Abbotswold

Abbotswold (/abbotswold/ [Translation Unavailable]) is a subtropical Town located in Iliqtpososi Dutchy, Ruwia County, within the Kingdom of Helsteria.

The name Abbotswold is derived from the Sylvin language, as Abbotswold was founded by Gêlê Walle, who was culturaly Sylvin.

Climate

Abbotswold has a yearly average temperature of 24°C (75°F), with its average temperature during the summer being a warm 28°C (82°F) and its average temperature during the winter being a cool 20°C (68°F). Abbotswold receives an average of 176 cm/y (69 in/y) of precipitation, most of which comes in the form of rain during the fall. Abbotswold covers an area of nearly 6 km² (2 mi²), and an average elevation of 3238 m (10623 ft) above sea level.

Overview

Abbotswold was founded durring the late 13th century in fall of the year 1195, by Gêlê Walle. The establishment of Abbotswold was somewhat plagued by a lack of willing colonists, leading to Gêlê Walle electing to pay people to resettle in Abbotswold.

Abbotswold was built using the conventions of Sylvin durring the late 13th century. Naturaly, all settlmentss have their own look to them, and Abbotswold is no diffrent. The town's buildings feature waddle and daub construction with good timber frames and a stone foundation protected by thatched or shingled rooves. Most buildings with second floors are built in such a way as to overhang into the streets on the upper floors for more space, as building size seems to be the primary indicator of wealth within the community. Most buildings are not decorated with any integral features, but instead use ivy, flowers, and other natural elements in planters of on trellices to breathe life into the structure they grow upon.

Abbotswold is buildings are arranged arrounded highly ordered system of crampt baked earthen streets which form octogonal paterns, allowing the incides of the octagons to be common grounds for the buildings on the edges, be it for parkland, yardspace, plazas, or markets. The town lacks any defencive features, though certainly constructing even a simple fence or digging a ditch is at the forefront of the 's mind. At least, one would hope so.

Abbotswold has the unmistakable air of a town on its last legs. Everything is a bit slipshod and ramshackle. Everyone is at work, or drinking. No one has anything in their eyes other than fear and despair. Whatever industry once fueled Abbotswold ’s existence has dried up and the town is drifting down the stream of history as it dries up.

Civic Infrastructure

Abbotswold has an Office of Civil Groundskeeping, which works to enforce local ordinances relating to the construction and upkeep up of all plant life, water features, and other natural decorations within Abbotswold. They are also responsible for the maintenance of these features. Notably, the OCG is not responsible for Abbotswold's parks.

Abbotswold has an Office of Civil Vicary, which is responsible for providing a livelyhood for all officialy recognised religious figures within Abbotswold.

Abbotswold has a Gravedigger's Guild, which is responsible for collecting the dead and laying them to rest according to all applicable laws and religious customs.

Abbotswold has a Highwayman's Guild, which is tasked with maintaining the roads and highways leading into town as well as keeping them safe for travelers.

Abbotswold has a Hall of Slayers, which is tasked with maintaining the roads and highways leading into town as well as keeping them safe for travelers.

Abbotswold has a monistary of an order of Civil Monks, who provide divine-related services to the general public and maintain Abbotswold's public wards, blessings, and other arcane systems.

Abbotswold has an Theological Academy which trains clergy in various arcane and theological topics required for their occupations.

Abbotswold has a Parks and Recreation Department, which is responsible for the construction, management, and usage rights for all of its parks and parklands. They are not to be confused with the Office of Civil Groundskeeping as they do not hold authority over nor responsibility for Abbotswold's natural decorations nor waterways.

Abbotswold has a public schooling program overseen by the Hall of Sages who has the responsibility of ensuring access to affordable high-quality education in all basic classes (Reading, Writing, Mathmatics, General Sciences, General Arcana, and Social Education) is made available to all citizens.

Abbotswold has a public septic system, which allows its citizens to have indoor bathrooms. The septic system is overseen by the League of Sewerkeepers, who posses the legal authority to enforce all laws relating to the septic system, and are also tasked with its maintenance and upkeep.

Cultural Notes

Life is hard in Abbotswold. Its people are impoverished compared to their peers elsewhere. Something is making the locals stay, however, whether fear of the alternative, hope for a better future, or a stubborn attachment to their ancestral lands. Whatver the reason, living in this harsh area for generations has made the people of Abbotswold a notably resourceful and hearty people.

Abbotswold's chapel was built using a different architectural style from the rest of the town. The style used is which made use of the classical orders and mathematically precise ratios of height and width combined with a desire for symmetry, proportion, and harmony. It used columns, pediments, arches and domes are imaginatively in buildings of all types. Decorative features were seen as largely unnecessary as the sheer beauty of the structure itself was often close to art. However, many buildings with large ceiling spaces had their ceilings decorated with elaborate paintings, simply because the large flat spaces could feel wasted.

Due to the actions of local Kami, spring is recurring in Abbotswold.

The Mole near Abbotswold are known to be quite timid.

Abbotswold's citizens partake in a curious ritual relating to their local kami. It takes place in winter and involves bloodletting to channel Wild Magic energies of tier 3 via recitation of poetic epics.

Economy

The following information was obtained via the Imperial Census Bureau as part of the Eyom Economic Outreach Program. It differs from Standard Imperial censuses in that many of Tom's citizens, regardless of culture, work in more than one occupation or hold more than a single job. The Imperial Census Bureau has ruled that a job is a job, hence, the intigers within the data presented here can count an individual more than once.

Abbotswold Census Data: Year 2000

453 of Abbotswold's population work within a Foundational Occupation.

• 27 work in Agriculture
• 100 work as Craftsmen
• 35 work as Merchants
• 78 work as Service Workers
• 48 work as General Laborers
• 16 work as Skilled Laborers
• 63 work as Civil Servants
• 40 work in Cottage Industries
• 23 work as Artists
• 23 work in Produce Industries

886 of Abbotswold's population do not work in a formal occupation, but do contribute to the local economy. 100 (7%) are noncontributers.

Points of Interest

Due to a magical anomaly, Abbotswold is directly accessible from a nearby river, despite the lack of a physical connection between the town's pond and the river.

POI

History

In time immemorial, reportedly some time during the late 2nd century the Kami spared the town from the rampage of a legendary monster. One of Abbotswold's local festivals commemorates this miracle.

History