This is the second part of a five-part series covering Slokais as the country readies itself for the 2026 Election. Every week, the New Liverpool Daily and its partners will provide a story from one specific province. This is the second part of the first series of five provinces, “Far’awae, South Acadia, North Acadia, East Acadia and Northern Isle’s” reported by Dylan Gomez. This is the 30 Province Project.
In the modern age, there are very few places where you can’t find modern cars. The town of Rosstown in South Acadia is one of them. Yet it’s not from a lack of roads, or extreme remoteness; in fact, it’s just an hour away by car, the production plant for S-Star, which builds transport vehicles and trucks. It’s the beliefs of the local residents who are members of the traditional Wellwoodian Church of Christ. We park at the train station in the modern settlement of Parrish Crossing and begin the 15-minute walk towards Rosstown. A few minutes in, the first houses appear into view, and we are met by our local guide named Elias
“Welcome to Rosstown” he say’s
Elias is wearing the traditional dress of the Wellwoodian’s, overall’s over a white shirt with blue pants, an untrimmed beard and a straw farming hat. Elias is unique in the community in that he lived outside of it for an extended period of time during his college years.
“It was a good experience, but it taught me that maybe this way of life is better,” Elias says.
The Wellwoodian Church of Christ was founded in 1804 by Sanctarian settlers who fled religious persecution back home by the Catholic Church. Initially settling under the protection of the Pindai State, when the state collapsed the Church migrated northward to several locations in what would become Henwood Township. Since then the community has remained isolated, with no marriage of members within the community to those who were not born into the Church, no attendance at public schools. Wellwoodian’s consider modern technology which utilizes electricity as having the devil’s touch and thus usage of such technology a sin. Cars are replaced by horse-drawn carriages or bicycles, electrical usage is replaced by lamps (although batteries are allowed, as no wires are used). Despite all of this, the Wellwoodian’s have become politically active which has complicated things in the community. In 2021, the Ministry of Labor began to crack down on Wellwoodian business which used child labor and un-paid labor in the production of hat’s, (Wellwoodian’s believe women should not be paid for their labor, as being able to have children and take care of the home is considered a blessing in of itself).
Elias says many in the 80,000 strong Wellwoodian community scattered across the province became outraged and soon a march was organized in Rosstown. In 2022, the residents of Rosstown marched to the township seat of Saint Ignatius and stood outside of the local office of the Ministry of Labor for two days. It became a national news headline as reporters flocked to cover the story. One figure who came to the defense of the group was Brooke Weasley. In a press conference in March when asked about the situation, defended the group’s complaints.
“These are family-owned businesses, not large companies or industries. Shame on the Ministry of Labor for going after these people’s way of life, it’s simply their religion”
Elias said this statement alone led to tens of thousands of Wellwoodian’s voting for the first time, almost exclusively for Brooke Weasley and the Conservative Party. And the Weasley campaign team knew this in 2022 and has already begun again in 2026. On the day of voting registration, campaign team members drove buses to voting offices, and once again on election day. In the end, in such a close election as 2022, a difference of 20,000 votes can be huge. Yet in 2026, there is some debate on whether this shall happen again.
Elias introduces us to his family, which consists of his mother, father and 8 siblings. In a farming community, children are extra-labor and additionally allow the family to qualify for state benefits due to their low-income and number of children. They range in age from 6 to 21 with Elias being the oldest followed by his sister, Rachel who has just married. Over a meal of cornbread, lamb and roasted root vegetables, I explain my job and my role as a reporter for the 30 Province Project. Only Elias and Rachel have even watched TV before on their brief trips into Parrish Crossing and the whole group seems confused with the concept of the New Liverpool Daily being online. The patriarch of the family, David speaks about politics again, he is concerned with news that the Weasley administration has cut funding to state benefit programs unless recipients can prove employment. The issue is that the family business of selling cornbread and other food products is not a valid form of employment. The female members of the family stay silent except for Rachel, who generally agrees that maybe voting for Weasley may not be a correct choice. I then make a mistake and ask the opinions of the children on the matter. This upsets David very much.
“I am their father and they are children, they are not to be political participants” he says
“I suggest you tread carefully, newspaper man” David say’s, Rachel begins to explain that maybe hearing the children’s opinions would allow outsiders to view Wellwoodian’s as more approachable.
“Did I ask? Where is your husband, dearest Rachel” David said standing up in anger and pointing to the door
“He is simply away from home”
“Who is taking care of your child?” David says with anger
“My sister-in-law” Rachel said
“You are named for Rachel, who stood for her people in the Old Testament. Why must you now stand for this man” David said, as he pointed at me. I stood up, as it became clear if I remained the situation may get worse.
I was now outside of the cabin, standing around in the dark. There was limited cell service as there was no need to provide service to a community which didn’t use it. I had originally planned to stay the night with Elias but now, I was several miles away from the train station at Parrish Crossing with no more trains until the next morning. As I was trying to reach my local friend at the Rosstown Review, a local news organization, Elias came out to speak to me. He explained it was forbidden for outsiders to talk with un-married females, which included his younger sister’s yet to be married. Elias apologized for his father’s behavior and offered to give me a ride in his canoe back along the creek to a Sun-Mart a few miles away.
As he paddled along the creek, illuminated by the moonlight, Elias explained his own personal hopes and dreams. He had been able to find a wife in the community and at age 21 was expected to marry soon and father children as well. He had gone to technical college in Rosstown, partly to learn more about agricultural sciences, partly to get away, and possibly find a wife of his own. He hadn’t and was called to return home after only a semester in attendance. When I asked if had any luck in finding anyone there he could see himself marrying, Elias simply sighed.
“Maybe, although none of them were born into the Church. And the options in the community feel too weird for me, I’ve grown up with these women”
As we approach a bridge, and bright lights of Sun-Mart illuminate the dark creek, I ask Elias if I can include everyone that had transpired that night.
“Go, ahead I’m leaving anyway” Elias said
I waved goodbye, as the top of his straw farmer’s hat slowly disappeared into the dark night. I felt sad, now he had been alienated from his family. Yet I knew, it was the best for Elias.
– Dylan Gomez, New Liverpool Daily.
