Lowbluff

Lowbluff (/lowbluff/ [Translation Unavailable]) is a subtropical Large Town located in Phhäbnrätÿ Hold, Odwea Kingdom, within the Sylvanian Empire.

The name Lowbluff is derived from the Sylvin language, as Lowbluff was founded by Trëgarî Hughes, who was culturaly Sylvin.

Climate

Lowbluff has a yearly average temperature of 13°C (55°F), with its average temperature during the summer being a warm 26°C (78°F) and its average temperature during the winter being a freezing 0°C (32°F). Lowbluff receives an average of 138 cm/y (54 in/y) of precipitation, most of which comes in the form of snow during the pleasantly short winter months. Lowbluff covers an area of nearly 6 km² (2 mi²), and an average elevation of 3838 m (12591 ft) above sea level.

Overview

Lowbluff was founded durring the early 13th century in summer of the year 1213, by Trëgarî Hughes. The establishment of Lowbluff was somewhat plagued by a lack of willing colonists, leading to Trëgarî Hughes electing to pay people to resettle in Lowbluff.

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

Lowbluff is buildings are arranged arrounded a highly ordered system of spacious cobblestone 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 has a fortified albit thin brick wall. The wall has most of the feeatures of a typical castle wall, just on a much smaller scale and and budget. Notably brick isn't a particuarly soild choice for resisting siege weapons. Lowbluff's wall wouldn't hinder a proper army, but it is more than sufishent for bandits and other small marauding groups. Lowbluff's monster and outlaw focused fortifications has sufferd soem light damage, reducing its function a little in some spots, but could almsot certainly preform as expected... Though some of the worse spots could lead to the loss of defenders lives if attackers identified the weaknesses ahead of time.

A look around Lowbluff has something terribly wrong with it. It’s impossible to put one’s finger on, but something is horribly wrong. Maybe it’s the way fog blankets the ground, but only in the connors of places. Maybe it’s the vermin scutteling 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 with the abundance of schools, libraries, and other academic structures. Locals can be overheard having academic discussions, as well as talking about scholarly subjects in general. It’s quite clear the town places a lot of value on education and being a learned individual. Regardless, you do not feel it would be wise to remain in Lowbluff long.

Civic Infrastructure

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

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

Lowbluff 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.

Lowbluff 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.

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

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

Lowbluff 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 Lowbluff's natural decorations nor waterways.

Lowbluff 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.

Lowbluff 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

Lowbluff's garrison 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 Lowbluff snow is warm to the touch and does not melt within city limits. Also it only happens during summer.

The Howler near Lowbluff are known to be more aggressive than normal.

Lowbluff's citizens partake in a curious ritual relating to their local kami. It takes place in summer and involves drinking to channel Abjuration energies of tier 1 via oratory performances.

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.

Lowbluff Census Data: Year 2000

484 of Lowbluff's population work within a Foundational Occupation.

• 30 work in Agriculture
• 107 work as Craftsmen
• 37 work as Merchants
• 77 work as Service Workers
• 51 work as General Laborers
• 19 work as Skilled Laborers
• 73 work as Civil Servants
• 42 work in Cottage Industries
• 22 work as Artists
• 26 work in Produce Industries

944 of Lowbluff's population do not work in a formal occupation, but do contribute to the local economy. 75 (5%) are noncontributers.

Points of Interest

Lowbluff is remarkably well-fortified for a site of its size and role. Tall, stout walls, strong points inside the community, concentric defenses, a strategic terrain location, or a large body of standing troops might be present. Some threat is thought to exist that makes maintaining this fortification worthwhile, though it may come at a dear cost to the locals. The community’s suzerain may be uncomfortable with these defenses, as they could just as easily be used to defy the ruler.

Lowbluff makes use of canals for some of its streets. Locals often fish in the canals.

POI

History

In time immemorial, reportedly some time during the early 2nd century Lowbluff 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. Lowbluff lost 115 people, and 322 livestock in the disaster.. The disaster is remembered as the Heartbreak Screams, after the sounds of the winds.

History