Bysaes Tyl

Bysaes Tyl is the only city of elven creation within the Dwendalian Empire.

Description
The city is built at the northern edge of the Pearlbow Wilderness in Zemni Fields, partially on the boreal forest floor and partially in a massive network of treehouses connected by elevated bridges and winding stairways. The surface streets (the Rough, or Talan) are made of smooth stones set in packed earth, enchanted to warm the pathways and melt the frequent snow, and are walled. The ground-level structures, including large tutoring halls, are tucked between rocks and the large trees, and nearly all of them are built from pine and other local timber, incorporating "designs resembling a bowed arch rising to an apex." Staircases (the Shrouds, or Halya) spiral around and within trees, leading to the elevated walkways of the forest canopy level. Bysaes Tyl is protected by a tall wooden wall that surrounds the city.

Society
The elves of Bysaes Tyl are a close-knit community, having become so in the difficult years they spent trying to survive the cold climate of the Pearlbow Wilderness, shortly after the city was founded. Many were born in Molaesmyr before it fell, and see themselves as guardians of elven culture within the Empire. As a result, while they have shared some arcane practices and relics they took from their city with imperial interests, they have withheld some others while also trying to keep their own music, art, and crafts alive.

Demographics
The vast majority of the population is elven (83%), with 7% humans and 10% other races. Because the city sees itself as an elven cultural center, they scorn half-elves as the children of traitors to their heritage.

Government
The city is ruled by the Ring of Three, a group of elven elders, technically under a starosta appointed by the Dwendalian king, with whom they reluctantly cooperate. Several high elven houses also work with the Ring of Three to preserve their culture under imperial rule. The three elven nobles comprising the current Ring of Three are Allusus Dawyne, Gwey Yethneiros and Amra Balleei. The starosta as of 835 PD, Uther Prent, is known for his prejudice against elves and it is suspected this is why the king appointed him; the Ring of Three tend to work around him through careful flattery and other politicking.

Defense
There are both local and assigned Crownsguard present. Defense training takes place in cleared areas of the surrounding forest. Crime is rare, although as of 835 PD the Myriad has reached out to the Ring of Three, offering to help them further deceive Starosta Prent.

The Rough
The Rough, or Talan in Elvish, is the ground level of Bysaes Tyl. As it often incorporates the trees of the surrounding forest, it is vaguely octogonal in shape.

The Shrouds
The Shrouds, or Halya in Elvish, are the spiraling staircases that lead to the treehouse level in the forest canopy.

History
Not long after The Calamity, the prominent elven society on Wildemount was the powerful nation of Molaesmyr, in what is now the Greying Wildlands. Through some "strange, not entirely understood cataclysm," the city fell and the surrounding forest, now known as the Savalirwood but then known as the Veluthil, was corrupted. The elves scattered in two directions. Some of them went northward and joined Uthodurn, and the others fled westward and founded Bysaes Tyl.

While the elves were able to build their city undiscovered for many years, the Dwendalian crown eventually became aware of their independent city-state and presented them with an ultimatum: accept Dwendalian rule peacefully, or by force. The Ring of Three convened and agreed not to fight but to submit and follow imperial laws and pay imperial taxes, under the condition that they could maintain some level of cultural autonomy within their city.