Ozais

Ozais is a fictional city-state in a high fantasy setting used in literature and tabletop games. It sits on a natural harbor at the edge of the eastern archipelago, near major sea routes linking inland realms to distant markets. The city is known for its intricate canals, chalky limestone streets, and a waterfront that shapes much of daily life.

Ozais traces its origins to a cluster of trading settlements established during the early medieval era. Through control of maritime routes and skilled shipyards, it developed into a regional commercial hub. The city weathered wars with inland principalities and piracy along the coast, eventually stabilizing under a merchant-led oligarchy.

Government is a merchant oligarchy known as the Council of Seaborne Elders, elected from leading guilds and shipyards. The magistracy enforces civil law and adjudicates commercial disputes. The economy centers on port commerce, shipbuilding, and light craft such as glassware and textiles, with imports of spices, timber, and metals.

Society is cosmopolitan, with residents of diverse backgrounds; languages common include the local commercial lingua franca and several coastal dialects. Education centers include a guild academy and a maritime college. Annual festivals celebrate the sea and trade, with markets featuring music, dance, and public readings of merchant logs.

Geography includes a protected harbor, a ring of defensive walls, and a network of artificial canals. Notable sites include the Dock Ward, the Lighthouse of Vethra, and the Archive of Wax Tablets, a library preserving mercantile records. Ozais' culture emphasizes pragmatism and communal stewardship of the harbor.