Ladysmith
Ladysmith, once a picturesque town on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, now stands as a community torn from its reality and thrust into an alien and unforgiving world. The event known as "The Blacklight" came without warning—a shimmering, pulsating field of impossible light that erupted from Ladysmith Harbour one moonless night. Expanding in an instant, the field swallowed the town and surrounding areas, wrenching them into a vast, unknown land alien to them.
The aftermath of the Blacklight Event left the town disoriented and mourning. Buildings near the edge of the event’s radius collapsed or were cut in half, leaving jagged ruins where homes and businesses once stood. Those physically on the edge the field—and those unlucky enough to have pacemakers—perished instantly, including the town’s mayor. The survivors found themselves in a region known by its new neighbors as the Disputed Lands, a vast, lawless territory outside of the Pactlands. The land is dotted with Free Folk settlements, mysterious ruins, and a host of non-human sentient beings, from the shamanistic Rathkarii to the enigmatic El’Dar.
Despite the chaos, Ladysmith’s community spirit has become its greatest strength. The Ladysmith Emergency Committee (LEC), formed in the hour following the event, has quickly assumed leadership, rallying the people and organizing efforts to stabilize the town. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment in Ladysmith shifted its focus from law enforcement to maintaining order and ensuring public safety. Volunteers from all walks of life—mechanics, teachers, retirees, hunters, and business owners—have come together to rebuild what they can and adapt to this strange, new reality.
The town’s infrastructure is surprisingly intact, thanks to the event’s peculiar precision, though supply lines to the outside world are now severed. As such, electricity, internet and telecommunications were effectively halted, while water supplies remain at risk. The harbour, once a picturesque stop for tourists, is now a critical lifeline, serving as the town’s connection to the surrounding alien environment. Transfer Beach, a serene park, has become a staging area for defensive preparations and makeshift trade.
Almost immediately, Ladysmith was forced to adapt. The familiar elements of its culture and traditions endure, but they are now infused with a newfound sense of resilience and resourcefulness. The community has become a beacon of hope and cooperation amid the chaos, striving to understand its new home while holding tightly to its identity.
Uncertain of their place in this world, the people of Ladysmith press forward. They’ve begun forging uneasy alliances with the Free Folk and other peoples of the Pactlands, while cautiously studying their new neighbors, aware that their survival depends on adapting quickly to this strange and dangerous reality. For now, the town remains an anomaly—an island of Earth’s culture and technology stranded in an ancient, enigmatic world.
Demographics
Ladysmith’s population of roughly 9,000 has survived the Blacklight Event with its diverse demographics intact. The town’s community includes families, retirees, and working professionals, with a significant First Nations presence, particularly from the Stz’uminus First Nation. The shift has brought these groups closer together as they rely on each other to face this unprecedented crisis.
The event known as the Blacklight claimed the lives of dozens, leaving families mourning loved ones. However, the tragedy has united the survivors, fostering a spirit of shared resilience. The town’s small but vibrant arts community, tradespeople, educators, and health workers have become crucial assets in maintaining morale and adapting to the challenges of this new world.
Government
The Ladysmith Emergency Committee (LEC) has emerged as the town’s interim government, formed in the hours following the Blacklight Event. Composed of local leaders, RCMP representatives, and key community figures, the LEC coordinates disaster response, infrastructure maintenance, and the town’s long-term survival strategy.
With the mayor among those lost in the event, leadership has fallen to the LEC’s acting head, a long-standing council member of the town, "Goose" Payne. Goose’s whimsical demeanor coupled with his strategic thinking have earned him the respect of the community. The LEC has established a command center in the town’s Resource Centre, which now serves as the heart of Ladysmith’s recovery efforts.
The RCMP, under the leadership of Sergeant Gerald Boone, provides security and ensures order, while civilian volunteers manage food distribution, medical care, and other critical needs. While the LEC’s authority is provisional, it has the full support of the town’s citizens, who understand the need for strong leadership in this uncertain time.
Defences
In response to potential threats, the town has begun fortifying its perimeter. Volunteers and the RCMP have established watchpoints and patrols. Basic defenses include barricades, improvised weapons, and strategic use of terrain to protect key locations like Transfer Beach and the downtown core. Discussions are underway to form alliances with the Free Folk to enhance security.
Industry & Trade
While traditional industries like tourism and retail are on hold, the town is adapting to its new circumstances. Local artisans and tradespeople are exploring ways to trade goods and services with the Free Folk. Engineers are experimenting with alternative energy sources and resource extraction methods to sustain the town’s economy.
Infrastructure
Ladysmith’s infrastructure has weathered the Blacklight Event surprisingly well. Key utilities—water, and sanitation—remain somewhat operational, though long-term maintenance poses significant challenges without external support. However, any communication with Earth has been severed indefinitely.
The town’s main street, First Avenue, has become the hub of activity, with businesses repurposed to support recovery efforts. The local high school gymnasium now functions as an emergency shelter, while the Resource Centre serves as the LEC’s headquarters. Transfer Beach has been transformed into a strategic site for defense and trade, with its docks providing access to the surrounding region.
Transportation infrastructure, including roads and vehicles, remains intact, but fuel supplies are limited. Mechanics and engineers are working to adapt vehicles to alternative fuels using resources found in the Disputed Lands.
Districts
Ladysmith’s familiar districts have taken on new roles in the aftermath of the Blacklight Event.
Downtown Core: First Avenue is now the center of emergency operations and commerce. Businesses have been converted into supply depots, workshops, and communal kitchens.
Transfer Beach: Formerly a recreational area, it now serves as a staging ground for defensive operations and trade with neighboring communities.
Residential Areas: Neighborhoods house the majority of the population, with residents forming close-knit groups to support one another.
Industrial Zone: The town’s small industrial area has become critical for resource processing and machinery repair.
Stz’uminus First Nation Reserve: The Stz’uminus people have taken a leadership role in adapting traditional knowledge to the challenges of the new environment, providing invaluable guidance on survival.
Downtown Core: First Avenue is now the center of emergency operations and commerce. Businesses have been converted into supply depots, workshops, and communal kitchens.
Transfer Beach: Formerly a recreational area, it now serves as a staging ground for defensive operations and trade with neighboring communities.
Residential Areas: Neighborhoods house the majority of the population, with residents forming close-knit groups to support one another.
Industrial Zone: The town’s small industrial area has become critical for resource processing and machinery repair.
Stz’uminus First Nation Reserve: The Stz’uminus people have taken a leadership role in adapting traditional knowledge to the challenges of the new environment, providing invaluable guidance on survival.
Assets
Despite its isolation, Ladysmith possesses several critical assets:
Skilled Workforce: Tradespeople, educators, healthcare workers, and technicians form the backbone of the recovery effort.
Resources: The town’s equipment, tools, and remaining fuel supplies are carefully rationed.
Cultural Heritage: The resilience and traditions of its diverse population are a source of strength.
Well-equipped Harbour: Ladysmith’s coastal location allows limited interaction with the new world via its harbor.
Skilled Workforce: Tradespeople, educators, healthcare workers, and technicians form the backbone of the recovery effort.
Resources: The town’s equipment, tools, and remaining fuel supplies are carefully rationed.
Cultural Heritage: The resilience and traditions of its diverse population are a source of strength.
Well-equipped Harbour: Ladysmith’s coastal location allows limited interaction with the new world via its harbor.
History
Ladysmith’s history as a coal mining and logging town has imbued it with a culture of hard work and resilience. These qualities are proving invaluable in the aftermath of the Blacklight Event. The town’s cultural traditions, such as the Festival of Lights, are being reimagined to honor the past while inspiring hope for the future.
Points of interest
First Avenue: The bustling heart of the recovery effort.
Transfer Beach: Now a strategic hub for defense and trade.
Ladysmith Resources Centre Association: Headquarters of the LEC.
Collapsed Edge Zones: Areas where buildings were severed by the event, now eerie landmarks.
Stz’uminus Reserve: A vital source of knowledge and leadership in adapting to the new world.
Transfer Beach: Now a strategic hub for defense and trade.
Ladysmith Resources Centre Association: Headquarters of the LEC.
Collapsed Edge Zones: Areas where buildings were severed by the event, now eerie landmarks.
Stz’uminus Reserve: A vital source of knowledge and leadership in adapting to the new world.
Architecture
Ladysmith’s heritage architecture—a mix of Edwardian-era buildings and modern structures—has become a poignant reminder of the town’s origins. Many buildings have been repurposed to meet the community’s needs, blending historic charm with practical functionality.
Geography
The town’s new location in the Disputed Lands features rolling hills, dense forests, and strange alien flora. Ladysmith’s coastal position provides access to waterways that may become critical for exploration and trade.
Natural Resources
The surrounding area is rich in timber, fresh water, and arable land. However, the alien environment also offers unknown resources, which the town is beginning to study. Traditional knowledge from the Stz’uminus First Nation has been essential in identifying safe food sources and medicinal plants.
Founding Date
1904 CE (Earth Calendar)
Type
Town
Population
8334
Related Ethnicities
Location under
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
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