Yios

Yios, the City of Flowing Light is an orcish city in Aeshanadoor in Marquet and capital of the region. Known as a historically erudite society and considered by some to be the "Marquesian peak of collegiate study", it competes against Ank'Harel to be considered the center of scholarship on the continent.

Description
Yios crowns a hill in the middle of Lake Koron, in the Gloomed Jungles of Aeshanadoor, Marquet. The city is built adapting to the shape of the land, twisting and curve around the landscape. The lake surrounding Yios glows due to bioluminescent creatures in it, and has three tiers, created by dams. The city itself also has three tiers, and has many canals running through it. These canals can be traversed via a free ferry system that have multiple means in which they can transport and can be accessed via docks set up on all of the three Rings in several quantities.

It has sustained a substantial damage during the Apex War with the Stratos Throne in the Taloned Highlands, but was mostly restored by 843 PD.

Traveling to Yios over land is difficult without a guide. From Bassuras, Yios is about a week of land travel through the Gloomed Jungles. A safer trip from Jrusar to Yios, avoiding the Hellcatch Valley, is about 1100 miles and is expected to take about 11 days.

Dominion Ring
The Dominion Ring takes up the northern and the tallest part of Yios. It is the center of education, the heart of governance rulling the entire region of Aeshanadoor, and the residence for the most well-to-do people of the city.

The ring divided into two tiers: a lower neighborhood and a higher neighborhood perched on a hill that can be accessed via a series of switchback staircases. On the lower neighborhood, there are a blend of peculiar homes and larger estates.


 * Aydinlan Seminary: The most prominent university of Yios, housing the Omen Archive and one of the largest arcane telescopes on Exandria. It located to the southwest of the Seat of Valor.
 * Rose Marble Amphitheater: The place of major events, contests, presentations, debates, as well as, weddings and parties for the ones who can afford them.
 * Seat of Valor: A massive palace to the far northern side of the ring and the seat of the Court of the Lambent Path.
 * Vigil Quarter
 * Ebenold Kai's house: A heavily trapped, two-storied structure located in the lower neighborhood of the quarter. and the usual base of operations of the Grim Verity in Yios.
 * Yios Library of the Cobalt Soul

Endeavor Ring
The Endeavor Ring is the central, the middle part of Yios, and the commercial portion of the city.


 * Tatrielle Conservatory
 * Lakecap Skyport and Lounge: Skyport with a connected inn, located in the middle ring of the city.
 * The eastward dock district contains three primary docks that start beyond or alongside the Eastward Bridge. It uses arcane elevation system to lift ships out of the water and bring them up onto the upper area of the lake. At least one of the docks have multicolored lighthouses.
 * Eastward Bridge
 * Tri-Bridge Plaza: A square in the middle of the city sitting atop of a hill, which can be accessed via two side bridges and one north bridge.
 * A statue of Exemplar Mani Drogidon: A hero involved in the Apex War who sided with the Court of the Lambent Path.
 * Trudge the Glimmer: Pawn shop
 * Traverse Rarities: Imported goods shop
 * A garden of a moderate size on the western side of the Ring, just outside of the Tri-Bridge Plaza. It features several benches and stone sculptures.

Venture Ring
The Venture Ring is the southmost part of Yios and the smallest by area among them, sprawling for a number of urban neighborhoods at the base of the waterfall drop running past it into the Beryl Sea. It contains and warehouses


 * Radiant Harbor: The key harbor for ships that travel southward to the the Lapis Channel and to and from the Beryl Sea beyond.
 * Fishing docks

Demographics
When Bells Hells visited Yios, they noticed that about a third to a half of the poplation appeared to be orcish, half-orcish or uniya.

Notable people

 * Hondir, a goblin researcher who graduated the Aydinlan Seminary and specializes in leylines and Ruidus. He is a member of the Grim Verity.
 * Landon Kreshawl, a local guide.
 * Liliana Temult
 * Roe Estani, an astronomist and friend to House Lumas who retired to Heartmoor Hamlet.
 * Kadija Sumal, a professor at the Aydinlan Seminary who was involved in researching dreams.
 * Tairan, a professor at the Aydinlan Seminary who started his career at the Dayal Hall and moved to Yios around 828 PD.
 * Preston Drodelon, formerly a lord in Vasselheim.

Culture
Yiosan kind of cheesesteak is apparently named after the city of Yios.

Background
Yios was founded before 590 PD. It experienced some attacks during the Apex War, and as of 843 PD, was still in the process of rebuilding the damage, as a part of the Phoenix Project.

Campaign 3: Bells Hells
Bells Hells first became interested in traveling to Yios when Imogen found a study from the Aydinlan Seminary pertaining to her powers, and which mentioned her mother. It was also noted as a place where FCG might learn more about himself, as it was a place of arcane learning., and as a place where Orym might learn more about the Gray Assassins from the Grim Verity.

After Eshteross's death, Bells Hells inherited his skyship, the Silver Sun, and left for Yios. Eventually, after a brief stop in the Gloomed Jungles, they reached the city and docked at the Lakecap Skyport and Lounge. They drank, gambled, and stayed the night, and hired the services of Landon Kreshawl the next day to show them around. He led them to the Aydinlan Seminary, showing them notable sights along the way. Upon reaching the seminary, they encountered Shithead, the bird that had once terrorized FCG back in Bassuras.

Trivia

 * The Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn mentions an orcish city known for "mathematically immaculate architecture", possibly referring to Yios.
 * There is a local mob group called Baneful Brood and probably led by an individual named Orgreo.