Arcanos

Little more than a port with a name, Thay pretty much exists as a place to bring goods to and from the College of Mages, the University Arcanus, floating above the city. The Azzam School for the Study of the Arcane, also known as Arcanos, is said to be built upon a font of hidden arcane power. Centuries ago, a wandering mage set up a tower there, to study that power. He agreed to teach a local orphan, who turned out to have an aptitude for the arts. This arrangement grew, one student after the next, students becoming masters, through the years until today. Now the floating halls of the University dominate the skies, and an entire city of workers and aspirants live their lives in the shadows of its studies.

The college has established itself as a force of stability over the centuries, remaining strictly neutral in any and all conflicts. Individual mages, however, are free to throw their lot behind any cause they want, though it is generally understood that their main loyalty is expected to be to the college if it comes down to it.

While Arcanos may seem a tempting target, it has managed to avoid that simply by being the only major source of both magical labor and magical training available. The sheer usefulness of magic means that no potential enemy is willing to risk attacking, as it is known that every other ruler would rush to the University's defense.

Over the years the school grew beyond its floating walls and spread to engulf Thay. After a popular Magister ran for mayor of Thay in 1150, he merged the two, calling the new arcanocratic city Arcanos.