"She parted the stars and spoke unto her Chosen Children, and she said unto them "I am thy Mother and you shall know me as Aeyd" and the stars bowed to her grace and the winds sang her name, "And unto you a gift of myself I shall grant for your obedience as my Children" and the oceans grew silent and the night turned to day in her presence, "A Burning Star I will send to lead to your Home, and there you will build a temple in my honor, and this temple will be Our home, as Mother and Child, Together as One." And the day turned back to night and oceans swelled with her majesty. Her Children thus prepared themselves and on the night she spoke a start flew across the sky with great flames that lit the way, and so the Children followed to this island she crafted for them alone."
A city as old as the island it sits on, Aeydria is the most ancient settlement in Eios. The first Elves appeared on the island around the year 100, sent their by their goddess Aeyd to build a grand temple in her honor. In exchange for this task she granted them long lives extending their age by many dozens of years. The Aeyd Sylvan build many small boats and left the coast of the mainland for the island, following the Burning Star that guided them. Once on the island they began their task by clearing the land and hewing massive marble stones found around the land. Once the temple was completed she granted her chosen people the gift, extending their lives to several hundred years instead of several decades. By granting this gift she imparted them with a piece of herself, for each of the Aeyd Sylvan would carry her blessing.
Only Aeyd Sylvan Elvens are citizens of the city, but numerous people may claim a form of permanent residency if they find favor with the Aeydrian Council who rules the city. Even the lowest class of Aeyd Sylvan are above those who are not themselves Aeyd Sylvan.
Aeydria is ruled by the Aeydrian Council and the M'Aeyd. The M'Aeyd is the Mother herself, reborn every 200 years and the ultimate ruler over the city. She is the Goddess herself on Eios and even the Aeydrian Council will bow to her. The Council is formed of 200 members, each representing a district of the massive city. Most issues are ruled on by them but the M'Aeyd reserves her right as the Mother of Eios to rule. A select few non-citizens are permitted to sit in on the Council but are forbidden from taking part unless specifically invited to speak. The most common discourse is of the usual issues a city state would face, that being taxes and legal proceedings each month. In times of War the M'Aeyd will call forth a single Aeyd Sylvan to be her First Son and he will rule the armies and over the council for a set period time.
The island city is surrounded by towering walls or imposing cliffs that prevent even the strongest armies from safely landing on the shores. Should pirates and scoundrels come near the island to plunder merchant vessels they will be contested by the Khi'Drigar, feared and respected knights who ride terrifying winged serpents across the sky and sea.
Phyreglass mined from deep beneath the island brings in a healthy profit to the city, but nearly all of their wealth comes from the taxes imposed on traders who stop here. While none of the fees or taxes are high, they are imposed everywhere. A merchant vessel comes to port and is taxed for use of the dock, then a tax is levied on the goods brought into the city, after which a tax is levied on all transactions in the city, and should they wish to trade on the island a further tax is paid for the permission of the Aeyd Council. A thousand small taxes and levies brings in wealth unseen anywhere else in world.
The city spans the entirety of the island and is practically impenetrable. Massive freshwater wells satisfy the thirst of the city and food is provided by the sea and traders. Collections of terraced farms on the edge of the island grow unique fruits and vegetables that the mainland covets, at exceptionally high prices. The harbors are the largest known and are said to be able to hold all the fleets that have been built and then some, of course this is an exaggeration but no ship has ever been turned away due to lack of space.
The massive metropolis is one of the best market places known to man due to its location between the mainland and the rest of the world. Strong currents and treacherous waters to the north and south force nearly every vessel to pass the city and many traders opt to meet here instead of journeying the extra two to three weeks to reach the mainland. Everything from spices to weapons can be had here, the only exception being that of slaves who are immediately freed when found by the Aeyd Sylvan.
A renaissance of architecture pairs with the ancient history of the city leaving a mishmash of styles of structures. A Grecian Bathhouse may be tucked away among Tudor tenements, themselves surrounded by Baroque Merchant houses. High reaching towers in the Sylvan style stretch into the sky above the city housing noble houses and arcane schools.
Cultivated terrace farms provide food alongside a vast fishing economy around the island. Fresh water springs rise up deep from under the island city. What the city may lack they trade for with the vast number of merchants that flock to the city. Phyreglass is always in high demand and can be traded for nearly anything one would want, even a noble title it is rumored.
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