Out of the 3 elven cities whose name roughly translates "City of Spiders" Sylm Aranae is the smallest, the most easily accessible, and the least dangerous. — Jasper Cameron, Leader of the Bronze Ravens.
The Elven port-town of Sylm Aranae is located on the border of the southern ocean and the Ghostspider Forest. Its architecture is almost indistinguishable from the surrounding coast, a wonderful blend of wave carved archways giving way to tree-like buildings that blend in with the surrounding forest. a mesmerizing Elven city located on the edge of the Ghostspider Forest.
From above the cities streats resemble the graceful spiral of a spiders web. At street level a similar effect is obtained using the barnches and vines to create a network of arching sky-bridges. The overall effect gives the city an ethereal beauty, especially durring the seasonal twilight that is winter. The spiraling street leads to the central square and the sacred tree that represents the core of the elves religion and their connection to nature and their ancestors.
There are only 2 elven guilds in the Sylm Aranae, the traders guild and the
Silkweavers Guild, which can only be found here, thanks to the proximity to Ghostspider Forest and the
Ghostspider Silk it provides. The remote nature and small guild presence makes the cities leadership fairly straightforward. A council of 3 rules the town. The Elder, and the heads of the guilds.
While there is some protection on the seaward side, mostly in the form of camoflage there are sea chains capable of blocking off the harbor to all vessels with a draft more than a kayak. That combined with specially treated silk nets capable of fouling any rigging and the seaward approach is more secure than most walled cities in the rest of the world.
On the land there is no wall, as is the elven tradition the edges of the town simply giving way to the surrounding lands. However due to the nature of the Ghostspider forest and its denizens there is an extensive scout and lookout network the ensure than citizens are safe.
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