Post by PHAROS on May 24, 2020 13:57:51 GMT -6
WELCOME TO OMENSVALE
The fictitious city of Omensvale, New York, is our main setting.
Prior to the Gloaming what is now known as Omensvale was Greenwood Lake. Only a very select few can realize or even comprehend the notion, let alone the possibility of reality shifting in such a manner, but the area itself was not without incident. Long before the event it had labeled an area of 'high strangeness' by paranormal researchers and ICOR. Reports of strange lights across the lake, unknown beasts stalking Sterling Forest, and odd people chatting up the locals are only a few among a plethora of stories from the lake community. The level of paranormal activity warranted a watch and thus, ICOR surreptitiously moved into a local biotech company called Apex Institute. By 2009, they had gained control of the company while maintaining their anonymity, using the facility as a launch point for investigations and and a base for research. Hence, the people were never strangers to strangeness.
After the Gloam, a small city had replaced what had been Greenwood Lake. A few features remained constant, but the name of the lake and it's entire past had been altered, as if an author had decided to rewrite the history of the entire area. Everyone of course remained entirely oblivious of the alteration, only the pre-existing agents of ICOR and KRIUS were made aware of the change.
Suddenly stories that never existed before became a part of the city's past. The most horrific event, being the 'Slaughter of 2007', the story of the remains of five poachers found in Sterling Forest. Their body parts and entrails had been torn to shreds and stretched between five trees to make a pentacle. The murders put Omensvale on the map, the story went national, then global. In a single week, the peaceful city went from a tranquil tourist destination to the Satanic capital of the country. Press and paranormal researchers became common sights and remain so to present day.
Omensvale of Orange County, has an population of approximately 25,000, which increases to 35,000 during the summer months. It's located at the north end of Black Lake, nestled in Sterling Forest State Park, comprised of 21,935.08 acres of nearly pristine natural refuge amidst of one of the nation's most densely populated areas, a remarkable piece of woodland, a watershed for millions, and a tremendous outdoor recreation area. The unbroken deep-forest habitat harbours many secrets. Even if the city were allowed to encroach into the protected wilderness, none would ever dare to strike a tree. The locals possess a fearful respect of the forest, but one is hard pressed to pry a story or two out of a resident. Their economy is largely based on recreational tourism and the last thing anyone wants to do is scare away their livelihood with monster stories. The only tales they tell are spun to entice and attract thrill seeking 'monster hunters'. Bigfoot stories abound, as do tales of the "Black Lake Beast", the area's own version of the Loch Ness Monster.
A short distance to the west, is Warwick, established in the 1700's, it's economy is based on agricultural ventures, such as wine. To the north is the tiny hamlet of Belvale, and the Mount Peter Ski Area. Three kilometres to the east, is Sterling lake known for it's fishing, and less than 20 km beyond are the beginning of the sprawling suburban populations of New York and New Jersey. New City, Spring Valley, Suffern, Mahwah, Oakland and Riverdale are all within commuting distance.
Omensvale rests in a picturesque valley, the community rolling across the many hills and dales. Half of Black Lake stretches into New Jersey, and the original lake not extended by the dam, is eerily deep, which further supports the "Black Lake Beast" legend that adorns the area's gift shops.
The original village was settled by Europeans as a farming community in the 1700s in the area of an earlier village occupied by the Munsee Native Americans. The Munsees, considered a branch of the Lenape people (also known as the Delaware), were Algonquian speakers who called the lake Quampium. To this day the Delaware have a strong presence in the community.
A grand hotel called 'The Windermere' was operating by 1851 and still stands to this day, known for it's haunted rooms. The development of the village dates to 1856, when most of the available land was purchased by Severet Corvine, a wealthy land baron from England with a lineage stretching back to Romania. According to historians, Severet was intrigued by the culture of the Delaware people. They say he was fascinated with the occult and boasted an extensive collection of pagan artifacts which greatly influenced the macabre nature of the town.
The city runs approximately four kilometres east to west, roughly two miles and is divided into six distinct areas. The western most areas of Harrow and Corvine came later in the 1930's, a push for modernization by the grandson of Severet Corvine who would sadly never live to see his vision realized. The other four areas, Edgemere, Riverbend, Hollow Grove, and Laketown were the original settlement of Omensvale. Laketown, still maintains it's village status and retains an honorary mayor. "Old Town", as it is also called remains the pivotal point of the city's culture and traditions.
Sports
Omensvale High School's team symbol is a 'Fire Bird', which is representative of storms that loom over Black Lake and the Delaware 'Thunderbird' legends that surround it. It's also a symbol that people associate with all the car enthusiasts in the city. The Fire Bird team colours are orange, red, yellow and black.
They are best known for the following sports:
• Track and Field
• Football
• Basketball
• Swimming
• Soccer
Classic Car Enthusiasts
Omensvale's car enthusiasts club, "The Storm Riders" extends throughout Orange County and beyond. People come from all over the state to join in the "Classic Car Rally" every year in mid-July. The city is know for it's high percentage of classic cars that come in the summer like flowers blooming in the spring. One can always see at least four or five pristine vintage vehicles cruising around.
Strange Occurrences
The citizens of Omensvale are accustomed to strange occurrences. The city is surrounded by pristine wilderness teeming with strange oddities, among them, Bigfoot and their lake is supposedly home to a creature not unlike the Loch Ness Monster. Disappearances are common and it could technically be the murder capital of the country if in fact all the murders were reported. So, why isn't there a big spot light on the place? In a word, misinformation. Both ICOR and Krius have a shared agenda to ensure that outsiders never take the reports seriously. When a murder, disappearance or strange sighting is reported, there are twenty to thirty similar stories made creating a smoke screen of misinformation that makes Omensvale appear to attention-seeking. To the rest of America and the world, Omensvale is just another freak-show trying to make money off of their urban legends and local myths. No one takes them seriously, and that's just what the powers-that-be want. Some locals are oblivious of the slander, others realize all too well what's going on but either too powerless or too scared to take action. Others that have, speak of receiving strange calls in the middle of the night, answering the door to find nobody there, or being followed. Often these threats are enough to make them back off, but those few that have persisted have vanished, never to be seen again. People don't take about it, because they no better and when people start asking questions, they're politely told to mind their own business.
Communities and locations in the City of Omensvale Area
Warwick – village located by the junction of NY 94 and NY 17A.
Florida – village located on NY 17A.
Greenwood Lake – village located on NY 17A at the north end of Greenwood Lake.
Amity – hamlet located between Edenville and Pine Island near the New Jersey state line. It is served by the Amity Station of the Pine Island Fire Department and is the site of the Amity Presbyterian Church, which was first opened in 1796. Amity is also home to the Crystal Inn, a famous restaurant and bar located on Amity Road, which opened in 1965.
Bellvale – hamlet on NY 17A between Warwick village and Greenwood Lake.
Black Walnut Hill – hamlet north of Hoopstick on Pulaski Highway.
Center – an historic hamlet identified solely by the post office that was located at the Warwick Woodlands Hotel from 1909-1916 on the west shore of Black Lake north of Furnace Brook. An earlier post office by the name of Warwick Woodlands, NY, operated at the same location from 1882-1891.
Durland – hamlet northeast of Warwick village and west of Wickham Lake.
Edenville – hamlet in the western part of Warwick, on Pine Island Turnpike, just off County Route 1 (CR 1).
Greenwood Forest Farms – an early area retreat for African-American families.
Hoopstick – hamlet north of Pine Island in the "black dirt" on Pulaski Highway, historically the home of nineteenth century barrel hoop makers.
Lakeville – hamlet located at the south end of Sterling Lake.
Liberty Corners – hamlet on CR 88, near the New Jersey state line in the southwest part of the town.
Little York – hamlet east of Pine Island.
New Milford – hamlet near the New Jersey state line on NY 94.
Newport – hamlet south of Pine Island.
Pine Island – hamlet at the junction of CR 1 (Pine Island Turnpike), CR 6 (Pulaski Highway), and CR 26 (Glenwood Road) near the northwest town line. It is the commercial center of the "black dirt" region.
Quaker Creek – hamlet south of Snufftown on Pulaski Highway, directly on the border with the town of Goshen.
Snufftown – hamlet north of Pine Island near the town line; historically considered the "Snufftown section of the village of Florida", it is last settlement in the Florida union-free school district. Named for the habit of the early twentieth century farmers who relaxed on the front porch of one of the earliest homesteads, drinking beer, and chewing snuff.[citation needed]
Sterling Forest – a hamlet located at the New Jersey state line on the east shore of Greenwood Lake, and served by the Sterling Forest, NY, post office. It was the site of the first American rocket airplane flight that carried mail from NY to NJ on February 23, 1936. Babe Ruth often rented a cabin there for the summer season during his retirement.
Wisner – hamlet northeast of Warwick village.
Cascade Lake – a small lake in the hills on the southern part of town.
Glenmere Lake – a reservoir that hosts New York's last population of the endangered northern cricket frog.
Black Lake – a lake on the border of New York and New Jersey.
Mount Adam – a granite and shale mount directly on the border of the "black dirt," near the northern town line and directly southwest of Mount Eve.
Mount Eve – a granite and shale mount, one-quarter mile south of Snufftown and northeast of Mount Adam.
Pochuck Neck – a location near the west town line between Liberty Corners and Pine Island.
Sterling Lake – a lake in the eastern part of the town.
Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge – northernmost part only.
Wickham Lake – a small lake near the north town line.
The fictitious city of Omensvale, New York, is our main setting.
Prior to the Gloaming what is now known as Omensvale was Greenwood Lake. Only a very select few can realize or even comprehend the notion, let alone the possibility of reality shifting in such a manner, but the area itself was not without incident. Long before the event it had labeled an area of 'high strangeness' by paranormal researchers and ICOR. Reports of strange lights across the lake, unknown beasts stalking Sterling Forest, and odd people chatting up the locals are only a few among a plethora of stories from the lake community. The level of paranormal activity warranted a watch and thus, ICOR surreptitiously moved into a local biotech company called Apex Institute. By 2009, they had gained control of the company while maintaining their anonymity, using the facility as a launch point for investigations and and a base for research. Hence, the people were never strangers to strangeness.
After the Gloam, a small city had replaced what had been Greenwood Lake. A few features remained constant, but the name of the lake and it's entire past had been altered, as if an author had decided to rewrite the history of the entire area. Everyone of course remained entirely oblivious of the alteration, only the pre-existing agents of ICOR and KRIUS were made aware of the change.
Suddenly stories that never existed before became a part of the city's past. The most horrific event, being the 'Slaughter of 2007', the story of the remains of five poachers found in Sterling Forest. Their body parts and entrails had been torn to shreds and stretched between five trees to make a pentacle. The murders put Omensvale on the map, the story went national, then global. In a single week, the peaceful city went from a tranquil tourist destination to the Satanic capital of the country. Press and paranormal researchers became common sights and remain so to present day.
___________________
Omensvale of Orange County, has an population of approximately 25,000, which increases to 35,000 during the summer months. It's located at the north end of Black Lake, nestled in Sterling Forest State Park, comprised of 21,935.08 acres of nearly pristine natural refuge amidst of one of the nation's most densely populated areas, a remarkable piece of woodland, a watershed for millions, and a tremendous outdoor recreation area. The unbroken deep-forest habitat harbours many secrets. Even if the city were allowed to encroach into the protected wilderness, none would ever dare to strike a tree. The locals possess a fearful respect of the forest, but one is hard pressed to pry a story or two out of a resident. Their economy is largely based on recreational tourism and the last thing anyone wants to do is scare away their livelihood with monster stories. The only tales they tell are spun to entice and attract thrill seeking 'monster hunters'. Bigfoot stories abound, as do tales of the "Black Lake Beast", the area's own version of the Loch Ness Monster.
A short distance to the west, is Warwick, established in the 1700's, it's economy is based on agricultural ventures, such as wine. To the north is the tiny hamlet of Belvale, and the Mount Peter Ski Area. Three kilometres to the east, is Sterling lake known for it's fishing, and less than 20 km beyond are the beginning of the sprawling suburban populations of New York and New Jersey. New City, Spring Valley, Suffern, Mahwah, Oakland and Riverdale are all within commuting distance.
Omensvale rests in a picturesque valley, the community rolling across the many hills and dales. Half of Black Lake stretches into New Jersey, and the original lake not extended by the dam, is eerily deep, which further supports the "Black Lake Beast" legend that adorns the area's gift shops.
The original village was settled by Europeans as a farming community in the 1700s in the area of an earlier village occupied by the Munsee Native Americans. The Munsees, considered a branch of the Lenape people (also known as the Delaware), were Algonquian speakers who called the lake Quampium. To this day the Delaware have a strong presence in the community.
A grand hotel called 'The Windermere' was operating by 1851 and still stands to this day, known for it's haunted rooms. The development of the village dates to 1856, when most of the available land was purchased by Severet Corvine, a wealthy land baron from England with a lineage stretching back to Romania. According to historians, Severet was intrigued by the culture of the Delaware people. They say he was fascinated with the occult and boasted an extensive collection of pagan artifacts which greatly influenced the macabre nature of the town.
The city runs approximately four kilometres east to west, roughly two miles and is divided into six distinct areas. The western most areas of Harrow and Corvine came later in the 1930's, a push for modernization by the grandson of Severet Corvine who would sadly never live to see his vision realized. The other four areas, Edgemere, Riverbend, Hollow Grove, and Laketown were the original settlement of Omensvale. Laketown, still maintains it's village status and retains an honorary mayor. "Old Town", as it is also called remains the pivotal point of the city's culture and traditions.
Sports
Omensvale High School's team symbol is a 'Fire Bird', which is representative of storms that loom over Black Lake and the Delaware 'Thunderbird' legends that surround it. It's also a symbol that people associate with all the car enthusiasts in the city. The Fire Bird team colours are orange, red, yellow and black.
They are best known for the following sports:
• Track and Field
• Football
• Basketball
• Swimming
• Soccer
Classic Car Enthusiasts
Omensvale's car enthusiasts club, "The Storm Riders" extends throughout Orange County and beyond. People come from all over the state to join in the "Classic Car Rally" every year in mid-July. The city is know for it's high percentage of classic cars that come in the summer like flowers blooming in the spring. One can always see at least four or five pristine vintage vehicles cruising around.
Storms
Omensvale has one of the highest storm frequencies in the country. Over the spring, summer and autumn months there are storms of varying strengths occurring over Black Lake just about every night. It's a storm-watcher's paradise, and many people stay in Omensvale to gather around the lake in one of the many restaurants to watch the light show. It's such a prominent feature of the city that the welcome signs depict storm clouds and lightening.
Omensvale has one of the highest storm frequencies in the country. Over the spring, summer and autumn months there are storms of varying strengths occurring over Black Lake just about every night. It's a storm-watcher's paradise, and many people stay in Omensvale to gather around the lake in one of the many restaurants to watch the light show. It's such a prominent feature of the city that the welcome signs depict storm clouds and lightening.
Strange Occurrences
The citizens of Omensvale are accustomed to strange occurrences. The city is surrounded by pristine wilderness teeming with strange oddities, among them, Bigfoot and their lake is supposedly home to a creature not unlike the Loch Ness Monster. Disappearances are common and it could technically be the murder capital of the country if in fact all the murders were reported. So, why isn't there a big spot light on the place? In a word, misinformation. Both ICOR and Krius have a shared agenda to ensure that outsiders never take the reports seriously. When a murder, disappearance or strange sighting is reported, there are twenty to thirty similar stories made creating a smoke screen of misinformation that makes Omensvale appear to attention-seeking. To the rest of America and the world, Omensvale is just another freak-show trying to make money off of their urban legends and local myths. No one takes them seriously, and that's just what the powers-that-be want. Some locals are oblivious of the slander, others realize all too well what's going on but either too powerless or too scared to take action. Others that have, speak of receiving strange calls in the middle of the night, answering the door to find nobody there, or being followed. Often these threats are enough to make them back off, but those few that have persisted have vanished, never to be seen again. People don't take about it, because they no better and when people start asking questions, they're politely told to mind their own business.
Communities and locations in the City of Omensvale Area
Warwick – village located by the junction of NY 94 and NY 17A.
Florida – village located on NY 17A.
Greenwood Lake – village located on NY 17A at the north end of Greenwood Lake.
Amity – hamlet located between Edenville and Pine Island near the New Jersey state line. It is served by the Amity Station of the Pine Island Fire Department and is the site of the Amity Presbyterian Church, which was first opened in 1796. Amity is also home to the Crystal Inn, a famous restaurant and bar located on Amity Road, which opened in 1965.
Bellvale – hamlet on NY 17A between Warwick village and Greenwood Lake.
Black Walnut Hill – hamlet north of Hoopstick on Pulaski Highway.
Center – an historic hamlet identified solely by the post office that was located at the Warwick Woodlands Hotel from 1909-1916 on the west shore of Black Lake north of Furnace Brook. An earlier post office by the name of Warwick Woodlands, NY, operated at the same location from 1882-1891.
Durland – hamlet northeast of Warwick village and west of Wickham Lake.
Edenville – hamlet in the western part of Warwick, on Pine Island Turnpike, just off County Route 1 (CR 1).
Greenwood Forest Farms – an early area retreat for African-American families.
Hoopstick – hamlet north of Pine Island in the "black dirt" on Pulaski Highway, historically the home of nineteenth century barrel hoop makers.
Lakeville – hamlet located at the south end of Sterling Lake.
Liberty Corners – hamlet on CR 88, near the New Jersey state line in the southwest part of the town.
Little York – hamlet east of Pine Island.
New Milford – hamlet near the New Jersey state line on NY 94.
Newport – hamlet south of Pine Island.
Pine Island – hamlet at the junction of CR 1 (Pine Island Turnpike), CR 6 (Pulaski Highway), and CR 26 (Glenwood Road) near the northwest town line. It is the commercial center of the "black dirt" region.
Quaker Creek – hamlet south of Snufftown on Pulaski Highway, directly on the border with the town of Goshen.
Snufftown – hamlet north of Pine Island near the town line; historically considered the "Snufftown section of the village of Florida", it is last settlement in the Florida union-free school district. Named for the habit of the early twentieth century farmers who relaxed on the front porch of one of the earliest homesteads, drinking beer, and chewing snuff.[citation needed]
Sterling Forest – a hamlet located at the New Jersey state line on the east shore of Greenwood Lake, and served by the Sterling Forest, NY, post office. It was the site of the first American rocket airplane flight that carried mail from NY to NJ on February 23, 1936. Babe Ruth often rented a cabin there for the summer season during his retirement.
Wisner – hamlet northeast of Warwick village.
Cascade Lake – a small lake in the hills on the southern part of town.
Glenmere Lake – a reservoir that hosts New York's last population of the endangered northern cricket frog.
Black Lake – a lake on the border of New York and New Jersey.
Mount Adam – a granite and shale mount directly on the border of the "black dirt," near the northern town line and directly southwest of Mount Eve.
Mount Eve – a granite and shale mount, one-quarter mile south of Snufftown and northeast of Mount Adam.
Pochuck Neck – a location near the west town line between Liberty Corners and Pine Island.
Sterling Lake – a lake in the eastern part of the town.
Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge – northernmost part only.
Wickham Lake – a small lake near the north town line.
, Jr.