Fort Stretford (/stretford/ [Translation Unavailable]) is a subtropical Large City located in the Cosea Provence of the Hobben.
The name Fort Stretford is derived from the Sylvin language, as Fort Stretford was founded by Dyèqtêpí Winterburn Griffin, who was culturaly Sylvin.
Climate
Fort Stretford has a yearly average temperature of 25°C (77°F), with its average temperature during the summer being a warm 30°C (86°F) and its average temperature during the winter being a pleasant 21°C (69°F). Fort Stretford receives an average of 296 cm/y (116 in/y) of precipitation, most of which comes in the form of rain during the summer. Fort Stretford covers an area of nearly 237 km2 (94 mi2), and an average elevation of 976 m (3202 ft) above sea level.
Overview
Fort Stretford was founded durring the early 13th century in winter of the year 1205, by Dyèqtêpí Winterburn Griffin. The establishment of Fort Stretford was plagued by a lack of willing colonists. After attempts to pay people to resettle failed Dyèqtêpí Winterburn Griffin struck deals with nearby nations and communities to establish Fort Stretford as a prison colony.
Fort Stretford was built using the conventions of Sylvin durring the early 13th century. Naturaly, all settlmentss have their own look to them, and Fort Stretford is no diffrent. The city's buildings feature masoned stone construction which prominantly features pointed arches, pointed ribbed vault cielings, flying buttress', and window tracery all of which share a simmilar gemoetetic patern halfway between organic and inorganic in design formaing a very distinct aesthetically integrated style. BUildings tend to reach for the havens, and more expencive homes are easily identified by their floor count as well as the addition of decorative features intigrated into the building's design such as statues, gargoyals, and embelished joinery.
Fort Stretford is buildings are grouped arround an odd layout of broad paverstone streets, which seems to be based on an overlapping squair patern such that there are small squares at the cornor of every bigger square. Sometimes buildings exist in the smaller squaires, other times they are open spaces, or occupied by temporary structures. The city has a defencive wall made from querried stone. The wall is equipped with a full set of battlments but the nature of its construction methodology leaves it somewhat vulnerable to siege equipment. That said, the city is well defended against anything short of an army. Fort Stretford's cost-cutting-focused defences 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 city as needed.
A look around Fort Stretford gives you an uneasy feeling. Everything is just a little too worn down, a little too dirty, or both. No one makes eye contact. Kids play quietly, but happily. Occasionally a passerby glances at you out of the corner of their eye, staring jsut long enough for it to be uncomfortable. Beneath this surface, the people of Fort Stretford can be overheard having academic discussions, as well as talking about scholarly subjects in general. It’s quite clear Fort Stretford places a lot of value on education and being a learned individual.
Civic Infrastructure
Fort Stretford possesses a city-wide Aethary Link which provides Aethary access anywhere within its metropolitan. This allows citizens who can afford the relevant devices access in their places of work, and rarely homes.
Fort Stretford has an animal control department which works to enforce local ordinances relating to the control, impoundment, and disposition of animals.
Fort Stretford 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 Fort Stretford. They are also responsible for the maintenance of these features. Notably, the OCG is not responsible for Fort Stretford's parks.
Fort Stretford has an Office of Civil Vicary, which is responsible for providing a livelyhood for all officialy recognised religious figures within Fort Stretford.
Fort Stretford has a government-funded child care program, overseen by the local Department of Nursemaids, which is responsible for providing childcare to working-class citizens according to local ordinances.
Fort Stretford 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.
Fort Stretford has a Guild of Nurses, which is tasked with caring for the elderly and infirm in accordance with local ordinances, religious values, and customs.
Fort Stretford has a Department of Firefighters, which is responsible for organizing fire fighting efforts during a fire and enforcing local ordinances relating to fire safety.
Fort Stretford 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.
Fort Stretford 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.
Fort Stretford has a monistary of an order of Civil Monks, who provide divine-related services to the general public and maintain Fort Stretford's public wards, blessings, and other arcane systems.
Fort Stretford has an Arts Academy which provides higher education in many fields including math, language arts, philosophy, engineering, and other such disciplines.
Fort Stretford possesses a Galvanic Power Grid, which brings galvanic current to most if not all buildings in town, and permits a great many consumer goods to function within the Large City. Fort Stretford's grid is powered by a god's will and kindness.
Fort Stretford possesses an older civil lighting system consisting of street lamps. In spite of the Galvanic Grid, these lights continue to use their old fule sources to provide nighttime illumination to all city streets.
Fort Stretford has a first rate hospital which caters to anyone in need of long term medical care.
Fort Stretford has a library, which keeps a large collection of books, scrolls, and archives all manner of physical items. While not open to the public, the librarians and scholars employed by the library will assist anyone with their research needs, and wealthy individuals can purchase membership to access the library's materials themselves. In spite of being generally closed to the public, the library has a room with several Aether Linked devices available to the public during business hours.
Fort Stretford 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 Fort Stretford's natural decorations nor waterways.
Fort Stretford has a Guild of Roadworkers, who are responsible for maintaining the roadways and public paths within town. They also have the duty of enforcing all civil laws relating to the roadways.
Fort Stretford 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.
Fort Stretford 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.
Fort Stretford is home to a University which provides higher education in a variety of fields, and also serves as a research institute for those same fields.
Cultural Notes
Fort Stretford's bank was built using a different architectural style from the rest of the town. The style used is admittedly strange and non-linear style rooted in defiance of symmetrical shapes. It championed the creation of buildings with a unique visual appearance. the structural norms of classic buildings and deforms or moves away from elementary architectural principles. By including non-linear designs processed into its buildings and favoring fragmentation, this style expressed a form of controlled chaos. Its buildings appear out-of-the-ordinary, draw the eye in immediately and sometimes create a feeling of strangeness. These distorted shapes and structure are not reserved to the building’s outer facade, they destabilize interior elements too, favoring minimalism and play on people’s perceptions by injecting a futuristic touch.
In Fort Stretford most nights are accompanied by colorful ribbons of light in the sky.
The Dinosaur, Ceratosaurus near Fort Stretford are known to be almost tame, such that they can be put to domestic use.
Fort Stretford's citizens partake in a curious ritual relating to their local kami. It takes place in summer and involves gestures to channel Chronomancy energies of tier 1 via divine sermons.
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.
Agriculture
Dairy Farmers: 107
Farmers: 153
Farm Laborer: 291
Hunters: 197
Milk Maids: 138
Ranchers: 73
Ranch Hands: 156
Shepherds: 138
Farmland: 222278 m2
Cattle and Similar Creatures: 13857
Poultry: 166293
Swine: 11086
Sheep: 554
Goats: 110
Horses, Mounts, and Beasts of Burden: 5543
Craftsmen
Arms and Toolmakers: 115
Blacksmiths: 128
Bookbinders: 72
Buckle-makers: 74
Cabinetmakers: 125
Candlemakers: 167
Carpenters: 160
Clothmakers: 158
Coach and Harness Makers: 58
Coopers: 142
Copper, Brass, Tin, Zinc, and Lead Workers: 79
Copyists: 52
Cutlers: 47
Fabricworkers: 131
Farrier: 299
Furriers: 35
Glassworkers: 184
Gunsmiths: 130
Harness-Makers: 52
Hatters: 111
Hosiery Workers: 39
Jewelers: 63
Leatherwrights: 135
Locksmiths: 53
Matchstick makers: 80
Musical Instrument Makers: 82
Painters, Structures and Fixtures: 69
Paper Workers: 81
Plasterers: 71
Pursemakers: 90
Roofers: 57
Ropemakers: 53
Rugmakers: 53
Saddlers: 104
Scabbardmakers: 111
Scalemakers: 58
Scientific, Surgical, and Optical Instrument Makers: 35
Sculptors, Structures and Fixtures: 52
Shoemakers: 53
Soap and Tallow Workers: 175
Tailors: 335
Tanners: 68
Upholsterers: 81
Watchmakers: 73
Weavers: 191
Whitesmiths: 43
Merchants
Adventuring Goods Retellers: 38
Arcana Sellers: 37
Beer-Sellers: 73
Booksellers: 83
Butchers: 135
Chandlers: 138
Chicken Butchers: 136
Entrepreneurs: 58
Fine Clothiers: 131
Fishmongers: 149
Florists: 34
Potion Sellers: 90
Resellers: 277
Spice Merchants: 76
Wine-sellers: 115
Wheelwright: 85
Woodsellers: 54
Service workers
Bakers: 277
Barbers: 235
Coachmen: 75
Cooks: 241
Doctors: 111
Gamekeepers: 83
Grooms: 46
Hairdressers: 205
Healers: 133
Housekeepers: 178
Housemaids: 307
House Stewards: 178
Inns: 52
Laundry maids: 106
Maidservants: 184
Nursery Maids: 104
Pastrycooks: 205
Restaurateur: 230
Tavern Keepers: 213
Specialized Laborer
Ashworkers: 75
Bleachers: 50
Chemical Workers: 31
Coal Heavers: 115
In-Town Couriers: 123
Long Haul Couriers: 110
Dockyard Workers: 110
Gas Workers: 27
Hay Merchants: 46
Leech Collectors: 133
Millers: 117
Miners: 125
Oilmen and Polishers: 82
Postmen: 123
Pure Finder: 73
Skinners: 158
Sugar Refiners: 31
Tosher: 86
Warehousemen: 213
Watercarriers: 121
Watermen, Bargemen, etc.: 153
Skilled Laborers
Accountants: 71
Alchemist: 77
Clerk: 108
Dentists: 57
Educators: 147
Engineers: 80
Gardeners: 57
Mages: 42
Plumbers: 56
Pharmacist: 65
Professors: 24
Scientists: 39
Wizards: 24
Civil Servants
Adventurers: 54
Bankers: 75
Civil Clerks: 131
Civic Iudex: 60
Consultants: 36
Exorcist: 120
Fixers: 67
Kami Clerk: 101
Landlords: 109
Lawyers: 64
Legend Keepers: 93
Militia Officers: 426
Monks, Monastic: 173
Monks, Civic: 184
Historian, Oral: 113
Historian, Textual: 64
Policemen, Sheriffs, etc.: 128
Priests: 197
Rangers: 73
Rat Catchers: 82
Scholars: 85
Spiritualist: 106
Slayers: 31
Storytellers: 187
Military Officers: 184
Cottage Industries
Brewers: 167
Comfort Services: 213
Enchanters: 61
Herbalists: 60
Jaminators: 191
Needleworkers: 178
Potters: 87
Preserve Makers: 167
Quilters: 76
Seamsters: 291
Spinners: 167
Tinker: 60
Weaver: 142
Artists
Actors: 57
Architects: 21
Bards: 87
Costumers: 33
Dancers: 65
Drafters: 35
Engravers: 45
Fine Furniture Carpenters: 27
Glaziers: 57
Inlayers: 53
Musicians: 167
Painters, Art: 28
Playwrights: 58
Sculptors, Art: 48
Wood Carvers: 221
Writers: 184
Produce Industries
Butter Churners: 167
Canners: 173
Cheesmakers: 205
Ice Merchants: 24
Millers: 108
Picklers: 89
Smokers: 67
Stockmakers: 65
Tobacconists: 90
Tallowmakers: 120
20688 of Fort Stretford's population work within a Foundational Occupation.
1146 work in Agriculture
4624 work as Craftsmen
1709 work as Merchants
3163 work as Service Workers
2102 work as General Laborers
847 work as Skilled Laborers
2943 work as Civil Servants
1860 work in Cottage Industries
1186 work as Artists
1108 work in Produce Industries
33635 of Fort Stretford's population do not work in a formal occupation, but do contribute to the local economy. 1108 (2%) are noncontributers.
Points of Interest
The center of Fort Stretford's town square was built around an ancient standing stone.
POI
History
Fort Stretford used to be much richer, but something happened in the last 5 years to crush its source of prosperity. Different factions of the community might be trying to grasp at the remaining dregs of wealth, others might try to restart the failed industry, and some might look for a new livelihood. Any group or entity thought responsible for the collapse is likely to be treated very harshly, and some locals might find profit in shifting the blame to their enemies.
The the a stattuette of Abjuration, an a stattuette imbued with potent amounts of Abjuration energies was created near Fort Stretford by in time immemorial, reportedly some time during the late 2nd century.