The name Hit Castle is derived from the Sylvin language, as Hit Castle was founded by Èqthê Kovachik, who was culturaly Sylvin.
Climate
Hit Castle has a yearly average temperature of 20°C (68°F), with its average temperature during the summer being a warm 28°C (82°F) and its average temperature during the winter being a cool 12°C (53°F). Hit Castle receives an average of 141 cm/y (55 in/y) of precipitation, most of which comes in the form of rain during the spring. Hit Castle covers an area of nearly 13 km2 (5 mi2), and an average elevation of 3510 m (11515 ft) above sea level.
Overview
Hit Castle was founded durring the late 12th century in summer of the year 1092, by Èqthê Kovachik. 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 Èqthê Kovachik.
Hit Castle was built using the conventions of Sylvin durring the late 12th century. Naturaly, all settlmentss have their own look to them, and Hit Castle 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.
Hit Castle is buildings are speckled and packed arround narrow cobblestone streets with seemingly no patern to them. It appears as if the city'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 city. The city rests behind a thin stone wall. The wall's design was likly directly copied from a castle's parmiter defences. It's simply that the arcatect made Hit Castle's wall substancialy thinner than a castle's walls. While the towers and gatehouses are adiquite, the obvious cost savings measure of making the walls drasticaly thinner reduces their ability to resist siege weapons greatly. The city's impressive-looking wall could fail at a critical moment in battle, and would likely not even resist a few bandits with improvised siege equipment. Hit Castle's budget oriented are suffering from significent damage, so much so that examples can be pointed to no matter which section one might have within their line of site, and most of which render sections inoperable at present.
A look around Hit Castle 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 Hit Castle makes it abundantly clear the city 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
Hit Castle has an animal control department which works to enforce local ordinances relating to the control, impoundment, and disposition of animals.
Hit Castle 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 Hit Castle. They are also responsible for the maintenance of these features. Notably, the OCG is not responsible for Hit Castle's parks.
Hit Castle has an Office of Civil Vicary, which is responsible for providing a livelyhood for all officialy recognised religious figures within Hit Castle.
Hit Castle 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.
Hit Castle 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.
Hit Castle 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.
Hit Castle has a monistary of an order of Civil Monks, who provide divine-related services to the general public and maintain Hit Castle's public wards, blessings, and other arcane systems.
Hit Castle 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 Hit Castle's natural decorations nor waterways.
Hit Castle 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.
Hit Castle 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.
Hit Castle 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
Life is hard in Hit Castle. Its people are impoverished compared to their peers elsewhere. Something is making the locals stay, however, whether fear of the alternative, hope for a better future, or a stubborn attachment to their ancestral lands. Whatver the reason, living in this harsh area for generations has made the people of Hit Castle a notably resourceful and hearty people.
Hit Castle's garrison was built using a different architectural style from the rest of the town. The style used has a sleek, linear appearance with stylized, often geometric ornamentation. The primary facade of its buildings often featured a series of set backs that create a stepped outline. Low-relief decorative panels can be found at entrances, around windows, along roof edges or as string courses. It was best known for its use of smooth finish building materials such as stucco, concrete block, glazed brick or mosaic tile. Decorative details can incorporate various artistic or exotic motifs to suit the building's function or the architect's whim. Chevrons, zigzags, and other geometrical motifs are common forms of ornament.
In Hit Castle sometimes, near one of the seasonal solstices, the sun appears to split into three and it rains from a clear sky for several hours.
The Vapor Wasp near Hit Castle are known to be a mutant strain of the creature.
Hit Castle's citizens partake in a curious ritual relating to their local kami. It takes place in summer and involves destroying a prepared ritual vessel to channel Truename Magic energies of tier 1 via oath swearing.
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.
Agriculture
Dairy Farmers: 6
Farmers: 9
Farm Laborer: 18
Hunters: 10
Milk Maids: 8
Ranchers: 4
Ranch Hands: 9
Shepherds: 8
Farmland: 12947 m2
Cattle and Similar Creatures: 797
Poultry: 9567
Swine: 637
Sheep: 31
Goats: 6
Horses, Mounts, and Beasts of Burden: 318
Craftsmen
Arms and Toolmakers: 6
Blacksmiths: 7
Bookbinders: 4
Buckle-makers: 4
Cabinetmakers: 7
Candlemakers: 10
Carpenters: 8
Clothmakers: 9
Coach and Harness Makers: 3
Coopers: 8
Copper, Brass, Tin, Zinc, and Lead Workers: 4
Copyists: 3
Cutlers: 2
Fabricworkers: 7
Farrier: 21
Furriers: 2
Glassworkers: 10
Gunsmiths: 6
Harness-Makers: 3
Hatters: 5
Hosiery Workers: 2
Jewelers: 3
Leatherwrights: 7
Locksmiths: 3
Matchstick makers: 4
Musical Instrument Makers: 4
Painters, Structures and Fixtures: 3
Paper Workers: 4
Plasterers: 4
Pursemakers: 4
Roofers: 3
Ropemakers: 3
Rugmakers: 3
Saddlers: 5
Scabbardmakers: 6
Scalemakers: 3
Scientific, Surgical, and Optical Instrument Makers: 2
Sculptors, Structures and Fixtures: 3
Shoemakers: 3
Soap and Tallow Workers: 10
Tailors: 19
Tanners: 4
Upholsterers: 4
Watchmakers: 4
Weavers: 9
Whitesmiths: 2
Merchants
Adventuring Goods Retellers: 2
Arcana Sellers: 2
Beer-Sellers: 4
Booksellers: 4
Butchers: 8
Chandlers: 7
Chicken Butchers: 8
Entrepreneurs: 3
Fine Clothiers: 8
Fishmongers: 8
Florists: 1
Potion Sellers: 5
Resellers: 13
Spice Merchants: 4
Wine-sellers: 6
Wheelwright: 4
Woodsellers: 3
Service workers
Bakers: 16
Barbers: 15
Coachmen: 4
Cooks: 12
Doctors: 6
Gamekeepers: 5
Grooms: 2
Hairdressers: 10
Healers: 9
Housekeepers: 9
Housemaids: 19
House Stewards: 8
Inns: 3
Laundry maids: 6
Maidservants: 10
Nursery Maids: 5
Pastrycooks: 10
Restaurateur: 12
Tavern Keepers: 13
Specialized Laborer
Ashworkers: 4
Bleachers: 2
Chemical Workers: 1
Coal Heavers: 6
In-Town Couriers: 6
Long Haul Couriers: 7
Dockyard Workers: 6
Gas Workers: 1
Hay Merchants: 2
Leech Collectors: 7
Millers: 7
Miners: 6
Oilmen and Polishers: 4
Postmen: 6
Pure Finder: 4
Skinners: 8
Sugar Refiners: 1
Tosher: 5
Warehousemen: 10
Watercarriers: 7
Watermen, Bargemen, etc.: 8
Skilled Laborers
Accountants: 4
Alchemist: 4
Clerk: 6
Dentists: 3
Educators: 8
Engineers: 4
Gardeners: 3
Mages: 2
Plumbers: 3
Pharmacist: 3
Professors: 1
Scientists: 2
Wizards: 1
Civil Servants
Adventurers: 3
Bankers: 4
Civil Clerks: 6
Civic Iudex: 3
Consultants: 2
Exorcist: 7
Fixers: 3
Kami Clerk: 6
Landlords: 6
Lawyers: 3
Legend Keepers: 5
Militia Officers: 24
Monks, Monastic: 8
Monks, Civic: 9
Historian, Oral: 7
Historian, Textual: 3
Policemen, Sheriffs, etc.: 7
Priests: 13
Rangers: 4
Rat Catchers: 4
Scholars: 4
Spiritualist: 6
Slayers: 1
Storytellers: 12
Military Officers: 11
Cottage Industries
Brewers: 8
Comfort Services: 12
Enchanters: 3
Herbalists: 3
Jaminators: 10
Needleworkers: 11
Potters: 5
Preserve Makers: 8
Quilters: 4
Seamsters: 16
Spinners: 9
Tinker: 3
Weaver: 7
Artists
Actors: 3
Architects: 1
Bards: 5
Costumers: 1
Dancers: 3
Drafters: 2
Engravers: 2
Fine Furniture Carpenters: 1
Glaziers: 3
Inlayers: 3
Musicians: 8
Painters, Art: 1
Playwrights: 3
Sculptors, Art: 2
Wood Carvers: 11
Writers: 10
Produce Industries
Butter Churners: 10
Canners: 9
Cheesmakers: 10
Ice Merchants: 1
Millers: 6
Picklers: 5
Smokers: 4
Stockmakers: 3
Tobacconists: 5
Tallowmakers: 6
1110 of Hit Castle's population work within a Foundational Occupation.
66 work in Agriculture
250 work as Craftsmen
90 work as Merchants
174 work as Service Workers
108 work as General Laborers
44 work as Skilled Laborers
161 work as Civil Servants
99 work in Cottage Industries
59 work as Artists
59 work in Produce Industries
1824 of Hit Castle's population do not work in a formal occupation, but do contribute to the local economy. 255 (8%) are noncontributers.
Points of Interest
The roads leading into Hit Castle possess a great number of switchbacks. While designed for defense, they mostly wind up pissing everyone trying to take goods to town right the hell off.
POI
History
In time immemorial, reportedly some time during the late 2nd century, Hit Castle was attacked by a slaver gang capable of fielding large forces. The details of the conflict are hazy at best due to many conflicting accounts. What is known is Hit Castle lost 151 people, 241 livestock, and 56 buildings. The conflict ended after roughly 74, when members of Hit Castle's militia enacted an operation to extract assets from a research site under siege by the enemy. The operation was complicated by aggravated civilians, who cause problems for the militia for a host of reasons. The conflict ended with needing to break through the enemy's lines, which ended in a stalemate for Hit Castle's forces. The war is remembered in legend by Hit Castle's bards, historians, and legend keepers.