Situated at the edge of wilderness is a small dot of civilization called Steel Horse Crossing. After decades living under the rule of the Ironworks and fighting off various warlords trying to fill the power vacuum after the fall of the ‘Works, the settlement has learned to survive and carry on independently. Hard workers looking to make a living, the daring seeking adventure, and the surreptitious looking for a place to lie low all gravitate to the area and make it their home.

Beneath the town and surrounding farmlands are the Tunnels, a sprawling subterranean network where a number of Lascarian families live and mining companies operate. The waters of the Great Lake bring in trade and resources through the docks, as well as attracting piracy and the crews who make that their livelihoods. The rail depot is a bit of a hike these days, but trains still roll through connecting the settlement’s industries with the rest of the wasteland. The Undead come and go like the weather as they do in any settlement, but outside the edge of town monstrous critters roam the wilderness and Raider clans wait to claim the unprepared.

Steel Horse Crossing takes care of its own. The food is pretty good, the elections are free and fair, and the locals are friendly enough (as long as they think you are).

Local Government

Steel Horse Crossing is a self-governing settlement. Each year the residents (our players) vote for which characters take up positions within the government, impacting many things such as dealing with thieves and murderers, helping nearby communities, or allocating shared resources.

The current Elected Officials of Steel Horse Crossing are as follows:

Below, you can find the constitution in its entirety that lays out the details of how these positions operate and what their powers are.

Constitution of

the Settlement of Steel Horse Crossing

Preamble

We, the people of Steel Horse Crossing, in order to safeguard our independence and promote peace, do hereby establish this constitution of the Settlement of Steel Horse Crossing.

Steel Horse Crossing, and its government, recognizes no other government, military, or other power as having authority over this settlement or its citizens. We declare our sovereignty to be absolute and irrevocable. 

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Citizens of Steel Horse Crossing have the RIGHT to Life, Liberty, and Property. Citizens of Steel Horse Crossing have a DUTY to Live by the Laws laid out by this document, Vote in each Election they are present for, Report known Violations of Rights to the elected Sheriff, and Aid Investigations of the Sheriff within reason.

All Visitors of Steel Horse Crossing have the same RIGHTS and DUTIES as Citizens with the exception of voting.

Individuals may be declared Outlaws by the Judges (with OOC consent). Outlaws are neither bound nor protected by the law, nor can they Vote in Elections or hold Public Office. Outlaws do have the ability to appeal their status to the town council at any time. 

The Government of Steel Horse Crossing has 3 bodies. The Town Council, the Sheriffs and the Judges. All members of the Government must provide Aid if Requested, and may never take the life of a Citizen or Visitor. All terms are for 12 months and all members of  Government must be Citizens. Members of Government may only hold 1 elected position.

There are 5 members of the Town Council. The Town Council must meet once a trade, manage the affairs of Steel Horse Crossing, hear concerns of Citizens, and discuss proposed motions. They may vote on motions, allocate funds from the Treasury, appoint temporary Sheriffs and Judges if none are present or fit, and remove individuals from any appointed positions in the Government.

There are 2 Sheriffs in Steel Horse Crossing. Sheriffs must investigate Grievances, report findings to Judges, take action on the behalf of Judges, and ensure Reparations are carried out. Sheriffs may Request funds of the Town Council, Deputize Citizens and Visitors, and Remove Deputies.

There are 2 Judges in Steel Horse Crossing. Judges must hear and rule on Grievances, record all Grievance Rulings and determine Reparations in Grievances. Reparations must be fulfillable by the end of the following trademeet. Judges may declare a person an Outlaw, Delegate investigative duties to a Sheriff and Review the actions of a Sheriff. A Judge’s Ruling may be Challenged by any other elected official.

Meetings

Town Council Meetings will take place at least once per trade. Town Council Meetings can only be called if they include at least 3 Council Members. The Town Council must record meeting notes.  Meeting notes must include a summary of the discussion of any Motions.

Motions

At Town Council Meetings, Councilors may put forth a Motion which may be voted on. Motions may be any topic of discussion that pertains to the affairs of Steel Horse Crossing. All Motions are passed by a simple majority among present Councilors. 

Committees

Committees are formed by a Motion of the Town Council to aid in the managing the collective affairs of Steel Horse Crossing. Committee members may include Citizens and Visitors. At creation, each Committee must have; a mission statement with a deadline and a goal that is tangible, measurable, and attainable. Upon reaching the Committee’s deadline or term outlined in their mission statement, the Committee is dismissed. Committees may be dismissed early by a Motion.

Grievances

A Grievance occurs when one party believes they have been wronged (denied Life from murder, denied Liberty from restriction of bodily autonomy, denied Property from theft) by another and may be brought before a Judge by anyone. A Judge must determine whether a Grievance is legitimate, and must recuse themselves if there is a bias. The Judge will request a Sheriff to investigate the Grievance. Once the Investigation concludes, the Judge hears all information in a public trial. Judges determine if either party has wronged the other and what Reparations will make the situation right – restitution, execution, apology, compensation, designation of Outlaw, etc. If either party is unhappy with the Ruling they may appeal to the Town Council who will have the final say.

Nominations 

Nominations for elected positions (Requiring OOC Consent) must be turned into the Nominations Box at least one month prior to the Election. The Nominations Box will be present all year at the Post Office. Nominations must include name, ID (OOC Player Number) and the position that they are being nominated for. Self-Nominations will not be counted. Each Citizen may only be Nominated for 1 Position. After the Trade Meet prior to the month of Elections, the Nominations Box will be emptied and Ballots will be created.

Elections

Elections will occur on each December Trade Meet. Citizens must submit their ballot with name and ID (OOC Player Number) to the Post Office by Midnight Saturday. Results of the Election will be announced Sunday morning and displayed at the Post Office for the remainder of the Trade Meet. All elected individuals will take office at the beginning of the following Trade Meet. An individual may only run for a position they currently hold if there are not enough new Nominations to fill vacancies. Elections will be monitored by the post to eliminate any chance of tampering.

Emergency Elections

If an individual is unable to fulfill their duties for the foreseeable future emergency election will be held the following trade meet. Emergency elections will be decided among all applicable nominations in the ballot box at that time.

Amendments

To pass an Amendment to this Constitution, a Councilor must introduce a draft as a Motion to be discussed, modified, and voted on. Once passed, it must be voted on by all Citizens of Steel Horse Crossing on a ballot in the next Election. If passed with a 2/3s super-majority, then the Amendment will go into effect next trade and be recorded alongside this Constitution.