Travel and Transportation in Calamity varies drastically from our history books.
In 1872 a mysterious, fast-acting horse plague swept across the continent. In early 1874 Sandy Rose, the last known horse in the world, died in Kentucky. The Union and Confederacy continue to blame one another for the “Equine Plague”.
No horses in a western??? Not an easy choice, and frankly, if I was writing a book or a movie there would be horses… but we are writing a LARP. We felt it would be impossible to accurately represent the impact horses had in the old west in a manner that would maintain immersion in the game world (since we cannot afford to have actual horses for our players and NPCs - pesky budgets).
How does this impact the world of Calamity?
- Spurs - some still wear them for fashion or a way to remember “better times”
- Pony Express - employs runners, and charge a premium for their “fast delivery”
- Wells Fargo – the iconic stage coaches of the west are a thing of the past, most stage companies went bust with the Black Epizootic, or equine plague
- Cowpokes - they still drive cattle, it’s just much harder on foot. At this time a lot of the big ranches were further west, so who knows what has happened to those herds (flesh eating longhorns???)
- Railroads - various independent lines and the war have caused there to be few continuous routes. Instead one generally has to disembark one train, then take a cart to the next stage of the route. Nobody knows the current state of the transcontinental railroads west of the Mississippi.
- Ox-Drawn Covered Wagons – primary method of long distance travel, especially for them that cannot afford a train ticket
- Mail - mostly delivered on foot with larger packages by ox cart. In civilized areas, trains are used as well to transport bulk mail from one city to the next
- Steam or Lightning Powered Conveyances - some basic experimentation has taken place, however boiler explosions and other mishaps have most people believing they are more of a hazard than a viable travel solution
- Posse – when trouble occurs, it is still common to form a posse, they just don’t yell “mount up”
- Robberies – also take place on foot, outlaw bands tend to be larger to provide more hands to carry off the loot (the good news is you know nobody is riding after you)
Primary Travel Routes
Folks travelling to Carrion Creek have a few options.
Federation Routes
- Most folk travel in wagon trains across country to St. Louis, IL
- The more well off can afford to travel by train (where available) to Chicago, IL, then come south on a steamboat to St. Louis.
- Regulated traffic from the North goes through St. Louis, IL where barges are available to ferry people across the Mississippi.
- People then travel south on the western shore of the Territory to Cottonwood Point and then 160 miles west into the Whispering Hills
League Routes
- Most folk travel in wagon trains across country to Memphis, TN
- The more well off can afford to travel by train (where available) to New Orleans, LA, then head North on a steamboat to Memphis.
- Regulated traffic from the South goes through Memphis, TN, where barges are available to ferry people across the Mississippi.
- People then travel north on the western shore of the Territory to Cottonwood Point and then 160 miles west into the Whispering Hills
Republic of Texas Routes
- There is no official overland route to the Whispering Hills, the lands between are controlled by the WindSong Nation, who will make no agreements with any of the American governments and tolerate no trespassers.
- Most folk travel in wagon trains across country to Baton Rouge or New Orleans, LA.
- The more well off can afford to travel by ship from Galveston, TX to New Orleans, LA, then head North on a steamboat to Memphis.
- Regulated traffic from the South goes through Memphis, TN, where barges are available to ferry people across the Mississippi.
- People then travel south on the western shore of the Territory to Cottonwood Point and then 160 miles west into the Whispering Hills
Unofficial Routes
Many folk are making the journey through more risky routes often to avoid official checkpoints. Smugglers will take folk across the Mississippi for a steep fee. Some Texans are rumored to have tried an overland route; most are never heard from again.
Average Travel Times
By Covered Wagon
- New York City to Carrion Creek - 1,366 miles, 20 weeks
- Charleston to Carrion Creek - 974 miles, 12 weeks
- Houston to Carrion Creek - 516 miles, 7 weeks
- New Orleans to Carrion Creek - 582 miles, 8 weeks
- Chicago to Carrion Creek - 710 miles, 10 weeks
By Train
Travel times vary due to the large number of independent railroads, many of which do not connect to one another. The war has taken a heavy toll on the railroads, destruction of infrastructure is a primary goal for both sides.
- On average a train can travel 30 miles per hour when track is available
Steamboats on the Mississippi
The Mississippi River is a key method of transportation and trade. Chicago and New Orleans, while being part of the Federation and League respectively, operate more as “Free Trade” cities and are generally known for being governed by criminal elements. The river is patrolled by ironclad steamboats of both sides of the war and travel is regularly restricted. Add to that river pirates, water hazards, and the disturbing regularity of boiler explosions, and suddenly an ox cart looks mighty inviting to some folk.
- New Orleans to Memphis, 1-2 weeks
- Chicago to St. Louis, 7-10 days
By Sailing Ship
Many of the poorer immigrants still come to the American Nations on sailing vessels under terrible conditions. The poorest travel in stowage, with the crates and luggage, surrounded by rats and suffering from disease and starvation.
- Europe to America, 6-14 weeks depending on weather
By Steam Ship
Steam ships are dramatically improving the time to cross the Atlantic, however they are designed for a more well to do traveler and many of the lower classes cannot even afford the cheapest tickets.
- Europe to America, 10 – 14 days
