Topic: DATABASE: The Old Homestead

Toby · Date: 2014-08-12 14:55 EST

(IN PROGRESS - this post will talk about the land where the St. Germain family actually lives.)

Sometimes, 'things' can become characters in their own right. As a Trekkie since before there was a Next Generation, I am no stranger to the notion that the Enterprise was herself a character; just as much so was Serenity from Firefly. Any place that has 'character' of its own, a consistent and unique layout and feel to it, is as much a character in my story as my characters.

I've long felt this way about both Toby's 'cabin', and beyond that the land which he calls his own. The details of both are buried in many places through the various Acts I've written for the St. Germain family, but I'd like to use this space to describe the land, the cabin, the house-to-be, and lay out the history of where it all came from and how Toby acquired it.

In this thread, I will begin with the description of the land and a rough idea of 'where' it is (far off the Rhydin map, to be sure), and then go into the history of the land back to before Toby owned it. And of course, the Cabin (scene of so much of their lives for seven years plus), and the House that's even now under construction.

Toby · Date: 2014-12-01 16:59 EST

The Homestead - A Description

The land owned by the St. Germain family is not shown on the maps of Rhydin. What is known is that it lies many miles north of the town region, far up into the largely uninhabited wide woodlands that reach to the northern mountains (and beyond them, the unexplored wastes). At one point some of this woodland was 'owned', or at least claimed, by an extremely old noble family. As time went on, they found themselves in need of hard currency and opted to sell off chunks of their distant northern forest property - an opportunity which Toby seized at his first chance.

Originally 500 acres, Toby gradually expanded the property over time as opportunity allowed. At minimum the property is past 640 acres, as the boundaries of the property are at least a mile on a side.

The eastern and western boundaries of the property are both large rivers which flow south out of the northern mountains. The western river curves from a southerly path to an easterly path, and this forms the southern boundary as it eventually joins up with the eastern river.

The northern boundary of the property is not clearly defined, but generally is considered to be around where the line of low foothills end, and there are several miles of empty plain before the mountains truly begin beyond them.

There is a road that leads out of the south (though Toby has ensured that it's not well-documented, for privacy's sake), and eventually crosses over the southern river to serve as the 'entrance' to the homestead.

Nearly the entirety of the property is woodlands - one reason that Toby purchased it was with the intention to keep it undeveloped and unspoiled, completely natural. With perhaps one small exception (which we'll go into more detail about later.)

The whole point of that pastoral look is to keep their home as unobtrusive as possible - no one flying overhead would likely see much in the way of development, and thus it does not draw attention. In addition, the airspace over the homestead is an effective no-fly zone, originally by way of an agreement with ICS long before Toby purchased the property, and now via Toby's own machinations. His own ship, the Lady, can often be found in geosynchronous orbit over the homestead, ensuring that other craft and satellites are kept clear of the family airspace.

And yes - there are defenses to make sure of it. Just as there are defenses in place around the four boundaries of the property: Defenses that are at once magical, psionic, and technological. Toby has made some powerful friends during his life time and garnered their assistance in keeping the borders of their homestead protected.

Toby · Date: 2015-05-22 14:42 EST

The Clearing

Roughly in the center of the property there is a large clearing, about twice as long in width as it is deep. Much of this open space is a great grassy field, but at the eastern end it slopes down to a good-sized lake. Fed by some streams that descend from the hilly lands to the north, the lake drains out at the far southeastern end into the much larger river that forms the eastern border of the property.

On a small hillock at the lake's southwestern edge, sits the original cabin that Toby built back in 2006. Originally meant only as a sort of 'retreat' or sanctuary during his layovers, it had gradually become home as the grounded life took more and more control. By now (meaning Spring of 2015) it has become a crowded little place, with Toby and Tabitha, three little girls and an infant son, two dogs and their newborn pups, and a pair of winged cats.

Because of this, the past few years have seen a new project unfolding. Between the various chaotic chapters of life that came along, Toby has slowly been working on a new house for the family. An artificial hill already having been constructed directly west of the lake (not terribly far from the cabin, but far enough), the bare bones of an ambitious two-story structure are already taking shape. Once the events of Eldicor had seen their conclusion, and the family restored, Toby returned to working on it in earnest.

Down the hillside at the lake's southern edge, an extensive dock and deck complex was completed some years back. Complete with a 'pool house' and small boat garage, the family and extended friends often have barbecues and parties here. The path between the dock area and the cabin is well worn, and in some areas carefully placed stone steps help with the climb.

The western half of the clearing is purely grassy field. There are paths worn in it by Toby's turbocycle, and remnants of ancient paths still remain in the woods beyond. Occasionally Toby had landed the Lady in that great open expanse, but he'd long since gotten out of that habit and parked the craft in geosynchronous orbit directly overhead.

This of course ensures that the homestead remains as unspoiled as possible. Aside from the cabin, the new house and the boat dock complex, very little of the natural state of the land has been altered. There are animals in the woods, of course... deer, rabbits, and possibly larger creatures. But these are almost never seen, and kept at bay by the same defenses that keep people away.