The land has always been full of magic here. Grab a handful of dirt, or run your hand through the Hollow River and you’ll feel it prickle against your skin. You might think it’s just the wind–and it is, but that carries chaos and quintessence on its breath, too. It’s our sacred gift, and our curse to bear. Some of it followed us from the Old World; the rest of it is deep and primal, and tied only to this place. If you’re very still, you can almost hear its beating heart.

No one remembers who Harlan was originally. An explorer or a homesteader, maybe. There were some ruins already here when the first tents went up where the trading post now stands. Maybe it had something to do with that. The name stuck, though.

The wildness of the place has never been easy for settlers, but a town soon blossomed from the traffic. Everyone wanted to go west, and Harlan’s Run was the best place to resupply before a final push into dangerous, inhospitable territory–the magic, again. For the similar reasons, it gained favor with bandits and outlaws: lots of prey, and lots of dark places to hide.

The town has carved out its own hardy culture since those early days. Traders, hunters, mountain men, guides, guns-for-hire (or not), and even the occasional prospector (not that many fared well; the land protects its treasures jealously). There was never a rush, but the steady wayfarers kept it running.

But there aren’t so many of those anymore. The town is dwindling, and the land knows it; it’s getting hungrier. Worse, to the east, cattle ranchers and railroad barons look to expand their lucrative empires, and they’ve cast their greedy eyes on Harlan’s Run. Not because of the people or the buildings or even the precious river crossing, but because of the black rock recently unearthed in its neighboring hills: Coal.

The savage and hungry land, the greedy machine of American business; two masters crave control of our town’s fate. We could leave, but… this place is special. There’s magic here, maybe the last of its kind. Breathe deeply, and you can feel it on the wind. Listen to the river, and it’ll murmur secrets to you. Wander far enough into the hills, and you might cross paths with a miracle.

Isn’t that worth fighting for?

Hosted and narrated by: JPL (Prester)

Started 07/02/20. Scenes played: 1

License: Community License