East Scarp Village

The main residential area of East Scarp.

East Scarp is named for the escarpment encircling it, which protects the tiny hamlet from the worst of the weather from the Gem Seas. It is an extension of Pelican Town, not a separate town in itself. As such, it falls under Mayor Lewis's jurisdiction (which itself falls under the Governor’s).

The beach is framed by a reef, which has proved perilous to many ships: whilst also providing East Scarp with a safe and relatively calm swimming beach. The lighthouse exists as an aid to guide ships through the narrow channel and lead them to the jetty. Nowadays, it sees less nautical traffic, although one ship, the Toroa is a regular visitor.

History

East Scarp began as a sheep farm, with the stone farmhouse and barn at the north-west edge remaining from this era. Then precious gems and minerals were found beneath the soil and in the quarry beds - and the 'gold rush' era began.

The farmer sold his land to a mining company, and quickly his former pastures were filled with makeshift houses and campsites. He retired with his profits.

His neighbor. Cherry Orchards were well renowned for their fine wine, and other things besides - although talk of smugglers were quickly dismissed as rumors.

The vintner grew old and ill, and eventually died. The orchard now ill-kempt and overgrown, became infested with slimes. His sole heir vanished shortly after his death.

Some twenty years passed, the mines began to fail. Desperate for yield, the corporation demanded the miners work longer hours, digging deeper. Some fell ill. Others chose to leave, some muttering about curses and bad luck. The 'gold rush era' concluded with a tragic mine accident, after which the mines were closed and the surviving miners and their families departed. Pelican Town, which relied on the miners for its prosperity, also began to dwindle.

Time passed.

Returning from Gotoro, Jacob and his wife, Delilah, purchased the old stone farmhouse at a very reasonable price, where he set up his mobile vet practice. He also restored the land: replanting parts of the pine forest with a more diverse arrangement of trees and restoring habitat to the native wildlife. The remaining plots were eventually sold off, billed as an 'upmarket country retreat'. The sole remaining building was stripped out and refurbished as the Scarp Inn.

There are numerous legends around the area: that it is haunted by the ghosts of those lost miners, that the vintner still remains in his orchard, that monsters, perhaps goblins - or worse - live in the mountains above the area. These have mostly been quashed as rumor and hearsay by the East Scarp Marketing Board (not affiliated with Joja but who is to say that there is not some truth in them?

It’s certainly inadvisable to wander the scarp at night...