Southwood

Southwood (/ˈsaʊˌθwʊd / [Translation Unavailable]) is a subtropical Large Town located in Dutapupachyu Hold, Nefan Kingdom, within the Sylvanian Empire.

The name Southwood is derived from the Sylvin language, as Southwood was founded by Nrëi Trênhêm Osborne, who was culturaly Sylvin.

Climate

Southwood has a yearly average temperature of 19°C (66°F), with its average temperature during the summer being a warm 27°C (80°F) and its average temperature during the winter being a cool 11°C (51°F). Southwood receives an average of 144 cm/y (56 in/y) of precipitation, most of which comes in the form of rain during the spring. Southwood covers an area of nearly 6 km² (2 mi²), and an average elevation of 2344 m (7690 ft) above sea level.

Overview

Southwood was founded durring the early 13th century in fall of the year 1230, by Nrëi Trênhêm Osborne. The establishment of the new community went well, with no major obsticles durring construction.

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

Southwood is is constructed arround a series of broad paverstone mainstreets which form concentric circles, with smaller strait roads linking the circiles to each other at varrious points. The town has a defencive wall made from large clay bricks. The wall is constructed to the exact specifications of millitary fortifications, but the nature of its clay brick construction leaves it vulnerable to even outdated siege equipment. That said, the town is well defended against anything short of an army. Astonishigly, the brittle defences are in pristine condishion, as if they had just been finished before you laied eyes upon them.

A look around Southwood makes it abundantly clear the town suffered something horrible some time ago. It’s a quiet town filled with closed scriptoriums, people quietly yet dejectedly reading in isolated places around town, and the occasional book laying in a heap of garbage.

Civic Infrastructure

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

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

Southwood 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.

Southwood 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.

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

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

Southwood 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 Southwood 's natural decorations nor waterways.

Southwood 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.

Southwood 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.

Southwood 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

One or more crime bosses have a powerful influence within Southwood . They may control crime within the community itself, or they may use it simply as a safe haven from which to direct their minions elsewhere. Local law enforcement may know all about them, but lack the strength to confront them and their paid or intimidated henchmen.

Southwood 's town hall was built using a different architectural style from the rest of the town. The style used makes use of a large oblong hall or building with double colonnades and a semicircular apse and symmetrical central-plan, resulting in buildings with a square central mass and four arms of equal length. Decorative features included domed rooves, arches, soaring spaces, and sumptuous decoration: marble columns and inlay, mosaics on the vaults, inlaid-stone pavements, and sometimes gold coffered ceilings.

In Southwood snow is warm to the touch and does not melt within city limits. Also it only happens during summer.

The Mud Elemental, Large near Southwood are known to be almost tame, such that they can be put to domestic use.

Southwood 's citizens partake in a curious ritual relating to their local kami. It takes place in summer and involves reenactments to channel Charm energies of tier 3 via recitation of poetic epics.

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.

Southwood Census Data: Year 2000

524 of Southwood 's population work within a Foundational Occupation.

• 32 work in Agriculture
• 118 work as Craftsmen
• 41 work as Merchants
• 85 work as Service Workers
• 51 work as General Laborers
• 19 work as Skilled Laborers
• 75 work as Civil Servants
• 52 work in Cottage Industries
• 25 work as Artists
• 26 work in Produce Industries

1056 of Southwood 's population do not work in a formal occupation, but do contribute to the local economy. 48 (3%) are noncontributers.

Points of Interest

POI

History

In time immemorial, reportedly some time during the early 2nd century Southwood was struck by a devistating earthquake. The quake brought ruin to Southwood , which lost 205 people, 345 livestock, and 34 buildings in the earthquake. The day of the quake is remembered by many as Torment's Day.

History