Stockern

Stockern (/stockern / [Translation Unavailable]) is a subtropical Town located in Kuz̄kema Kingdom, Poxeiquian County, within the Norwick Principality.

The name Stockern is derived from the Sylvin language, as Stockern was founded by Tsîd Downs, who was culturaly Sylvin.

Climate

Stockern has a yearly average temperature of 17°C (62°F), with its average temperature during the summer being a cool 20°C (68°F) and its average temperature during the winter being a cool 14°C (57°F). Stockern receives an average of 271 cm/y (106 in/y) of precipitation, most of which comes in the form of rain during the summer. Stockern covers an area of nearly 6 km² (2 mi²), and an average elevation of 1450 m (4757 ft) above sea level.

Overview

Stockern was founded durring the late 15th century in fall of the year 1367, by Tsîd Downs. 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 Tsîd Downs.

Stockern was built using the conventions of Sylvin durring the late 15th century. Naturaly, all settlmentss have their own look to them, and Stockern 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.

Stockern is is constructed arround a series of narrow flagstone mainstreets which form concentric circles, with smaller strait roads linking the circiles to each other at varrious points. The town sits comfortably behind a palisade wall complete with a timber gatehouse and battlments. Unfortuantly, these timber-based 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 Stockern 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 Stockern can be overheard having academic discussions, as well as talking about scholarly subjects in general. It’s quite clear Stockern places a lot of value on education and being a learned individual.

Civic Infrastructure

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

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

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

Stockern 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.

Stockern 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.

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

Stockern 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. Stockern 's grid is powered by a direct leyline tap.

Stockern 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 Stockern 's natural decorations nor waterways.

Stockern 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.

Stockern 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

Stockern 's town hall 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 Stockern there is always just enough rain to be annoying.

The Trollkin near Stockern are known to be more aggressive than normal.

Stockern 's citizens partake in a curious ritual relating to their local kami. It takes place in winter and involves gestures to channel Conjuration energies of tier 2 via mimery.

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.

Stockern Census Data: Year 2000

464 of Stockern 's population work within a Foundational Occupation.

• 27 work in Agriculture
• 102 work as Craftsmen
• 35 work as Merchants
• 78 work as Service Workers
• 47 work as General Laborers
• 17 work as Skilled Laborers
• 66 work as Civil Servants
• 45 work in Cottage Industries
• 22 work as Artists
• 25 work in Produce Industries

889 of Stockern 's population do not work in a formal occupation, but do contribute to the local economy. 101 (7%) are noncontributers.

Points of Interest

Stockern is known for its unusual rock formations.

POI

History

Stockern used to be more prosperous, but something happened relatively long ago that left it a shrunken shadow of its former self. If the settlement is prosperous, the locals often lament how much more they could have had. If the settlement is not prosperous, the locals blame their ill fortunes on that event. Reminders of this better time can be found in many places within Stockern .

In time immemorial, reportedly some time during the early 2nd century Lake Haflong 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 Calamity Wind.

History