Bellbarrow

Bellbarrow (/bellbarrow/ [Translation Unavailable]) is a subtropical Small Town located in Cliffville Dutchy, Nuea Kingdom, within the Sylvanian Empire.

The name Bellbarrow is derived from the Sylvin language, as Bellbarrow was founded by Tsats Sumner, who was culturaly Sylvin.

Climate

Bellbarrow has a yearly average temperature of 17°C (62°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 9°C (48°F). Bellbarrow receives an average of 246 cm/y (96 in/y) of precipitation, most of which comes in the form of rain during the summer. Bellbarrow covers an area of nearly 4 km² (1 mi²), and an average elevation of 4472 m (14671 ft) above sea level.

Overview

Bellbarrow was founded durring the late 18th century in early winter of the year 1670, by Tsats Sumner. The establishment of Bellbarrow was only bairly constructed. The sheer number of problems with its founding were enough to make several of the backers funding Bellbarrow's construction back out of the project. Tsats Sumner pushed on reguardles, and Bellbarrow was finished, but starts off as a terible place to live.

Bellbarrow was built using the conventions of Sylvin durring the late 18th century. Naturaly, all settlmentss have their own look to them, and Bellbarrow is no diffrent. The town's buildings feature timber framed wooden shiethed or brick construction, which gives form to a very formalized, rational, expence effishent arcatectural style based on strictly symmetrical designs which universaly feature pitched roofs, shutters, and the occasional column or pilaster for a decorative touch.

Bellbarrow is buildings are arranged arrounded highly ordered system of premissive carved bedrock 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 resides behind a palisade wall complete with battlments, a moat, and timber gatehouses with drawbridges. Bellbarrow's robustly designed timber walls has sufferd soem light damage, reducing its function a little in some spots, but could almsot certainly preform as expected... Though some of the worse spots could lead to the loss of defenders lives if attackers identified the weaknesses ahead of time.

Bellbarrow 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 Bellbarrow ’s existence has dried up and the town is drifting down the stream of history as it dries up. On top of this is an unmistakable feeling that Bellbarrow is in this condition because there is something terribly wrong with the town. Maybe it’s the way fog blankets the ground, but only in the connors of places. Maybe it’s the vermin scuttling between shadows in the corner of your eyes. Perhaps it’s the overcast sky which seemed to creep out of nowhere, or the distant howling of wolves. Maybe it’s all of those things together, or perhaps it's the way these elements combine which makes you worry someone might stab you in a dark ally for your boots. It’s not filthy, or dark, but the smiles seem strained, the locals seem to glare daggers in eachothers backs a little too much, and everyone is armed at all times. You may want to keep an eye on your valuables, and make sure you don’t wind up in any position of power. Regardless, you do not feel it would be wise to remain in Bellbarrow long.

Civic Infrastructure

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

Bellbarrow 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.

Bellbarrow has a Department of Firefighters, which is responsible for organizing fire fighting efforts during a fire and enforcing local ordinances relating to fire safety.

Bellbarrow 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.

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

Bellbarrow has a Parks and Recreation Department, which is responsible for the construction, management, and usage rights for all of its parks and parklands.

Bellbarrow 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.

Cultural Notes

Bellbarrow's town hall was built using a different architectural style from the rest of the town. The style used is based upon new and innovative technologies of construction and the idea that form should follow function. It was an embrace of minimalism and a rejection of ornament. The style became characterized by an emphasis on volume, asymmetrical compositions, and minimal ornamentation..

In Bellbarrow there is always just enough rain to be annoying.

The Mole near Bellbarrow are known to be almost tame, such that they can be put to domestic use.

Bellbarrow's citizens partake in a curious ritual relating to their local kami. It takes place in autumn and involves gestures to channel Transmutation energies of tier 2 via mimery.

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.

Bellbarrow Census Data: Year 2000

288 of Bellbarrow's population work within a Foundational Occupation.

• 20 work in Agriculture
• 61 work as Craftsmen
• 20 work as Merchants
• 46 work as Service Workers
• 27 work as General Laborers
• 10 work as Skilled Laborers
• 49 work as Civil Servants
• 27 work in Cottage Industries
• 13 work as Artists
• 15 work in Produce Industries

618 of Bellbarrow's population do not work in a formal occupation, but do contribute to the local economy. 78 (8%) are noncontributers.

Points of Interest

Bellbarrow is remarkably well-fortified for a site of its size and role. Tall, stout walls, strong points inside the community, concentric defenses, a strategic terrain location, or a large body of standing troops might be present. Some threat is thought to exist that makes maintaining this fortification worthwhile, though it may come at a dear cost to the locals. The community’s suzerain may be uncomfortable with these defenses, as they could just as easily be used to defy the ruler.

Bellbarrow's roads were poorly made when first laid. Rather than repairing them correctly, a series of new roads was laid atop the old, leading to the streets of modern Bellbarrow suffering from potholes, cracking, and even sinkholes. The locals often repair the road by putting down wooden decking.

POI

History

In time immemorial, reportedly some time during the early 2nd century after an anomalously snowy winter, runoff from snow-melt caused Tarn Bitan to overflow its banks and spill into Creek Latchraine. The resulting flood was isolated to the area around Bellbarrow, which was swallowed by the waters for several days. Bellbarrow lost 225 people, 331 livestock, and 88 buildings in the disaster. The disaster is remembered as the Horror Drownings.

History