Berkham

Berkham (/berkham / [Translation Unavailable]) is a subtropical Town located in Víhpi̊kùtme County, Wowoufada Kingdom, within the Sylvanian Empire.

The name Berkham is derived from the Sylvin language, as Berkham was founded by Priocetus Lock, who was culturaly Sylvin.

Climate

Berkham has a yearly average temperature of 23°C (73°F), with its average temperature during the summer being a warm 29°C (84°F) and its average temperature during the winter being a cool 18°C (64°F). Berkham receives an average of 69 cm/y (27 in/y) of precipitation, most of which comes in the form of rain during the spring. Berkham covers an area of nearly 5 km² (2 mi²), and an average elevation of 10866 m (-7300 ft) above sea level.

Overview

Berkham was founded durring the late 15th century in fall of the year 1371, by Priocetus Lock. The establishment of Berkham suffered from many setbacks, delays, and obsticles, most notably a group of Berkham which required millitary assistance exterminate before the community could finish being built.

Berkham was built using the conventions of Sylvin durring the late 15th century. Naturaly, all settlmentss have their own look to them, and Berkham 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.

Berkham is is constructed arround a series of restrictive baked earthen mainstreets which form concentric circles, with smaller strait roads linking the circiles to each other at varrious points. The town is protected by a humble stone fence which is tall enough to provide adiquite cover for defenders to fire from, but no more than that. Berkham 's peasent-grade are in an unremarkable state. To some, this is the ideal sate for defences to be in. In need of absoutly nothing, and ready to serve the town as needed.

Berkham 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 Berkham ’s existence has dried up and the town is drifting down the stream of history as it dries up.

Civic Infrastructure

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

Berkham 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.

Berkham 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.

Berkham 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.

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

Berkham possesses an older civil lighting system consisting of street lamps. These lights provide nighttime illumination to most city streets.

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

Berkham 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.

Berkham 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

Religious leaders are influential in almost any community, but in Berkham they make up the final authorities. It may be an explicit theocracy, with rule by the clerics of a particular faith, or a temple might be so important and powerful that the official leaders are helpless to resist its will. The locals can be expected to be loyal adherents to the faith, or else the less pious majority is deeply intimidated by the religion’s believers.

Berkham 's chapel 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.

In Berkham there is no wind.

The Bonewrought Willow near Berkham are known to be quite timid.

Berkham 's citizens partake in a curious ritual relating to their local kami. It takes place in autumn and involves performance art to channel Necromancy 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.

Berkham Census Data: Year 2000

399 of Berkham 's population work within a Foundational Occupation.

• 26 work in Agriculture
• 88 work as Craftsmen
• 31 work as Merchants
• 65 work as Service Workers
• 37 work as General Laborers
• 12 work as Skilled Laborers
• 61 work as Civil Servants
• 39 work in Cottage Industries
• 20 work as Artists
• 20 work in Produce Industries

815 of Berkham 's population do not work in a formal occupation, but do contribute to the local economy. 105 (8%) are noncontributers.

Points of Interest

The center of Berkham 's town square was built around an ancient standing stone.

POI

History

In time immemorial, reportedly some time during the early 2nd century Tarn Minong began to boil, and released a thick toxic cloud from beneath its waters which brought great calamity to the entire nation, killing every person and animal in its path which could not escape the cloud. Oddly, the plants of the region flourished in the years after the disaster. The disaster brought an end to people, livestock, and buildings. The disaster is referred to as the Trepidation Wind.

History