Visit Verdant
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| Visit Verdant | |
|---|---|
| Type | Town |
| Location | Northern Connecticut, New England |
| Founded | October 13, 1662 |
| Owner | |
| Notable residents | Margot Delacroix, Mayor Benjamin Osgood |
| First appearance | Making the Grades: Kelly's Unveiling |
About
Verdant is a small fictional town located in northeastern Connecticut, serving as the primary setting for the Making the Grades series and the broader Subconium Shared Universe. Known for its historic charm and mysterious past, Verdant is home to Eastern Tsuga College and plays a pivotal role in several key narratives.
History
Verdant's roots date back to the mid-17th century. The town was officially founded on October 13, 1662 by Eleanor Ashburne, a woman accused of practicing witchcraft during the Connecticut Witch Trials, who fled to the forested lands of northern Connecticut with her husband William Ashburne. They, along with other accused individuals, founded the settlement as a safe haven for those who practiced what Eleanor termed "white magic."
In 1667, Eleanor cast a powerful fertility spell known as The Hemlock Veil, designed to enhance life and protect those within its borders. Over the centuries the spell's effects evolved, subtly lowering inhibitions and influencing the behavior of Verdant's residents.
By the early 20th century, wealthy families were drawn to Verdant, establishing grand homes along Elysian Road between 1900 and 1920. In 1929, the Roarke family — one of Verdant's most prominent residents — were found dead in what was officially ruled a murder-suicide. Within a year all the wealthy families quietly abandoned their homes.
During the 1980s, Verdant was caught up in the Satanic Panic, partly due to two missed renewals of the Hemlock Veil in 1971 and 1981. The town eventually reclaimed its narrative, rebranding itself as a progressive "safe harbor" with a colorful past.
The Hemlock Veil
At the heart of Verdant's history is The Hemlock Veil, a fertility spell originally cast by Eleanor Ashburne in 1667. Now maintained by House Subconium, the Veil subtly influences all residents, lowering inhibitions and encouraging open-mindedness. Most residents are entirely unaware of its existence.
Eastern Tsuga College
Eastern Tsuga College sits on the outskirts of Verdant. Founded in the mid-1800s, it is a small progressive liberal arts institution whose faculty and students are subtly influenced by the Hemlock Veil.
Notable locations
- Camera Noctis — members-only club; public face of House Subconium
- Delacroix's Tomes and Treasures — occult shop on Main Street
- Elysian Road — historic street lined with seven mansions
- Verdant Scholars Memorial Grove — site of the original Hemlock Veil casting
- La Sorcière — French restaurant south of town
- Astro Club — popular dance club near campus
- McPherson's Kilt — Scottish pub on the campus/town seam
- Eli's Dive Bar (Avery's Social Club) — cash-only dive bar at Verdant's northern edge
In popular culture
Verdant serves as the central setting of the Making the Grades novel series by Jasper Flynn and is a key location in the Comply visual novel.