Avalon

Avalon is a small land bounded on the landward side by Havar and Arden. Its only settlement is a great walled city on an island in the River Usk, joined by a bridge to the farms, plains and woods around it, and the entire population lives inside. It has grown steadily since its founding sometime after the First Age.

Legend says the Ruler of the Lost Kingdom fled Atlantis by sea with survivors of the cataclysm and, helped by the elves of Ys, built a smaller but equally splendid copy of old Atlantis here. In thanks, the first King wed an elven princess, and her descendants, now including much of the high nobility, keep elven traits: fair skin, fine features and a 25% chance of any elven racial ability. Avalon's culture blends Atlantean and elven ways and is as advanced as any known. Its people are high-minded and a little proud; marrying outsiders other than elves or Atlantean nobles is thought scandalous.

The official faith honors Atlas and Poseidon as patrons while acknowledging the Old Gods and lesser deities, and the King keeps priests and astrologers as advisors. Besides Astrology and Divine Magic, Sorcery, High Magic and Alchemy are widely practiced. Below the royal family ranks the knighthood, the Order of the Grand Circle, named for the old Atlantean practice of gathering the King's Council around a round table so no one takes precedence, actually an open ring so servants, musicians and jesters can work in the middle. The King leads the Order as a comrade in arms; every member is a Paladin sworn to defend Avalon and spread the 'New Atlantis'.

Order members command a small, effective army made up only of fully armored heavy cavalry with lance, greatsword and mace, which patrols the countryside and sends out small bands against Abor, beasts, ogres and goblins. A small navy consists wholly of ships bought from Ys. Avalon hopes to unite the world under a New Atlantis through diplomacy, trade and moral example rather than war, and the current King wants a voluntary union, not an empire. So far it has made little headway: Havar shows little interest beyond limited trade, and Cymbrian corsairs force Avalon's ships to stay near home, with only limited help from Ys.