Overview

The Hart Lumber Company was founded in 1826 by the Hart family, once a symbol of independence and pride in Shadewood Hollow. Under Thomas Hart’s leadership, it provided timber for homes, tools, and trade.

One year a monstrous slide — likely caused by Monaghan's reckless mining — buried half the forest, Thomas lost his supply. Contracts dried up, workers fled to Monaghan’s "secure" jobs, and rumors of sabotage spread as tools broke and deliveries went missing. The final blow came when illness struck his family, forcing him to seek a loan from Monaghan's bank. The terms were ruthless. When he couldn’t pay, Monaghan took everything.

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The company was lost, but the Hart name wasn’t. Michael Hart, Thomas's son, had been set to inherit the business. Instead, he was demoted to just another worker in the yard his family built. His name, once respected, became a cruel punchline for Monaghan's men. Forced to support his family alone, Michael took orders from Monaghan-appointed managers who went out of their way to humiliate him. But where his father broke, Michael bent — and bent without snapping.

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Quietly, he fought back. Small acts of defiance. Delayed shipments, miscounted loads, whispered lessons to younger workers on how to "stretch the day" without getting caught. Workers began to notice. Monaghan did too. Rumors linked Michael to Eleanor Daws, the labor organizer stirring rebellion among miners. That brought more eyes on him, enforcers watching his every move. But Michael knew the yard better than they ever would. He stayed one step ahead.

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The lumber yard may have Monaghan’s name on the ledgers, but the workers call it something else. They call it “Hart’s Yard.” They see Michael not as a man broken, but a man waiting. The Last Hart. He doesn’t lead with words, but they follow him anyway. Monaghan’s men can watch all they want. They’ll never hear him coming. Not until it’s too late.

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​​​​Secrets & Lore

• The Sawmill: The sawmill itself is a beast of iron gears, churning belts, and spinning teeth. Its deafening roar is heard throughout the Hollow. 

• The Hart Family Office: Though no longer owners, the Hart family maintains an office on site. A secret ledger documenting worker deaths is said to be hidden inside. These numbers never match Monaghan’s official reports.

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Lumber Roles

• Woodhand – A new hire who handles basic tasks like moving logs, stacking lumber, and cleaning up sawdust.

  • Weekly pay: $9.00

• Sawyer – An experienced worker who operates saws and cuts timber into planks or beams.

  • Weekly pay: $18.00

• Foreman – The shift leader who oversees sawmill operations, ensures quotas are met, and handles worker assignments.

  • Weekly pay: $15.00

• Lumber Baron – The ultimate authority over the lumber company, controlling production, finances, and worker oversight, while wielding influence over the town’s economy and local politics.

  • Weekly pay: $20.00

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Goods

• Lumber: Oak, hickory, pine and walnut - Available March - November.

• Raw Timber (full logs) - Available March - August.​​​​

• Planks & Boards: Cedar, birch and cypress - Limited supply December - February. 

• Fence Materials 

• Construction Materials 

• Carpentry Supplies

• Furniture Kits

• Wood Chips, Shavings & Mulch 

• Barrier & Barricade Materials​​​​

• Firewood - Available September - February. 

• Sacred Woods (Rare): Harvested from trees blessed by local witches, used in protective charms or warding totems - Available March - May. 

• Spellcarved Planks (Rare): Planks marked with sigils or runes for use in witchcraft, typically requested by witches or supernatural factions - Available March - May.  

• Hollowroot-Inlaid Boards (Rare): Planks with hollowroot fibers infused, used for occult rituals or secret compartments - Available June - August.

• Moonlit Maple (Rare): Maple trees harvested under a full moon, used for sacred tools, or ceremonial items - Available June - August.

• Ironbound Planks (Rare): Planks reinforced with iron bands for extra durability, often used in secure doors and barricades - Available June - August.

• Whisperwood Planks (Rare): Rumored to "echo" footsteps or voices, highly sought after by those wary of intruders - Available September - November. 

• Frostbitten Oak (Rare): Timber harvested in winter’s deepest freeze, known to be exceptionally strong and crack-resistant - Available December - February.

• Witchwood Staves (Rare): Long wooden staffs or poles made from enchanted wood (birch, ash, or sycamore) infused with magical properties - Available December - February.