Introduction

Welcome to Wiltwyck

An alternate history explored in Banished

New Netherland map published by Nicolaes Visscher II

Backstory

Throughout the 1620s and 1630s traffic on the North River moved steadily between New Amsterdam-the capital of New Netherland, located on the island of Manhattan-and Fort Orange, the outpost 150 miles to the north, which would eventually become the city of Albany. But, as Henry Hudson discovered on first exploring the region in 1609, the river grew shallower about halfway up. Dutch sea captains soon realized it made sense to move cargo onto lighter vessels once they reached this point. In 1651, a group of Fort Orange settlers moved south to this spot and formed a village. They named it Esopus after the Esopus Creek, a waterway that fed into the river here, and along whose fertile banks they farmed. It was shortly after renamed Wiltwijck, which was later anglicized to Wiltwyck.

Map showing the area claimed by the Dutch in 
North-American and several Dutch settlements.

In actual history, Wiltwyck grew to be the third largest settlement on the North (now Hudson) River, behind only New Amsterdam and Beverwyck.

The alternate history is being explored in the game Banished, by Shining Rock Software. 

Some mod packs are in use, chief among them the Colonial Charter: Iron Curtain mod by the BlackLiquid team. 

Time flow from the normal game is altered to reflect one year actually being one year. 

The game generates first names from a list of name pieces. Surnames are being created by me, using lists of actual families from the town and the area in that time, 

Government of the town is part of the story that I am creating, and reflects no basis in actual history outside of certain historical figures from the outside world.

Some actual historical events will be included in the story, which is being told from the point of view of a historian who has uncovered a trove of documents and illustrations from the colony. 

Technical Specs:

Map Seed: 31244676

Terrain Type: Valleys

Terrain Size: Extra Large

Climate: Fair

Disasters: On

Starting Conditions: Colony (A mod I created)

Mods in use:

Colonial Charter: Iron Curtain (BlackLiquid)

Slink's Stacked Houses

XL Maps & Big Minimap

More Climates Mod

Font: Noto Sans

Flatten Terrain Tool

SuperMarket

Starting Conditions:

1 Storage Barn and an adjacent 8x6 Storage Pit

400 Logs, 100 Stone, 100 Firewood

2,800 Potatoes, 50 Iron Tools, 50 Hide Coats

8 Families

Seeds: Corn, Squash, Cabbage

Orchard: Pear

Farm Animals: 8 Sheep

The story begins in the Early Spring of 1651. The settlers have arrived and need to establish their foothold. Once stable local industry and agriculture have been established, trade can begin with the outside world.