Setting:Town

From DevilshireWiki

Beyond the University, Devilshire is a quiet, coastal town that works hard to maintain a colonial charm. At the core of the town is an old fashioned Devilshire Green lined by Main Square which has lots of small retail businesses, not a one of them part of a chain. Main Square is more than just the commercial center of the community, however. It is also the governmental and cultural center. Both Town Hall and the Devilshire Police Station are on Main Street. Memorial stones listing the names of town citizens that have died in every war from the Revolution to the Iraq War are on display in front of Town Hall.

Devilshire is, like much of small town Massachusetts, an odd duck. Most town citizens are registered Democrats but they tend to have conservative values when it comes to the economy and many social issues. Talk to a citizen of Devilshire and you're likely to find out he or she is against government spending but for government run social programs, believes that the right to privacy extends to someone's sex life but think that sex should be kept in the bedroom and off of television, believes abortion is a necessary evil, and thinks religion should guide but not govern.

Shopping in town takes place either in Main Square or at the Devilshire Mall. There are a growing number of small stores located in other parts of the town, however.

Contents 1 Areas 2 Houses 2.1 Southeast Side 2.2 North (Across the River) 2.3 Southwest Side 3 Apartments 3.1 Main Street and Camden Street 3.2 Berry's Newstand 3.3 Salem Place 3.4 Lancaster Avenue and St. Paul Street 3.5 Devlin Square 3.6 Lancaster Avenue and Camden Street 3.7 Boston Avenue 3.8 Whitehall Apartments 4 Transportation 5 Government 6 Laws 6.1 Smoking 6.2 Liquor 6.3 Firearms 7 Newspapers 8 Education 9 Religion

Areas

The most obvious would be the town center, the area directly around Devilshire Green, which includes town hall, the public library, and the high school. In the summer months the Green is the perfect place for picnics or outdoor activities and music festivals are often held there. In the winter many a snowman can be seen and the city erects a large Christmas tree.

To the southwest is the more middle-class part of town, which includes the BoHo and the Devilshire Mall. Lower Middle Class to Upper Middle Class houses can be found there.

South of town center are the grounds of Devilshire University and the shire woods which connect to Pocket Bay State Park to the southeast.

Between the Pocket Bay Park and Pocket Bay itself in the southeast is the wealthier area of town. This is the part of town where the nicest houses are butted up against the windswept cliffs above Devlinshire Strand and the Boardwalk, with dramatic views of the Atlantic. St. Mary's Church can also be found nearby.

The north side of the town, past the Camden Street Line, is the rougher side of Devilshire, with the northeast area being primarily industrial. University kids out for an adventure might hit the Copper Tube on Topsfield, but even the rougher crowd tend to avoid the northern parts of Boston Avenue and Lancaster Avenue. In general the northwest side is considered several shades nastier than the northeast, which is known for being a rough neighborhood because of the seaport. The northwest side has no such excuse and is just considered one of those areas you don't go to unless you have to. And you really try not to have to.

Houses

The architecture of the town is a curious blend of colonial, Victorian, and neo-gothic styles, with a smattering of more modern styles thrown into the mix. Which pretty much means it's a little bit of everything. Well over half the buildings in Devilshire are at least one hundred years old. Most citizens live in houses or townhouses.

Southeast Side

Upper Class to Ridiculously Wealthy Upper Upper Class

Adams Road and Franklin Street: Located on the southeast side of town, Adams Road is the 'entrance' to the wealthy district and is primarily comprised of upper class families. Huge, well maintained Victorians are set back from the street with sloping lawns and well manicured trees. Homes that are situated on the Franklin side of the street have backyards that end in a walkway along the cliff face which looks out over the shining waters of Pocket Bay. There is a stone stairway at the start of Franklin Road which leads down to the Boardwalk below.

Jefferson Boulevard and Franklin Street: Located on the southeast side of town, Jefferson Boulevard is a broad, thoroughly landscaped road which leads down into Pocket Bay Park. Huge brick mansions are set back from the street further than on Adams Road and they have winding driveways, homes to the upper elite of Devilshire. Homes that are situated on the Franklin side of the street have backyards that end in a walkway along the cliff face which looks out over the shining waters of Pocket Bay.

Washington Street and Franklin Street: Located on the southeast side of town, Washington Street is a very quiet road that is lined by the different gates which allow access to the sweeping lawns beyond. The mansions here are sprawling and usually newer than the ones on previous streets, although there are a few older ones here and there. Homes that are situated on the Franklin side of the street have backyards that end in a walkway along the cliff face which looks out over the shining waters of Pocket Bay. There is a stone stairway at the end of Franklin Road which leads down to the Boardwalk below.

North (Across the River)

Middle Class

Bright Hollow: North of the Black Hound River, over the Black Hound Bridge near the Promenade, is the neighborhood of Bright Hollow. What was formerly White Hill, Devilshire's neighbor to the north and a ghost town since the mid-50s, has been annexed by Devilshire and annexed by local developers over the past decade into a planned residential area. Few locals are willing to go there if they don't have to, leaving most of the houses there as places for out-of-towners who move to Devilshire to buy in an attempt at getting more square footage for their dollar.

Southwest Side

Lower Middle Class to Upper Middle Class

Fir Avenue and Oak Avenue: Located on the southwest side of town, Fir Avenue is a busy road that has mostly ranch-style houses in various different styles. The lower of the middle class neighborhoods, the houses are placed pretty close together and the driveways are only large enough to hold one car. As such, the lawns aren't all that big and due to the traffic, no kids are usually seen to be playing outside.

Elm Avenue and Oak Avenue: Located on the southwest side of town, Elm Avenue is a quiet street with simple two storey homes and some older Victorians. Pretty much the middle of the middle class road, the lawns here are adequate for those who like that sort of thing and the trees lend a lazy sort of quality to the street. Due to the relatively slow traffic, kids can usually be found riding bikes or playing some form of street hockey.

Birch Avenue and Oak Avenue: Located on the southwest side of town, Birch Avenue is a cul-de-sac with a mix of old colonial and Victorian houses. Catering to the upper ends of the middle class, it's the perfect place for people who have money but don't particularly want to flaunt it. This street has the largest lawns on the southwest side and due to the fact that the street ends, is a popular place for kids to play.

Apartments

While a few apartment buildings exist, those who choose to rent usually rent a small house, an apartment in a house/townhouse, or an apartment above the shops in Main Square. University students who choose to live off campus usually rent a floor in one of a series of two family houses located near campus in Salem Place. Below is a list of apartments/condos currently available:

Main Street and Camden Street

Students, Middle Class, Upper Middle Class, Upper Class

In the heart of the city and close to the Devilshire Green, the apartments here are old and vary in upkeep depending on where you find them. All of them are relatively maintained though, and the location can't be beat since you're close to just about everything -and- not crossing the dreaded Camden Street Line, which means property values are still good.

Berry's Newstand

Students, Middle Class

Sometime in the 1940's the owners of Berry's realized they had an ample amount of space and converted their upper levels into apartments which they like to rent to student and other young people. They keep the prices affordable but not all that cheap since it is in a prime location. Renovations were done in the mid-90's to get things like wiring and appliances up to date.

Salem Place

Students, Young People, Middle Class, Lower Middles

Due to its proximity to the University, this section of the Old Town is almost avaunt guard in its simplicity. Students usually find the cheapest of off-campus housing here, based out of old homes with apartments for rent. Larger multifamily homes here have rooms for rent, and there are a few old stores here that have upstairs apartments. A few of the homes in this area belong to Greek Society fraternities and sororities, housing some of the kids off campus.

Lancaster Avenue and St. Paul Street

Students, Lower Middle Class

These are small old townhouses that are closely spaced together, some connected in rows to form a small, poor section of town that attracts more of the students of the University for off campus housing if they can't afford anything closer. They probably used to be single family row houses but nowadays they've been split up into condos and apartments that can be rented out for a lucrative amount by landlords that do the bare minimum to make sure they're maintained. Newer red brick facades have been put up to add to the attractive quality of the town by new arrivals.

Devlin Square

Lower Middle, Lower Class

On each side of the square, a series of row houses have been built, dating back to the 1800's. They are all connected in shape, leading down the block. Preserved for their history, they are now all low cost apartments close to the shady side of town.

Lancaster Avenue and Camden Street

Lower Middle, Lower Class, Inherited Property You Can't Get Rid Of

A few old brownstones that end before they cross Camden Street. Still, this close to Camden is enough to set people on edge/keep out the real money that could work towards fixing the places up. A lot of people who live here own and just can't seem to offload the properties onto anyone but don't feel like sinking money into fixing them up.

Boston Avenue

Lower Class, Low-Income, Poor

The Boston Avenue apartments aren't the classiest places to live. They were built quickly and cheaply and are, as a result, rather run-down and in constant need of repair. Sadly, it's usually more affordable to just buy a couple of fresh cans of paint for the stucco. Apartments are small, cheap, and leaky in one place or another. The elevator almost never seems to work and it's easier to just take the stairs up to the second floor.

Whitehall Apartments

Poor, Poor, So Poor, A Cardboard Box Might Be Safer

This is the kind of place where people only come cause they honestly can't afford anything better and getting mugged a couple times a month is still a more financially sound prospect than going somewhere else. Those who rent apartments here usually don't stay long, having wised up and gotten out, or gotten dead.

Transportation

There is a bus route that does a bit of a zig-zag around Devilshire taking people from Main Square and down by the Church over to the Mall and residential areas in the southwest. Some people walk or ride bicycles but harsh winters practically dictate the need for a car. The university does run an hourly bus service on weekdays between the campus and the student slum area, from seven in the morning until ten in the evening. The elementary and high schools have a bus system available to any children living more than one mile away from the schools. A train line run by the Mass Transit Authority (the 'Purple' line) runs from Devilshire south to Boston.

Government

Devilshire is governed by a Board of Selectmen. Selectmen sit for a two year term, though there are no term limits. Elections are held every year, with three seats being open on odd numbered years and two seats being open on even numbered years. Selectmen get an office at town hall and an assistant but the position does not pay. Selectmen tend to be male, married, and in the upper middle class if not the upper class.

The Board of Selectmen is advised by a number of volunteer committees formed by town citizens. These committees examine issues, plan events, and make recommendations to the Board. Among the committees currently established are the: School Committee, Zoning and Planning Committee, Finance Committee,Historical Committee, and the Festival Committee.

The Board of Selectmen meets once a week to discuss and vote on issues. Town Meetings are held once per month in the high school auditorium and broadcasted on the local cable access channel. During the meeting the Board announces decisions made during the month and issues coming up in the future. Any town citizen is welcome to attend and speak their mind during the meeting.

Laws

Devilshire like any other city is bound to its law and its police officers enforce these laws. Comparative to other states, Massachuesetts imposes stricter smoking, liquor and firearms laws.

Smoking

Smoking is prohibited in common work areas, hallways, conference and meeting rooms, offices, employee lounges, restrooms and staircases; auditoriums, theaters, concert halls and convention centers; museums, libraries, schools, colleges and classrooms; restaurants, bars, taverns, food courts and supermarkets; medical facilities, health facilities, child care centers, camps for school age children; public transportation such as trains, planes, taxis, buses, airports, train and bus stations, terminals and enclosed outdoor platforms; and public buildings owned by the commonwealth or a political subdivision, such as a city or town.

Smoking is allowed in private clubs, tobacco shops, and bars that derive a majority of their revenue from tobacco sales.

Liquor

Liquor can only be served from 8am to 2am except on Sundays when it may only be served from Noon to 2am. It's not sold at the supermarket. Trust me on this one. Hard liquor is sold at specialty stores known as package stores or packies. Bars cannot have happy hours or other limited time discounts on beverages. Fixed price/open bars aren't allowed except at private functions. No more than two drinks can be sold to an individual at a single time for on-premises consumption.

Firearms

All firearm owners must be licensed by the state. Applications are filled out at the local police department. All applicants must pass a firearms safety course and pass a background check. All applicants must pay a fee and be fingerprinted by the local police. There are four license types but for practical game purposes consider there to be two kinds: a regular permit, which allows the ownership of longarms and handguns and a conceal carry permit which allows the concealed carrying of a handgun. The concealed carry permit won't be given to anyone with a criminal record. The state has a ban on assault weapons. The state also requires proper storage of firearms, unloaded, in a locked container. Police can confiscate unsecured firearms.

Newspapers

Local news is covered by the Devilshire Tab and the Essex County Herald-Sun. Most residents read either the Boston Globe or the Boston Herald for national and world news. While those interested in financial news read the Wall Street Journal, few people read the New York Times.

Education

Massachusetts law requires all children of proper age to attend either a public or private school. The local public elementary school is Devilshire Elementary and it handles grades K-8. Devilshire High School handles grades 9-12 and the sports teams are the Devilshire Ravens. The school colors are gold and black.

There is no private elementary or high school located in Devilshire. Wealthy families tend to ship their children off to Groton Academy in Middlesex County.

Religion

Because of Devilshire University, the town has a diverse number of religious institutions. The local Mosque is well attended while school is in session, due to a number of foreign students from the Middle East and Southeast Asia attending University but it is largely empty during the summer. The Episcopalian and Reform Jewish communities are small but active. Located within the town limits are a Baptist, Episcopalian and a Presbyterian church. The town's Catholic church, Saint Mary's, has the largest membership of all the religious groups. There is also the small congregation called the Seekers of Biblical Truth headed up by the The Devlin Family.

Devilshire News File Topics
News Files	Building Guide • Copyright • Policy • Resources • Staff
New Player Information	Application Procedure • Census • Character Types • Playing Villains • Restricted Concepts • Sample Character Background
Game System	Attributes • Combat • Drama Points • Drawbacks • Fear • Global Commands • Experience Points • Human Qualities • Human Drawbacks • LP & Healing • Magic • Magic Spells A • Magic Spells B • Note • Package Qualities • Rolling • Skills • Supernatural Qualities • Supernatural Drawbacks • Superscience
Setting and Theme	Overview • History • Folktales • Speech • The Four Families • Town • Conflict • Theme
Characters	Casting • NPC Casting • The Devlin Family • The Harget Family • The Moore Family • The Swann Family