Cumberland

A map depicting various points of interest in Cumberland

Cumberland is a small village nestled in the Brown Hat Delta, celebrated for its picturesque landscapes and prosperous agricultural legacy. This tranquil farming hamlet was once a beacon of community spirit and high-quality produce. However, a corporate invasion by a branch of Hester's drastically altered the town's character and lifestyle.

Lore

Founding & Early Years

Cumberland was founded by Arthur C. Cumber as a self-sufficient commune/homestead for himself and a few close friends but quickly blossomed into a much more complete town, with roads and farmland stretching out from the original settlement for dozens of miles in each direction. The impeccably fertile soil and temperate climate provided the perfect conditions for diverse crops and livestock, the abundance of which fueled a thriving local economy with the town's superior meat products and fresh vegetables in high demand across neighboring regions.

Corporate Invasion

In xx23AD, Cumberland was bought out by Hester's. The introduction of a large amount of capital and installation of ruthless middle managers armed with a runiversal distribution network morphed the hamlet into an epicenter of industrial agriculture. The serene farming village was soon overshadowed by imposing factories and processing plants, producing mediocre meat products and frozen vegetables and shipping them everywhere from the Buffkin Plains to Fort Turtle. This drastic shift from Cumberland's traditional farming ethos greatly angered the locals, but allowed the brand of Cumberland to spread far and wide, soon becoming a household name.

The Great Rebellion

In retaliation to the corporate invasion, a group of citizens made up of members of the former Home Owners Association united to reclaim the town's former glory and eradicate Hester's influence. It was clear that they had no chance at taking back the town on their own, so they invoked the formidable and fearsome Cthulhucumber to aid them in their pursuit.

With Cthulhucumber's assistance, the townsfolk conducted a ritual that bestowed life and purpose upon the mediocre meat and vegetable products manufactured in the factories. These reanimated products, deemed the Heroes of Cumberland, were imbued with a militant purpose and began waging war on their creators. This event was known as the Great Rebellion.

The rebellion was a tumultuous and chaotic conflict, with the reanimated products demonstrating an unforeseen level of tenacity and resolve. The plant managers and factory workers hired by Hester's were unprepared for the uprising, and many packed up and left what had quickly become a dangerous work environment. A few notable managers held their posts and battled to retain control of their factories and shipping depots, most of them holed up in their offices withstanding prolonged siege.

The rebellion was effectively squashed when a marketing manager at Hester's offered the then-leader of the rebellion a spot as the spokesperson for Cumberland Foods along with a hefty salary, which he immediately accepted, leading to a few other heroes to do the same. This spiraled out of control as the rank and file troops lost morale and lieutenants fought amongst themselves to decide who would be next in line for a brand mascot position.

Descent Into Anarchy

Following the short-lived rebellion, Cumberland descended into a state of anarchy. The Heroes of Cumberland formed tribes and began quarreling amongst themselves over who would be the next Cucumdog Idol and the dangers and benefits of GMOs. Production in the Hester's factories resumed as normal after minimal repairs and rehiring.

Construction of the Cumberdome

To satiate the warring tribes and further distract the Heroes from their originally designed purpose, Hester's constructed a chain-link dome with stadium seating and invited the Heroes to test their mettle sparring against each other. The Heroes are not paid for their fights, but they seem to enjoy wailing on each other anyway and the spectacle provides ample distraction for the overworked farmers and factory workers. Heroes can sign up for participation in the Dome here.

Settlements & Landmarks

See Settlements and Landmarks of Cumberland