

Lys the Lovely, by Martina Pilcerova © Fantasy Flight Games Lysene pirates often have nests in the Stepstones. The Lyseni fight often with Tyrosh and Myr over the Disputed Lands, though they will not risk the lives of their citizens in this, preferring to hire free companies instead. The city is home to a love goddess whose naked figure is on Lysene coinage it is unknown if she is the same as the Weeping Lady of Lys. Pantera, Yndros of the Twilight, Bakkalon, Saagael, and R'hllor are some of the manifold deities of Lys. Lys is a port city with no established faith. The gonfaloniere is an elected military leader. Lys is ruled by conclaves of magisters, chosen from amongst the wealthiest and noblest men of the city, with the First Magister as the preeminent figure. Like the Braavosi and Pentoshi, the Lyseni are great lovers of song. Martin has described the Lysene dialect to be a musical, flowing, liquid tongue. The Lysene tongue is a corruption of High Valyrian. The people of Lys are know to curl and perfume their hair. Many of the nobility in Lys have produced infamous beauties, and Targaryen kings and princes are known to have looked at Lys for wives and paramours.

Even the smallfolk in Lys have the pale skin, silver-gold hair, and purple, lilac, and pale blue eyes of the dragonlords of old.

More than anywhere else in the known world, the blood of Old Valyria still runs strong in the Lyseni, who are regarded as beautiful. A Lysene noblewoman - by Magali Villeneuve ©
