Kerkhof Station and The Yard Rats
Overview: Kerkhof Station is a once-bustling railroad hub now abandoned and reclaimed by The Yard Rats. The public station is owned by The Yard Rats in a blind trust under the name De Tuinratten. How this was managed is perplexing the city watch, notably Captain Marieke de Vries, who has been asking questions.
It stands as a relic of a more optimistic era, filled with potential for exploration and discovery.
Key Features:
- Abandoned Passenger Train: Inside the station is an intact but non-operational passenger train. It lacks a power crystal, which means it cannot be used for travel without one. The train symbolizes both the station’s past significance and its current state of disrepair.
- Layout: A single set of tracks runs down the center of the inside of the station. the tracks end shortly after the station on the city side and continue into the jungle on the outward side. The building is one story with tall ceilings. Within the station are six offices turned into personal rooms, three storage rooms (one full of train equipment) and a common room with a kitchen. There is indoor plumbing.
- Spooky Graveyard: Adjacent to the station is an old graveyard filled with abandoned trains. Some of these were quarantined during the Amber Fever outbreak and still contain remnants from that time. The graveyard is ancient, with a reputation for being eerie and dangerous, and is rarely visited by the living.
Current Condition:
- State of Disrepair: The station and its surroundings show signs of neglect, with overgrown tracks and weathered structures. Despite this, the station retains a unique atmosphere that suits the adventurous spirit of The Yard Rats.
The Yard Rats
Group Overview: The Yard Rats are a group of adventurers who have made Kerkhof Station their base. They are known for their resourcefulness and adaptability, utilizing the station as their headquarters for various missions and explorations.
Key Aspects:
- Base of Operations: Kerkhof Station provides a central location for The Yard Rats' activities. It offers both a strategic position and a unique environment, complete with the abandoned train and the surrounding graveyard.
- Exploration and Missions: The Yard Rats use the station as a jumping-off point for their explorations into the jungle and other adventures. Their missions often involve navigating the old rail network, uncovering lost knowledge, and dealing with the dangers of their surroundings.
- Role: Zuri Ironview, an elderly dwarf, is a former employee of Kerkhof Station. She remains at the station, maintaining the facilities and the abandoned train. Her expertise as a blacksmith and her knowledge of the station’s history make her a valuable asset to The Yard Rats.
- Offer: Zuri has informed The Yard Rats that a power crystal for the train would cost 10,000 gold pieces. She does not have a crystal herself but provides this information as part of her ongoing assistance.
Access to the Jungle:
- Steel Door: The Yard Rats have access to the jungle through a giant steel door in the city wall. This door leads directly onto the tracks that extend into the dense jungle, providing a structured path into the wilderness.
- Unknown Destinations: The tracks lead to unexplored areas, and the destinations beyond the steel door are shrouded in mystery. The Yard Rats face the challenge of navigating and surviving in these unknown regions.
Summary: Kerkhof Station is a historic and atmospheric base for The Yard Rats, complete with an abandoned passenger train and a spooky graveyard. The group uses the station as their headquarters, from which they explore the jungle through a giant steel door. With the knowledge and assistance of Zuri Ironview, they are poised to uncover the mysteries of the old rail network and the untamed wilderness beyond.
Princess Litsëa has been attempting to court the Yard Rats for greater things.