The Great Weird North

The Great Weird North

"True North Strong and Free—Though Frozen to the Bone"

The Great Weird North

What used to be just Britain's quiet northern territory has become something entirely different. Canada—or the Dominion of Canada, if you want to be official about it—stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific, encompassing more land than the Union and Confederacy combined. But here's the rub: two-thirds of that massive territory has been locked in eternal winter for the past decade.

The Dominion controls the industrial capacity of British North America, the vast fur-trading empire of the Hudson's Bay Company, and a newly-completed transcontinental railroad that runs coast to coast. While the Union and Confederacy tear themselves apart, Canada has quietly unified under Prime Minister John A. Macdonald and built something remarkable—a nation that actually works, despite the endless winter trying to kill it.

But make no mistake: Canada faces its own troubles. An Ice Age creeps ever southward, held back only by a mysterious ghost rock fence called the Winterline. The Fenian Brotherhood stages raids from the border. Strange disappearances plague settlers heading to Alaska. And the Indians speak of powerful spirits angered by the white man's presence.

The Territory

Canada is absolutely massive—larger than the entire United States before the war. The problem is that most of it is now uninhabitable frozen wasteland. The Winterline divides the country into two distinct worlds:

Above the Winterline: Eternal winter. Endless snow, brutal cold, and ice storms that can kill an unprepared traveler in hours. The only people who live up here are the Inuit (who've adapted to Arctic conditions for centuries), the most stubborn trappers and traders, and a few isolated Indian bands. Strange things happen in the frozen north—travelers disappear, voices call from empty snowfields, and the Northern Lights dance with unnatural fury.

Below the Winterline: Relatively normal weather, though "normal" for Canada still means harsh winters and unpredictable conditions. This is where the cities are, where the railroad runs, where civilization clings to existence. The provinces below the fence are growing rapidly as industry and immigration transform scattered towns into bustling urban centers.

Tornado Alley: The worst of both worlds. Where warm southern air meets the cold of the Winterline, violent tornadoes spawn constantly. The railroad runs right through Tornado Alley for most of its length, and trains get battered by twisters weekly. Anyone living near the Winterline better have a sturdy house and a deep cellar—you're going to need both.

The Provinces

The Winterline

Canada's salvation—and its curse—is the Winterline, a ghost rock-powered fence created by the mad scientist Hellstromme. When the Ice Age began in 1866, it seemed nothing could stop the advancing glaciers. Prime Minister Macdonald (then representing Canada West) reached out to Hellstromme, who spent two years developing a solution.

The result is a two-foot-high metal fence that crackles with energy and glows faintly at night. It doesn't look like much, but it works. Storms hit the Winterline and scatter. Snow stops falling on one side while continuing on the other. You can literally walk three steps across the fence and go from shirt-sleeve weather to freezing cold.

The Path: The Winterline runs from coast to coast, following the transcontinental railroad for most of its length. It balloons out to encircle major cities, protecting their full perimeters, but passes straight through smaller towns—meaning you can live on the north side of town in permanent winter while your neighbor on the south side enjoys normal weather.

The Compromise: Hellstromme insisted the fence run from major city to major city, which meant it only protects about ten percent of Canada's landmass. Everything north of the line remains locked in ice and snow. The government accepted this because the alternative was watching the Ice Age swallow the entire country.

The Manitoba Mystery: For reasons Hellstromme refuses to explain, the entire province of Manitoba enjoys normal weather despite being mostly north of the fence. He mutters something about "interference" when asked, but won't elaborate. Some suspect the Métis have their own protective magic, but no one knows for certain.

Prime Minister John A. Macdonald

The Dominion's leader is a pragmatic, hard-drinking Scotsman who understands that Canada is a patchwork of competing interests that must somehow work together. Sir John A. Macdonald helped create the Confederation in 1867, brought Manitoba and British Columbia into the fold, and oversaw the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1876.

Macdonald's critics—led by Liberal leader Alexander Mackenzie—accuse him of corruption, particularly the "Pacific Scandal" where he allegedly accepted money from railroad interests. But those charges were never proven, and most Canadians seem satisfied with his leadership. After all, he got the railroad finished on time, the Winterline protects the major cities, and the Dominion remains united while the United States tears itself apart.

The Railroad Vision: Macdonald firmly believes the transcontinental railroad is the key to national unity. Without it, Canada would be a collection of isolated provinces separated by impassable wilderness. With it, goods, people, and ideas flow from coast to coast. The fact that it runs alongside the Winterline for most of its length only reinforces both systems.

Relations with the Union: Unlike many Canadian politicians, Macdonald isn't hostile toward the United States. He recognizes that Canada depends on trade with the Union and that future prosperity requires good relations with their southern neighbor. He makes his case quietly, with support from businessmen who share his views, because Britain isn't happy with the Union right now and openly supporting reconciliation could cost him political capital.

The Government Structure

Canada is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. Queen Victoria remains the head of state, but actual governance falls to elected officials and their appointees:

• House of Commons: Elected representatives from each province. They pass laws and control the budget.
• Senate: Appointed for life, supposedly to provide sober second thought. In reality, it's where aging politicians go to collect government pensions.
• Prime Minister: Leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Commons. Currently John A. Macdonald and his Conservatives.
• Governor-General: The Crown's representative. Technically has veto power over everything, but using it would cause a constitutional crisis.

The North-West Mounted Police

If you're operating in Canada's western territories, you will encounter the Mounties. Prime Minister Macdonald created the North-West Mounted Police in 1873 to prevent Canada's frontiers from becoming as lawless as the American West. So far, that plan has worked remarkably well.

The Mounties are a paramilitary police force: trained soldiers who act as lawmen, judges, and peacekeepers all rolled into one. They've established forts throughout the Northwest Territories, maintain high standards of integrity, and have earned the respect of both settlers and Indians. Stories say a Mountie can walk into an Indian camp without fear because the tribes trust them to be fair and honest.

They Always Get Their Man: The Mounties' unofficial motto comes from their reputation for relentless pursuit. If you commit a crime in Mountie territory, they won't stop until they've brought you in. They're well-trained, well-equipped, and authorized to act as judge and jury when no courts are available. Most criminals don't last long in Northwest Canada.

The Uniform: You can't miss a Mountie. They wear bright red coats, tan hats and pants, and black boots. They don't sneak around—that's not the Mounties' way. The scarlet coat announces their presence and reminds everyone that law and order have arrived.

Current Leadership: Commissioner James Farquharson Macleod commands the force. He took over last year after the previous commissioner, Lieutenant-Colonel George Arthur French, retired under mysterious circumstances. Some say French saw things in the north that broke his nerve, but official records claim he simply wanted to return to his family in the east.

Organization

The Mounties currently number five hundred men, organized into ten companies of fifty each. Each company controls one fort and is commanded by a Sergeant Major. Within each company are units of ten men: one corporal and nine constables. The corporals report to their Sergeant Majors, who report to Inspectors in Edmonton, who report directly to the Commissioner.

The Hudson's Bay Company

Founded in 1670, the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) is Canada's oldest and most powerful business enterprise. For over two centuries, it controlled the fur trade across northern Canada with an iron fist, wielding more power than most government officials.

Things have changed in recent years. In 1821, the HBC merged with its rival, the North West Company, eliminating competition. Then in 1869, the company sold the Northwest Territories to the Dominion government for 300,000 pounds—plus retention of trading rights and ownership of land around its posts. This made HBC the single largest private landowner in western Canada.

Changing Focus: With settlement increasing and the fur trade declining, HBC has shifted its business model. Trading posts are becoming general stores, selling supplies to farm families and settlers. They also deal in new technologies and gadgets, somehow obtaining devices that the Union refuses to export to Canada.

The Frozen Assets: Much of HBC's new land lies above the Winterline in permanent winter. But the company is clever and wealthy. Don't be surprised if they find a way to convince the government to extend that fence northward, conveniently warming up their snow-covered property.

The Transcontinental Railroad

Canada completed its coast-to-coast railroad in 1876—a remarkable achievement considering the terrain, weather, and obstacles involved. Unlike the bloody Rail Wars plaguing the Union and Confederacy, Canada's railroad is government-owned and operated, which eliminated most of the competition and violence.

The Terms: British Columbia demanded the railroad as a condition of joining the Dominion in 1871, giving the government ten years to complete it. Prime Minister Macdonald made the railroad his primary focus, appointing Scottish engineer Sir Sanford Fleming as Minister of Railways to oversee construction.

The Path: The railroad follows the Winterline for most of its length, which provided a clear route across the continent. It connects the Atlantic provinces to Ontario, crosses through Manitoba, traverses the prairies and the Rockies, and terminates in British Columbia at Vancouver and Victoria.

The Pacific Scandal: During construction, Liberals accused Macdonald of accepting bribes from the Canada Pacific Railroad Company in exchange for the contract. The charges were never proven, but they damaged Macdonald's reputation temporarily. Most Canadians seem willing to overlook potential corruption given that the railroad actually got finished on time.

The Military

Canada's military is an interesting hybrid of British professionalism and colonial practicality. Originally, Britain provided troops to defend its northern territories, but as the Dominion has gained independence, Canada has developed its own military forces—though Britain still maintains overall command.

Organization

The Canadian militia is organized into traditional branches: Cavalry, Artillery, Engineers, and Infantry. Infantry wear scarlet tunics with blue facing and white helmets (or dark green jackets for rifle regiments). Most soldiers also have "workaday" uniforms of buckskin jackets and Stetsons that are more practical than the formal British kit.

Elite Units:

• Governor General's Foot Guards: The most British-looking unit, with gray overcoats and black bearskin headdresses. Impressive on parade grounds, less practical in the wilderness.
• Steele's Scouts: Mostly trappers and traders who lack parade-ground discipline but excel at wilderness survival and individual combat.
• 9th Voltigeurs de Quebec Infantry: French-speaking unit wearing blue jackets and knitted "toques." Don't let the funny hats fool you—they're tough fighters.
• "A" Company, 62nd St. John Fusiliers: Rumored to be composed entirely of women, though commanded by Captain Edward Sturdee. Impossible to verify, as who's ever heard of women in the military?

The Navy: Canada has no navy of its own—all warships belong to Britain. However, Canada maintains naval bases at Halifax (Atlantic) and Victoria (Pacific), and provides patrol boats and supply vessels. Canadian officers serve on British ships, but Britain keeps tight control over actual warships.

Indian Nations

Canada's Indian population is diverse, spread across the vast territory and adapted to wildly different environments. The Ice Age has disrupted many traditional territories, forcing tribes to migrate south or adapt to even harsher conditions than before.

The Inuit

Arctic Indians who've lived in frozen conditions for centuries. The Ice Age has actually expanded their territory, giving them the run of two-thirds of Canada. They live in ice houses (igloos), hunt seals and caribou, travel by dog sled and kayak, and survive conditions that would kill settlers in hours. Some Inuit bands are beginning to migrate further south, following the ice, which puts them on a collision course with trappers and traders moving north.

Eastern Indians

Tribes like the Micmac, Maliseet, and others living in the Maritime provinces and Quebec. They've been dealing with European settlers for centuries and have adapted to the new reality, though tensions remain. The Micmac have been acting strangely for the past decade—avoiding contact with settlers, refusing to make eye contact, acting almost embarrassed. Some tribes whisper that the Micmac had something to do with the Ice Age, though no one knows what.

Plains Indians

The Cree, Blackfoot, and other tribes of the prairies. They follow the buffalo herds and live a nomadic lifestyle, though settlement is encroaching on their traditional territories. Relations with settlers vary—some tribes trade peacefully, others resist the invasion of their lands.

West Coast Indians

Coastal tribes in British Columbia with rich traditions of fishing, whaling, and totem pole carving. They've been less affected by the Ice Age than eastern tribes, since the Winterline protects much of British Columbia.

The Métis

Half-French, half-Indian people centered in Manitoba. Their leader, Louis Riel, defied the federal government in 1869 when Macdonald tried to take possession of the territory from the Hudson's Bay Company. Riel seized Fort Garry, established a provisional government, and negotiated Manitoba's entry into the Dominion with full protection of Métis civil rights, land rights, Catholic religion, and French schools. Today, Riel leads Manitoba as its elected representative, and the province mysteriously enjoys normal weather despite being north of the Winterline.

The Fenian Brotherhood

Not all Canadians are happy being part of the British Empire. The Fenian Brotherhood—a secret society that's not very secret about its goals—wants to free both Ireland and Canada from British rule. Their plan is to use Canada as a staging area for Irish immigrants to rally before heading back to liberate Ireland. Yes, that makes no strategic sense, but no one's accused the Fenians of tactical genius.

Recent Activity: For the past twenty years, the Brotherhood has staged raids and skirmishes along the border. In 1866, they raided a New Brunswick customs station and invaded Niagara (the Battle of Ridgeway). Ironically, their aggression convinced New Brunswick to join the Confederation for protection, exactly the opposite of what the Fenians wanted.

Current Threat: The Brotherhood has plenty of manpower—many Irish veterans from the American Civil War have joined up—but lacks clear leadership or strategy. They continue staging raids from the Union border, and Britain claims (without proof) that the United States supports them as a guerrilla force.

Strange Reports: Recent accounts describe Fenian fighters who "don't act quite normal—even for Irish." What that means exactly is unclear, but it suggests something supernatural may be involved with the Brotherhood.

Relations with the Union

Canada and the United States have a complicated relationship. Officially, Canada remains loyal to Britain, which currently supports the Confederacy against the Union. In 1876, British forces crossed from Canada and captured Detroit, which they still occupy—a constant source of tension.

At the same time, Canada depends heavily on trade with the Union. Prime Minister Macdonald recognizes this and quietly advocates for better relations, though he has to be careful because Britain wouldn't approve. Many Canadians fear the Union might invade—they tried during the War of 1812, after all—so border defenses remain strong.

The Winterline and transcontinental railroad have changed the calculation. Canada is no longer a weak collection of scattered colonies. It's becoming an industrial power in its own right, with resources, infrastructure, and a unified government. If the Union and Confederacy ever settle their war, they might find Canada has become a serious rival rather than a potential conquest.

The Weird Side

The Ice Age that grips Canada is supernatural in origin, though few will admit it publicly. The fact that winter began in 1866—just three years after the Reckoning started at Gettysburg—is too convenient to be coincidence.

The Northern Lights: The Aurora Borealis has always been spectacular in Canada, but since the Ice Age began, the lights dance with unnatural intensity. Sometimes they seem almost alive. Locals claim to hear sounds—swishing like heavy curtains, crackling like lightning—though scientists insist that's impossible.

Strange Disappearances: Settlers heading to Alaska vanish without a trace. Trappers go into the frozen north and never return. Entire Indian bands have been found dead, frozen in positions suggesting they were fleeing something in terror.

Voices in the Snow: Travelers above the Winterline report hearing voices calling from empty snowfields, footsteps following them through blizzards, and shadows moving in the white-out conditions.

The Wendigo: Indian legends speak of the wendigo, a cannibalistic spirit that possesses humans and transforms them into monsters. Reports of wendigo sightings have increased dramatically since the Ice Age began.

Visiting Canadian Territory

If you're traveling north of the border—especially from the Confederacy or Disputed Lands—here's what you need to know:

Border Crossings

By Railroad: The transcontinental railroad connects to Union lines at several points. You'll pass through customs, where officials check identity and verify you're not wanted for crimes. A few Canadian dollars in "processing fees" helps things move smoothly. Border security has increased since British forces occupied Detroit.

By Ship: Atlantic and Pacific ports accept passenger ships from the Union, though vessels flying Confederate flags risk interception by British naval patrols. Smugglers will give you passage for the right price, with all the risks that entails.

Overland: The border is long and poorly patrolled in many areas. You can cross quietly through wilderness, but if caught in Canada without documentation, expect questioning from local authorities or Mounties.

Currency and Commerce

Canada uses British pounds and Canadian dollars. Confederate scrip is worthless here, and Union greenbacks are viewed with suspicion due to political tensions. Convert your money before crossing the border, preferably to British currency which is accepted everywhere.

Language

English dominates in Ontario and the western provinces. Quebec is French-speaking, and many Quebecois resent English-speakers. Learning a few French phrases will help if traveling through Quebec. The Métis speak both French and various Indian languages.

Weather Preparation

Canadian weather is brutal even below the Winterline. Bring warm clothing, waterproof boots, and cold-weather gear. If you're crossing above the Winterline, hire an experienced guide—the frozen north will kill you quickly if you don't know what you're doing.

Tornadoes hit Tornado Alley constantly. If traveling by train along the Winterline, expect turbulence. If staying in towns near the fence, find out where the storm cellars are located.

Law and Conduct

Canadian cities have stricter gun laws than western American towns, though not as restrictive as eastern Union cities. The Mounties maintain order in the territories and won't hesitate to arrest troublemakers. Unlike American lawmen, Mounties can act as judges where no courts exist, so don't expect a trial if you're caught committing crimes in remote areas.

The Great Weird North stands as a nation transformed by supernatural catastrophe. An eternal winter grips two-thirds of the country, held back only by Hellstromme's mysterious fence. Prime Minister Macdonald has unified the provinces and built a transcontinental railroad against impossible odds. The Mounties bring law to the lawless territories, while the Hudson's Bay Company transforms from fur trader to industrial power.

For Troubleshooters venturing into Canadian territory, remember: the cold can kill you faster than any gunfighter, the Mounties always get their man, and the things lurking above the Winterline are far more dangerous than any outlaw. Bundle up, watch the skies for tornadoes, and whatever you do, don't go wandering into the frozen north alone.