Welcome to New SorGun.
The year is 1851. The California gold rush is beginning to wane, but thousands and thousands of pioneers are still making the long journey west each year. One group of intrepid settlers made the trip across the Rocky Mountains on the Oregon Trail expecting to make their fortune in the new territory. After arriving in Portland earlier in the year, the group decided that the town was already too crowded and over-developed (the boomtown had a population of 821 according to the 1850 census).
Determined to find a good homestead, the group headed north aboard the schooner “Approximate”. Two weeks later, the ship sailed into a bay and dropped anchor.
This is where our story begins.



Table of Contents

19th Century
Update 1: Natural Beauty
Tutorial: RFR Water Tips




























  The fine print:
I am attempting to build a region within the context of historical events starting in the mid 19th century. While I may reference actual historical events, the content of this region is entirely fictional (think of any Hollywood movie “based on actual events” and you will get the idea).

I’d like to thank Drunkapple for sharing the Townsville map I’m using.

I’d also like to thank onlyplace4, ionionion, and Cycledogg for their great BATs of 19th century buildings. There are many others, of course, but finding gems from these three gave me the idea of trying something like this in the first place.

Update 1: Natural Beauty
A few undaunted explorers had mapped bits and pieces of the surrounding terrain in the past, but by and large the terrain has been untouched by man.


The first description of the area in writing was by a man in the Hudson’s Bay Company. From a journal entry dated August 5, 1833. “The bay is wide and large, protected to the west by a large Island, and framed to the east by a towering mountain.”


“A number of streams feed the main river, which empties into the bay.”


“Tide pools and rocky beaches are everywhere to be seen, providing ample supplies of fish, clams, crabs and other sea life.”


“Beyond the beaches lie forests with enough timber to supply all the navies of the world.”


“The south side of the river appears to be inhabited by a tribe of Indians, of whom we saw a party along the coast.”


With little knowledge about their surroundings, and completely cut off from civilization, the party of 24 American pioneers set out to build a new life. With only the sweat of hard labor and their quick wits to rely on, destiny was in their hands.