Lys

Lys is an island city located to the south of the Disputed Lands, historically one of the three powers to struggle over that territory alongside Tyrosh and Myr. Lys is located on a tropical island known widely as a paradise, populated by palm trees and fruit-bearing trees, surrounded by clear blue water through which many species of colorful fish swim.

People
The Lyseni are widely regarded as among the most beautiful in the known world. The blood of Old Valyria still runs strong here-- rare are those of Andal appearance, and even the smallfolk are possessed of silver hair and pale purple eyes. Not unaware of this, the citizens of Lys oftentimes put much time into their appearance, curling and perfuming their hair and making every effort to accentuate their natural gifts.

Lyseni speak a dialect of bastard Valyrian, though in contrast to their neighbors in Tyrosh and Myr it is known widely as a lovely, flowing language pleasing to the ear.

Economy
Like Tyrosh and Myr, Lyseni value mercantile professions as more honorable than spilling blood on a battlefield. Thus, wealth matters more than birth to the Lyseni in many cases.

As in the Tyrosh, the ratio of slaves to freemen is three-to-one, though Lys is particularly famous for its bed slaves-- the majority of the slaves in Lys are in the infamous pillow houses, and the Lyseni are known to go to great lengths to find only the most comely slaves.

The chief exports from Lys are their own vintages of red and white wine, for which there is some demand. Second to them are the myriad poisons brewed in Lys, notably the Strangler and the Tears of Lys. Magnificent tapestries are woven in the city that fetch a high price, and sweet perfumes are brewed in the city and exported across the world as well.

Government
Lys is ruled by a conclave of magisters that elects a First Magister, the de facto ruler of the city. A secondary important elected position is that of Gonfaloniere, the commander of all the Lysene military. Gonfaloniere is often a post occupied by magisters, and typically is considered a step towards becoming First Magister in the future.

Religion
Like many of the Free Cities, religion is not closely regulated in Lys. There are temples and shrines to many of the myriad gods of Essos, and no religion is noticeably larger than any other. There are temples of R'hllor and to Trade itself in Lys, notably.

Recent Events
Owing to the successive crises facing Lys-- first an interminable war with Tyrosh and Lys, and now more urgently the Braavosi conquest of the Free Cities, the Gonfaloniere of Lys has grown almost more powerful than the First Magister. The First Magister is technically the ruler, but the constant fighting and the Lysene victories in the Disputed Lands granted a high degree of prestige and wealth to the Gonfaloniere.

For the moment all parties are united by their foe to the north, Braavos, but the post-war conflict will almost certainly be between the holders of these two offices. Many expect the First Magister and Gonfaloniere to try and oust each other from their respective posts the moment the war with Braavos ends.