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Illian
Illian is a strong nation on the Sea of Storms. It has grown rich on the trade that flows into the nation by river and sea. Illian has a very solid relationship with neighboring Altara. It was Illian that protected Altara during the Whitecloak War, seeking to maintain Altara as a buffer between itself and Amadicia. Illian is not governed solely by the King. Illian also has an advisory Council of Nine, made up of nine nobles. Additionally, the Assemblage, also an advisory entity, is made up of the richest merchants and traders in the kingdom. The King and the Council of Nine have struggled for power since the nation of Illian was established. The first King told the first Council that they could have any palace, so long as it was not larger than his own. So the Council proceeded to erect a palace identical to the King’s, but smaller in every dimension by one foot. These two palaces, standing on opposite sides of the great Square of Tammaz, exemplify the power struggle that is the Illianer government. Of course, the Assemblage also seeks to add to its own power. This power struggle makes the Illianer government slow and ineffective, leaving most Illianers to live as they wish. The city of Illian is as large as other capital cities, like the capitals of Andor and Cairhien. Unlike most of these other capitals, however, it has no large defensive wall. Instead, the towers and palaces of Illian simply rise out of the marshy grassland the city was built on. A system of canals crisscrosses the city, facilitating trade. One legendary item of history has special ties with Illian - the Horn of Valere. The first Hunt of the Horn in Illian was called between the Trolloc Wars and the War of the Hundred Years. Another Hunt was recently called in Illian, and heroes came to seek the Horn or at least a place in history.
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