York

York
Satellite map       Local map
Type:	Outsider
Huts:	23
Shaman: (Kahuni)	[-70.371,+26.314]	(08,08)
Trader: (Harry)	[-70.367,+26.313]	(12,09)
Weapons hut:	[-70.371,+26.316]	(08,06)
Medical hut:	[-70.369,+26.320]	(10,02)

York is one of the three outsider settlements on Shartak. Located near the center of the island's southern shore, it consists of twenty-four huts in an oblong clearing.

A native shaman named Kahuni is held captive in the center of the clearing and uses his mystical powers to revive York spirits.

Map

The Village of York - Territory Map
01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15
02									M
03					H			H				H
04					H
05			H					H
06							A		H2
07
08			H				S			H		H
09		H		H						H	T
10		H	H					H
11									H
12			H
13				H
14				H
15
16
Legend
	Unincorporated ("Jungle")
	Village territory ("York")
H	Hut (H2 represents two huts)
T	Trading post
A	Ammunition hut
M	Medical hut
S	Shaman
	Beach
	Water
	Deep water

Notes:

• The above is a territory map, not a map of jungle density (which constantly changes). Therefore, the jungle and village squares will very likely be colored differently in-game than they are here. However, squares within the village of York will be displayed as "York" on the game map, while jungle squares will be displayed as "Jungle".
• The numbers on the map are merely for local reference and are not related to GPS coordinates at all.

York: A Rough Guide

Map courtesy of York citizen Gitboy.
Click to enlarge.

Frequently referred to as the 'big city' of Shartak, York is the most populous as well as the busiest, most bustling settlement on Shartak. It has a colourful and frequently bloody history, and has developed a unique culture and identity, very different in character from liberal Durham in the far west, and staunchly-moderate Derby in the far east, both of which have never seen themselves invaded (York's central location led to early invasions, and several political disputes and pirate-vs.-outsider hostility have led to a series of more recent invasions of York. See History of York for more) and as such have developed much more peacefully, and welcoming to all. York is unquestionably more institutionally outsider-nationalist than either Derby or Durham.

York was the first town to host a full-time police force, and was the birthplace of the criminal Mercenary's Guild and a shadowy secret society which has been active in York affairs since the days of the first waves of pirate attacks. Many, many others groups have been significantly involved in York affairs (See partial list below).

The convoluted political situation is matched in intrigue only by the bustling social scene. The settlement boasts two busy taverns (Czechy's, at (11,09) on the map above, and the Waugh Arms at (04,09) on the map above), as well as the island's first and most successful very-widely-read newspaper, and a very busy Medical Supplies Hut which serves as a forum for public speeches and debate, conversations, and gossip, even though words can sometimes be drowned out by incessant wailing from spirits.

Another social development of note in York had been the proliferation of outsider religion. Several houses of worship and religious organisations have arisen in York. In the very early days a man set up a peaceable and quiet church in mid-York, not long after Derby had set up its first church. This man's voice has since been drowned out (he has apparently left the island) and in typical York fashion, religion has become radicalised in the city, with frequent religious violence. York currently hosts a hardline Catholic church organisation and a hardline protestant church, whose members frequently attack one another, as well as a surprisingly moderate and agreeable Jewish synagogue in South-York. Native pagan religions are generally not tolerated in York. The Catholic York-based Holy Mission have even taking to crusading against "native heresy".

Survival Tips: If you're just visiting, try to stay clear of the constant power struggles and not to upset any of the major groups. Sleep somewhere like the Waugh Arms, CzEcHy's Tavern, Congregation Tafas Shalva or the RE field hospital so that the Colonial Police will know if you get attacked. Please note though that they do not consider being attacked a crime. It is only when someone is murdered that the Colonial Police classify it as a crime and act accordingly - as long as you take care not to kill anyone, hack away to your heart's content without fear of retribution from the Police. Take extra care if you're a pirate - several groups and many unaligned Yorkmen will attack you without provocation.

Points of interest

Medical Supplies Hut

The busiest place in York, regularly featuring upwards of three dozen people inside at any one time. As you can see on the map above, it is located at the far north end of York. The coordinates are -70.369,+26.320. The hut is filled with crates which contain abandoned medical supplies, which people freely take, to heal themselves, to heal others, and for monetary gain (trade them in for gold, especially in towns without access to first aid kits who will pay top dollar for them, the three native towns and the shipwreck). There are several doctors who have taken up permanent residence there, and many wounded people come into the medical hut to be healed. A constant problem in the hut is spirits wailing and injuring people,but several friendly shamans (notably lacuna) have taken up the job of keeping it free of hostile spirits. Renegades who murder these friendly pro-York shamans are hated by all (it must be pointed out, however, that it is perfectly acceptable for members of the Colonial Police to murder shamans as they see themselves as above the law).

The Medical Supplies Hut also serves as a major platform for public speeches, debates, and is the main centre in York for conversation and gossip, owing to its large population.

Trader Harry's

The trading hut in York, located at -70.367,+26.313. Frequently out of necessary supplies, and owned by a crooked trader who is known to cheat customers. Harry uses his profits from selling inferior goods at inflated prices to advertise fairly often in The Yorkman, and in purchasing new guard dogs. Customers angry at being ripped off or at Harry being out of stock of most items often kill the guard dog to express their anger.

CzEcHy's Tavern

Directly west of the Trader's hut, located at -70.368,+26.313 is the astoundingly wonderful Tavern owned by czech1. Feel free to drop by and spend a night or two in safety. Whether you're a pirate, a native, or an elusive murderer wanted by all, you're still welcome at the tavern (as long as you dont kill anyone inside.) Usually quite busy. Czechy's was the site of the miraculous Christmas Truce.

The Waugh Arms

West-southwest of the York shaman at -70.374,+26.313, on the site of the former Colonial Police Headquarters, visitors to York will find the recently-opened Waugh Arms. All are warmly invited to stop by and enjoy the pleasures of fine food and drink, and of course enjoy the legendary hospitality of the Waugh Arms.

Roads

Trail to Derby

Mercenary's Guild member Zydd Soral suggested at a public meeting that the SPF create an eco-friendly Trekker's Trail; this was quickly agreed to. This trail can be followed from York to Derby. The trail, a continuation of Southern Coastal Boulevard, begins at York's medical hut and continues 35 paces northward until it turns toward the northeast to skirt the swamp. It then continues eastward to Derby. Travelers are asked to clear as they travel, but to be careful of occasional eco-terrorist attacks.

Trail to Durham

There is a trail that connects Durham and York, the much-hailed Southern Coastal Boulevard, cleared and maintained by the Civilized Highway Society and some other volunteers, and is a major benefit for traders such as those in the South Shartak Trading Company. The trail, when in good condition, should only take slightly more than 2 days from central York to central Durham. Beware of bandits and wild animals on the road westwards!

Groups Operating in York

Due to its population, centrality, politics, and various other factors, many groups have either claimed York as their hometown or been active in York affairs. What follows is a list of groups who have been active in York.

• 1st Colonial Militia
• 1st Imperial Privateers
• 5punk
• Civilized Highway Society
• Colon Police
• Colonial Counter Terrorist Unit
• Colonial Police
• First Bank of Shartak
• Gods and Heroes
• The Holy Mission
• Healers of Shartak
• Mercenary's Guild
• Order of Patriots
• The Pirate Hunters
• Royal Expedition
• South Shartak Trading Company
• Shartak Anti-Communists
• Shartak Cryptozoological Society
• Shartak Preservation Front
• Shartak Protestant League
• York Loyalists
• York Pirate Slayers

History of York

York history is defined principally by two things. One: constant invasion by hostile forces, and two: the rallying of local groups, fighting off the invaders, and the hardening of domestic opinion (both "civilian and York groups") in a nationalistic direction. (this cycle tends to repeat, as nationalistic sentiment then angers some implacable elements of the Shartak population, who thus come into conflict with York and eventually decide to invade).

In the very beginning of the colonisation effort, York was a small outpost with a tiny population, without even a trader (though Kahuni himself was captured very early on). Slowly as things began to grow, the town developed its own identity, and has played a central role in Shartak politics ever since, serving as a lightning rod for various groups and individuals.

The First Battle of York or "First Invasion", is the name given to a series of native attacks on York from quite early in the colonisation effort. Natives started descending on York after word began spreading in the native settlements of the presence of large numbers of outsiders at this location. The attacks by natives were uncoordinated, but large scale violence by natives lasted approximately from March to April 2006. The Colonial Police formed in York during this period in reaction to the violence. York's population was low at the time, and only a very few around today can even still remember the 'First Invasion'. See full article First Battle of York for more.

Somewhat overlapping was the also-vaguely-defiend Second Battle of York or "Second Invasion". This is the name given to the "pirate invasion" of April-May 2006 in which dozens of unaligned pirates came south independently to attack York and victimise the people, after directions to York were posted at the shipwreck. The tremendous pirate-on-outsider violence during this period was suppsedly the original impetus for anti-piratism in York, and it is during this period that the OoP was founded (Order Opposing Pirates Order Of Patriots). This initial pirate invasion has been extraordinarily politically significant for the settlement. Afterwards, numerous York groups and individuals began taking to killing all pirates and "pirate sympathisers" that they see in York, on sight. See full article Second Battle of York for more.

The period between the end of the Second Invasion and the start of the Third Invasion is an often-forgotten period in York history, but is very significant. During this period, York was coming into its own, and its politics were up in the air. There was very strong nationalist and anti-pirate agitation by the Order of Patriots and others, but this was certainly just one of many political movements. These numerous diverse social and political currents were pulling York in all directions. In other words, the situation in York resembled somewhat the current confused situation in Durham (as of this printing). The Yorkman newspaper was founded during this period, and the Colonial Police came into their own during this inter-Invasion period, and at that time took no firm stances in York politics. They opposed the growing anti-pirate radicalism of the population because it meant attacks on many innocent pirates, not because they were political opponents of that movement, as they were apolitical. The CP were off-and-on enemies of the Order. With the shock departure of CP-founder MickR towards the very end of this inter-Invasion period, it looked like things would remain this way. But this all changed and York as a whole was swept into the arms of the nationalist anti-pirate radicals as a result a very serious crisis of the...

Third Battle of York, or, the "First MG Invasion". The "Mercenary's Guild" invaded and began a general wave of violence in York starting September 20th 2006 (their withdrawal occurred on October 15th 2006), in which they killed dozens of innocent York citizens at random in an attempt to show strength and in a failed attempt to destroy the Order of Patriots. This battle rallied the York groups around a common cause, and thus had a long-lasting effect on York politics. It helped to harden York nationalism. The MG was eventually beaten back and withdrew, leaving the Order intact. The Colonial Police and many unaligned citizens took to defending the city from invasion during this MG massacre, and when the smoke cleared the Colonial Police, formerly enemies if the Order and apolitical, had become strong allies and finally fully enmeshed in York politics. Lingering bitterness and tensions between York (especially the Colonial Police) and the 'MG gang', temporarily set aside for more than two weeks during and after the Great Christmas Truce, led to the resumption of hostilities on January 20th 2007 in what was soon called...

The Fourth Battle of York, or the "Second MG Invasion". This one became the largest battle in Shartak history, with anti-York and anti-outsider groups from across the land joining forces to attack York. The 'York Alliance' of pro-York groups eventually claimed victory after the invaders were driven back.