Happyvil

Happyvil is an independant town found to the north of the east/west road from Ford west/south-west from Old Fort. Happyvil is little like its name. The towns denizens are all held to a complicated credit system, with almost every aspect of life requiring some form of payment to the town. Those who cannot pay are held in indenture until they can absolve their debt all-the-while incurring new costs.
This system even applies to those that enter to trade with the town. Unaware or unprepared merchants have found themselves trapped within the system, unable to leave. Despite this danger, the town does a brisk trade - for example, Happyvil is one of the few near frontier communities that trades in weapons.

Demographics

Mostly Human, though a few Demons are among the Indentured within town. Very rarely are Changed Humans found within Happyvil. Those that could be dangerous to the town's structure are "disappeared", though sometimes the Three have made use of a Changed's talents.

Government

The Three, a group of Deadwalkers, took over the town within the second or third year of its existence. They have used it ever since to survive and thrive. The town, outside of the Accountant and a few other high-ranked toadies, know nothing of the nature of their leadership. The Three are always presented publicly as a set of deeply robed figures sitting high above the audience chamber of Town Hall. Ostensibly, secret ballot elections are held every five years to determine who sits on the Three. But these are obviously theatre. To keep the populace from trying to deduce who may be a member (and therefore find out that its no one in the general populace), all persons inside the town on Audience Day are required by law to remain in their homes, with each supplicant brought in one at a time. The official story is that this maintains total anonymity in regards to who petitions the Three for redress.

Defences

Happyvil is surrounded by a tall wooden palisade wall. The town makes use of an internal guard force of non-indebted citizens, augmented by a small mercenary force. Indebted citizens and guests are prohibited from owning, possessing, or carrying arms.

Industry & Trade

Happyvil has a strong body of trade and commerce. The main goods available are:

• Weapons, mostly scavenged or confiscated
• Basic manufactured goods
• Cow hides, meat, milk + nitrogen fertilizer
• Some gas (5 credits/mile)
• Laborers

Guilds and Factions

Most people within Happyvil keep their heads down. With 68% of the town's population currently indebted to it, they have little real choice in the matter. They cannot leave until their debts are payed off. After that, they have to be able to afford the exit fees. Those that have managed to keep themselves afloat or even thrive in Happyvil's environment typically become part of the governing forces of the town. They also have little reason to upset the apple cart.
There is a secret underground faction within Happyvil, buried deep. Even the Three have had little substantive proof that such a group exists, though they suspect it is the case. The Happyvil Underground is currently run by Elouise Marcham.

Founding Date

109 PE

Type

Town

Population

340