Small Town: Morpes

Morpes

Morpes
Example Sylvin architecture.
StateSylvanian Empire
ProvenceIpoulan Kingdom
Sub ProvenceFärvsshuck Hold
RegionBënê-ile Savannah
Founded1406
Community LeaderLord Snog̈d Connor
Area4 km2 (1 mi2)
Average Yearly Temp14°C (57°F)
Average Elevation1558 m (5111 ft)
Average Yearly Precipitation251 cm/y (98 in/y)
Population986
Population Density246 people per km2 (986 people per mi2)
Town AuraInvocation
Naming
Native nameMorpes
Pronunciation/morpes /
Direct Translation[Translation Unavailable]
Translation[Not Yet Translated]

Morpes (/morpes / [Translation Unavailable]) is a subtropical Small Town located in Färvsshuck Hold, Ipoulan Kingdom, within the Sylvanian Empire.

The name Morpes is derived from the Sylvin language, as Morpes was founded by Thoken Jordan, who was culturaly Sylvin.

Climate

Morpes has a yearly average temperature of 14°C (57°F), with its average temperature during the summer being a cool 17°C (62°F) and its average temperature during the winter being a cool 11°C (51°F). Morpes receives an average of 251 cm/y (98 in/y) of precipitation, most of which comes in the form of snow during the pleasantly short winter months. Morpes covers an area of nearly 4 km2 (1 mi2), and an average elevation of 1558 m (5111 ft) above sea level.

Overview

Morpes was founded durring the early 15th century in fall of the year 1406, by Thoken Jordan. The establishment of Morpes 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.

Morpes was built using the conventions of Sylvin durring the early 15th century. Naturaly, all settlmentss have their own look to them, and Morpes is no diffrent. The town's buildings feature plaster covered brick construction taking the shape of large simple gemometric shapes which ate then embelished with decorative features, but retain their simple shapes in spite of the added features such as pillars, faccaddes, and covered walkways. The blocky nature gives a general impression of extreem age, as if each structure has existed since time immemorial.

Morpes is buildings are located arround a single crampt paverstone mainstreet which forms a clockwise spiral to give the town a over all circular shape. The town resides behind a palisade wall complete with battlments, a moat, and timber gatehouses with drawbridges. Unfortuantly, these robustly designed timber walls are in extreem disrepair, so much so that one cannot tell if they are decaying from a lack of mantance or damage incured.

A look around Morpes 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 jsut long enough for it to be uncomfortable. Beneath this surface, the people of Morpes can be overheard having academic discussions, as well as talking about scholarly subjects in general. It’s quite clear Morpes places a lot of value on education and being a learned individual.

Civic Infrastructure

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

Morpes 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.

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

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

Morpes has a Parks and Recreation Department, which is responsible for the construction, management, and usage rights for all of its parks and parklands.

Morpes 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.

Cultural Notes

Morpes 's town hall was built using a different architectural style from the rest of the town. The style used is characterized by their massive, monolithic and 'blocky' appearance with a rigid geometric style. It was best known for its rough, unfinished surfaces, unusual shapes, heavy-looking materials, straight lines, and small windows. Modular elements were often used to form masses representing specific functional zones, grouped into a unified whole.

Due to the actions of local Kami, winter is recurring in Morpes .

The Blink Dog near Morpes are known to be almost tame, such that they can be put to domestic use.

Morpes 's citizens partake in a curious ritual relating to their local kami. It takes place in spring and involves sex to channel Augury energies of tier 2 via oratory performances.

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: 1
  • Farmers: 2
  • Farm Laborer: 8
  • Hunters: 3
  • Milk Maids: 2
  • Ranchers: 1
  • Ranch Hands: 2
  • Shepherds: 2
    • Farmland: 3983 m2
    • Cattle and Similar Creatures: 246
    • Poultry: 2958
    • Swine: 197
    • Sheep: 9
    • Goats: 1
    • Horses, Mounts, and Beasts of Burden: 98

Craftsmen

  • Arms and Toolmakers: 1
  • Blacksmiths: 2
  • Bookbinders: 1
  • Buckle-makers: 1
  • Cabinetmakers: 2
  • Candlemakers: 3
  • Carpenters: 3
  • Clothmakers: 2
  • Coach and Harness Makers: 1
  • Coopers: 2
  • Copper, Brass, Tin, Zinc, and Lead Workers: 1
  • Fabricworkers: 2
  • Farrier: 6
  • Glassworkers: 3
  • Gunsmiths: 2
  • Hatters: 1
  • Jewelers: 1
  • Leatherwrights: 2
  • Locksmiths: 1
  • Matchstick makers: 1
  • Musical Instrument Makers: 1
  • Painters, Structures and Fixtures: 1
  • Paper Workers: 1
  • Plasterers: 1
  • Pursemakers: 1
  • Roofers: 1
  • Saddlers: 1
  • Scabbardmakers: 2
  • Scalemakers: 1
  • Soap and Tallow Workers: 3
  • Tailors: 6
  • Tanners: 1
  • Upholsterers: 1
  • Watchmakers: 1
  • Weavers: 2

Merchants

  • Beer-Sellers: 1
  • Booksellers: 1
  • Butchers: 2
  • Chandlers: 2
  • Chicken Butchers: 2
  • Entrepreneurs: 1
  • Fine Clothiers: 2
  • Fishmongers: 2
  • Potion Sellers: 1
  • Resellers: 3
  • Spice Merchants: 1
  • Wine-sellers: 1
  • Wheelwright: 1

Service workers

  • Bakers: 5
  • Barbers: 4
  • Coachmen: 1
  • Cooks: 3
  • Doctors: 2
  • Gamekeepers: 1
  • Hairdressers: 3
  • Healers: 2
  • Housekeepers: 3
  • Housemaids: 4
  • House Stewards: 2
  • Laundry maids: 1
  • Maidservants: 3
  • Nursery Maids: 1
  • Pastrycooks: 3
  • Restaurateur: 4
  • Tavern Keepers: 4

Specialized Laborer

  • Ashworkers: 1
  • Coal Heavers: 2
  • In-Town Couriers: 2
  • Long Haul Couriers: 2
  • Dockyard Workers: 2
  • Leech Collectors: 2
  • Millers: 2
  • Miners: 2
  • Oilmen and Polishers: 1
  • Postmen: 2
  • Pure Finder: 1
  • Skinners: 2
  • Tosher: 1
  • Warehousemen: 3
  • Watercarriers: 2
  • Watermen, Bargemen, etc.: 3

Skilled Laborers

  • Accountants: 1
  • Alchemist: 1
  • Clerk: 2
  • Educators: 2
  • Engineers: 1
  • Plumbers: 1
  • Pharmacist: 1

Civil Servants

  • Bankers: 1
  • Civil Clerks: 2
  • Civic Iudex: 1
  • Exorcist: 2
  • Fixers: 1
  • Kami Clerk: 1
  • Landlords: 2
  • Lawyers: 1
  • Legend Keepers: 1
  • Militia Officers: 10
  • Monks, Monastic: 3
  • Monks, Civic: 2
  • Historian, Oral: 2
  • Historian, Textual: 1
  • Policemen, Sheriffs, etc.: 2
  • Priests: 3
  • Rangers: 1
  • Rat Catchers: 1
  • Scholars: 1
  • Spiritualist: 1
  • Storytellers: 3
  • Military Officers: 3

Cottage Industries

  • Brewers: 2
  • Comfort Services: 3
  • Enchanters: 1
  • Herbalists: 1
  • Jaminators: 3
  • Needleworkers: 3
  • Potters: 1
  • Preserve Makers: 3
  • Quilters: 1
  • Seamsters: 4
  • Spinners: 2
  • Tinker: 1
  • Weaver: 2

Artists

  • Actors: 1
  • Bards: 1
  • Dancers: 1
  • Glaziers: 1
  • Musicians: 3
  • Playwrights: 1
  • Wood Carvers: 3
  • Writers: 3

Produce Industries

  • Butter Churners: 3
  • Canners: 2
  • Cheesmakers: 3
  • Millers: 1
  • Picklers: 1
  • Smokers: 1
  • Stockmakers: 1
  • Tobacconists: 1
  • Tallowmakers: 2

288 of Morpes 's population work within a Foundational Occupation.

639 of Morpes 's population do not work in a formal occupation, but do contribute to the local economy. 59 (6%) are noncontributers.

Points of Interest

Morpes is uncommonly rich, not only for the gentry but for the common citizens as well. They may produce a valuable good, oversee precious resource extraction, have special economic favors from the ruler, or simply have inherited a vast body of infrastructure. Their neighbors likely view them with envy, and outside raiders and exploiters find them an ideal target.

Morpes 's roads were poorly made when first laid. Rather than repairing them correctly, a series of new roads was laid atop the old, leading to the streets of modern Morpes suffering from potholes, cracking, and even sinkholes. The locals often repair the road by putting down wooden decking.

POI

History

In time immemorial, reportedly some time during the late 2nd century the Kami solved a major long term problem plaguing the town. One of Morpes 's local festivals commemorates this miracle.

History