Tham

Tham (/θæm/ [Translation Unavailable]) is a subtropical Town located in Ohà Qàyacha Kingdom, Emada County, within the Kingdom of Helsteria.

The name Tham is derived from the Sylvin language, as Tham was founded by Shygzirth Heblu Mrirrui Wellington, who was culturaly Sylvin.

Climate

Tham has a yearly average temperature of 23°C (73°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 19°C (66°F). Tham receives an average of 195 cm/y (76 in/y) of precipitation, most of which comes in the form of rain during the fall. Tham covers an area of nearly 6 km² (2 mi²), and an average elevation of 9978 m (-10213 ft) above sea level.

Overview

Tham was founded durring the late 13th century in summer of the year 1193, by Shygzirth Heblu Mrirrui Wellington. The establishment of Tham 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.

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

Tham is buildings are speckled and packed arround broad packed earth streets with seemingly no patern to them. It appears as if the town's residents simply built streets as they pleased and squeazed buildings in wherever and howeave rpossible, creating an organic, frustrating to navigate, maze of a town. The town sits comfortably behind a palisade wall complete with a timber gatehouse and battlments. The timber-based walls 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.

A quick look in any direction shows Tham is filled with vices. There are many taverns, brothels are advertising their services on the streets, cardsharks are plying their illicit trade within public squairs, and every shop has at least three signs advertising various sales on goods. That alone wouldn’t be too noticeable, if it wasn’t just so omnipresent and overwhelmingly how the people of this town live. Or if the general public wasn’t so enthusiastically, openly, and merrily participating in these activities.

Civic Infrastructure

Tham possesses a city-wide Aethary Link which provides Aethary access anywhere within its metropolitan. This allows citizens who can afford the relevant devices access in their places of work, and rarely homes.

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

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

Tham 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.

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

Tham 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.

Tham 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.

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

Tham has an Millitary Academy which trains military officers and specilists.

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

Tham 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 Tham's natural decorations nor waterways.

Tham 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.

Tham 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

Tham's bank was built using a different architectural style from the rest of the town. The style used embraces individualism and experimentation. It emerged as a movement against traditional, classical styles and sought to make buildings dynamic and fun while breaking the rules. The style incorporated elements of previous architectural styles in exaggerated and whimsical ways. Traditional, conservative leanings were void in this era, with most scholars of architecture agreeing it was a time of “anything goes.”.

In Tham grains of dust blow into perfectly neat rows.

The Jelly, Marsh near Tham are known to be quite timid.

Tham's citizens partake in a curious ritual relating to their local kami. It takes place in spring and involves reenactments to channel Illusion energies of tier 2 via chanting.

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.

Tham Census Data: Year 2000

454 of Tham's population work within a Foundational Occupation.

• 26 work in Agriculture
• 98 work as Craftsmen
• 34 work as Merchants
• 77 work as Service Workers
• 48 work as General Laborers
• 16 work as Skilled Laborers
• 68 work as Civil Servants
• 43 work in Cottage Industries
• 21 work as Artists
• 23 work in Produce Industries

924 of Tham's population do not work in a formal occupation, but do contribute to the local economy. 57 (4%) are noncontributers.

Points of Interest

While private tutelage of worthy apprentices can be had even in most remote villages, Tham is home to a proper school dedicated to teaching magic. Such schools are usually small, with no more than a few dozen pupils, most of whom will fail for lack of talent or discipline. The instructors are rarely first-rate, usually serving only for the pay and status, but sometimes a genius sorcerer will find a reason to observe likely apprentices here. Given the unfortunate accident potential of the school, it’s probably isolated or well-fortified.

Tham is known for its well built pedestrian paths, which include foot bridges to cross the main street at several high-traffic areas.

POI

History

In time immemorial, reportedly some time during the early 2nd century a local hero by the name of spared the town from the rampage of a legendary monster. Tham created a local delicacy in 's honor which is served at festivals.

History