Birchbrook

Birchbrook (/birchbrook/ [Translation Unavailable]) is a subtropical Town located in Newrock Dutchy, Duytea Kingdom, within the Sylvanian Empire.

The name Birchbrook is derived from the Sylvin language, as Birchbrook was founded by Êyèbëm Tittle, who was culturaly Sylvin.

Climate

Birchbrook has a yearly average temperature of 14°C (57°F), with its average temperature during the summer being a warm 26°C (78°F) and its average temperature during the winter being a cold 2°C (35°F). Birchbrook receives an average of 227 cm/y (89 in/y) of precipitation, most of which comes in the form of snow during the pleasantly short winter months. Birchbrook covers an area of nearly 5 km² (2 mi²), and an average elevation of 3182 m (10439 ft) above sea level.

Overview

Birchbrook was founded durring the late 13th century in summer of the year 1174, by Êyèbëm Tittle. The establishment of Birchbrook suffered from several major issues, resulting in the need to develop many solutions to basic problems. Problems such as a lack of fresh water, logistical support, poor quality tools, and the odd monster or two. Howeaver, these were overcome in time.

Birchbrook was built using the conventions of Sylvin durring the late 13th century. Naturaly, all settlmentss have their own look to them, and Birchbrook is no diffrent. The town's buildings feature delicute timber framework hidden behind layer upon layer of finly ground plaster bleached to an almost glossy white sheen, with green clay tiled roofs and decorative brass-leafed trim. Even the smallest, poorest looking structures appear to be expencive thanks to the extreem elegence of the organic shapes and paterns going into their lofty, spire-y, vagly gothic designs. The more well off folks live in identicle homes, save for even shiner trim and a more whimsical appearance to their structures flowing forms.

Birchbrook is buildings are arranged arrounded a highly ordered system of premissive packed earth streets which form triangular 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 is protected by a well-crafted cobblestone fence tall enough to provide adiquite cover for defenders to fire from, but no more than that. Unfortuantly, these frontieer-style defences are in extreem disrepair, so much so that one cannot tell if they are decaying from a lack of mantance or damage incured.

Birchbrook has a very calm atmosphere. People can be seen relaxing, scocilizing, and going about all manner of business other than the daily grind. Men, women, children, all can be seen enjoying life in a laid-back way in the many parks which line Birchbrook’s streets. Yet, deep down, you know this atmosphere is a carefully created illusion. You can see the ocasional seam in their tapestry. You’re not sure what has them doing their best to act so carefree, but act carefree they do.

Civic Infrastructure

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

Birchbrook 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.

Birchbrook 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.

Birchbrook 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.

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

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

Birchbrook 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

Birchbrook'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.

In Birchbrook hail is always enormous, yet harmlessly plinks off people, creatures, and structures.

The Amoeba Swarm near Birchbrook are known to be almost tame, such that they can be put to domestic use.

Birchbrook's citizens partake in a curious ritual relating to their local kami. It takes place in spring and involves embarking on a group pilgrimage to channel Transmutation energies of tier 1 via recitation of scripture.

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.

Birchbrook Census Data: Year 2000

349 of Birchbrook's population work within a Foundational Occupation.

• 25 work in Agriculture
• 78 work as Craftsmen
• 24 work as Merchants
• 56 work as Service Workers
• 33 work as General Laborers
• 12 work as Skilled Laborers
• 50 work as Civil Servants
• 33 work in Cottage Industries
• 19 work as Artists
• 19 work in Produce Industries

737 of Birchbrook's population do not work in a formal occupation, but do contribute to the local economy. 94 (8%) are noncontributers.

Points of Interest

Birchbrook's is something of a geological and arcane anomaly, as neither physical nor magical law entirely explains its formation.

POI

History

Almost every community has some problem with bandits and highwaymen, but Birchbrook is seriously plagued with raiders. One or more groups of persistent plunderers are hitting the community repeatedly, and they lack the necessary resources to fend them off or protect all their holdings.

In time immemorial, reportedly some time during the early 2nd century, Birchbrook was attacked by soldiers from another nation, waging a greater campaign. The details of the conflict are hazy at best due to many conflicting accounts. What is known is Birchbrook lost 276 people, 366 livestock, and 24 buildings. The conflict ended after roughly 205, when members of Birchbrook's militia enacted an operation to recruit a specific noble. The operation was complicated by the enemy setting up an ambush. The conflict ended with an assault and siege on the production site, which ended in a stalemate for Birchbrook's forces. The war is remembered in legend by Birchbrook's bards, historians, and legend keepers.

History