Overview

The Shadewood Hollow Train Station and Post Office, built in 1862 under Josiah Monaghan, was meant to symbolize "progress and connection." Instead, it became a chokehold on the town. It’s where coal, letters, and sometimes people leave—but not all of them return. 

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At the heart of it all is Hiram Kettle, a wiry, jittery man whose fingers tap as constantly as his eyes dart. Known as “Kettle” for the way he rattles, he runs the station like a man expecting bad news. His spectacles are crooked, his sleeves rolled too high, and his gaze never settles. He checks the train schedule three times, not because he doesn’t know it, but because he doesn’t trust it to stay the same.

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He forgets names on the passenger ledger sometimes—"accidentally". 

No one moves the three coins on Hiram’s windowsill—a penny, a nickel, and a dime. They’re always there. If one goes missing, another appears the next day. When a boy asked why, Hiram grinned and said, “Just payin’ ahead. Never know who’s takin’ the last ride.”

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​​​​Secrets & Lore

• The Ticket Booth: Run by Hiram Kettle, the booth is small, stuffy, and half-hidden behind iron bars. Locals say it’s easy to bribe Hiram to “lose” a name on the ledger. It’s not uncommon for miners, drifters, or rebellious townsfolk to quietly slip out of town with a one-way ticket.

• The Locked Box: Bolted to the floor of the office, this iron lockbox is used to store "company valuables" before they’re loaded onto the train. No one but Hiram and Victor Draven are known to have access to it. People have seen Draven arrive, unlock the box, and leave without a word, sometimes with a small, wrapped bundle under his coat.

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Station|Post Office Roles

• Porter – Handles baggage, cargo, and mail, ensuring items are loaded and unloaded from trains and stored properly. 

  • Weekly pay: $5.00

• Station Clerk – Manages train schedules, sells tickets, and sorts incoming and outgoing mail. 

  • Weekly pay: $8.00

• Stationmaster – Oversees all train and post office operations, controlling schedules, deliveries, and station security. 

  • Weekly pay: $15.00

• Station Owner – The ultimate authority over the station and post office, controlling shipments, schedules, and profit margins. 

  • Weekly pay: $20.00

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Services & Wares

• Paper & Stationery: Blank journals, scrap paper, parchment, and ledgers.

• Ink & Quills: Ink bottles (black, blue, or red) and quill pens.

• Seals & Stamps: Wax seals for letters, family crests, and official markings.

• Writing Tools: Chalk, charcoal, and graphite sticks.

• Letter Delivery - Extremely delayed December - February

• Package Shipping - Extremely delayed December - February

• Passenger Tickets - Limited in December - February due to closings 

• Cargo Shipments

• Livestock Delivery

• Coal Carriage Deliveries - Monaghan Priority December - February 

• Spring Supply Shipments: Arrivals of seasonal supplies like farming tools, plows, and animal feed.

• Cold Weather Supplies: Winter clothing, blankets, and wood stoves begin arriving in preparation for winter.

• Message Tokens: Special tokens sold for "priority messaging" that guarantees faster letter processing.

• Lockboxes: Small metal lockboxes for securing parcels being stored overnight at the station.

• Crate Storage: Merchants can rent space to store crates of winter supplies until pickup.

• Parcel Wrapping Kits: Wax paper, hemp cord, and twine for wrapping autumn packages.

• Cargo Tarps: Large, heavy-duty tarps to protect cargo during heavy autumn rainstorms.

• Coal Chits: Vouchers for coal, redeemable at Monaghan’s company store, but only if bought at the post office.

• Parcels on Hold: Packages can be stored at the station until conditions improve. Extra fees apply for holding past 7 days.

• Secret Couriers (Rare): Private couriers hired for discreet delivery of letters or packages that bypass normal mail channels.

• The "Marked Parcel" System (Rare): Packages marked with a special sigil are handled with extra caution and sometimes "forgotten" if the right fee is paid.

• Prepaid Travel Bonds (Rare): Merchants or family members can purchase travel vouchers for others, allowing pre-paid passage for family or employees.

• Special "Watchman's Guarantee" (Rare): Payment to ensure a watchman stays at the station overnight to protect sensitive packages or people awaiting transport.

• Exclusive Carriage Rental (Rare): Wealthy merchants or Monaghan’s men can book an entire train car for personal travel or to ship private cargo.

• Discreet Passenger Hideaways (Rare): Secret travel arrangements for "guests" needing to leave town unnoticed.​​​​​​​​​​