The Infinite Railroad

[IceHeart]

"The World has no End"

By Famous Philosopher Quintin Kuatillian

This famous phrase has been the reality that has limited the land humans have been able to settle. The world is like a wasteland, full of deserts, badlands, little shelter, and only a few springs of water. The land goes on for eternity in all directions and all explorers would either return to one of the few livable towns or die out in the expanse. Then everything changed once a strange building was discovered out in the middle of nowhere, this was the first train station.

Since that fateful day centuries ago life forever changed. Two sets of infinite railway tracks were set side by side, allowing for trains to travel in either direction. Whenever a train leaves another is soon to take it's place within a day or two. No one knows how this system came to be but humanity was soon to take advantage of it to travel the world. Pretty much wherever there is a train station a new settlement would pop up and various people would scout the nearby area for places to settle and riches to collect. Humanity continued to expand through these train stations and have stretched out across the expanse.

"The World is the Rail-line"

By Railway Entrepreneur Jonathan Steamholt

The tracks never bend and the only way known to revisit a location is to take the other line to head back the way you came. Philosophers and Scientist have concluded that the world is a flat, never ending plain that goes on for eternity. As it is infinite, it is unknown if the railways have an end themselves and as yet they appear to go on forever. As a result most people tend to stay in near one train station for most of their life and only travel a few stations at most before heading back home. Of course not everyone is content to stay in one spot and constantly move from station to station for adventure and excitement. Such people are often called Riders.

---

The potential roleplay would follow several riders as they travel by train across the world. Dropping by various locations for exploration and interaction. The roleplay would be somewhat of a Western type setting with guns and of course the occasional train heist with perhaps a splash of steampunk and mystical elements. Due to its nature there would be few permanent fixtures as unless there is a need to head back for story reasons, each location will be left behind after its story has been told and the characters move on to the next station. As such I think probably a log section would be used to keep track of locations along the railway sort of like the fashioning of a map of sorts.

Course want to see potential interest first before making anything more concrete.

[ShwiggityShwah]

I could find some fun in this wild west fantasy. I'm in.

[Reflection]

Honestly, I really like this idea. How wild are we allowed to be with the characters? Is it more grounded in reality, or is it more along the lines of a kind of mythical western. With stuff like monsters, or undead?

[IceHeart]

@Reflection
Frankly I hadn't really thought that far ahead, though I'm sure I was thinking it would be a bit more realistic with sprinklings of other elements to add some flavor. Like I don't think monsters or undead would be 'wild' so to speak, if there is anything like that, more likely than not, there would be some driving force creating them such as a mad scientist. Nothings set in stone but I was leaning toward a more 'low' fantasy type setting if anything.

[Reflection]

@IceHeart Alright, makes sense. I really love the pitch. So like a western cowboy Beebop? Where everything is grounded, but with some fantastical elements that have a kind of grounded root behind it.

[IceHeart]

@IceHeart Alright, makes sense. I really love the pitch. So like a western cowboy Beebop? Where everything is grounded, but with some fantastical elements that have a kind of grounded root behind it.

@Reflection

I guess that's a pretty apt description, though I've never actually watched Cowboy Beebop so I wouldn't know. Closest thing I've watched is Outlaw Star. But ya, more grounded but with some fantastical elements.

[Athol]

You've certainly gotten my attention. Since I'm a bit of a gun-nerd I feel compelled to ask, how advanced would the firearms be? Still just single shot cap and ball type stuff, or would things like early semi-automatics (pre-WW1) be allowed?

[Reflection]

@IceHeart Cowboy Beebop is probably more grounded than Outlaw Star. But yeah, it's like a group of people with complex baggage and interesting backstories all get together and do stuff to make money. I might need to ponder what kind of character I want to make.

[Saltwater Thief]

I'm interested, if there's room.

[IceHeart]

You've certainly gotten my attention. Since I'm a bit of a gun-nerd I feel compelled to ask, how advanced would the firearms be? Still just single shot cap and ball type stuff, or would things like early semi-automatics (pre-WW1) be allowed?

@Athol

I was thinking like revolvers and rifles at the time of my idea creation so closer to that pre-WW1 time slot. While certain weapons you could shoot fairly quickly if you're good at them like a revolver, of course there would be no carry-able machine guns. Probably the fastest weapon that might appear would be a mounted gatling gun like during the late Civil War era. So it's at least gotten past the need for loading power and shot, mostly just need to replenish ammo and of course perform cleaning and necessary upkeep for weapons.

[Athol]

@IceHeart A couple other questions occurred to me. Do the tracks run North/South or East/West, and will there be a map of known stations/settlements?

[IceHeart]

@Athol The tracks run North/South meaning the settlements will be East/West of the stations. Because it is an 'infinite' railroad usually each settlement only knows about other settlements roughly 2-3 stations away from them. Usually each station will have maps to help travelers know where the nearby towns are and other points of interest. I will probably at least semi-plan out say, three initial train stations to start out with. Because of the odd structure of the railroads it makes it quite hard for places to have knowledge of much beyond their initial neighbors though of course there are some exceptions.

[Reflection]

I'm pondering my character at the moment. How's this for a pitch?

- Mysterious Gunslinger who claims to have been searching for Paradise, which is somewhere along the railroad. He's been at it for about one hundred years, and nobody is sure if he's really human anymore, since the only sign of life is a set of bright eyes that peek out from beneath a hat and an outfit that's way to big.

[Saltwater Thief]

I might make a mechanic or engineer character, haven't had one of those in a long while...

[Etranger]

I'll just squeeze on in here.

[Miss Servitor]

Peering over the edge with interest >>

[Gisk]

This actually looks really cool. Do people feel any particular way about those who try to map the world?

I was thinking a cartographer who keeps meaning to head back to the institute he works for, but maybe he'll do just one more station...

[ShwiggityShwah]

I have an idea for a sheriff or a preacher archtype.

[Athol]

I'm toying with the idea of a Tracker/Scout, with a minor in Demolitions or Medicine...not sure

[IceHeart]

This actually looks really cool. Do people feel any particular way about those who try to map the world?

I was thinking a cartographer who keeps meaning to head back to the institute he works for, but maybe he'll do just one more station...

@Gisk

Most people probably think that trying to map so much is a waste of time since the world is 'endless' after all. For the more local areas around the stations though maps can still be pretty useful as people often need to know the best routes to settlements and such. Getting lost in the expanse can easily mean death since water is often a rare find.

World Information

Common Knowledge: The world is flat and infinite. Most of the world is, unfortunately, rather desolate with only a few fresh springs.

Water: Probably one of the most precious resources out there, no settlement can last long without a supply of water. One of the most lucrative jobs out there is water prospecting. Anyone who finds such a location can quickly sell the information and make a small fortune as settlers are quick to move in and create a new town wherever there is water.

The Stations: All stations have at least one train bay for maintenance, they are also the only places where there is a bit of extra track which can allow other trains to pass by if needed. The stations are generally run by Steamholt Transportation and they employ many people in various positions. Because trains in general can never go back the way they came, train crews are constantly changing trains, often employed on a kind of train loop where they travel a station or two before hopping on the other track and heading back to home base. Woe to anyone who leaves anything on the train as you will never see that item again unless you get back on that same train before it leaves.

Weapons: Weapons can be hard to come by as unless you are at a station where there are profitable mines around, supplies will often be quite limited. Resources are often scarce so frugality is the key to survival. Most travelers have at least a knife on them, especially since it has so many uses aside from fighting and doesn't need ammunition. Guns are expensive as is ammo so careful maintenance is key to keeping a gun in shape for a long time. Handguns, like revolvers are the most common type of gun since they are easier to carry, maintain, and tend to be the cheapest to buy and make. Rifles are hard to come by so usually only the rich, the lucky, or those with a family weapon tend to have one. Because of their longer range and firepower they are often seen as great prizes to be pilfered and looted.

I'm pondering my character at the moment. How's this for a pitch?

- Mysterious Gunslinger who claims to have been searching for Paradise, which is somewhere along the railroad. He's been at it for about one hundred years, and nobody is sure if he's really human anymore, since the only sign of life is a set of bright eyes that peek out from beneath a hat and an outfit that's way to big.

@Reflection

The idea of a search for paradise is interesting, though the 100 years thing I think is a bit much. I know this is 'fantasy western' but as I want a bit more of a realistic type setting that character seems a bit out there.

Character Skeleton

Name:
Appearance: [picture or description]
Gender:
Equipment: [From weapons to other tools]
Abilities: [Skills that make your character unique, ex. Marksmanship, Excellent Cook, Survivalist, Tailor, etc.]
The Story: [Character biography, 2-4 paragraphs]
Quirks: [Anything random that you just want people to know about. Maybe you hiccup around water? Have a special birthmark on your butt? Can't keep company cause you snore like a saw mill? Etc.]