Lerelei

Location of Lerelei within Manos

**Lerelei** is a major city on the island republic of Manos. Located on the northernmost coast of the island, it is the largest city in Manos and serves as the unofficial, *de facto* capital of the republic for the purposes of trade and commerce. Lerelei is a pirate haven, which remains mostly out of the reach of the Manosi central central government, located much further inland at the *de jure* capital of Kalau.

## History

The city that would become Lerelei was founded in the third century B.S, approximately 950 years ago by traders from across the Lothor Sea, who established it first as a port of safe passage for wayfaring ships carrying cargo from northeastern Truyea to the west of the continent. It soon grew into a settlement in its own right, and a century or so later was occupied by the Republic of Manos. It has remained part of Manosi territory ever since. Lerelei saw its greatest growth during the Separation of the Realms, where it served as a city of sanctuary for refugees fleeing the war. Its diverse population owes mostly to its rich history as a naval harbour.

Lerelei is of great strategic significance; as the most northern point on the island of Manos, it serves as a centre of commerce for traders and merchant ships from both Duscador in the west and Sevicia in the east, as well as travellers from lands further adrift, across the White Sea. Its isolation on the coast and its distance from the official capital of Manos has made constant vigilance difficult, and it has earned a reputation over the years as a haven for pirates and thieves. The city itself is mostly lawless, though gangs of local thugs and larger mercantile organisations regularly police its streets.

## Population

Lerelei has grown significantly over the years from a coastal settlement to an important city of trade. It boasts some of the largest harbours anywhere across the continent and a large amount of daily naval traffic of all kinds. The city proper is home to more than 200,000 permanent residents and many more on a temporary basis, making it the largest city in Manos by a considerable margin. Owing to its location and its long history, it is also one of the most diverse cities anywhere, home to large numbers of Manosi, Sevicians, Duscadorians, Erenneese, Jastians, Itrusics, Shimmering Islanders, and many more. Manosi and Sevician, which is used primarily as a *lingua franca*, are the most commonly spoken languages. Like every Manosi city, Lerelei has a central council, though its influence is almost non-existent.

## Geography and climate

Lerelei is one of the mildest places anywhere on the island of Manos. Its Mandera months are warm and extremely humid, with temperatures reaching their scorching peaks during the second month of the season, and its Tullena months are wet and temperate. On occasion it receives a tiny amount of snowfall, centred usually around the last months of Saturna, and is significantly less harsh than the hotter, dryer climate of the more inland territories. The city proper is located at the mouth of a natural harbour leading out into the Lothor Sea, and is protected on three sides by a series of stone walls built more than three centuries ago and crudely maintained. It boasts an array of white-sand beaches, many of which along the warmer, sunnier western coast are populated with shanty towns and pirate encampments.

## See also

The Republic of Manos

Kalau