Yew
| Nation: |  Ioanna
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| Population: | ~9,802 |
| Predominant language: | Common tongue, Brettish, East Moorland Dialect |
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| Main roads: | The King's Road |
| Major districts: | Castleyew, Knightsquare |
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| Current mayor: | Graham Laurie |
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| Map versions: | |
Yew, is the capital and largest city of Ioanna. It is one of the northernmost national capitals in the world. The town is eponymously named for Castle Yew, an ancient stronghold dating back to the Kingdom of Syrah and itself named for the ancient yew tree that sits in the castle's courtyard. The tree is thought to be somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 years old. Originally the name Yew applied to the whole island of Ioanna, but after Bosworth annexed the island after the death of Joan Darcy, the name Yew became applied to only the city while the island became referred to as Ioanna.
The castle of Yew is situated in the upper highlands of the village and built into the walls of the cliffs, the Gàrradh, a series of high rocky crags that curve along the ice sheet and act as a barrier to the southern advance of the glacier. Over the years, as locals sought the protection of the castle, the village of Yew developed at the base of the mountain among the fertile pasture below. While the castle still serves as the home of the Lord of Ioanna, the village below has become a more modern town with amenities, such as a church, hotel and many shops. The local economy still relies heavily on farming, crofting and mining. In recent years tourism has become a large source of revenue.
Yew Fief
Yew Fief refers to the lands under vassalage to the Lord of Yew, a title typically held simultaneously with that of the Lord of Ioanna as the hereditary seat of the lordship. Although the largest fief by land area and population, the fief holds vassalage over the vast glacier north of The Wall, the vast mountain range that holds the glacier from extending further south. The fief also includes the Abbey Chinon. Numerous small villages dot the landscape surrounding the larger town of Yew itself. Being adjacent to the mountain with meltwater coming down the south face into the valley, it is known for being a richly fertile region and the breadbasket of the island with many farms.
