Tara

Description
Tara was founded many moons ago by the High Court. Over one-hundred nobles were inaugurated, reigned, and buried on and within this sacred soil. Some say Tara was the divine capital of the gods, and acted as an entrance into the other world.

Our founding nomads were inexorably drawn to the ancient seat of power. Today, our commune houses 9 members working to survive in troubled times. To some citizens, Tara represents a return to glory for descendants of the High Court. Other citizens merely wish to preserve the history of our old world. To all, Tara means a “place of great prospect.”

We find peace, safety, and community in Tara. We are an eclectic folk with various skills and levels of experience, but we all share the responsibility of preserving our home.

Tara is a town situated between forests and cliff sides with a lake in the middle. From looking out over the cliff’s peak, to peeking through the leaves of the tree house, members are able to observe the beauty that the town and the surrounding area has to offer.

Inspired by modern architecture, some of the buildings are very modular and simple in design, creating a relaxing aesthetic that is representative of the relaxed personalities that comprise the town. To further compliment Tara’s relaxed atmosphere, a waterfall was constructed and integrated into the cliffside. The waterfall is huge, and regarded by many as a feat of human engineering. Visitors can come and gaze in awe at the amount of water rushing down the cliff side from various viewing rooms within the mountain, or if they are a thrill-seeker with no fear of heights, from the very top.

Tara designed many of its buildings with an environmentalist mindset. Some homes are sheltered by the earth itself. By collaborating with the natural formations of Tara, members found solace under the ground. Even above-ground buildings utilize natural materials, such as wood and stone, for their construction. The Tara tree house alone features four large trees.

The tree house is one of the most prized structures in Tara. The four trees represent the four pillars on which town Tara stands. The first pillar represents nature, and our quest to preserve it. Our members take pride in their low emissions and often try to plant trees to offset any emissions they make. The second pillar represents creativity. Many of our members display their creative freedoms with the buildings they design, create, and decorate. Tara residents often incorporate flowers, railings, decks, and fences when furbishing their homes. Our buildings may differ in layout and style, but we are all connected under Tara; all come together to make our unique town. The third pillar represents prosperity. Our town prides itself on its economic abundance, and ability to pay taxes. Our members work hard to maintain an excess of gold that keeps our town consistently solvent. The final pillar is unity. It brings us all together and all members of Tara work hard to maintain a functioning and stable town.

Members

 * bowofacreeper (Mayor)
 * edentron (Mayor? Refer to Major Events)
 * marissatripoli
 * bhepel
 * flamingpotatos
 * Seale21
 * HankdaTank23
 * Zaravion
 * Deucer88

Major Structures
Town Hall

Waterfall

Tree Houses of Tara

The Great Green Escape
On April 14th, a member of Tara became trapped in the mines after teleportation was removed by the mysterious entity ruling the land. Ever the valiant and reckless, Florian set off on a rescue mission with little more than the armored boots on their feet. The rescue mission turned into a mining expedition, as the other town member was swiftly rescued by someone else.

Unfortunately, Florian has a notoriously terrible sense of direction and soon lost the way from which they came. They took a drowning man’s approach, and just followed any path upward toward the surface. Their approach trapped them in a dead end, but they could hear the bleating sounds of Tara’s sheep pen. They mined upward, accidentally mining a hole directly into the sheep pen. Green sheep after green sheep tumbled into the mines through the hole. So many sheep fell through that the hole was blocked by the sheep and could not be plugged by dirt. Florian frantically tried to keep the sheep from escaping into the rest of the mines with dirt and cobblestone walls. Their frantic efforts were successful, but for naught.

The brave mayor of Tara rescued Florian from the hellish echo chamber of green sheep. However, the sheep could not be saved. Florian watched as all the green sheep were felled by The Mayor’s sword.

It was all Florian’s fault. Florian can still hear their terrified bleating.

Mayoral Coup: Electric Boogaloo
On May 5th, the mysterious entity ruling the lands was unsatisfied with the town's spawn, and so held a mayoral election to change it. The town residents have no interest in the politics of governance. Tarans believe in the equality of every citizen's contribution. The election was unattended, as usual. On that particular day, Florian decided to check on the fish in the waterfall's pool. They were so preoccupied with thoughts of the aquatic creatures, they tripped on a rock and fell into the inauguration ceremony. The mysterious entity bestowed mayoral power upon Florian and tasked them with changing the town's spawn. Florian heeded the command and swore to return mayoral power to whoever wanted it. The town's spawn now resides in a gazebo overlooking the lake. As of May 9th, Florian still holds the role of Mayor. Florian keeps offering to relinquish the role, but no one has asked for it. Florian is desperately begging. Please.

Animal husbandry
Our town has a stable that is home to multiple species of animals such as horses, cows, sheep, and chickens. These animals not only produce food, but also materials such as feathers, leather and wool. These materials can be used to make arrows, books, and decorative items.The horses also provide a faster mode of transportation. The animals in our husbandry are fed by the crops in our farm, allowing them to reproduce. If the towns crop production were to be negatively affected it could lead to the population of the husbandry to decrease. A decrease in our animal population would lead to a decrease in food for the town and a decrease in town revenue. If the climate were to change to the point where the animals could not be safely stored outdoors, we may be forced to reduce the size of our flock to fit in safer structures and we may lose animals in transit.

Forest ecosystems and economics
Near the town is a forest the residents worked to expand. The surrounding foliage is home to many different species of animals, some of which have become pets for the people of Tara. Tara is not only housed within a forest, but incorporates the forest into some of its architecture. One of the most beloved structures of Tara is the tree house representing the four pillars of our town. Drastic climate change could destroy the forest by causing natural disasters such as droughts, wild fires, and floods. The forest's destruction would negatively impact our air quality, and our water quality (should the forest be destroyed by fire). Any catastrophe that can destroy our forest would undoubtedly destroy the tree house, and with it, all hope for the town. Animals could die in the disaster decimating the forest, or die from homelessness. Since the forest provides a large amount of the town's resources, our people would not be able to farm, mine or build.

Aquaculture and river ecosystems
One of the tourist attractions of Tara is the waterfall cascading over the nearest cliff. Should the waters overflow the tributary leading to Tara’s river, the barn and nearest farms would be washed away. The river that flows through the middle of Tara is home to many different aquatic plants, fish, and octopuses. The river can be used for fishing and boating. The water not only provides home for our aquatic life, but it also serves as an irrigation system for our farm. Any change in the environment could cause the aquatic life to die if they are not able to adjust to the new living conditions. Even if only one species is affected, the whole ecosystem could be in jeopardy. Without an adequate water source, Tara would be deprived of its agriculture. A lack of farms in Tara would lead to a lack of food for the town and for the stables. Farming endeavors would be lost as a possible source of income.

Fire Risk: High
Our town is surrounded by trees and most of our buildings are either made of wood or merged with the trees themselves (tree houses). However, we are situated near water sources that could put out potential fires. Any underground buildings are safe from above-ground fires, and are made of inflammable materials such as dirt and stone.


 * Exposure of Community's Most Vulnerable: Extreme Risk
 * Vulnerable Systems Most at Risk:
 * Animal husbandry: Significant Risk, as the pens for livestock are constructed mostly of wood.
 * Forest ecosystems and economics: Extreme Risk, our trees and tree houses have no protections against forest fires.
 * Aquaculture and river ecosystems: Low Risk, water (usually, hopefully) cannot be set on fire.


 * Vulnerable Locations and Areas:
 * Forest (Highest threat)
 * Tree houses (Highest threat)
 * Barn
 * Town Hall
 * Above-ground residential buildings


 * Town Impact if Increased:
 * Increased fires would decimate Tara. Our aquaculture and river ecosystems would move from Low Risk to Significant Risk, as ash and debris can affect water quality. A decrease in water quality, and the possibility of rising temperatures, could destroy the flora and fauna of our river ecosystems. With scorched land and contaminated water, our economic systems, reliant on both wood and livestock, would collapse.

Flood Risk: Moderate
Most above-ground buildings are at the level of our water sources, and built near the banks. Any farming efforts along the river would be inundated with water and rendered useless. The barn would flood. Our underground buildings are below the lake level so they would fill with water. However, since there are so many different branches and compartments in our underground building, the water would probably dissipate quickly. Varying levels in underground buildings make for areas where the water can collect to be dealt with instead of flooding the whole structure. Our forests and tree house would be safe from flooding unless the flow was so severe trees could uproot.


 * Exposure of Community's Most Vulnerable: Significant
 * Vulnerable Systems Most at Risk:
 * Animal husbandry: Significant, our barn is located close to the tributary connecting the waterfall to the river.
 * Forest ecosystems and economics: Low, as trees are often used to slow flood waters. There is only heightened risk when the flood waters are strong enough to uproot trees.
 * Aquaculture and river ecosystems: Low, flooding only dictates the movement of the floods to follow. The water systems could be contaminated by debris.


 * Vulnerable Locations and Areas:
 * Barn
 * Town Hall
 * Above-ground residential buildings nearest water
 * Town Impact if Increased:
 * Increased floods would over-saturate the land, making farming and animal husbandry difficult, if not impossible. Any debris in the flood waters would contaminate the rivers and the soil. Contamination could destroy the creatures of the river ecosystems. Underground structures would collapse under the weight of the water in the dirt; or, without adequate time between floods for the waters to recede, the structures would fill completely. Floods would chip away at above-ground structures, but frequent flooding would make rebuilding hopeless. The tree houses and nearby forest could be felled.

Contamination Risk: Significant
In terms of illness, it is extremely rare that the people of Tara gather together in one place. Even two Tarans in town at the same time is an oddity. The residential structures are spread out a good distance from each other, so the risk of contamination in that sense is slim to none. Any further discussion of contamination will relate to pollutants. Since our town has a lot of surrounding water, and our town is made from the earth, we are at constant exposure to any contaminants lurking within those elements. Planting crops and planting trees for our forest reduces air pollution and the town's risk of airborne contamination. Tarans take care not to pollute with human-made substances. However, fires, floods, and geological catastrophes have the possibility of making the water undrinkable and the ground infertile.


 * Exposure of Community's Most Vulnerable: Significant
 * Vulnerable Systems Most at Risk: Significant
 * Animal husbandry: Significant, the animals graze on the grass of Tara, feed on some of its harvest, and drink from Tara's waterways. Any pollutants contaminating the ground or the water could cause illness in the animals. If anyone eats meat from a contaminated animal, Tarans could fall ill as well. The barn is also outdoors and open-concept, leaving our animals largely susceptible to air pollution.
 * Forest ecosystems and economics: Significant, the forests and surround foliage of Tara are rooted directly into the ground. There is no barrier between the forest ecosystem and any ground or air contaminants. Should a Taran choose to water the trees and plants of the forest from a contaminated source, then they would also be subject to water pollutants. The economics reliant on the forest would suffer. Contaminated wood could make people sick. Polluted soil and water could eradicate the forest completely.
 * Aquaculture and river ecosystems: Significant, our water systems could easily be polluted by a number of contaminants, through fire, flood, or geological catastrophe. There are no protections in place for the aquaculture and river ecosystems.
 * Vulnerable Locations and Areas:
 * Waterways (rivers, lakes, tributaries, waterfall)
 * Forest
 * Farms
 * Earth-sheltered homes
 * Underground architecture
 * Town Impact if Increased
 * Tara is heavily dependent on the natural environment. If the soil, water, and air were to become increasingly and irreparably (Tara would launch clean-up efforts if possible) polluted, life in Tara would be fundamentally different. Our animals, if left outside in polluted air, or left to eat polluted plants, would die. The creatures of the river would die. The forest ecosystem can thrive in air dense with CO2, but only to an extent, and the type of contamination is unknown. The forest would dwindle. Tarans would be forced to move all outside pursuits indoors. On occasions leaving is unavoidable, we would have to wear protective gear. Tara would undertake research efforts in purifying water for safe consumption, and scavenge for unpolluted earth to use for indoor farming. If we can establish untainted farms and a safe water source, animal husbandry could flourish again. Our river ecosystem as it is known wouldn't survive, but some creatures may live on if taken and preserved. If saplings are preserved, an indoor orchard may be able to replace our forest.

Geological Risk: Moderate
Since half of our buildings are underground, we are vulnerable to earthquakes. Underground structures could cave in. Tall buildings could topple. The trees holding our tree houses could be uprooted and fall. The cliff near Tara would become a rock-fall threat. Tara is at moderate risk since most of our buildings are above-ground and located a good distance away from the potential threat of the cliff. Our underground structures are wide, and many of the rooms have multiple entrances and exits in case one collapses. However, if trees fall, houses and residents could be injured, damaged, or crushed.


 * Exposure of Community's Most Vulnerable: Significant
 * Vulnerable Systems Most at Risk:
 * Animal husbandry: Low, the barn may be out of reach of the cliff's rockfall threat. An earthquake could cause damage to the barn, so animals may escape or be injured, but it is not a guarantee. A majority of the livestock should survive.
 * Forest ecosystems and economics: Moderate, the tree houses are close to the cliff and are thus subject to rockfall threat. Any falling rocks or ensuing landslides could topple the tree houses and cause them to collapse on residents. Trees in the surrounding forest could uproot and fall, crushing any nearby structures. However, it is unlikely every tree will fall. Tara will largely be able to maintain its forest ecosystem and related economy.
 * Aquaculture and river ecosystems: Significant, landslides from the earthquakes could block off parts of the river system and contaminate the water with debris. Rivers can take centuries to remove sediment from landslides, and lakes have no way of flushing themselves of debris. Landslides can permanently change aquatic ecosystems, which could negatively impact the aquaculture of Tara.
 * Vulnerable Locations and Areas:
 * Tree houses
 * Barn
 * Mines
 * Waterfall
 * Underground residential buildings (Highest threat)
 * Above-ground structures nearest the cliffs
 * Town Impact if Increased
 * If the frequency of earthquakes increased, the mines and Tara's underground residences would collapse. It would be unsafe to issue any efforts to rebuild, so all structures and schematics for underground construction would be abandoned. The roots of Tara's tree houses and neighboring forest would fall as a result of the consistent instability. The economic system reliant on lumber may be able to subsist for a short while on the fallen trees, but earthquakes may make replanting efforts difficult. The current barn is not built to withstand earthquakes of increasing frequency and magnitude. Our animals would be crushes, or escape from their pens never to be seen again. Animal husbandry could continue within structures built with earthquakes in mind. Aquaculture and river ecosystems would experience the most damage. Tara's waters could be permanently blocked by landslides and rockfall. Debris and sediment would continuously pile into the water system, leading to contamination. Without clean drinking water, animal husbandry and farming would suffer, regardless of any structural safeguards.

Thermal Risk: Extreme
The waters of Tara could freeze over or heat up, and both have the possibility of killing the delicate river ecosystem. Increased heat could cause droughts and evaporate the town's water sources; increased cold could freeze over the waterways. Increased heat could dry out our foliage and make the forest more susceptible to wildfires; increased cold could wither the all plants. Either ends of the temperature spectrum could wreak havoc on outdoor farming and animal husbandry.


 * Exposure of Community's Most Vulnerable: Extreme
 * Vulnerable Systems Most at Risk:
 * Animal husbandry: Significant, our barn is outdoors and open-concept, leaving our animals largely susceptible to the elements.
 * Forest ecosystems and economics: Extreme, Tara is heavily wooded, and already at Extreme Risk for fire.
 * Aquaculture and river ecosystems: Extreme, any shift in temperature can harm the plants and wild life of the waterways in Tara. River ecosystems are delicate.
 * Vulnerable Locations and Areas:
 * Waterways (rivers, lakes, tributaries, waterfall)
 * Barn
 * Farms
 * Tree houses
 * Town Impact if Increased
 * If temperatures increased or decreased drastically, outdoor farming or animal husbandry must be moved indoors or abandoned completely. Grounds scorched and dry from fire and heat, or smothered in ice from cold, are not fertile for farming or feeding the animals. In extreme heat, the earth would be ripe for wild fires with all the dried up brush and foliage. Wild fires could contaminate the water supply, destroy wooden structures, annihilate the beloved tree houses, and exterminate the flora and fauna of our river ecosystems. With scorched land and contaminated water, our economic systems, reliant on both wood and livestock, would collapse. For a short while we could attempt to peddle dry or withered wood, but without new growth to replace it, our forests would grow barren. Extreme cold could freeze our water supply. We could chip the ice and heat for water, but the fish and aquatic plants wouldn't survive the frigid temperatures.

Disaster Scenario
In the case of uncontrolled climate change, Tara would be decimated and destitute. Global warming increases the intensity and frequency of natural disasters. Fires would ravage our forests, the beloved tree house, and any other wooden structures. Floods would water-log any above-ground buildings, wash away our farms, and drown our livestock. Earthquakes would destroy mines, annihilate underground homes, and turn the cliff that houses our waterfall into a rock-fall threat. Even ignoring the possibility of natural disasters, life in Tara the way it is known now would not exist. Rising temperatures could kill our aquatic life, wither our farms, and dry up our waters. On the earth, we would have no resources to build or trade. Without farms to feed our livestock, the animals would die. If we choose to stay on the ground, we would surely die along with them. Tarans have attempted living on the land, and living beneath it. The last resort would be to move to the sky. Living up in the air will avoid most of the natural disasters that could ravage the world below. The research is highly classified, but in absolute disaster, the town of Tara and its residents will ascend into the clouds. The town will be encapsulated in a mechanical structure that enables it to fly and move about the earth. We would have limited space for farming and animal husbandry, and more research is needed on how water sources would function in such a space, but Tara and its residents will survive. As the Taran Flight project is highly classified, it will not be disclosed in our Disaster Plan. This project will only be launched in the most dire of scenarios.

Fire

 * Buildings with a significant fire risk can be rebuilt, and any wood or flammable components can be replaced with fire proof materials such as cobble stone. A bucket of water could be kept in a designated area within a 5 blocks radius of a flammable building at all times. The natural growth of trees and bushes around the perimeter of buildings could be culled and replanted at a safe distance away from town. A moat can be built around the Tara tree house so water will be readily available in case of fire, and it can act as a barrier if fire spreads by dry grass. A squadron of fire marshals could be formed to respond to incidences of fire and enforce fire safety. Fire marshals would be required to carry filled water buckets at all times. A farming initiative could begin in the underground, and stocked with water in case of evacuation.

Flood

 * Above-ground buildings could be converted into tree houses to raise them out of flooding range. Given that Tara’s other major concern is wildfires, buildings in Tara should, instead, be raised on fireproof stilts or piers. The area surrounding above-ground buildings could be landscaped to lead water away from the structures. Ditches could be dug around buildings. Detention basins could be excavated near our waters to divert any flooding away from town. Diversion canals could be dug to lead water into temporary holding ponds. Planting more trees and creating wetlands could absorb excess water and impede the spread of any overflow. Flood walls could be built surrounding the banks of the rivers, lakes, tributaries, and waterfall plunge pool. However, if flood walls are built, farming efforts near the water would have to be moved inland, and a new irrigation system instituted. More bends in the rivers and tributaries could be created to delay downstream flooding. Forging more bends may also require moving riverbank farming efforts.

Disaster Plan
The worst-case scenario for the future of our town would involve wildfires. Tara is nearly surrounded by forest. Fire could easily wipe out our farms, livestock, and above-ground structures. Fire travels quickly, and immediately consumes everything in its path. The tree house of Tara would perish in the blaze. There are very few precautions one can take to fire-proof a tree. The tree house symbolizes the strength of our town, and if the tree house falls, our people may never recover.

Smaller fires will be put out with water buckets by citizens or possible fire marshals. Large, sweeping wildfires will be met with a call for evacuation to the underground. If there is enough time, citizens will be asked to evacuate the livestock. If not, all members must move underground immediately. The lives of Tara citizens take precedence over the tree house. We can only hope the possible moat will be enough to stop the flames from reaching the pillars of Tara. While the tree house may not survive the worst of the fire, at least in the underground our citizens will not have to watch its destruction.