The first chapter of Red Moon Roleplaying’s live play of Solemn Vale: The Atlas Mines is now available. The session is hosted by The Gentleman Gamer, Matthew Dawkins and features guest players: Mark and Tracey Norman of The Folklore Podcast.
Two visitors, a surveyor and a historian, arrive in Solemn Vale to investigate the old Atlas tin mine. The true story of the mine’s closure forty years ago is shrouded in mystery. Local stories speak of a disastrous loss of life and legends whisper about an old witch. In search of answers and a golden ticket, the visitors delve into the mine unaware of the Wyrd things locked inside.
You can listen in to Solemn Vale: The Atlas Mines HERE
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From the Solemn Vale core book:
Atlas Mine
From The Boundaries chapter by Ross Fisher-Davis
Today, little remains above ground of what was the mighty Atlas Mine. The old central tunnel entrance, little more than a broken hole in the ground. Wooden struts that once reinforced the entrance now splinter out at all angles like broken teeth.
At one point in time the industry booming beneath the Earth’s surface was the financial heart of Solemn Vale. Atlas Mine extends for miles below the surface of the forest region of Solemn Vale, with multiple tunnels crawling under the village and out towards the cliffs beyond.
Officially, Atlas Mine was a rich tin deposit, deep as they come. However, there are no legal records of tin sales or taxation from the region at any point during the time that the mine was operational. No-one who worked in Atlas Mine remains alive to this day. Plenty of the elderly seem to know someone who worked those tunnels though. A father, an uncle, a fellow church parishioner, but none who still walk with the living can speak for what was being mined beneath Solemn Vale.
Atlas Mine ceased operations after the collapse of ‘37. There are no official records of the exact number of men inside at the time a series of charges incorrectly fired, irrevocably collapsing hundreds of meters of the mine. The tragedy rocked Solemn Vale, and the financial future of the village was for some time unclear. The mine had for so long been a part of daily life, that people seemed to think the village might not survive without it.
There were no investigations, however. Few repercussions even to the closing of the huge mining areas. The mining outposts were gutted and removed, information scourged from ledgers, and in a matter of weeks, Atlas Mine and all who had been a part of it had left Solemn Vale. The only remnants left behind were the shattered families of those lost in the mine.
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Weirdo Bob “caught up with” one of the Solemn Vale writing team, Ross Fisher Davis, and squeezed some SV secrets from him:
1. Finish this sentence: Solemn Vale is…
Solemn Vale is a lovely place to visit. Try the local restaurants. Have a cone down by the shore. Why, it’s a nice place to live, even. Come and stay.
2. What is your favourite thing about this game?
While experiencing the wild and unusual far from real life makes for wonderful settings, the wild and unusual that closely clings to the underside of reality can be even more exciting.
3. If you were a character living in Solemn Vale, who would you be?
Old Anthony Moss, the lighthouse keeper. Always on watch, afraid to close his eyes in case he misses something moving in the darkness out there beyond the lantern’s reach.
4. Can you tell us all a secret about Solemn Vale?
Some of the semi-detached buildings were built a little strange in Solemn Vale, leaving spaces in between the walls. People say all sorts of things might be walled up in there, forgotten about for decades.
5. What scares you?
Darkness below the water off the shore after sundown.
Stay tuned for more exciting Solemn Vale content and keep spreading the Wyrd.
The DV Team
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