The Rolling Western-1

A Western frontier world populated by industrious animal people protecting their livelihood from gluttonous stone monsters called Grocks.

Type: Blossom

Active Characters

No current characters.

Overview

    Under the blazing sun and choking dust, the pioneers of the Old West forge an era with their own blood, sweat and tears. Though these pioneers are animal folk of many shapes and species. Most are content to take the days as they come and make a modest living, most by prospecting ores, harvesting scruffles (large truffle-like plants) and tending to their herds of scrogs (giant pig-like critters). The plains are dotted with watchtowers to protect the scattered settlements and the railway that connects them, but maintaining such defenses takes resources not every village can easily stock. The occasional outlaws and land barons are unavoidable, but most folks are the good sort, living by hard work and the law of the land.
    But when the skies turn red the commonfolk horde the livestock and lock themselves away. Forboding skies mean the Grocks are coming, stony fiends from the depths below the plains with hard heads and destructive appetites. Just one infestation unchecked can drive a settlement into ruin if they succeed in gobbling up all the scrogs, and the varmints are clever enough to wreck watchtowers to clear their path. But when troubles arrise so do brave souls to drive back the hordes and ensure peace and justice are kept on the dusty plains. Heroes willing to risk the dangers of wrangling Grock back under control and from spreading past the frontier.

Integration

The occasional troublemaker aside, interaction with the World Tree has been mainly a boon to the frontier. The access has made trade much easier, selling raw materials and agricultural assets for manufactured and other resources. Ranching and mining are still the primary trades on the frontier itself, but industry has been rising to support the logistics of off-world trade. Most Vines connect near settlements, within easy view of the watchtowers (if any are built up).

The Frontier is also having a fledgling boom in tourism as people come to see the western frontier for itself, or the animal-folk that populate it. Plus the brave are always welcomed when the Grocks come to raid. Hard work and courage are the fastest ways to earn respect (and rewards!) on this frontier.

While the current Grock population isn't inherently smart enough to intentionally invade other worlds, the potential of them finding a Vine and following it in search of food is a possible threat.

Watchtower Defense

A network of defensive towers are scattered across the frontier, around settlements and the railways that connect them. More recently there have been more built near Vine connections to make sure visitors and trade remain safe. Tower structures are a combination of wood, iron and steel; and as well as survellience can hold a large cannon or gatling gun for defense. The towers are manned by the Watch Dogs (though they can be most any species) who will assist against Grock invasions within their range. But the towers are rather costly to maintain, and the Grock are known to purposely target them during their raids.

Grocks

Grocks are ornery varmints made of stone that live deep below the Frontier. Most are lumbering lumps of rock that may also be covered in magma or crystals, while some subspecies have somehow evolved the ability to shoot stones or alternate methods of locomotion. Their main threat comes from their focus on eating livestock and wrecking anything else that gets in their way as they attack in swarms, costing settlements tons of money and loss of hard work. Bounties for destroying Grock hordes and braving the danger they present to collect Scruffles are the fastest ways to make good money.

The start of a Grock raid is often heralded by the nearby sky turning red and a billowing foghorn-like bellow. Local scholars believe these phenomenon to be caused by the subterraining gases escaping as Grock nests break to the surface.