Much of what is known of the Hargrove Expedition, the first expedition into Thorpe Territory, is gleaned only through the news passed on from the Dauntless Railroad Company and the Silver Pines Trading Company. This news was either delivered by attendants to the expedition who would regularly double back to Dauntless overseers or from writings recovered once the railroad reached Hargrove. It’s suspected that only a few messages and writings have been released to the people of Elan. Government officials may know more, but it’s certain that Dauntless has the most information. None of the expedition, save for one information runner, survives today. But, there is still some news that was released and doubtless more that remains uncirculated. Below is what the public knows for certain.
In the mid 1870s, Elan had increased interest in the expansion into the land beyond the Girdle Mountains. With the war still raging to the north, more and more eyes turned on the expanse of the West. Newspapers reported on the numerous efforts to mount expeditions and their failures. A few daring explorers attempted to undertake the journey alone. Every time, the passage proved more difficult than ever imagined. Those unrelentingly brutal mountains defeated all. Even the best prepared adventurers could make no meaningful headway. Some returned, most died. It was agreed that the amount of equipment and expertise needed was staggering. “You would have to bring a whole town along with you on your back,” quipped explorer Frances Hobbes Bourne.
In March of 1874, there was a meeting between a few exceedingly powerful politicians, Merrill Fauntleroy, and Ryan J. Hargrove. Hargrove and Fauntleroy proposed an expedition into Thorpe Territory and promised to open the wilderness to Elan. Yes, it would be an expedition, but to secure funding they spoke of the resources, the chance of true settlement and expansion, and the possibility of an as of yet undiscovered way to gain advantage over Dorage. There were other reasons but these were the ones that spurred action. Perhaps such action was in no small part due to Fauntleroy being of a wealthy and powerful Wyllisite banking family, but regardless the planning began in earnest.
By 1875, the expedition had been approved by the government and had the backing of both the Dauntless Railroad Company and the Silver Pines Trading Company. Dauntless was the largest investor and shouldered most of the costs of the expedition. In exchange, Dauntless was promised the greatest opportunities should the expedition be victorious. A successful expedition would give the railroad the first property claims. Silver Pines was given its own deals in exchange for funding - resources, territory, and trading rights. The intention was not solely to cross the Girdles or explore Thorpe Territory; it was to build a new hub of society that could act as a rallying point for future expansion into the pristine land.
Fauntleroy, having secured these partnerships, was to be the head of the expedition with Hargrove as his second. However, on June 12th of 1875, Fauntleroy died. According to the Breakridge Tribune, he was seen ranting and raving before dashing into the street where he was run over by a carriage. There was a week of journalistic frenzy where newspapers all over Elan speculated that the expedition was never to materialize now. Yet just as the doom seemed inevitable, Dauntless released a statement that Hargrove would now lead the expedition. The fretfulness calmed and turned gradually to excitement again. The public turned again to the enthusiastic anticipation of what the expedition may bring.
Most members of the expedition were sent by universities, Dauntless, and Silver Pines, with only a handful that were trusted friends of Hargrove. Just over 350 people were chosen. The competition to get one’s name on the list was oppressive. And all kinds of help was needed from so many professions: mountaineers, hunters, trackers, wilderness experts, engineers, surveyors, cartographers, and most of all scientists. Heading this scientific effort of the expedition was Doctor Oliver Terris (who went more commonly as Professor to those in the community). He and his hand-picked team of naturalists, geologists, botanists, and biologists were the best of the very best. To be chosen for any of these positions on the expedition was to guarantee fame and fortune. The roster was finalized in December of 1875. And, with the names selected, it was time for the final details to be organized and for the expedition to begin.
On April 16,1876, the expedition set out from Breakridge to much fanfare and festivity. Of all the expeditions planned across the Girdles, Hargrove’s was the most well funded, the best supplied, and the most ambitious in its goals. Hargrove spoke reservedly to newspapers in the days before setting out. Perhaps, some speculated, it was because of the death of his previous partner, Fauntleroy. This was never confirmed. When he was asked about Fauntleroy, especially about the strange circumstances of his demise, he would never comment.
Once in the foothills, progress started in earnest. Experienced trappers and wilders hired by the Silver Pines Trading Company proved their worth by securing victuals and carving a clear path through the forests. Once the party began to push through the more inhospitable mountain passes of the Girdles, there were of course more numerous setbacks. Yet the Hargrove expedition remained in fairly positive spirits.
Many landmarks were named through this time, including Coin Flip Pass. Located almost 14,000 feet above sea level, it was a brutal trek. The expedition, split 50/50 on whether to continue through unknown territory, famously flipped a silver coin to decide whether to press on through the mountains or to retreat to the lowlands for shelter against the oncoming harsh storms of early fall. The coin spoke and they pressed ahead. Little news came after this period. By October 1876, word had ceased to reach Elan entirely.
All the while, the Dauntless Railroad Company continued with their plans. With the information passed to them by their surveyors in the expedition, the railroad began construction on their western expansion. Regardless of the absence of news, they would be entering Thorpe Territory. In March of 1877, ground broke on their project.
In May, news came again from the expedition. Some were still alive and they were pressing on through all complications and hunger. There was some news of unease in the expedition. What kind of unease was never defined. With how harsh the winter had been, several members of the expedition had died. Still they pushed on.
During this time, more news was issued by Dauntless. It was full of the celebratory exuberance at their own engineering and advancements in pressing westward. Closer and closer they came to the mountains, following the leading charts of the expedition. And the expedition was mentioned often enough to keep the interest of all of Elan.
During the summer and early fall, the expedition had reached the other side of the mountains, and was now exploring the land, plunging into the untouched wilderness. New species of flora and fauna were discovered and documented, land was plotted and charted, and places were named and described in riveting detail. Another winter came, though, and the news from the expedition stopped due to weather.
In the late spring of 1878, news finally came again. At Squall Bay, just overlooking the Twilight Ocean, the expedition had founded a settlement. In honor of the leader of the expedition, it was called Hargrove. Here, they reported, would be the best place for the railroad to extend to. Rich in resources, protected from the more violent ocean storms, abundant in food and lumber, it was the best place to start the creation of a territory. This was their new base, their new home, until the railroad was completed and they could ride triumphantly back to Elan. It was plentiful and more forgiving than the rest of the wild country. They were free to create their own society after so much hardship. It seemed to be thriving. Buildings were erected and resources were plentiful. That was what they wrote and that was what they believed. Dauntless was ecstatic, just like the rest of Elan. Then came the further hardships.
In September of 1879, there was a great rock avalanche which stopped Dauntless’ progress. It took a long time to clear, a long time for the rail lines to be reconstructed. But nothing could quell the Dauntless’ thirst for expansion, for finalization and realization of this new civilization. News from the expedition continued less and less frequently. Many suspect Dauntless was withholding information, but the newspapers had the war with Dorage to report on. Finally, news stopped from the expedition altogether. Few but the most attentive noticed.
Dauntless sent a runner from their party to the town in the spring of 1881 when the ebb of the winter brought nothing new. When the runner returned, they reported that the entire settlement was empty. This news reached Elan, causing shock and confusion. Dauntless used this news to champion its project yet again - they would reach the settlement and save it from whatever had befallen it. They would succeed in opening the west to all. Support was again rallied for the company and on they plunged.
In October of 1891, the railroad finally reached Hargrove. The way was open. Dauntless and Silver Pines reported that nothing seemed amiss. There were no bodies to report, no signs of murder or foul play. The settlement was as it had been, only aged and in disrepair due to the years of absence. Though there was much puzzling as to why, but the railroad quickly took over the town and became wholly devoted to populating it again. All was smoothed over and much of the mystery forgotten.
Once Dauntless was there, progress was quick. In July 1892, a coal power plant was completed, giving the settlement electricity. By October, the repairs were finished. Buildings had been refurbished, comforts had been added to flesh out the town. It was now ready for a population to flood in from the east. Dauntless began to sell tickets for resettlement. With a great discount and a journey of only 5-6 days by train from Breakridge, who could resist? The first train of settlers would be the first weekend of November of 1892. Hargrove would be a town, the first town, and the shining image of industry and society in the vast wilderness of the Thorpe Territory.