Aelara

Aelara is a city-state on the eastern coast of Lysara in the fictional world of Eldoria. It serves as a hub of trade and learning, renowned for glassmaking and arcane crafts. The polity maintains limited autonomy within a loose confederation of neighboring realms.

The city lies at the mouth of the River Lyth, with limestone cliffs and a protected harbor. Its temperate climate supports year-round commerce.

Founded by the seafaring Aelari, Aelara grew as a mercantile and scholarly center. It joined the Lysaran Confederation during regional reform and later secured autonomy through a guild charter.

Governance is led by the Conclave, a seven-member council elected for five-year terms, with a rotating chair. The Guild Charter gives merchant and craft guilds substantial policy influence.

The economy concentrates on glass production, ceramics, textiles, and clockwork devices, with the Glass Harbor as a major trading hub. Cultural life centers on the Lumen Archive and the Solar Theater; the annual Festival of Light honors craft and inquiry.

The population is diverse, with humans as the majority and notable communities of elves and dwarves. Access to education and guild membership shapes status; religious life is pluralistic.

Notable sites include the Lattice Citadel, Glass Harbor, and the Tower of Winds. Current issues include coastal piracy, border tensions with inland polities, and debates over magical regulation and guild privileges.