Porth

Porth (/pɔrθ / [Translation Unavailable]) is a subtropical Town located in Mepez̄ate Dutchy, Ziirnea County, within the Kingdom of Helsteria.

The name Porth is derived from the Sylvin language, as Porth was founded by Dyesëm Dy, who was culturaly Sylvin.

Climate

Porth has a yearly average temperature of 16°C (60°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 14°C (57°F). Porth receives an average of 252 cm/y (99 in/y) of precipitation, most of which comes in the form of rain during the summer. Porth covers an area of nearly 5 km² (2 mi²), and an average elevation of 2902 m (9520 ft) above sea level.

Overview

Porth was founded durring the late 13th century in fall of the year 1164, by Dyesëm Dy. The establishment of Porth was plagued by a lack of willing colonists. After attempts to pay people to resettle failed Dyesëm Dy struck deals with nearby nations and communities to establish Porth as a prison colony.

Porth was built using the conventions of Sylvin durring the late 13th century. Naturaly, all settlmentss have their own look to them, and Porth is no diffrent. The town's buildings feature delicute timber framework hidden behind layer upon layer of finly ground plaster bleached to an almost glossy white sheen, with green clay tiled roofs and decorative brass-leafed trim. Even the smallest, poorest looking structures appear to be expencive thanks to the extreem elegence of the organic shapes and paterns going into their lofty, spire-y, vagly gothic designs. The more well off folks live in identicle homes, save for even shiner trim and a more whimsical appearance to their structures flowing forms.

Porth is buildings are arranged arrounded a highly ordered system of narrow cobblestone streets which form triangular paterns, allowing the incides of the octagons to be common grounds for the buildings on the edges, be it for parkland, yardspace, plazas, or markets. 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.

Porth has a very calm atmosphere. People can be seen relaxing, scocilizing, and going about all manner of business other than the daily grind. Men, women, children, all can be seen enjoying life in a laid-back way in the many parks which line Porth ’s streets. Yet, deep down, you know this atmosphere is a carefully created illusion. You can see the ocasional seam in their tapestry. You’re not sure what has them doing their best to act so carefree, but act carefree they do.

Civic Infrastructure

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

Porth 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.

Porth 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.

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

Porth possesses a Galvanic Power Grid, which brings galvanic current to most if not all buildings in town, and permits a great many consumer goods to function within the Town. Porth 's grid is powered by a god's will and kindness.

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

Porth 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.

Porth 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

Porth 's town hall 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 Porth rain occurs in reverse with water pooling up from the earth then falling into the skies to from clouds, this unsettles every visitor that sees it.

The Buckawn near Porth are known to be quite timid.

Porth 's citizens partake in a curious ritual relating to their local kami. It takes place in summer and involves line dance to channel Necromancy energies of tier 3 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.

Porth Census Data: Year 2000

416 of Porth 's population work within a Foundational Occupation.

• 26 work in Agriculture
• 89 work as Craftsmen
• 32 work as Merchants
• 69 work as Service Workers
• 44 work as General Laborers
• 13 work as Skilled Laborers
• 62 work as Civil Servants
• 39 work in Cottage Industries
• 21 work as Artists
• 21 work in Produce Industries

855 of Porth 's population do not work in a formal occupation, but do contribute to the local economy. 66 (5%) are noncontributers.

Points of Interest

Many of Porth ’s structures date back to the ancient past and a long-vanished culture. They have unique architectural traits, perhaps being made of some strange substance or with uncanny qualities. The locals find them too useful or too durable to destroy, but the buildings often have unpleasant little surprises in their under-explored corners, and there may be greater structures still buried by long ages beneath Porth ’s streets.

Porth is accessed from a nearby river via an intricate series of locks.

POI

History

In time immemorial, reportedly some time during the late 2nd century several years of heavy rains culminated in a peculiar disaster. A great hole opened up beneath Porth , swallowing large sections of the community. Porth lost 103 people, 299 livestock, and 75 buildings in the disaster. This disaster is often refereed to as The Hate Swallowing.

History