Hackfall

Hackfall (/hackfall/ [Translation Unavailable]) is a subtropical Town located in Tstsdi̊qèv County, Hesan County, within the Kingdom of Helsteria.

The name Hackfall is derived from the Sylvin language, as Hackfall was founded by Shêlê Hadcock Bourne, who was culturaly Sylvin.

Climate

Hackfall 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). Hackfall receives an average of 144 cm/y (56 in/y) of precipitation, most of which comes in the form of rain during the spring. Hackfall covers an area of nearly 5 km² (2 mi²), and an average elevation of 2236 m (7335 ft) above sea level.

Overview

Hackfall was founded durring the early 13th century in spring of the year 1249, by Shêlê Hadcock Bourne. The establishment of Hackfall was plagued by a lack of willing colonists. After attempts to pay people to resettle failed Shêlê Hadcock Bourne struck deals with nearby nations and communities to establish Hackfall as a prison colony.

Hackfall was built using the conventions of Sylvin durring the early 13th century. Naturaly, all settlmentss have their own look to them, and Hackfall 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.

Hackfall is is constructed arround a series of premissive carved bedrock mainstreets which form concentric circles, with smaller strait roads linking the circiles to each other at varrious points. The town posesses a mighty albit amaturly crafted stone wall. It was built using querried stone blocks and posesses all of the standard defencive features, including a few watch towers. While it would last against a siege, the wall's outdated and simplistic construction method percludes the possability of Hackfall weathering a full scale bombardment durring a siege. Hackfall's budget focused millitary grade defenses are suffering from significent damage, so much so that examples can be pointed to no matter which section one might have within their line of site, and most of which render sections inoperable at present.

Hackfall 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 Hackfall ’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 Hackfall 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 Hackfall long.

Civic Infrastructure

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

Hackfall 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.

Hackfall has a Guild of Nurses, which is tasked with caring for the elderly and infirm in accordance with local ordinances, religious values, and customs.

Hackfall 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.

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

Hackfall has an Arts Academy which provides higher education in many fields including math, language arts, philosophy, engineering, and other such disciplines.

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

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

Hackfall 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.

Hackfall 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

Hackfall is home to a distinct subculture, who are either the majority here or have the dominant positions in the community. Architecture, local laws, and social customs are all tuned to suit them, and they may not be particularly forgiving or friendly to the major culture of the region. Communities that are not outright independent usually make an arm's-length submission to a local lord.

Hackfall's mayor's house was built using a different architectural style from the rest of the town. The style used is characterized by grandeur of scale, simplicity of geometric forms, dramatic use of columns, and a preference for blank walls. This design ethos extended to re-imagining earlier styles of structure to create them anew, with a similar overall look and feel to one another..

In Hackfall it is impossible to directly or indirectly lie.

The Skunk near Hackfall are known to be quite timid.

Hackfall's citizens partake in a curious ritual relating to their local kami. It takes place in spring and involves destroying a prepared ritual vessel to channel Conjuration energies of tier 3 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.

Hackfall Census Data: Year 2000

351 of Hackfall's population work within a Foundational Occupation.

• 23 work in Agriculture
• 75 work as Craftsmen
• 26 work as Merchants
• 60 work as Service Workers
• 34 work as General Laborers
• 12 work as Skilled Laborers
• 52 work as Civil Servants
• 33 work in Cottage Industries
• 17 work as Artists
• 19 work in Produce Industries

746 of Hackfall's population do not work in a formal occupation, but do contribute to the local economy. 69 (6%) are noncontributers.

Points of Interest

Hackfall is known for its unusual rock formations.

POI

History

In time immemorial, reportedly some time during the late 2nd century several years of heavy rains culminated in a peculiar disaster. A great hole opened up beneath Hackfall, swallowing large sections of the community. Hackfall lost 178 people, 246 livestock, and 39 buildings in the disaster. This disaster is often refereed to as The Terror Swallowing.

History