Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns (/how/ /æ̝ŋs/ [sore] [knee]) is a subtropical Large City located in the Ftuzmïlärtä Region of the Goblin Tribes.

The name Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns is derived from the Sylvin language, as Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns was founded by Nerys, who was culturaly Gnoll.

Climate

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns has a yearly average temperature of 7°C (44°F), with its average temperature during the summer being a cold 10°C (50°F) and its average temperature during the winter being a cold 4°C (39°F). Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns receives an average of 237 cm/y (93 in/y) of precipitation, most of which comes in the form of snow during the pleasantly short winter months. Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns covers an area of nearly 188 km² (75 mi²), and an average elevation of 4760 m (15616 ft) above sea level.

Overview

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns was founded durring the early 12th century in spring of the year 1140, by Nerys. The establishment of Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns 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.

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns was built using the conventions of Gnoll durring the early 12th century. Naturaly, all settlmentss have their own look to them, and Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns is no diffrent. The city'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.

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns is buildings are arranged arrounded highly ordered system of broad flagstone streets which form hexical 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 city is defended by arcane means. It's hard to spot at first, but there's a tell tell shimmer in the air arround Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns, and you can spot the ocasional warding glyph carved into a rock or tree all arround town. These mystical defences are ancient, unknowable, and unassailable by current means... Assuming everything is in working order. Otherwise, the wards are little more than a deathtrap. Unfortuantly, these Relic of the World That Was are in extreem disrepair, so much so that one cannot tell if they are decaying from a lack of mantance or damage incured.

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns has the unmistakable air of a city 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. Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns ’s existence was once fed by scholarly pursuits. But the income once drawn in by the works of scribes and academics has dried up and the city is drifting down the stream of history as it dries up. Everywhere about the city one can see abandoned 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 city places a lot of value on education and being a learned individual. Even in these times.

Civic Infrastructure

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns possesses a Aethary Link for its accademic, government, and financial institutions. Public Aethary access is available through one or more of these intitutions.

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns has an animal control department which works to enforce local ordinances relating to the control, impoundment, and disposition of animals.

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns 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 Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns. They are also responsible for the maintenance of these features. Notably, the OCG is not responsible for Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns's parks.

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

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns 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.

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns 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.

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

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns has a Department of Firefighters, which is responsible for organizing fire fighting efforts during a fire and enforcing local ordinances relating to fire safety.

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns 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.

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns 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.

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

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns has an Theological Academy which trains clergy in various arcane and theological topics required for their occupations.

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns 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. Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns's grid is powered by a boiler and turbine based power plant.

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns 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.

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns has a first rate hospital which caters to anyone in need of long term medical care.

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns has a library, which keeps a large collection of books, scrolls, and archives all manner of physical items. The library is open to the public, including the Aether Link.

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns 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 Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns's natural decorations nor waterways.

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns 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.

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns 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.

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns 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.

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns 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

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns's mayor's house was built using a different architectural style from the rest of the town. The style used is inspired by the natural world, characterized by sinuous, sculptural, organic shapes, arches, curving lines, and sensual ornamentation. Common motifs included stylized versions of leaves, flowers, vines, insects, animals, and other natural elements. Decorative elements found on the inside and outside of buildings include intricate mosaic work, curved windows, and decorative trim work. .

Due to the actions of local Kami, winter is skipped in Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns.

The Urdefhan near Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns are known to be more aggressive than normal.

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns's citizens partake in a curious ritual relating to their local kami. It takes place in spring and involves orgies to channel Transmutation energies of tier 2 via mimery.

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.

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns Census Data: Year 2000

16980 of Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns's population work within a Foundational Occupation.

• 941 work in Agriculture
• 3864 work as Craftsmen
• 1373 work as Merchants
• 2596 work as Service Workers
• 1705 work as General Laborers
• 692 work as Skilled Laborers
• 2485 work as Civil Servants
• 1465 work in Cottage Industries
• 955 work as Artists
• 904 work in Produce Industries

24364 of Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns's population do not work in a formal occupation, but do contribute to the local economy. 3111 (7%) are noncontributers.

Points of Interest

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns is cursed with recurrent spells of some troublesome disease. The affliction isn’t so fatal as to make living there impossible, but it adds suffering and expense to local lives. The plague might be the product of an ancient curse, the results of long lost toxic remains, or an unavoidable byproduct of whatever industry or purpose justifies the city. It’s probably not overly contagious, but visitors may be in some peril all the same.

Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns is accessed from a nearby river via an intricate series of locks.

POI

History

In time immemorial, reportedly some time during the late 2nd century a local hero by the name of saved most of the town when a natural disaster struck Slæ̈rn How-æ̈ns. A small order of knights was founded in 's honor, and bears his name to this day.

History