Taernsby

Taernsby is a small village located in south-west Serrona which is part of the Duchy of New Domatia in The Vulperium. It has no relation to the village of Transarxa or its previous inhabitants.

Founding
The founding of Taernsby begins with the bard Oberon's flight from Ahalia following the Agoge wall crisis just before the Ahalian civil war. Growing tired and embittered by the warmongering of the military and the lack of transparency from King Theo Zevedeos in affairs of the state Oberon contacted Maple the Baroness of New Domatia in the hopes of securing a haven outside of Ahalia. Oberon had previously encountered Maple through the Dinas Pact and had visited Baicalite and Bavos previous to his migration. Having received permission to become a citizen of New Domatia, Oberon closed up his stores in Dinas and Kekrifalia and began the long task of moving his belonging to New Domatian territory.

During one of the several trips to transfer resources to his new homestead he encountered a group of travelers consisting of Cas, Decap, and Speedy who were being harried by a local thief to south-western Serrona. Having the means and supplies to protect them Oberon offered them sanctuary at his homestead now realizing it would likely develop into a settlement at this rate. The group assisted in the transfer of supplies and an initial building was constructed in the territory that would become known as Taernsby. This building acted as a residence and storage for the villagers as they began to shape the land around them and construct other building for their settlement. After a short period of expansion the bandit Dlewa returned demanding that the settlement provide tribute to prevent violence against the town. Oberon appealed to him by suggesting that he build a residence in Taernsby as well as a place to store his loot as he didn't seem to be much interested in harming others but rather collecting interesting and exotic items. Dlewa accepted and joined the village providing stashes of loot collected from various abandoned settlements in the south of Eldham.

Domatian Rebellion
Shortly after the walls around Taernsby were erected a group of dissidents built a fortress to the west of the village between Taernsby and Baicalite and began plotting a coup of the Domatian leader Maple. These Clockists (as they referred to themselves) began constructing military fortifications of bamboo mazes and berry bush strings to slow assaulting forces. Both Baicalite and Taernsby began fortifying their borders to deter the harassment of the Clockists. Members of the settlement took part in several reconnaissance missions in order to assess the strength of the rebellious cult. After the terms for the conflict were decided to be a battle between the rebel fortress and Baicalite, Taernsby dedicated a space next to its walls as a barracks for loyalist forces which was to be inhabited by allied Helosian troops but their forces never arrived. Taernsby was spared from the conflict but the Bard Oberon was a participant in the battle providing explosives for breaching the Clockists' outer defenses. With the defeat of the Clockists, Taernsby removed their barracks hoping to never need to garrison soldiers in the future.

Joining the Vulperium
Following the defeat of the dissident forces to their west Taernsby took part in the deconstruction of their fortress dismantling their traps and defenses in order to beautify the plateau east of Baicalite. Shortly thereafter New Domatia was annexed by the Vulperium. In order to increase foot traffic to Taernsby in order to develop the local shops a road was constructed connecting Taernsby to the main highway that runs from Baicalite east through the (at the time newly settled) village of New Sybada. An additional connection between said highway and Vulpinia Route 1 was constructed by workers from Taernsby in order to join New Domatia with its new rulers as a sign of unity.

Geography
Taernsby is located in south-west Serrona in the Duchy of New Domatia in the Vulperium. It was constructed south of the Zaboo river and sits east of the Baicalite flat. It is nestled between a series of terracotta and dirt plateaus that act as natural defenses for the village. Taernsby is part of what can be considered a savannah plateau biome. The weather in Taernsby is predominately warm and dry with occasional rainstorms allowing for crop growth. Acacia trees and wheat grow naturally in the area as well as mustard seed being the local spice.

Politics
Taernsby is a isolationist commune. It is very selective with its citizens and does not invite new members often preferring to minimize the number of citizens both providing and consuming its resources. After Oberon's dissatisfaction with the running of Ahalia, Taernsby has taken up a policy of only involving themselves in limited political discourse and conflict choosing to offer support only in force when their home nation is threatened. Otherwise Taernsby's support is purely supplies to those they deem in need. Despite its choice to have a limited population it does welcome guests and the citizens are quite hospitable enjoying sharing the fruits of their labors with passerby and sojourners who find themselves in south-west Serrona.

Taernsby is governed mostly by consensus of the group though Oberon is technically titled as Ealdorman in affairs that go beyond internal just as a figure other settlements and nations can recognize as a leader.

Religion
Several members of Taernsby consider themselves members of a chthonic cult dedicated to a deity known as the Maiden of the Terracotta whom they believe was responsible for shaping and providing the bounty of their settled home. The Maiden rose from the earth fully formed and shaped the mesas with her hands bestowing a bounty of terracotta into them which the citizens of Taernsby have gratefully collected and use both in trade and to adorn their village. A doctrine of 16 tenets were adopted to correspond with the 16 possible forms of glazed terracotta.

They are:


 * 1) The community survives only through the cooperation of its members.
 * 2) Family is determined by those willing to stand with you through hardship not by bloodline.
 * 3) Every person has their own role that they are able to decide for themselves.
 * 4) A change that would affect the community will be decided by the community.
 * 5) The desire of that which belongs to another will only bring ruin to all involved.
 * 6) A hand should always be offered to those in need if resources are plentiful.
 * 7) If resources are scarce a hand should be offered all the same.
 * 8) Trust the actions of another more than their words.
 * 9) Betrayal of the community is the highest crime one can commit.
 * 10) The rewards of one's labor belong to the worker first, then the community.
 * 11) Replant what you reap and reap what you sow.
 * 12) Joy comes from sharing with those that support you.
 * 13) It is never weak to offer mercy.
 * 14) All are entitled to their beliefs.
 * 15) A person's skin does not determine their value.
 * 16) All may freely enter and leave the covenant of these tenets at their own volition.

Industry
Taernsby has several businesses including a communally run terracotta shop located in the original settlement building which provides both glazed and unglazed terracotta for export. Taernsby businesses include:


 * Tom's Bistro, the village tavern stocking several kinds of brews. Run by Decap.
 * Katie's Cafe and Bakery, a cafe and food stall that stocks baked goods and non-alcoholic beverages. Run by Katiey22.
 * La Fromagerie, a cheese store stocking both simple and more potent exotic cheeses. Run by ODHTate.
 * The Black Magic Trading Company, a enchantment and written by store moved from the island of Kekrifalia when Taernsby was settled. Run by the bard Oberon.
 * The Garden of Salvation, a bar hidden in Taernsby that requires a password to gain entrance. It stocks more powerful and exotic brews for the more discerning customer.

Additionally Taernsby has a functioning apiary and is working towards trading candles as well as a vibrant farming scene working to produce spices for trade.

Art
Due to Taernsby being a relatively new settlement there has not been a lot of time dedicated to producing works of art. That being said due to the large supplies of terracotta in close proximity to the village many buildings both civil and private are adorned with glazed terracotta murals and floring to add vibrancy and color to its structures. A statue dedicated to the village's patron deity the Maiden of Terracotta stands in the center of the village's business core. She is depicted as a motherly woman holding up a glazed terracotta bowl filled with lava for glazing more terracotta. Additionally a statue of an elephant known as Jumanji acts as a fountain in the settlement's park. Jumanji is a familiar of the maiden and appears in myths surrounding her. Taernsby also is home to a stone amphitheater that the citizens constructed in order to hold performances. Currently the amphitheater has not seen any but the Ealdorman Oberon is working to complete a comedic work known as The Fall of King Swan (or the Swan Comedy) to be performed in Taernsby.