Getting rid of those pesky forest squatters

[prabe]

Traditionally, a 'dark wood' is another way of describing wild forest.

Well, yes, but calling it "a forest full of darkwood" seems to be different from calling it the Schwarzwald.

 

[Jd Smith1]

So ... not really looking for an argument ...

Because it feels more like punching up rather than down? Feels more "heroic" to more people.

And also because the rail barons ... frequently weren't nice people, and tended to deploy business tactics that are nowadays frowned upon, so there's just enough basis in fact for it to be plausible enough to base a fiction around.

Not looking for an argument, either. Just asking why this cliche was chosen.

What business practices are these? The Federal government gave them the land, so the hokey cliche of driving people off their land is just myth. Without the railroads, the West would never have been extensively settled. The entire legend of the 'cowboy' driving the herd north (to a rail head) would never have existed. Cattle were only a cash crop if the means to ship them to the populated East was possible. The railroads were highly regarded and welcomed in their time; countless towns and counties are named after rail executives, and statutes and monuments dedicated to them abound.

 

[Jd Smith1]

Well, yes, but calling it "a forest full of darkwood" seems to be different from calling it the Schwarzwald.

Keep in mind the OP used the term 'evil dude' in the same description.

 

[Drazen]

Not looking for an argument, either. Just asking why this cliche was chosen.

What business practices are these? The Federal government gave them the land, so the hokey cliche of driving people off their land is just myth. Without the railroads, the West would never have been extensively settled. The entire legend of the 'cowboy' driving the herd north (to a rail head) would never have existed. Cattle were only a cash crop if the means to ship them to the populated East was possible. The railroads were highly regarded and welcomed in their time; countless towns and counties are named after rail executives, and statutes and monuments dedicated to them abound.

Well. You certainly know your history.
Then i suggest diplomacy, you don't want a fight on your hands.
It may not be what your looking for. But it can make some people happy. Epesially if you appear to them in a kind and friendly manner
If they make things difficult. Play dirty and use whatever means to get them to move
Use the necromancer to unleash a plague on the people. As they grow weak you should attack, leaving as little survivors as possible.
Then, claim it was an "Accident" And there you go! Place all the blame on the necromancer and let PC's handle him!
Poof! You have more room to expand

Well, you could trick the necromancer into thinking the forest squatters are hiding his item

 

[Drazen]

You should also make sure to kill off all witnesses.
Perhaps using bait to lure savage and wild animals to kill them

 

[Drazen]

Or hold the PC family hostage, forcing the PC's to obey your whim

 

[prabe]

Not looking for an argument, either. Just asking why this cliche was chosen.

What business practices are these? The Federal government gave them the land, so the hokey cliche of driving people off their land is just myth. Without the railroads, the West would never have been extensively settled. The entire legend of the 'cowboy' driving the herd north (to a rail head) would never have existed. Cattle were only a cash crop if the means to ship them to the populated East was possible. The railroads were highly regarded and welcomed in their time; countless towns and counties are named after rail executives, and statutes and monuments dedicated to them abound.

So, Stanford (yes, the university's namesake) probably post-dates the Old West, but his business practices were ... not wildly atypical for the category.

It's also probable there was some resentment over the rail owners having a monopoly over something so vital. Resenting Big Business has deep roots in the US, after all.

 

[prabe]

Keep in mind the OP used the term 'evil dude' in the same description.

Well, again, if the product is itself evil, it makes sense an evil dude would be the one harvesting it.

 

[Jd Smith1]

Well. You certainly know your history.
Then i suggest diplomacy, you don't want a fight on your hands.
It may not be what your looking for. But it can make some people happy. Epesially if you appear to them in a kind and friendly manner
If they make things difficult. Play dirty and use whatever means to get them to move
Use the necromancer to unleash a plague on the people. As they grow weak you should attack, leaving as little survivors as possible.
Then, claim it was an "Accident" And there you go! Place all the blame on the necromancer and let PC's handle him!
Poof! You have more room to expand

Or just have the bailiff evict them for criminally occupying the woods, which is a severe crime in a feudal period.

 

[Drazen]

Or just have the bailiff evict them for criminally occupying the woods, which is a severe crime in a feudal period.

hm. Not as fun
But true