Slæ̈rn ápra-táw

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw (/ə˞ˈpra/ /tə˞w/ [expensive] [shape]) is a subtropical Small City located in the Wápkunju Principality of the Konei.

The name Slæ̈rn ápra-táw is derived from the Sylvin language, as Slæ̈rn ápra-táw was founded by Annúngiliel, who was culturaly Gnoll.

Climate

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw has a yearly average temperature of -5°C (23°F), with its average temperature during the summer being an icy 21°C (69°F) and its average temperature during the winter being a freezing -32°C (-25°F). Slæ̈rn ápra-táw receives an average of 225 cm/y (88 in/y) of precipitation, most of which comes in the form of snow during the pleasantly short winter months. Slæ̈rn ápra-táw covers an area of nearly 20 km² (8 mi²), and an average elevation of 3934 m (12906 ft) above sea level.

Overview

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw was founded durring the early 14th century in spring of the year 1333, by Annúngiliel. The establishment of Slæ̈rn ápra-táw was somewhat plagued by a lack of willing colonists, leading to Annúngiliel electing to pay people to resettle in Slæ̈rn ápra-táw.

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw was built using the conventions of Gnoll durring the early 14th century. Naturaly, all settlmentss have their own look to them, and Slæ̈rn ápra-táw 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.

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw is buildings folow an organic layout of narrow baked earthen streets whihch gives the city a shape simmilar to a tree, if one views its streets from above. The city is protected by a well-crafted cobblestone fence tall enough to provide adiquite cover for defenders to fire from, but no more than that. Astonishigly, the frontieer-style defences are in pristine condishion, as if they had just been finished before you laied eyes upon them.

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw has the unmistakable air of a city on its last legs. Everything is a bit slipshod and ramshackle. Everyone is at work, or drinking. No one has anything in their eyes other than fear and despair. Whatever industry once fueled Slæ̈rn ápra-táw ’s existence has dried up and the city is drifting down the stream of history as it dries up.

Civic Infrastructure

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw 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.

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw has an animal control department which works to enforce local ordinances relating to the control, impoundment, and disposition of animals.

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw 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 Slæ̈rn ápra-táw. They are also responsible for the maintenance of these features. Notably, the OCG is not responsible for Slæ̈rn ápra-táw's parks.

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

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw 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.

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw 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.

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

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

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw 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.

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

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw 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 Small City. Slæ̈rn ápra-táw's grid is powered by mana accumulators.

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw possesses an older civil lighting system consisting of street lamps. In spite of the Galvanic Grid, these lights continue to use their old fule sources to provide nighttime illumination to all city streets.

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw 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 Slæ̈rn ápra-táw's natural decorations nor waterways.

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw 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.

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw 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.

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw 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

There’s more than one leader in Slæ̈rn ápra-táw, but at least some of them are at each other’s throats. It might be a conflict between formal leadership and informal authorities, or it could be a struggle among civil officials. Their interests might diverge sharply, or it could be a personal grudge that’s boiled over. Outside threats and internal problems are likely being ignored until the power struggle is resolved.

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw's garrison was built using a different architectural style from the rest of the town. The style used is characterized by towering round arches, massive stone and brickwork, small windows, thick walls, and a propensity for housing art and sculpture depicting mythological scenes. The building's general shape would be a clever and ascetic combination of geometric shapes, which would be blended together by joining elements. The style's decorative features were largely internal rather than external and incorporated semicircular arches for windows, doors, and arcades; barrel or groin vaults to support the roof of the nave; massive piers and walls, with few windows, to contain the outward thrust of the vaults; side aisles with galleries above them..

In Slæ̈rn ápra-táw every night at precisely midnight every structure in town is engulfed by sailors fire until the end of the witching hour.

The Slithering Pit near Slæ̈rn ápra-táw are known to be almost tame, such that they can be put to domestic use.

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw's citizens partake in a curious ritual relating to their local kami. It takes place in winter and involves drinking to channel Necromancy energies of tier 2 via moments of science.

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.

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw Census Data: Year 2000

1672 of Slæ̈rn ápra-táw's population work within a Foundational Occupation.

• 92 work in Agriculture
• 370 work as Craftsmen
• 134 work as Merchants
• 250 work as Service Workers
• 174 work as General Laborers
• 67 work as Skilled Laborers
• 249 work as Civil Servants
• 155 work in Cottage Industries
• 90 work as Artists
• 91 work in Produce Industries

2734 of Slæ̈rn ápra-táw's population do not work in a formal occupation, but do contribute to the local economy. 281 (6%) are noncontributers.

Points of Interest

Slæ̈rn ápra-táw makes use of canals for some of its streets. Locals often fish in the canals.

POI

History

In time immemorial, reportedly some time during the late 2nd century a local hero by the name of spared the town from an attack. One of Slæ̈rn ápra-táw's festivals remembers the hero.

History