The Upper City of Taloh literally is that:up. The city is located in the only grove of Ironwood trees known in the world. Incredibly tall and large, these trees are virtually impervious to fire and their trunks form the base of the Upper City, which is built entirely upon the giant branches and on ‘floating’ platforms, roads and walkways that can be used to travel from tree to tree, moving all across the city hundreds of feet from the ground.
The Lower City is where all goods are recieved and connects to the Upper via a series of walkways and descending ‘bridges’ sturdy enough even for wagons, horses, etc to travel upon them up into the trees.
In the event of attack, all of these walkways could be drawn back upwards, using the concentrated efforts of powerful Shapers, teams of which are working on the trees of the city, caring for and strengthening them constantly. The walkways might also be cut off and allowed to crash to the ground- but only by harming the tree, so that would be done only if there were no other option.
Taloh is NOT a city for anyone with a fear of heigths.
In addition to the Ironwood trees, a few other details of T’aquar life bear mentioning: Although deadwood is burnt for heat when it is cold, it is done so only under controlled circumstances and fire safety is something every elf child learns from an early age.
Light is provided by lumenescent fungi which grow in the treetops and are harvested and put into lanterns or globes. These come in a range of colors, from white for a pure clear light to read by, to those with a soft rosey or yellowish tint. Globes of these are strung all through the treetops and gardens of Taloh and they do not dim nor go out with rain, although they are replentished with each cycle of the moon.
Taloh is home to the Fine Rose Inn, which has the only ‘human’ style tavern, used mostly by homesick merchants or lesser diplomats, but for the most part it is a ‘when in Rome’ situation and foreigners in T’aloh and across the elvin nation will have to acceed to local customs.
Rather than taverns, the elves of T’aquar have places called 'kosatan'. You can get food , tea, and spirits there, and although elves are not fond of beer or ale, if you are ‘in the know’ in Taloh, you might be able to get some.
The kosatan also include platforms for viewing the moon and the changing of the leaves in autumn, listening to music or stories, impromptu poetry contests and dancing- all social pleasantries highly prized by the locals.
Most travellers to the capitol city come up the river and into the Quays, then ascend into the Upper City if only to see the sights, although all government business and a good portion of trade agreements occur there as well.
