The Rich Family
The Rich family dynasty is built on a lie that became the truth. When the Retrogrades calling themselves "Rich" first arrived at the struggling settlement that would bear their name, the place was small, docile, and dying. Fallout in the water had poisoned the land beyond cultivation, and residents survived through back-breaking labor on nearby farms. The Riches appeared claiming to have money, promising to purify the water and build up the town. People worked for them on the strength of that promise. In reality, the family had nothing. They bluffed their way into building one of the largest market hubs on the eastern seaboard, and by the time anyone might have noticed the deception, the prosperity was real.
What began as exploitation transformed into something genuine. The good will of Old Dominion shaped the Rich family over generations, wearing down whatever malice the founders carried. The family now owns almost every major building in Rich Man's Land: the canal, the theater, Rich Manor, and the inns. Income flows from rent and cuts of each market stall during the seasonal markets, and every coin is reinvested into the town's growth. The Rich name is stamped on every possible landmark, and the citizens love them for it. They fund the Highway Patrol through stipends and supply shipments disguised as charity, extending their influence across Old Dominion's road network.
Under the current matriarch, Freemy Rich, the family has reached its peak. Freemy was never meant to lead; the role was to pass to her brother Junk, who instead joined the Highway Patrol and left her in charge. She married Lucinda Mud, a young Retrograde woman from the farms, and their union became an aspirational love story for the town. A farmer marrying into the Rich family gave tired laborers hope that the dynasty truly belonged to them. Freemy lifts booth frames at festivals, judges cook-offs, and maintains a rapport with her citizens that borders on the familial. The people of Rich Man's Land near-deify the family, toasting them at dinners and thanking them in the streets. Three generations from a bluff to a beacon.
What began as exploitation transformed into something genuine. The good will of Old Dominion shaped the Rich family over generations, wearing down whatever malice the founders carried. The family now owns almost every major building in Rich Man's Land: the canal, the theater, Rich Manor, and the inns. Income flows from rent and cuts of each market stall during the seasonal markets, and every coin is reinvested into the town's growth. The Rich name is stamped on every possible landmark, and the citizens love them for it. They fund the Highway Patrol through stipends and supply shipments disguised as charity, extending their influence across Old Dominion's road network.
Under the current matriarch, Freemy Rich, the family has reached its peak. Freemy was never meant to lead; the role was to pass to her brother Junk, who instead joined the Highway Patrol and left her in charge. She married Lucinda Mud, a young Retrograde woman from the farms, and their union became an aspirational love story for the town. A farmer marrying into the Rich family gave tired laborers hope that the dynasty truly belonged to them. Freemy lifts booth frames at festivals, judges cook-offs, and maintains a rapport with her citizens that borders on the familial. The people of Rich Man's Land near-deify the family, toasting them at dinners and thanking them in the streets. Three generations from a bluff to a beacon.
Structure
The Rich Family is a Retrograde dynasty that controls Rich Man's Land. The current matriarch, Freemy Rich, leads with a hands-on style: lifting booth frames at festivals, judging cook-offs, and maintaining direct relationships with citizens. Her wife Lucinda Rich (formerly Mud), a young Retrograde woman from the farms, serves as advisor. Freemy's brother Junk Rich left leadership to join the Highway Patrol.
The family owns almost every major building in Rich Man's Land, including the canal, the theater, Rich Manor, and the inns. Income derives from rent and cuts of each market stall during seasonal markets. Money is continuously reinvested to build the town further. The family also funds the Highway Patrol through stipends and supply shipments disguised as charity.
The family owns almost every major building in Rich Man's Land, including the canal, the theater, Rich Manor, and the inns. Income derives from rent and cuts of each market stall during seasonal markets. Money is continuously reinvested to build the town further. The family also funds the Highway Patrol through stipends and supply shipments disguised as charity.
Public Agenda
Build and maintain Rich Man's Land as the largest market hub on the eastern seaboard. The Rich Family reinvests its income into the town's infrastructure, funds the Highway Patrol, and positions itself as the indispensable center of Old Dominion commerce.
History
When the Rich family first arrived, the area that would become Rich Man's Land was small, docile, and struggling. Fallout from the water made the land unable to grow crops, and residents survived through hard labor on nearby farms. The Retrogrades calling themselves "Rich" appeared one day claiming to have money and began working toward purifying the water and building up the town. People worked for them on the promise of a payday. In truth, the family bluffed their way into building one of the largest market hubs on the eastern seaboard.
The family may have begun with exploitative intent, but the good will of Old Dominion's people changed them over the years. Earlier generations were crueler. Under Freemy Rich, the family has become a genuine force for civic improvement. Freemy's marriage to Lucinda Mud, a young farm woman who took the Rich name, gave the citizenry confidence that the family was truly one of them. The Riches are now near-deified by the people of Rich Man's Land: thanked constantly, toasted at dinners, and celebrated as the architects of a prosperity built on a foundation that was, at its inception, a lie.
The family may have begun with exploitative intent, but the good will of Old Dominion's people changed them over the years. Earlier generations were crueler. Under Freemy Rich, the family has become a genuine force for civic improvement. Freemy's marriage to Lucinda Mud, a young farm woman who took the Rich name, gave the citizenry confidence that the family was truly one of them. The Riches are now near-deified by the people of Rich Man's Land: thanked constantly, toasted at dinners, and celebrated as the architects of a prosperity built on a foundation that was, at its inception, a lie.
Retrograde dynasty that bluffed its way into building Rich Man's Land.
