Groveford

Groveford (/groveford/ [Translation Unavailable]) is a temperate Large Town located in Dogyo County, Yutate County, within the Kingdom of Helsteria.

The name Groveford is derived from the Sylvin language, as Groveford was founded by Harroud Allcock, who was culturaly Sylvin.

Climate

Groveford has a yearly average temperature of 28°C (82°F), with its average temperature during the summer being a hot 33°C (91°F) and its average temperature during the winter being a pleasant 24°C (75°F). Groveford receives an average of 144 cm/y (56 in/y) of precipitation, most of which comes in the form of rain during the spring. Groveford covers an area of nearly 6 km² (2 mi²), and an average elevation of 2984 m (9790 ft) above sea level.

Overview

Groveford was founded durring the late 11th century, by Harroud Allcock. 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 Harroud Allcock.

Groveford was built using the conventions of Sylvin durring the late 11th century. Naturaly, all settlmentss have their own look to them, and Groveford 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.

Groveford is buildings are arranged arround a network of crampt flagstone streets which form a diamond shaped grid, where each diamond verries in size given the proximity of the paralell streets forming each section. The ocasional smaller diamond has been used to construct a park, plaza, and other communal structures. The town sits behind a stone-renforced palisade wall, with stone gatehouses and timber drawbridges for their trench. The town's would-be-castle fortifications are visibly old, but also obviously maintained semi-regularly. Its likly the local malishia or garrison are tasked with ocasional mantance of the towns defences.

The first thing you notice about Groveford is the large sign at the entrance welcoming you to their humble town. Children come up to you and say hi, some asking if you’ve fought any big monsters, and others just zipping away after their hello. The adults are much the same. By the time you’ve made it a significant way into the town you’ve been invited to a tavern for a pint to drink in exchange for news of the world. You’ve also had no less than three older women give you a sweetroll and direct your attention to their still unmarried children. It would be creepy if it wasn't so sincere.

Civic Infrastructure

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

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

Groveford 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.

Groveford 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.

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

Groveford 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 Town. Groveford's grid is powered by hydrogalvanic generators.

Groveford 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.

Groveford has a first rate hospital which caters to anyone in need of long term medical care.

Groveford 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 Groveford's natural decorations nor waterways.

Groveford 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.

Groveford 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

The locals have cut a deal with some unspeakable entity, trading some form of tribute (benign of horrific) in exchange for the being’s forbearance or assistance. Outsiders may be ignorant of the bargain, or they may know that the community is in thrall but be too fearful of its master to take action against them. The creature likely serves as a protector as well as a tyrant, so the locals may be content with the deal even if it doesn’t offer any further inducement or aid.

Groveford's chapel was built using a different architectural style from the rest of the town. The style used is characterized by their massive, monolithic and 'blocky' appearance with a rigid geometric style. It was best known for its rough, unfinished surfaces, unusual shapes, heavy-looking materials, straight lines, and small windows. Modular elements were often used to form masses representing specific functional zones, grouped into a unified whole.

In Groveford it is impossible to directly or indirectly lie.

The Snake, Constrictor (Anaconda) near Groveford are known to be more aggressive than normal.

Groveford's citizens partake in a curious ritual relating to their local kami. It takes place in summer and involves destroying a prepared ritual vessel to channel Invocation energies of tier 3 via speaking in tongues.

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.

Groveford Census Data: Year 2000

513 of Groveford's population work within a Foundational Occupation.

• 29 work in Agriculture
• 120 work as Craftsmen
• 41 work as Merchants
• 83 work as Service Workers
• 52 work as General Laborers
• 18 work as Skilled Laborers
• 76 work as Civil Servants
• 46 work in Cottage Industries
• 23 work as Artists
• 25 work in Produce Industries

1033 of Groveford's population do not work in a formal occupation, but do contribute to the local economy. 31 (2%) are noncontributers.

Points of Interest

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

POI

History

In time immemorial, reportedly some time during the late 2nd century Groveford was rocked by a string of powerful winter storms. The worst of the disaster struck The storm coated everything in a thick layer of ice and freezing countless animals, plants, and people to death. Groveford lost 197 people, and 328 livestock in the disaster.. The disaster is remembered as the Anguish Screams, after the sounds of the winds.

History