Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf

Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf (/if/ /æ̝ˈfilf/ [middle] [length]) is a subtropical City located in the Ghotimunrī̄k Principality of the Kaigi.

The name Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf is derived from the Sylvin language, as Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf was founded by Ñaurondur, who was culturaly Gnoll.

Climate

Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf has a yearly average temperature of 4°C (39°F), with its average temperature during the summer being a freezing -3°C (27°F) and its average temperature during the winter being a cool 12°C (53°F). Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf receives an average of 249 cm/y (98 in/y) of precipitation, most of which comes in the form of snow during the pleasantly short winter months. Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf covers an area of nearly 36 km² (14 mi²), and an average elevation of 2004 m (6574 ft) above sea level.

Overview

Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf was founded durring the late 13th century in fall of the year 1197, by Ñaurondur. 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 Ñaurondur.

Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf was built using the conventions of Gnoll durring the late 13th century. Naturaly, all settlmentss have their own look to them, and Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf 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 if-ēfilf is buildings are arranged arround a network of restrictive packed earth streets which form a diagonal shaped grid, where each square verries in size given the proximity of the paralell streets forming each section. The ocasional smaller square has been used to construct a park, plaza, and other communal structures. The city is protected by a renforced stone fence which sits atop earthwork defences, for some of the best inexpencive defences a city of Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf's size could have. The well-designed, yet cheep has suffered a visible ammount of structural damage, leaving them effectivly useless. One can't help but wonder why the has not yet effected repairs.

Before you’ve even set foot into the heart of Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf, you can smell it. The incense. It hangs about the town like a cloud. Monks, priests, and clerics are everywhere, all dedicated to the same divine, all performing the same rituals to bless and anoint buildings, streets, people, animals, you name it they are or have blessed it. The same holy symbol is everywhere too. Its on buildings, on people, and even branded into livestock. This certainly loves its divine. Asside form the revrent worship, you can see the citizens are preparing for something, and that something isn’t good. Weapons are worn openly. Defensive structures have been recently constructed to guard less used areas of the city. Merchants seem very eager to sell their wares at discount prices. Something is coming.

Civic Infrastructure

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

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

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

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

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

Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf has an Scientific Academy which provides higher education in the natural sciences.

Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf 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 City. Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf's grid is powered by a god's will and kindness.

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

Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf 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.

Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf 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 if-ēfilf's natural decorations nor waterways.

Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf 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 if-ēfilf 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 if-ēfilf 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

Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf's mayor's house was built using a different architectural style from the rest of the town. The style used is known primarily for its use of abstraction and simplicity. Clean lines, right angles, and primary colors characterized this aesthetic and art movement expressed via architecture and paintings. Its design ethos allows only primary colors and non-colors, only squares and rectangles, only straight and horizontal or vertical lines. Vertical and horizontal lines are positioned in layers or planes that do not intersect, thereby allowing each element to exist independently and unobstructed by other elements. These seemingly impossible principals for an architectural style coalesces into structures which most experts find hard to put into words. It is not that their geometry is impossible, but rather the style's attempt at producing works only describable visually was most successful..

Due to the actions of local Kami, winter is skipped in Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf.

The Yeti near Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf are known to be more aggressive than normal.

Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf's citizens partake in a curious ritual relating to their local kami. It takes place in spring and involves gestures to channel Conjuration energies of tier 3 via recitation of scripture.

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 if-ēfilf Census Data: Year 2000

3206 of Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf's population work within a Foundational Occupation.

• 171 work in Agriculture
• 749 work as Craftsmen
• 255 work as Merchants
• 491 work as Service Workers
• 321 work as General Laborers
• 128 work as Skilled Laborers
• 461 work as Civil Servants
• 283 work in Cottage Industries
• 174 work as Artists
• 173 work in Produce Industries

4820 of Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf's population do not work in a formal occupation, but do contribute to the local economy. 604 (7%) are noncontributers.

Points of Interest

Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf has been cursed with some blight that makes life difficult, albeit not impossible. An offended sorcerer's vengeful Working, an outraged god's wrath, a local distortion of the Legacy, or a simple history of bad feng shui in the area may have brought the curse about. I(devise not only the curse, but the reason why the locals haven't left for better lands).

Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf's is something of a geological and arcane anomaly, as neither physical nor magical law entirely explains its formation.

POI

History

In time immemorial, reportedly some time during the early 2nd century Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf was struck by a devistating earthquake. The quake brought ruin to Slæ̈rn if-ēfilf, which lost 134 people, 255 livestock, and 54 buildings in the earthquake. The day of the quake is remembered by many as Dread's Day.

History