 Cavalry
Population: 1,524,398

Leader Position and Name: High Chief Adahy Akule
National Flag: http://www.crwflags.com/art/miscflags/natam_cherokeenation.gif
Capital: Tahlequah
Government Type: Westernized Tribal Federation
Rough Army size and Composition: 30,000 Rifle Infantry, 25,000 Cavalry, 5,000 Artillery
Population: 1,638,548

Leader Position and Name: Mayor Steven Thomas
National Flag: http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/flags/usa/nmflag.gif
Capital: Santa Fe
Government Type: Direct Democracy
Rough Army size and Composition: 250 Rifle Infantry
Population: 40,000

Leader Position and Name: Emperor Maximilian the Third
National Flag: http://www2.latech.edu/~bmagee/louisiana_anthology/texts/bonham/bonham--flags_of_louisiana_files/750px-new_orleans_louisiana_flag-svg.png
Capital: New Orleans
Government Type: Hereditary Monarchy
Rough Army size and Composition: 60,000 Rifle Infantry, 10,000 Cavalry, 5,000 Artillery
Population: 6,042,576

Leader Position and Name: President Joseph Biden
National Flag: https://portlandflag.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/norquist.png
Capital: Portland
Government Type: Federal Republic
Rough Army size and Composition:
Population: 2,413,496

Leader Position and Name: President Robert Beauregard
National Flag: http://idolosol.com/images/stars-and-bars-1.jpg
Capital: Richmond
Government Type: Confederation
Rough Army size and Composition: 240,000 Rifle Infantry, 35,000 Cavalry, 20,000 Artillery, 10,000 Tankers
Population: 15,146,285

Leader Position and Name: Chancellor James Calebson
National Flag: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Flag_of_Colorado.svg
Capital: Denver
Government Type: Parliamentary Republic
Rough Army size and Composition: 20,000 Rifle Infantry, 25,000 Cavalry, 5,000 Artillery
Population: 2,641,593

Leader Position and Name: President Morten Brown
National Flag: http://www.american-historama.org/images/bear-flag-200.png
Capital: Sacramento
Government Type: Presidential Republic
Rough Army size and Composition: 100,000 rifle infantry, 20,000 cavalry, 15,000 Artillery, 10,000 Tankers
Population:2,602,579

Leader Position and Name: Jarl Sam Gunderson
National Flag: http://pre07.deviantart.net/4ccd/th/pre/f/2013/284/5/0/scandinavian_union_flag__3200x2000__by_digitalismismycause-d6q3cgm.png
Capital: St. Paul
Government Type: Presidential Federal Republic
Rough Army size and Composition: 70,000 Rifle Infantry, 15,000 Cavalry, 5,000 Artillery, 1,000 tankers
Population: 2,234,586

[Imperial Idaho]

ROSTER:
Nicolás Blackwood-Theyra
James Rendon-Cressageland

Code: Select all

[box][floatright][img]of%20Image%20here[/img][/floatright]

• [b][i]NAME:[/i][/b]
• [b][i]PROFESSION:[/i][/b]
• [b][i]NATIONALITY: [/i][/b]
• [b][i]GENDER:[/i][/b]

• [b][i]AGE & DATE OF BIRTH:[/i][/b]
• [b][i]EDUCATION & OCCUPATIONAL HISTORY:[/i][/b]
• [b][i]HOMETOWN:[/i][/b]
• [b][i]REASON MOVED TO CHESTER'S MILL:[/i][/b] (ignore if born there or joined in later in the RP)

• [b][i]STARTING GEAR:[/i][/b] (remember they will have just fled their homes, they would likely bring family memorabilia and money over weapons)
• [b][i]SKILLS AND TRADECRAFT:[/i][/b]
• [b][i]PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:[/i][/b] (include ethnicity, height and weight. Any identifiable marks & physical ailments)
• [b][i]BIOGRAPHY AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION:[/i][/b] (two paragraphs minimum)[/box]

[Theyra]

[img]of%20Image%20here[/img]

• NAME: Nicolás Blackwood
• PROFESSION: Gunsmith
• NATIONALITY: Santa Fe
• GENDER: Male

• AGE & DOB: 28, Feb 4,1886
• EDUCATION & OCCUPATIONAL HISTORY Normal Education, Gunsmith in Santa Fe.
• HOMETOWN: Santa Fe, Santa Fe
• REASON MOVED TO CHESTER'S MILL: Visiting family.

• STARTING GEAR: 200 hundred dollars, pocket watch, M1917 Enfield, canteen, family heirloom.
• SKILLS AND TRADECRAFT: Make and repair weapons, tool repair, wielding, general smiting.
• PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Half-White, Half-Mexican, 5'9, 140 lbs. Scar on the palm of his right hand
• BIOGRAPHY AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Nicolás was born in the city-state of Santa Fe to a family of four. Nicolás's father was merchant that was from Oregon and moved to Santa Fe for the profitable trade there. Nicolás had a good upbringing but would grow distance from his father and the two would rarely talk to each other due to a incident. Which both of them refuse to talk about and Nicolás has a distaste for alcohol afterwards.

Nicolás despite his nature of not wanting to pick a fight, he is a talented gunsmith. He had wanted to make guns after a hunting trip that his father took him on and became fascinated with them. He would learn the trade from a local gumsmith and at twenty entered into business making guns for either hunting or self defense. He would also make some guns for himself and prefers his Enfield rifle when he travels. He came the town of Chester's Mill to visit his relatives on his father's side.

[Imperial Idaho]

([url=of%20Image%20here]Image[/url])

• NAME: Nicolás Blackwood
• PROFESSION: Gunsmith
• NATIONALITY: Santa Fe
• GENDER: Male

• AGE & DOB: 28, Feb 4,1886
• EDUCATION & OCCUPATIONAL HISTORY Normal Education, Gunsmith in Santa Fe.
• HOMETOWN: Santa Fe, Santa Fe
• REASON MOVED TO CHESTER'S MILL: Visiting family.

• STARTING GEAR: 200 hundred dollars, pocket watch, M1917 Enfield, canteen, family heirloom.
• SKILLS AND TRADECRAFT: Make and repair weapons, tool repair, wielding, general smiting.
• PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Half-White, Half-Mexican, 5'9, 140 lbs. Scar on the palm of his right hand
• BIOGRAPHY AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Nicolás was born in the city-state of Santa Fe to a family of four. Nicolás's father was merchant that was from Oregon and moved to Santa Fe for the profitable trade there. Nicolás had a good upbringing but would grow distance from his father and the two would rarely talk to each other due to a incident. Which both of them refuse to talk about and Nicolás has a distaste for alcohol afterwards.

Nicolás despite his nature of not wanting to pick a fight, he is a talented gunsmith. He had wanted to make guns after a hunting trip that his father took him on and became fascinated with them. He would learn the trade from a local gumsmith and at twenty entered into business making guns for either hunting or self defense. He would also make some guns for himself and prefers his Enfield rifle when he travels. He came the town of Chester's Mill to visit his relatives on his father's side.

ACCEPTED

[Ithalian Empire]

So how logical would it be for a Wisconsinite to be in the town?

[Imperial Idaho]

So how logical would it be for a Wisconsinite to be in the town?

It would be fine, maybe they moved to work on the railroad or lumber mill.

[Ithalian Empire]

So how logical would it be for a Wisconsinite to be in the town?

It would be fine, maybe they moved to work on the railroad or lumber mill.

Hmmm, time to think of a bio and stuff.

[Cressageland]

this sounds dope, tag

[Cressageland]

[img]of%20Image%20here[/img]

• NAME:James Rendon

• PROFESSION:Railroad Worker
• NATIONALITY: United States
• GENDER:Male

• AGE & DATE OF BIRTH:27, 4th of February 1887
• EDUCATION & OCCUPATIONAL HISTORY:Educated in Scranton, Worked at railroad companies since the age of 15
• [b]HOMETOWN:Scranton Pennsylvania
• REASON MOVED TO CHESTER'S MILL:Ended up there are part of his work, lives in a hostel with no permanent residence

• STARTING GEAR:a Colt Army Model 1860, used by James's father in the Civil war, with 24 rounds. $100 cash (remember they will have just fled their homes, they would likely bring family memorabilia and money over weapons)
• SKILLS AND TRADECRAFT:Reasonably strong and a not-terrible shot, is competent with minor mechanical tasks
• PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:Blonde, green eyes, White, 5ft 11" and 140 lbs (include ethnicity, height and weight. Any identifiable marks & physical ailments)
• BIOGRAPHY AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Raised in Scranton, James saw the decline of the Union first hand. He grew up to tales from his dad of the horrors of the first half of the century, and spent a large part of his childhood seeing limbless veterans walking around town. However, to get over this there was always the rails. James loved hearing the stories of the rest of the continent, of the vast plains of the midwest or the high peaks of the Rockies, and there was always a railway worker there to share tales, real or not.

It wasn't all play though, his father ensured he knew the crucial skills of how to survive and, shortly before his death, bequeathed his old revolver onto James. Now it is his most precious possession.

Unwilling to get drawn into a war, he joined the Pennsylvanian rail corporation to try to get away.Although he couldn't find a job working the train itself, there were always jobs for people to help lug cargo around. After a decade on the rails, James found himself eager to go beyond the borders of his home state, and so found work with the Trans-Continental line instead, where he finally made his way across the Americas. He was planning to return home after two weeks in Chester's mill, alas that plan has now been put out to pasture. He must find another way home (two paragraphs minimum)

[Imperial Idaho]

([url=of%20Image%20here]Image[/url])

• NAME:James Rendon

• PROFESSION:Railroad Worker
• NATIONALITY: United States
• GENDER:Male

• AGE & DATE OF BIRTH:27, 4th of February 1887
• EDUCATION & OCCUPATIONAL HISTORY:Educated in Scranton, Worked at railroad companies since the age of 15
• [b]HOMETOWN:Scranton Pennsylvania
• REASON MOVED TO CHESTER'S MILL:Ended up there are part of his work, lives in a hostel with no permanent residence

• STARTING GEAR:a Colt Army Model 1860, used by James's father in the Civil war, with 24 rounds. $100 cash (remember they will have just fled their homes, they would likely bring family memorabilia and money over weapons)
• SKILLS AND TRADECRAFT:Reasonably strong and a not-terrible shot, is competent with minor mechanical tasks
• PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:Blonde, green eyes, White, 5ft 11" and 140 lbs (include ethnicity, height and weight. Any identifiable marks & physical ailments)
• BIOGRAPHY AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Raised in Scranton, James saw the decline of the Union first hand. He grew up to tales from his dad of the horrors of the first half of the century, and spent a large part of his childhood seeing limbless veterans walking around town. However, to get over this there was always the rails. James loved hearing the stories of the rest of the continent, of the vast plains of the midwest or the high peaks of the Rockies, and there was always a railway worker there to share tales, real or not.

It wasn't all play though, his father ensured he knew the crucial skills of how to survive and, shortly before his death, bequeathed his old revolver onto James. Now it is his most precious possession.

Unwilling to get drawn into a war, he joined the Pennsylvanian rail corporation to try to get away.Although he couldn't find a job working the train itself, there were always jobs for people to help lug cargo around. After a decade on the rails, James found himself eager to go beyond the borders of his home state, and so found work with the Trans-Continental line instead, where he finally made his way across the Americas. He was planning to return home after two weeks in Chester's mill, alas that plan has now been put out to pasture. He must find another way home (two paragraphs minimum)

ACCEPTED. Welcome aboard.