Wall Concepts

For

A more detailed view on The Wall (or technically "Walls") that surround the Community in Gorham.
As pieces of Gorham are reclaimed and newcomers create a need for more shelter, The Wall is extended and built out to secure more neighborhoods.

See, the entirety of Gorham wasn't secured at the beginning of the Community. Originally they only had enough time, resources, and labor to build a relatively small wall in the "center" of The Community (the two churches on Church Street). The center remains the most secure location in the Community and, in the event of a siege, the vulnerable residents pile into either First Parish Congregational (the stone building, the most secure) or Holy Family Roman.
With the building out of the Wall, the central Wall has had some sections knocked down and/or gated more loosely to allow easier motion around the Community. And while there's no outright segregation in this sanctuary, original residents of the Community are usually housed in the center while newcomers are placed in homes more towards the outskirts. This was logical, however some residents will see this as a reason to lord their station above others.

This said, newcomers aren't barred from taking up residence in the center. In fact those with similar duties or who have friendships among those in the center or elsewhere will often share the same jam-packed house. But typically, newcomers on the outermost rings and senior residents closer to or within the middle.

The Preacher and his immediate friends reside in the middle. The experiments/exorcisms he conducts take place in a garage just behind Holy Roman Catholic Church.

Anyone who's a good enough shot is expected to take up guard duty at some point. Most parents argue against their children from participating, but it's still not unusual to see someone as young as 14 or 15 manning the gates. Especially if they've been orphaned (and a good many are).

Guards are paired in teams of two at minimum on top of each platform. Platforms are spaced moderately along the Wall. Each pair of guards is within eyeshot of another pair, and there's often more platforms than guards (to allow for heavier defense when needed).

Penetrating the Wall physically is nigh impossible. Ramming a car full speed into the Wall will more often result in a smashed truck than entry. Scaling the Wall proves difficult as both sides have deep trenches dug into them lined with metal and glass shards at the bottom. The top is lined with more metal spines (fashioned from rebar and cut metals) and strung with barbed wire.

Passing the Wall would require leaping or flying over it completely, and guards are fully prepared to deal with both types of assailants. They've practice shooting on bats (mostly out of fear of infected bats, though the creatures generally disintegrate too quickly to be useful to Wendigo past a day or two).

Guards are reluctant to waste bullets, however. They're more likely to douse assailants with flammable liquid and light a match. Humans are afforded some time to negotiate, but the dead are almost always lit up on sight.

The Community is made up of people who, though they lived a somewhat "surburban" lifestyle, are familiar with hunting and shooting. They know how to a handle a gun, especially after months of assault by the dead. Whether you're living or dead, you don't want to antagonize a guard. They've no patience for games.

Prove yourself to be a harmless and potentially useful human and you might gain entrance into the Community. But the readiness of your entrance depends on who's guarding. John the Preacher is almost always happy to invite more in. But other Community members aren't always so keen on adding extra mouths to their family.