'Souls RPG

The sticks and stones of the northern lands are where mountain meets marsh and sands. The terrain is shaped by the extremities of the Appalachian Mountains. Rolling hills and beaten earth evince ancient glacial movements. Jagged coastline and rocky beaches surround the Bay of Fundy, subject to the whim of the tides.

Statistics

• Climate: The northern parts of Nova Scotia are cold and typically rather windy. The brunt force of the wind carries off the bay and into these territories more often than not; this region receives frequent, heavy rains. Heavy ice build-up in the northern gulf makes for cold winters, though summer can be enjoyably mild thanks to the western strait's warm water flow.
  
  
• Geography: The Sticks and Stones area consists of low, hulking hills and flat plains. Marshes and lowlands make up the majority of Drifter Bay and the Waste; these areas are more prone to flooding than others. The inland forests are lush and dotted with rivers, lakes, and other water forms. The bay coast is typical of Fundy coasts, while the Atlantic Coast is extremely varied, with an innumerable amount of small islands, peninsulas, and other coastal landforms. East of the Halcyon Mountains, the land has been irrevocably shaped by the 2008 wildfire and more recent, persistent earthquakes. The ever-changing shoreline is Atlantic; although the water is cold and the waves are strong, the shore lacks the bay coast's extreme tidal range.
  
  
• Demographics: The Atlantic Coast was populated with fishing towns and villages of varying size, while the fertile Drifter Bay marshes were dominated by farmland. Outside of these areas, human activity was sparse.
  
  
• Prey: Abundant, despite heavy canine predation. The inland forests are well-populated by prey of varying size and shape.
  
  
• Fauna: A vast number of rodent and small mammal species are found here; Stoats are unique to western Sticks and Stones. Whitetail and Moose are common, while Elk are considerably rarer. Ospreys and Bald Eagles are common through the inland forests, while the Harrier and Red-Tailed Hawk prefer the marshy, open areas. West of the mountains, goats, bats, whitetail deer, various rodents, and red foxes are common. Unique animals include the American Marten and the Hooded Seal.
  
  
• Flora: Halcyon Mountain's underbrush is dominated by Alpine Bilberry and Mountain Cranberry; the forest is mixed, consisting of both coniferous and deciduous trees. In the burned lands, the dominant tree species are paper birch and Quaking Aspen, both pioneer species tending to dominate post-wildfire, along with invasive English Oak. Roman Wormwood is another pioneer plant dominating the northernmost terrain. Underbrush includes Indian Tobacco, Lowbush Blueberry, and Swamp Rose. Switchgrass dominates in marshy areas. Jack Pines, Ironwood, Tamarack, and Black Ash are among the tree species found here.

Recommended Information

• General Areas Information: Basic information about our setting and how to navigate the neutral territory forums.
  
  • Post Apocalypse @ RP Guide: A must-read for players interested in the apocalypse's effects on the world world.
    
  • Travel Guide @ RP Guide: Need help figuring out traveling times and distances? Check this out!
    
• Areas @ 'Souls Wiki: The Wiki has various detailed information about the setting, including landmarks -- particular landforms, buildings, or other very small areas of note -- and past encounters in the area.
  
  • Fauna: Find out what kinds of creatures your character is likely to encounter!</li>
    
  • Flora: Find out what kinds of plant life your character is likely to find!</li>
    
  • Maps -- A page housing a comprehensive list of all current maps relevant to 'Souls.
    
• Setting Questions? -- Check the FAQ!

Quote:

dougtone@Flickr

Formerly known as Prince Edward Island, this newly formed peninsula is connected to the mainland by a tenuous and treacherous stretch of slippery rock that first appeared in September of 2020. In winter, crossing the ice is possible, though not any less dangerous than crossing the rock. It has a climate similar to New Brunswick, though it suffers a coastal woe. In winter especially, the area is prone to fierce snowstorms and blizzards. Spring is slow, summers are cool, and fall is quick in this northerly island. Nonetheless, it is home to several highly desirable resources for Luperci, and is thus a frequent attraction.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Northern Wildwood

Quote:

dougtone@Flickr

The North Wildwood arm of Prince Edward Island is remote. Consisting of pristine beaches, marshland, and sparse forest, the area is as beautiful as it is difficult to access. Despite its distance from the mainland and difficulty of access, Luperci may find the area a plentiful resource. North Wildwood is home to an abundance of wild horses -- there are no fewer than five herds of ten to fifteen horses each roaming the hilly, sparsely forested area outside of the town. More surprising is their quality -- the horses are said to be descendants of the mounted police in the area, as well as those raced in the town of Cavendish Estates. Life in the northernmost extremes of the island has hardened them further -- they are swift-footed and sturdy animals.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Cavendish Estates

Quote:

dougtone@Flickr

The Cavendish Estates consist of both a sprawling piece of farmland and the second-largest town on the island. The Estates themselves are a sprawling farmland, once used to grow a wide variety of foods. Many of them can still be found growing, though the neat rows of planting have long since fallen into disarray. The town is low-slung and clustered around the two processing plants, boasting a racetrack and several decaying bars as primary entertainment. The sprawling complex's buildings tower above the housing, ominous and strange. Though not entirely unpleasant, the Cavendish Estates are a strange place for many Luperci.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Charlottetown

Quote:

dougtone@Flickr

The largest port town on Prince Edward Island does not compare to Saint John or Halifax, but it is the largest city on Prince Edward Island. The city sits on a large bay of the Northumberland Strait, boasting various marinas and ports -- the largest of which houses three beached cruise ships. Though it has few tall buildings, the city sprawls outward incredibly. Much of the suburban areas consist of multi-floor, sprawling Victorian houses -- though they are in poor condition thanks to the island's climate.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Kingsweald

Quote:

wallygrom@Flickr

The Kingsweald is a vast forest stretching across the innards of Prince Edward Island. Although dotted with rural towns and farms, the area has since become completely wild again. The coastal areas of the Kingsweald forest boast sand dunes, beaches with pale sand, and a great number of bird species. Prey animals are in abundance throughout the area, especially deer and small mammals. In addition, the Kingsweald is home to various useful medicinal plants, as well as a few rarities found only within its bounds.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Cabot Beach

Quote:

dougtone@Flickr

Cabot Beach is one of the most beautiful areas of Prince Edward Island. White sands and long, wide beaches characterize the shoreline, while the inland areas are thick forest plentiful with deer and other prey animals. Although beautiful, this area of the island is unsettling. Clearly colonized by Luperci, Cabot Beach was discovered completely deserted save one starving, maddened canine. Signs of Luperci inhabitance -- but no Luperci -- were found by the first explorers of the area. A lack of struggle or bodies precludes war as the cause for depopulation; explanations for abandonment are plenitful, but none certain. Ghostly mystery has permeated Cabot Beach ever since.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Quote:

blender_hassit@Flickr

The Isthmus connects Nova Scotia with mainland Canada. The land bridge is surrounded by water, bordered on the north with the Northumberland Strait and to the south by the Bay of Fundy. Most of the land here is low and flat -- as much of it is below sea level, it is prone to flooding. In spring, one is hard-pressed to find so much as a footstep of dry ground, and the terrain seems made entirely of mud. The inland areas range from salt marsh to swamp, with a smattering of sparse, piney forest. The most populous area prior to humanity's demise was the city of Amherst, situated around the southerly bay.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

North Shore

Quote:

hockadilly@Flickr

The North Shore, unlike the Fundy coasts to the far south, is not a coast of incredible tides. On the contrary, most of the currents along the shore are relatively weak, and the tidal range is typical for Atlantic coasts. Most interesting are the numerous barachois formed along the shore -- areas where sand bars have formed, creating salt water lagoons along the shore. The cutting wind has an icy edge as it sweeps down from the far north, and is perhaps the largest danger to those who might seek to land or launch a boat here. Many of the former human communities, although falling to ruin, were fishing communities, sustained by the rich Atlantic Salmon entering the rivers and estuaries of the terrain.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Fort Cumberland

Quote:

Wikimedia Commons

This fort was built in the mid-eighteenth century and became a historical attraction in its later years. Stone barracks still stand, their construction intended to withstand centuries and cannons. The foundations of other buildings remain, though their wooden parts have rotted. Many of the buildings made completely of wood have fallen to ruin; the fort's stone-walled museum still stands, although the roof has collapsed. Much of the surrounding area consists of low, rolling hills and remains devoid of extensive tree growth.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Black River Reserve

Quote:

joeri-c@Flickr

The Black River reserve, named for the largest of the reserve's numerous rivers, is located along the Northumberland coast. The shore boasts long and rolling sand dunes, along with small barrier islands. Most of the islands are bare of vegetation and become submerged with the high tide -- both the dunes and the islands provide a home for the Harbor and Gray seal species. The inland park primarily consists of salt marshes, lagoons and sparse coastal forests. Pines and other hardy sorts of trees out-compete most deciduous trees; thus, the area remains green throughout the winter.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Amherst

Quote:

mr_john@Flickr

Amherst was a large and sprawling town in the time of humanity. Its remnants are a queer mix of early construction -- sprawling Victorian homes and stone churches -- and evidence of rising commercialism -- warehouses and big chain stores. The latter lined the long highways, clashing mightily with the old construction of Amherst on the smaller main streets. One thing both new warehouse and old Victorian share are the signs of natural reclamation -- even in this once-bustling town, signs of human occupation are decaying quickly. Saplings and shrubs sprout from cracks in the asphalt, and the sidewalks slowly lose their battle with the roots of elder trees.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Millstone Village

Quote:

rick_leche@Flickr

Way down on the southern point of the Isthmus of Chignecto is a small village that cannot be found on a map. In fact, there are literally no roads to Millstone Village at all, only forest paths that stretch and go on for miles. Eventually through the trees there are cabins and a few copses here and there along with tools of the past;none of the technological advances of the world around can be found. From cabins to barns to a one room schoolhouse and graveyard, one can draw the conclusion that Millstone Village is in fact, an Amish village tucked away from the eyes of the world.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Quote:

urbanmkr@Flickr

Aelcrest Shore borders the Northumberland Strait, which separates Nova Scotia from Prince Edward Island. Swift, deadly currents and ice-cold waters swept in from the north prevent the use of current boats (and certainly swimming) across to reach the island; however, anyone stumbling across Aelcrest Shore would find it pristine enough. The shoreline isn't quite so harsh as the bay shoreline, nor so foreboding as the Atlantic Shoreline. Grey Seals make their home along this coastline, providing an ample meal for a Luperci devious enough to catch one. In all months but winter, a few species of whale are found in these waters, using them for breeding in summer. Aelcrest was spared the worst of the fires by the presence of the Cobequid Foothills, and they remain intact, though the odd, rare presence of ash in the easternmost areas show evidence of the fire's reach.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Arisaig Shoal

Quote:

Wikimedia Commons

Once Arisaig Provincial Park, this area displays some of the wild evidence of a young earth. At the top of jagged, low-lying cliffs lining shoreline, there lies a flat surface, evidence of a higher sea level. Arisaig also shows some evidence of glaciation -- the inland areas are rolling hills, marked with kettle indentations and drumlin ridges. The occasional erratic boulder has also come to rest in the Arisaig area, dragged to rest in Arisaig park by glaciers long melted. There is an even mix of grasslands and plains here, and from the shore, one can look to north to the vast island, though the swift currents are certain death for anyone attempting a swim.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Colchester Quarter

Quote:

archer10@Flickr

Colchester Quarter, deriving its name from the former Colchester County, does not follow the borders of its predecessor; instead, the area consists of a few small coastal and mountain towns, as well as the semi-wild areas in between. A decaying farmhouse can still be found here and there, but it would seem most were abandoned before humanity's demise. The small towns and communities, on the other hand, were still alive and well in 1988; evidence of construction and other human projects, forever halted, still linger in the ghost towns and villages.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Quote:

msprague@Flickr

The Appalachian Mountains run through the area, spanning from the far west to the east coast of the lands. The mountains here turn sharply up, reaching at their peak 820 meters. On the northern face of this mountain rock, slides have exposed faults and turned the once-lush forest into nothing more than a rocky cliff. Following the huge forest fire in 2008, this same side of the mountain has turned ash gray and black, covered in soot and dead trees. The Southern side is more fertile, and is densely-forested, home to a multitude of flora and fauna. The northwestern part of the mountain has many jagged cliffs sharp slopes, achieving its maximum height some distance west.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Phosphagos Foothills

Quote:

ankakay@Flickr

At the foot of Halcyon Mountain are what the wolves of the surrounding areas have dubbed "the foothills," or more precisely, Phosphagos Foothills. A series of hillocks lines the base of the mountain, the inclines of each grassy knoll diminishing the further it rests from the base of the great rise. The plant life is fairly uniform in the foothills, tall grasses and small flowers mark the beginning of the ascent up the territory's only mountain range. In the evening, the foothills are overshadowed by the tall trees and mountain itself, thus casting long shadows across the area. Dubbed the 'light-eating' foothills, its name is a rough translation, combining the words 'phos:' light, and 'phago:' I eat.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Serene Sands

Quote:

travelinglibrarian@Flickr

Halcyon Mountain declines sharply into the forlorn shore of Serene Sands. Located in the southwestern border where land meets the sea, the journey to reach the beach can be difficult due to the craggy ravines that ring the northern part of the area. It is quiet here, save for the gentle lapping of the waves, as the immensity of the mountain blocks out most extraneous noise, keeping the beach serene and tranquil from the goings-on outside. It is quite easy for someone to miss a call from this locale, shielded from interruption, left alone to enjoy the sanctity of the calm waves. During the low tide, many caves hidden deep within the face of the rock become accessible. The series of caves harbour some of the best preserved documents, hand-made trinkets and odd knick-knacks possessed by the pack. Several small and scattered islands become visible a short ways off-shore, under-water hills peaking up from beneath the sea to greet the denizens of the beach. The crowns of these hills are smoothed and slippery rock, making them dangerous to tread upon, and thus a hazard to the curious who would dare to try.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Quote:

msprague@Flickr

While boasting some of the highest tides in its bay, this area is primarily renowned for its shores. A menagerie of shells, driftwood, rocks and minerals often wash onto the sandy shores. Follow any of the many bike trails further from the coast and the sand gives way to wide, marshy plains, decorated by sprawling wildflowers and thicker shrubbery to the north. Much of the coastline consists of raised beaches and cliffs, many of which contain fossils.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Sunflower Sunsets

Quote:

Yellow.Cat@Flickr

Far from the foreboding shores of the bay, this small territory derives its name from its most prominent feature: the large swath of sunflowers dominating its fields. Thought to be a sunflower farm prior to the apocalypse, haphazard rows of the golden flowers extend in all directions, gradually giving way to wildflowers and other underbrush. Birds are a common sight among the yellow flowers -- once the sunflowers bloom, this territory crawls with feasting avian life. The tall flowers provide excellent cover for a Luperci hoping to snag their own easy meal of poultry.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

These are the former territories of Bleeding Souls, burned in the 2008 fires. Though the fire was catastrophic, destroying much of the old-growth forests of the area, life had since returned to the area, with young new trees, lush undergrowth, and ample prey.

Nevertheless, evidence of a decade-old disaster still linger. The corpses of scorched, fallen and rotted trees can be found under what sometimes appears as solid ground, under a layer of moss and grass. Here and there, patches of dirt stubbornly continue to shun new growth and remain barren.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Wentworth Valley

The Wentworth Valley cuts through the Halcyon Mountains and the Cobequid Foothills, formed by a glacier as it cut through the earth and slid toward the sea. Although a few tiny towns once existed within the fertile valley during the time of the humans, they have since fallen to complete ruin -- the only evidence of their existence is the occasional still-standing foundation of a house, or a pile of rotting wood. Some of the trees are bent at awkward angles, and the occasional dead log sits in an impossible place -- speared through boulders at the edge of the valley, for example. At one time after the demise of humanity, a great deluge came through the area, wiping it clean of any evidence of man.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Cobequid Foothills

The Foothills, formerly a territory of Bleeding Souls, comprised of the low-lying mountains to the north of Halcyon Mountain. In comparison the larger ridge, these are mere rolling hills, though they are gray and foreboding. Stinking sulphur pits, evidence of the long-dormant volcanic activity in the area, comprise what were once kettle lakes and pits, and the area seems overcome with a dense, stinking fog. Even the formerly beautiful Tranquil Springs have become tainted and poisonous to drink from -- any other streams or pools of water in the area are a genuine gamble. The dead and dying remnants of the trees, spared death from the fire but dying a slower one as the land surrounding them seems to die, are steadily withering. Nevertheless, stubborn shrubbery still takes root here between the charred trees -- though they are stunted and gnarled in accordance with their harsh surroundings. Even the birds don't nest here -- the area is devoid of life other than the obstinate shrubs sprouting here and there.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Âmes de la Mort

The Âmes de la Mort, stretching south of the Cobequid Foothills to the marshy reaches of the Sosye Basin, was once a dead, gray land, littered with dead trees and thirsty dirt. These lands were the initial tinder for the vast wildfire that consumed its surroundings. The territory, once home to the Shadowed Stars pack, had become withered and gray long before the fire; however, in the aftermath, it seems to have fared the best of its surrounding territories. Most of the trees here fell during the initial fire and have begun to rot away; saplings can be seen here, and although the land seems strangely flat and bare, there is evidence of green, returning life. Strangely, however, the predominant settler seems to be the English Oak, which is not native to Nova Scotia. The tree seems to quash its competitors, guaranteeing a forest predominated by the invasive species in several years' time.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Quote:

jillhudgins@Flickr

The Waste is primarily rocky, unfriendly terrain, ringed by stony beaches. Towards the north and east, the sand eases into rolling hillsides containing several large stones and cut-rock faces, as well as a myriad of caves. The land here is marshy, dominated by tall grasses, lacking in heavy treeland. As the elevation descends, the plains and tall grass give way to the sparse forest ringing the edges of the Dampwoods. The southernmost extremes of this territory show evidence of a fire some years before. Altogether, The Waste is a particularly a foreboding territory.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

The city did not burn as well as the surrounding forests; nevertheless, char marks and other evidence of fire can be seen clearly in the old city of Sydney. In 2020, new devastation struck the city in the form of two major earthquakes three months apart. This flattened the remains of the city, with anything over a few stories collapsing violently. It's a place of layered debris and dust. There is nothing to scavenge here. Even the plant life seems to avoid the center of the city; while the old suburbs have begun to show signs of sprouting to forest, downtown remains barren and lifeless.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Skeletal Sanctuary

The Skeletal Sanctuary is all that remains of the once-beautiful suburbs of the city. The streets became rivers of fire in 2008, and bear the marks to prove it. Instead of straight, well-defined streets, most of the roads here melted and overflowed their borders, reforming and hardening back into solid asphalt when the fire retreated. Then, the 2020 earthquakes split open the asphalt to form deep fissures in the ground and through houses.

After the fire, many neighbourhoods only had stone foundations remain as wood-construction homes went up in smoke. After the quake, these foundations became piles of broken rock. Walls are rare in this area now, and even the once skeletal remains begin to fade away, overcome by wild greenery which have taken advantage of these weakening structures as crutches for new growth.

Despite the disasters, wildlife thrives here, and it's not uncommon to see a young tree spouting from the concrete in the middle of a sidewalk.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

The northeastern most lands of the Cape Breton Peninsula suffered the worst damage from the fire. Years later, the mountainous ridges have kept the beach from prospering, and the land has become even more barren and foreboding. Little plant or animal life is found past the Yawrah River -- canines wishing to trek this way are well-advised to come with their own supplies.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki

Haunted Forest

The burned ruins of the Haunted Forest are even more forlorn and ghostly. The once magnificent forest is no more; the fire took the trees to their stumps. In addition, terrible flooding later reduced the center of the territory to a boggy lagoon. Around the acrid pit of water, little vegetation has sprouted even in the time since the fire -- with only ashes as fertilizer, there is little chance life will return to this area naturally. The earth remains bleak and gray; a low fog frequently clings to the earth, as it did before the forest was razed.

• More on the 'Souls Wiki