Ardum

Ardum (/ardum/ [Translation Unavailable]) is a subtropical Town located in Windkeep Dutchy, Loqulate Kingdom, within the Sylvanian Empire.

The name Ardum is derived from the Sylvin language, as Ardum was founded by Glega Harmon, who was culturaly Sylvin.

Climate

Ardum has a yearly average temperature of 16°C (60°F), with its average temperature during the summer being a pleasant 25°C (77°F) and its average temperature during the winter being a cold 8°C (46°F). Ardum receives an average of 219 cm/y (86 in/y) of precipitation, most of which comes in the form of rain during the fall. Ardum covers an area of nearly 6 km² (2 mi²), and an average elevation of 7134 m (-19544 ft) above sea level.

Overview

Ardum was founded durring the early 13th century in summer of the year 1201, by Glega Harmon. The establishment of the new community went well, though many minor issues had to be solved as time went on. This was enough to delay construction and push back the formal opening ceramony, leading to some embarisment for Glega Harmon.

Ardum was built using the conventions of Sylvin durring the early 13th century. Naturaly, all settlmentss have their own look to them, and Ardum is no diffrent. The town's buildings feature plaster covered brickwork used to form structures with an emphasis on symmetry, proportion, geometry and the regularity of parts. Orderly arrangements of columns, pilasters and lintels, as well as the use of semicircular arches, hemispherical domes, niches and aediculae can be found everywhere such that only size of building and yard can be used to measure the general prosparity of a given building's owners due to a general wealthy feeling the style gives off.

Ardum is buildings folow an organic layout of spacious baked earthen streets whihch gives the town a shape simmilar to a tree, if one views its streets from above. The town sits comfortably behind a palisade wall complete with a timber gatehouse and battlments. Unfortuantly, these timber-based walls are in extreem disrepair, so much so that one cannot tell if they are decaying from a lack of mantance or damage incured.

A look around Ardum makes it abundantly clear the town suffered something horrible some time ago. It’s a quiet town filled with closed scriptoriums, people quietly yet dejectedly reading in isolated places around town, and the occasional book laying in a heap of garbage.

Civic Infrastructure

Ardum 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 Ardum. They are also responsible for the maintenance of these features. Notably, the OCG is not responsible for Ardum's parks.

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

Ardum 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.

Ardum 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.

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

Ardum 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 Ardum's natural decorations nor waterways.

Ardum 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.

Ardum 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

There’s a relatively new religion in Ardum which is rapidly gaining power. It might be a sectarian offshoot of a major faith, the unique product of a new prophet, or an outside faith backed by wealthy and powerful foreign supporters. Depending on the demands made on believers, the new faith may be a matter of concern only to the existing clergy, or it might be a major flashpoint for conflict in the community.

Ardum's bank was built using a different architectural style from the rest of the town. The style used has a sleek, linear appearance with stylized, often geometric ornamentation. The primary facade of its buildings often featured a series of set backs that create a stepped outline. Low-relief decorative panels can be found at entrances, around windows, along roof edges or as string courses. It was best known for its use of smooth finish building materials such as stucco, concrete block, glazed brick or mosaic tile. Decorative details can incorporate various artistic or exotic motifs to suit the building's function or the architect's whim. Chevrons, zigzags, and other geometrical motifs are common forms of ornament.

Due to the actions of local Kami, winter is skipped in Ardum.

The Necrocraft near Ardum are known to be a mutant strain of the creature.

Ardum's citizens partake in a curious ritual relating to their local kami. It takes place in summer and involves sacrificing an animal to channel Abjuration energies of tier 2 via chanting.

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.

Ardum Census Data: Year 2000

471 of Ardum's population work within a Foundational Occupation.

• 29 work in Agriculture
• 103 work as Craftsmen
• 40 work as Merchants
• 73 work as Service Workers
• 47 work as General Laborers
• 17 work as Skilled Laborers
• 73 work as Civil Servants
• 43 work in Cottage Industries
• 21 work as Artists
• 25 work in Produce Industries

971 of Ardum's population do not work in a formal occupation, but do contribute to the local economy. 29 (2%) are noncontributers.

Points of Interest

Ardum makes use of canals for some of its streets. Locals often fish in the canals.

POI

History

The the a mandolin of Conjuration, an a mandolin imbued with potent amounts of Conjuration energies was created in Ardpore by in time immemorial, reportedly some time during the early 2nd century.

History