1800s - Founding & Early Years
1802 - The War of the Land
As American expansion pushed westward, settlers clashed not with Indigenous nations, but with the land itself. Trees regrew overnight, trails vanished, and rivers turned against those who sought to conquer them. Military forces sent to secure the frontier disappeared into unnatural storms, their fires snuffed out by unseen hands.
1804 - The Church is Built
Pioneers raise a church from cedar and oak, a place for worship, births, deaths, and town gatherings. Its bell calls every soul to its doors.
1807 - The Bell of Reckoning
A thunderstorm splits the church bell, giving it a hollow, mournful tone. That same night, a miner dies under strange circumstances. From then on, the bell is seen as a herald of death.
1809 - Ironhowl Forge
Enoch Vance builds the town’s first forge. Cherokee rites bless the land and tools. The eerie howling sounds from within give it the name “Ironhowl.”
1812 - Hollow Acres Barn
The Finch family, with guidance from Cherokee elders, builds a grand barn from sacred wood. Blessed to endure, it becomes a lasting symbol of the Finch family's presence.
1824 - The First Wolf Pact
Enoch Vance makes a secret deal with a local werewolf pack. He agrees to shelter "certain travelers" in return for their protection of Shadewood Hollow.
1830 - The Great Accord
When the earth itself swallowed an entire battalion, the U.S. government was forced to negotiate peace. The Great Accord was signed in 1830, granting Indigenous nations sovereignty and restricting settlements to designated areas. Over time, however, industry and expansion chipped away at the land’s will, and though it once fought back, now it only sleeps.
1845 - The Great Forest Fire
A fire rages through the Appalachian mountains taking businesses, houses, food, and livestock with it.
1847 - Undertaker Established
Mortimer Graven opens the town’s first mortuary, ushering in a formal means of burying Shadewood’s dead.
1850-1870 - Monaghan's Rise
1850 - Arrival of Josiah Monaghan
Josiah Monaghan arrives, bringing wealth and ambition. By indebting settlers, he seizes control of the mines under his new company, Monaghan Mining Co.
1857 - Victor Draven Arrives
Monaghan hires Victor Draven as his personal enforcer. The shift from debt to intimidation begins. Those who speak out vanish.
1860 - Collapse of Shaft Seven
Shaft Seven collapses, burying 13 miners alive. Their cries echo for days before going silent.
1861 - The American Civil War: A Nation Divided by Economics and Expansion
The United States fractures as the industrial North and agrarian South clash over economic policies, trade restrictions, and the control of western resources.
1862 - Mortimer Graven Disappears
Mortimer Graven vanishes without a trace. His adopted “son” Edward takes over the family business. No body is ever found.
1863 - The American Civil War: Tensions Rise
West Virginia secedes from Virginia, siding with the Union, but tensions run high in Shadewood Hollow as loyalties divide families and neighbors.
1864 - Monaghan Exploits the War
Monaghan supplies both Union and Confederates with coal and iron at exorbitant prices, while rumors spread that some miners have fled to join the conflict. As Union forces push south and Confederate scouts pass through the region, the town teeters on the edge of war itself.
1865 - The Civil War Ends, But the Divide Remains
With the Union victorious, federal oversight expands into former Confederate territories, tightening economic control over the South. Monaghan, now wealthier than ever, turns his sights fully on Shadewood Hollow, reinforcing his grip on the mines. Reconstruction policies leave many in the region struggling, fueling resentment that lingers long after the last battles are fought.
1870 - Sheriff Appointed
Ezra Calhoun becomes the town's sheriff.
1871-1880 - Tension & Rebellion
1871 - Hanging of John "The Raven" Cole
John Cole is lynched by Monaghan’s men. Sheriff Calhoun's refusal to intervene brands him a coward. The hanging tree becomes "The Oak of Judgment."
1872 - Cordelia’s Curse
Cordelia Greaves, called “The Hollow Witch,” warns Monaghan with the words, “The bones you break will rise.” Miners begin carving spirals in mine walls, leaving offerings at mine entrances.
1876 - United States Centennial
The nation celebrates its 100th anniversary. Celebrations in Shadewood are muted due to increased mining-related accidents and growing unrest.
1878 - The Black Oath
Following John Cole’s hanging, Sheriff Calhoun swears an unspoken oath to aid the miners. Evidence goes "missing," and rebels start slipping away unnoticed.
1879 - Reverend Amos Green Arrives
Reverend Green preaches patience, but his sermons carry subtle calls for miners to "stand strong."
1881-1889 - Witches, Fire, and Blood
1882 - Cordelia's Fire
Cordelia Greaves gifts Dr. Whitfield a jar of blue fire. It burns but gives off no heat.
1886 - Haymarket Affair
Labor strikes intensify across America. The miners of Shadewood Hollow hear whispers of the events in Chicago, further stoking rebellion against Monaghan's control.
1889 - Blood Rust Rumors
Whispers spread that Viktor "Ironhand" Vance tempers his tools with blood, making them unbreakable. Miners refuse to touch his tools without his permission.
1890 - The Year of Isolation
January
Monaghan Raises Prices - Monaghan raises the price of goods, pushing miners to the brink. Miners claim to see a “sharp-eyed stranger” talking to Draven. Tapping sounds in the mines increase.
Ironhowl Forge - Viktor Vance forges pickaxes and chains by “special order.” At night, shadowy figures like wolves are seen near the treeline.
Undertaker - Three bodies are brought to Lucien Graven. One drifter is left unembalmed as Lucien “waits to see if he’d stay dead.” A child swears they saw the drifter blink.
Black Lantern Saloon - Miners toast the new year, but the mood is grim. Lantern Girl Lilah is seen weeping behind the saloon while Victor Draven watches.
Sheriff’s Office - Sheriff Calhoun has a heated argument with Monaghan's foreman. Hours later, Samuel Crane is found beaten behind the sheriff's office.
Hollow Acres Barn - Fresh tracks lead from the woods to the barn. Maggie Finch lights bowls of herbs by the doors, and the lantern hanging on the barn swings despite the still air.
Arrival of Nellie Daws - Eleanor "Nellie" Daws arrives, organizing miner resistance under the guise of Bible study at the church.
February
Mine Collapse - Shaft Four collapses, killing two miners. Survivors claim to hear rhythmic tapping just before the collapse. Offerings are left at the mine entrance.
Black Lantern Saloon - A drifter speaks of “something upstairs” in the saloon. Draven "handles" him. The drifter vanishes.
March
Mandatory Overtime - Monaghan enforces overtime. Nellie Daws calls for a secret meeting. Draven catches two miners whispering, and one is found beaten.
Black Lantern Saloon - Lantern Girl Mabel is found dead behind the saloon. Draven coldly remarks, "She knew the risks." No funeral is held.
April - May
Shaft Five Collapse - Shaft Five collapses, but no bodies are found. Miners claim "something was pulled back" before the collapse.
The Bell Rings at Midnight - The church bell tolls at midnight, though no one is present. Reverend Green calls it "an echo," but Maggie Finch mutters, "That bell only rings for the dead."
June - September
Train Arrival - A train carrying six men in heavy coats arrives. They head straight to Monaghan’s residence.
October - November
The Upstairs Walkers - Rumors spread that footsteps echo upstairs in the Black Lantern. Lantern Girl Lilah quits, claiming she "heard it breathing."
Bread Prices Triple - The price of bread triples. Miners plan to strike. Draven warns them, “You walk out, you don’t come back.”
Snowstorm & Isolation - A fierce snowstorm cuts Shadewood off from the world. Wolves howl from every direction. Silhouettes move through the blizzard.
November 27th - A landslide seals the valley, cutting Shadewood Hollow off entirely.
November 28th - The Black Lantern’s flame flickers like a heartbeat. Victor Draven is said to be watching the door, waiting for something or someone.