Ys

Ys is a small island kingdom lying in the Straits of Ys, which separate Alba from the Mediterranean shore and join the River Oceanus to the Hyperborean Sea further east. The island itself is quite big, but its fame rests on the magical city of white towers that stands on a rocky spire offshore in the middle of a great bay. The triangular city's three walls shield it from the tides and storms of the straits and run out into the water, where huge floodgates can close to protect the harbors from storms or corsairs. Its people are the High Elves, stately, dignified, brave and wise; wary non-elves call them haughty, but in truth they simply care little about outside affairs.

Ys owes its power, riches and prestige to its fame as a trading market and safe harbor, yet unlike Sheba or Tharshesh it has few merchant ships. The elves put little effort into trade themselves but attract foreign merchants with their position, superb harbor and support for commerce and travel, and their shipyards are a major source of first-class vessels for others. Close ties with Avalon, Havar, Ku, Broceliande and Tharshesh bring wealth that enriches crown and citizens. A small, efficient navy of sleek, fast ships, backed by Hesperian vessels, patrols the straits against Cymbrian, Ska and independent pirates.

Only elves may live on the island permanently. Entry to the city is usually limited to island residents and the crews of trading ships or Hesperian warships; scholars, diplomats, famous heroes, royal guests and others with very good reason may be allowed in, but such permission is tightly controlled. The city is the only major settlement; fortresses guard the coasts, and the parklike interior holds a few farms and many reserves for hunting or quiet contemplation of nature. Though populous, Ys is never crowded. The city is massive yet graceful, blending efficiency and artistry into architecture thought unmatched in Mediterranea, perhaps the world: High Elven in style with Atlantean and other touches, built mainly of marble, with metal-plated roofs and interior panels of fine wood, often from the Cedar Forests of Zin.

Ys imports luxuries and the best weapons and gear. Its army is small but superbly equipped, with Atlantean steel standard for all arms and armor; the gladius is the usual weapon, most troops wear partial armor, and the Royal Guard wears full plate of the finest Atlantean steel. Giant catapults on the walls keep enemy ships off. Elven mercenaries often reinforce island garrisons and ships, though never the city garrison, and are richly paid, but misconduct is punished harshly, since Ys wants protectors, not brigands.

A King and Queen of equal power rule, but the trade guilds are very influential, advising the Crown and carrying out its decisions. Each guild's Guildmaster brings its complaints and ideas to the Royal Family and keeps members loyal, and the monarchs heed the guilds wisely on matters within their expertise. The people are well treated and strongly support guilds and Crown. The upper classes devote themselves to leisure and hobbies, above all the magical sciences; many aristocrats are wizards, and several small institutes in the city teach elves nearly every major field of magic. Religion is a shifting jumble of foreign and new cults that rise and fall with fashion; the law currently recognizes 121 deities, the most popular being gods of luck, power, wealth, magic and fertility, and tolerance is the norm.