Ardster

Ardster (/ardster/ [Translation Unavailable]) is a temperate Large Town located in the Weian Region of the Tetbur Commune.

The name Ardster is derived from the Sylvin language, as Ardster was founded by Gwoneth Lard Shepherd-Barron Roy, who was culturaly Sylvin.

Climate

Ardster has a yearly average temperature of 15°C (59°F), with its average temperature during the summer being a cool 18°C (64°F) and its average temperature during the winter being a cool 12°C (53°F). Ardster receives an average of 240 cm/y (94 in/y) of precipitation, most of which comes in the form of snow during the pleasantly short winter months. Ardster covers an area of nearly 6 km² (2 mi²), and an average elevation of 1260 m (4133 ft) above sea level.

Overview

Ardster was founded durring the late 12th century in fall of the year 1055, by Gwoneth Lard Shepherd-Barron Roy. The establishment of Ardster was only bairly constructed. The sheer number of problems with its founding were enough to make several of the backers funding Ardster's construction back out of the project. Gwoneth Lard Shepherd-Barron Roy pushed on reguardles, and Ardster was finished, but starts off as a terible place to live.

Ardster was built using the conventions of Sylvin durring the late 12th century. Naturaly, all settlmentss have their own look to them, and Ardster 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.

Ardster is buildings are arranged within a network of restrictive baked earthen streets which form a rectangular grid, where each block verries in size given the proximity of the paralell streets forming each section. The ocasional smaller block has been used to construct a park, plaza, and other communal structures. The town posesses a fortified albit thin wall of querried stone. This wall posesses most of the features of a castle wall, though it is constructed from cheeper inferior stone. It would pose a minor chalange for an attacking army, though it's clear the wall's true purpose is to crush the hopes of bandits and marauders. The failry decent fortifications have not been wellmaintained over the years, and while functional are in dire need of some loving care and perhapse light renovation.

A look around Ardster gives you an uneasy feeling. Everything is just a little too worn down, a little too dirty, or both. No one makes eye contact. Kids play quietly, but happily. Occasionally a passerby glances at you out of the corner of their eye, staring just long enough for it to be uncomfortable. A second look around Ardster makes it abundantly clear the town suffered something horrible some time ago. It's as if the town itself is depressed. Smiles are few, cheer is nowhere to be had.

Civic Infrastructure

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

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

Ardster 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.

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

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

Ardster 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.

Ardster 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.

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

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

Ardster 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 Ardster's natural decorations nor waterways.

Ardster 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.

Ardster 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

Ardster's garrison 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. .

In Ardster birds speak prophesy.

The Dallo near Ardster are known to be almost tame, such that they can be put to domestic use.

Ardster's citizens partake in a curious ritual relating to their local kami. It takes place in winter and involves line dance to channel Chronomancy energies of tier 1 via speaking in tongues.

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.

Ardster Census Data: Year 2000

473 of Ardster's population work within a Foundational Occupation.

• 28 work in Agriculture
• 103 work as Craftsmen
• 39 work as Merchants
• 77 work as Service Workers
• 49 work as General Laborers
• 18 work as Skilled Laborers
• 71 work as Civil Servants
• 41 work in Cottage Industries
• 22 work as Artists
• 25 work in Produce Industries

931 of Ardster's population do not work in a formal occupation, but do contribute to the local economy. 105 (7%) are noncontributers.

Points of Interest

Some important ruler or leading figure resides in the community. This may be the seat of a regional lord, or it could be the traditional residence of a high priest, great magus, merchant house, or other wielder of influence. The community itself may or may not be under their direct control, but the wishes of the august figure must be acknowledged by the locals.

The center of Ardster's town square was built around an ancient standing stone.

POI

History

In time immemorial, reportedly some time during the late 2nd century Pond Looney began to boil, and released a thick toxic cloud from beneath its waters which brought great calamity to the entire nation, killing every person and animal in its path which could not escape the cloud. Oddly, the plants of the region flourished in the years after the disaster. The disaster brought an end to people, livestock, and buildings. The disaster is referred to as the Terror Wind.

History