Post by Damianos Julian Kattalakis on Jan 31, 2014 6:26:11 GMT
HARPER VALLEY
Nickname(s): N/A
Founded: 1800
Founded: 1800
Incorporated: 1904
Country: United States
State: New York
County: UlsterArea:
Water: 6.5 sq mi (16.8 km2)
Population: 1,000
Timezone: Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
ZIP Code: 12462
Area Code: 845
[/div][/div][/div][/div][/div]Early History
The very first known settlers to inhabit the land were the Native Americans, specifically the Tonkawa tribe. Sometime after 1,000 AD a small group of European's settled on the land as well, living along side the Tonkawa tribe. For a couple of years the two groups lived in peace until another ship arrived with another set of foreigners in 1,100 AD. Though the village knew nothing about this group or why they ended up there they welcomed them anyway. As time went on however more and more unusual deaths started to occur, putting fear into the villagers hearts. It wouldn't be until 1,013 AD that the villagers realized the source of the killings.
The second group that arrived were later discovered to be vampires and were the source of the brutal murders. Two out of three of the Originals fled to America after the European supernatural war and brought their progeny's along with them. Though the village was now aware of the threat among them they had little to no chance at fighting back. Just as the villagers were ready to leave the area a group of Magi within the Tonkawa tribe took it upon themselves to drive out the demons that plagued their land and thus the first American Werewolves were born. After a long and bloody battle the Originals along with their small army of vampires were driven out. With the threat gone the land, and mountains, were safe once again but the European settlers were afraid the demons would return and soon left, leaving only the Tonkawa tribe behind.
The second group that arrived were later discovered to be vampires and were the source of the brutal murders. Two out of three of the Originals fled to America after the European supernatural war and brought their progeny's along with them. Though the village was now aware of the threat among them they had little to no chance at fighting back. Just as the villagers were ready to leave the area a group of Magi within the Tonkawa tribe took it upon themselves to drive out the demons that plagued their land and thus the first American Werewolves were born. After a long and bloody battle the Originals along with their small army of vampires were driven out. With the threat gone the land, and mountains, were safe once again but the European settlers were afraid the demons would return and soon left, leaving only the Tonkawa tribe behind.
19th Century
Johnathan David Harper, a wealthy business owner and former soldier from the Revolutionary war, founded what is known today as Harper Valley, along with his closest friends and their families who are known as the Founding Families. Although Harper Valley was not the only town or village to reside in this location during its history, John Harper was the first to successfully build a town that lasted longer than a year and it flourished rather quickly in it's early days. For years the towns people knew nothing about the history of the land they acquired and the mountains around them until unexplained accidents and deaths started to occur. When the town did learn of the creatures existence and the tribes efforts to keep the mountains magical secret hidden, the Founding Families created a Council to continue the original tribes goal in order to protect the human population of the town from any supernatural harm. Despite most people's belief not all supernatural creatures that called Harper Valley home were as sinister as most and eventually those willing attempted a treaty with the Council.
The treaty was successful but only protected a select few that proved their loyalty to the town while any others who harmed a human within the town limits would be punished. As successful as the treaty was at first, around the time the states population boomed so did the supernatural activity in the town. Tension between the humans and supernatural who created the treaty built up until finally the Council declared war under false pretenses. The actual story of how the fight began is still a mystery but many blame the legend of the "Red Witch" and the many supernatural who followed her.
Despite the town's initial outcome following the battle between humans and supernaturals the Council still exists and is consisted of the founder's relatives and their closest allies. The Council is still a major part of the town's new government and it's decisions but remains as exclusive and secretive as it did when it was first established.
The treaty was successful but only protected a select few that proved their loyalty to the town while any others who harmed a human within the town limits would be punished. As successful as the treaty was at first, around the time the states population boomed so did the supernatural activity in the town. Tension between the humans and supernatural who created the treaty built up until finally the Council declared war under false pretenses. The actual story of how the fight began is still a mystery but many blame the legend of the "Red Witch" and the many supernatural who followed her.
Despite the town's initial outcome following the battle between humans and supernaturals the Council still exists and is consisted of the founder's relatives and their closest allies. The Council is still a major part of the town's new government and it's decisions but remains as exclusive and secretive as it did when it was first established.
Town Geography
Harper Valley is a small but flourishing town located in the southern part of New York State. It is less than 4 hours driving distance from New York City, 2 if by train, and is surrounded by mountains and valleys. Although the population is low the town has it's own town square, library, public school building, park, and plenty of old fashioned houses as well as plenty of farmland.
Town Landscape
Just like much of New York State's smaller towns, Harper Valley is a historic and rural town with vast mountains, valleys and forests to get lost in, and fresh clean air sheltered from any pollution. Harper Valley is miles from the closest city and is very much isolated but communication with the outside world isn't hard to find. Despite the towns low population for a little less than a century, the town still survives and most of it's buildings and homes haven't been remodeled since the late 1800's. During the 1910's more Immigrants started to flood into the town and built new buildings such as the public library, various shops and restaurants, and the town's first official public school building. Even with new buildings standing beside the old, asphalt replacing the traditional style dirt and cobbled streets, and the town officially forming a new local government, Harper Valley is still committed to it's traditions and old way of living.
The Mountains
Many speculate when or how the mountains came to be so powerful with mystical energy but all agree that the mountains mystical powers have been around long before man, trapped within the limestone deep within the mountain. As old as the energy is the Tonkawa - a Native American tribe who guarded and worshiped the mountains - were among the first to become aware of the large energy source and how to fully harness it. It wasn't until a group of European settlers built their village near the mountains did the tribe finally decide it was time to seal the entrance to the heart of the mountain - the source of its power and strongest part of the mountain. Though the tribe lived along side the settlers and were close allies they still vowed to keep the magical energy surrounding the land a secret and protect the mountains as well as prevent anyone from re-opening the entrance to the heart of the mountains or from anyone using the energy within the limestone for malicious purposes. Long after the Tonkawa tribe was gone, when Harper Valley was founded that vow remained and was initially incorporated into the local town laws by restricting access to the deeper parts of the mountains, though no one knows the exact location of the entrance anymore.
By the time it had closed however corruption from its powerful energy was already starting to plague humans, both magical and non-magical alike, even members of the Tonkawa tribe itself so it's location and secret to opening the door was kept hidden from any who were not already a part of the closing, even from their own family and leaving only the immediate members of the tribe - the Magi who later became Werewolves - the knowledge of the gate's secrets. It's location is now a mystery as there is no surviving tribe member still around from that time and died with the tribe members that guarded it. Those who attempted to find it with normal tools quickly became disoriented and lost because of the energy and magnetic fields disrupting their compasses.
By the time it had closed however corruption from its powerful energy was already starting to plague humans, both magical and non-magical alike, even members of the Tonkawa tribe itself so it's location and secret to opening the door was kept hidden from any who were not already a part of the closing, even from their own family and leaving only the immediate members of the tribe - the Magi who later became Werewolves - the knowledge of the gate's secrets. It's location is now a mystery as there is no surviving tribe member still around from that time and died with the tribe members that guarded it. Those who attempted to find it with normal tools quickly became disoriented and lost because of the energy and magnetic fields disrupting their compasses.
Legends
As Halloween rolls around, the residents of Harper Valley grow alight with the festivities. The parties are fun, but one thing trumps all others. In the forest on the edges of town, deeper than most would care to venture lies a house that has been left in ruins, referred to as the Ruins by Locals. Mostly destroyed from fire and time, there a is just one room that is actually safe to enter but even then the foundation is shaky. Creepy on its own, it's even creepier when one learns the story behind it that goes a little something a little like this:
"Harper Valley had been flourishing since founded in 1800 especially when the towns first known witch, Raidne, came to town. She helped the small town flourish into more than just a few houses and farms and eventually became the towns go-to for the sick. They knew she was a witch, and not many cared and any who did didn't stick around long enough to see the town become what it is today. To most she was considered the most generous woman in town and had a reputation for her nurturing nature, not even able to hurt a fly. Her presence brought more witches to the town over the years she lived there and a coven was formed and a treaty between the coven and the founding families was signed. Raidne led the coven, teaching the young and inexperienced and corralling the not-so-friendly. She was responsible for any supernatural occurrences and was tasked to handle such situations and do so safely and secretly, in exchange for her title in the town and the acceptance of her covens residence within the town.
Her actions and general warmth soon became her downfall when she met a married man and fell in love with him and he with her. Marcus Finch, the son of ----, a founder of the town, began relations with Raidne shortly after the Halloween festival. The relationship flourished but remained a secret from the entire town. If word were to get out about the two's indiscretions it wouldn't be long until hell would break loose amongst the town, and after a year of secretly meeting hell indeed came to Harper Valley. Upon finding a love letter from Raidne to ---- by his wife she grew furious with the two and sought out revenge. Since he was part of the founding families ----- was spared by the council but not by his wife. Out of spite the wife poisoned --- and was found dead in his bed the next morning.
It didn't take long for Raidne to figure out he had been poisoned and by who but by then it was too late. Controlled by grief, she confronted the wife and cursed her and her entire bloodline to a fate worse than death. Because of this the wife gathered the townspeople and led a mob to Raidne house where they cornered her inside and burned it to the ground, unknowing that the real murderer was in the crowd with them.
Fall past with nothing. Raidne was dead and the coven was gone. As years passed and the founders died while their children took over the Civil War was looming ever closer to their little town, but it wasn't the Confederates who attacked them. Raidne's death had been violent and she had been a powerful witch. As she burned, her cries were loud and carried every ounce of her soul into the heavens. The town was cursed with a Mark and supernaturals had answered. For years supernaturals flooded to the town, most not knowing why they were there. The town was even able to form another treaty with the small group of various supernatural species that now resided in the town but it would soon be broken once again. 50 years after her death they began to come to the town with the intent to do destroy it just as the wrongfully accused witch wished so from the grave.
They massacred men, women, and children alike, but the town fought back. They managed to save what they could and after the aftermath the Founding Families decided to burn the rest of witch's house to the ground only to find their flames wouldn't touch it and her ghostly form appeared on the steps, laughing at their failure. They hit the hills and ran, but her voice lingered in all their minds with her earie promise.
"You can never take what isn't yours, and you never will. Mark my words, I'm here to stay."
Now, she has remained true to her word. You can see her where what is left of her home still stands, especially at night on full moons. She lurks around and is said to kill anyone who trespasses on her lands. It is said, on all Hallow's Eve, when the clock strikes nine (the time her house was burned to the ground) she screams and a founder dies."
