So, I really enjoyed the feedback that I got for my series Idea. So much so that I wanted to continue writing on it, jotting down some ideas, and working on the series "Bible" as it were for writers in the world. (All series are eventually a "Shared Universe" and IMHO work best when everybody's on the same page with regards to what's going on in the world)

It also is the most excited about an Idea I've been in a LONG time, and figure it would be a fun thing to continue. Feel free to chime in, criticize and point out plot holes or oversights.

First off, some Mood music for the Place:

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYA_0R7Vw1s]

The Home Port:

Of all the places in the world, the PNW is special to me, but I'm also not blind to its faults. Therefore I want the Home Port of the series to be a good reflection of both the positive and negatives of what we have now, and possible solutions to those problems.

During the last 500 years, there's be a great depopulation due to the religious and secular wars over the ability to make war, so as a result even a city of a 20-30 thousand people is considered a reasonable city, comparable to a Seattle or Chicago of the modern day. As a result, I'm thinking that a great place to set this would be Tillamook, OR. And not just because I want to make Cheese Shop jokes. It's nice, centrally located, and after the major disasters tone down a bit, Has the potential to be a pleasant little community. (As far as location goes. If the name seems off, I'm totally opening to changing it, especially considering that it's a re-founded Port)

The history of this particular town I believe has to start with the group that re-founded it. (I assume the original Tillamook was wrecked by storms, earthquakes, eruptions, and lord knows whatever ecological disasters hit the west coast after an ill conceived idea by the US Government to tap the geothermal power of the "Ring Of Fire") The group was made of a few families and communes in the area that pooled resources after realizing that the government was not coming to help them. As a result, the communities first goal was survival, followed by trying to re-establish contact with other places.

The original group looked to the economic policies that ensured the greatest benefit for the maximum amount of people, and determined that FDR-era New Deal policies were the absolute best for the emergency situation. There was a LOT of public works that needed doing, and a lot of people without the relevant skills. The group even went one step further, instituting the "Four Freedoms" as part of the founding document of the City-state. Hence, all vital infrastructure in the City is socialized, and religions are officially "Tolerated". (In this world, I see the attitude towards religions as being generally ALL or nothing. Tillamook is an exception. Organized religion has lost much of its power, with some minor exceptions. The Mormons, for example, will be better equipped to handle this situation...)

Culturally, the city is a mix of hippie and survivalist. There is a strong martial tradition, since some of the original founders were militia members, and the world is not exactly a safe place anymore. However, most of the hot button political topics are not even addressed, merely treated as old arguments by stupid people. If they are brought up at all it is in parody, or similar to how "Flat Earth" advocates are addressed. Communes are common, as are more traditional arrangements. Ideally, the city should reflect the breadth and depth of human relationships, without trying to advocate for any one.

Technologically, most of the city operates on 17th century science. While there are many artifacts of the U.S. Empire, many are non-functioning, or require electricity, which is in extremely short supply due to the lack of easy resources. Even Solar Panels require a great deal of electricity to maintain and create, and as such are not often used. (Storms and other disasters destroyed much of the stock, and while the capability to create more is there, it's valuable stuff, and displaying it openly is begging a more powerful city state to raid you.) Most newspapers are printed on Kudzu paper, while books are published on hemp paper. (The Marijuana industry ain't going nowhere, and it makes the BEST rope, and since we have wooden ships again...)

Industry in the city is non-existent. Craftsmanship rules the day as far as construction. While there is a mass-transit system it is much smaller scale than anything nowadays, since it's not really needed in a smaller world. Wood is the main construction material, although there is some concrete used. Steel and the like are used only in small amounts, due to the energy and material cost to make.

Militarily, the city functions off a similar policy to the Swiss. They do not maintain a standing army, but do maintain a few Ships of the Line. Mostly for the protection of the trading ships that enter and leave the port. Piracy has made a comeback, and several even call the port home. However, since the pirates spend money and sell cheaply, they are welcome as long as they behave themselves within the port.

The Ship:

The Queen Anne's Revenge was a Frigate, and it seems appropriate for a long distance trading ship. Honestly, I'm thinking an American designed "Super Frigate" (Constitution-Class) would be even more appropriate. The ship was provisioned for up to 6 months, which means it could potentially sail half way around the world without resupply.

The ship Traditionally had a crew of 450. However, that's a bit large for a small community, so many of the guns have been stripped out and replaced with cargo holds. The ship is not outfitted for war, and as a result is nowhere nearly as dangerous as American Frigates were in the past. While the capacity exists to outfit the ship with more "modern" equipment, it's a luxury that almost no small company in the world can easily afford. (In richer societies, they would of course have computer assisted navigation, Modern Naval guns, etc...)

The history of this particular ship is rather checkered. She was originally built approximately 50 years ago and was known as the "S.C.S. Salvation". During the Battle of the Bay, she ran aground in an attempt to escape the lost battle. While the land battle raged, the ship was forgotten, and an enterprising group of Bayfolk stripped out as many guns as they could, floating the ship off and sailing it north in an attempt to escape. Upon arriving at the first major port, They sold the ship, in exchange for homes and citizenship. Now renamed the "C.S. Medea" she served as a privateer for a family that referred to itself as a "House"... (WIP, bear with me on this one. Love the pretentiousness of the whole "House Whatever" as a joke)

Eventually, wood rot and age caught up with the ship, as well as a few dozen battles, and she was sold for scrap rather than repaired. (I see the richer areas as being still caught up in the "Throwaway" society ideal, throwing away good things because they are not PERFECT.) The purchaser moved the ship to their home port of Tillamook, renamed the ship "The Queen Anne's Revenge" and is still a bit in the process of getting her up to shipshape and Bristol Fashion. The ship has all sorts of secrets, hidey holes, and numerous other potentials for great stories.

Phew... That was A LOT of ideas. Feedback welcome, and feel free to help me make this BETTER!

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1HjOabvCWc]