Swansea

Swansea has it's orgins as a sea-faring trade city, largely separated from the wars of the mainland. However, lacking resources on their island, they soon found it was a lot more profitable to simply raid and steal from all the other cities. While the vast majority of Swansea remained fishers, enough turned pirate that their reputation as criminal scallywags was forever cemented in the public eye.

To be fair, they didn't do much to discourage this reputation. Even after Ainsleigh unified, the ruler of Swansea did little to discourage the pirates from continuing as they always had in the past. Though they publicly disavowed their actions, it was well known that Swansea provided them with shelter and safe-haven. The only thing that finally put a stop to it was when Argylle moved the nation's central naval base from Pembroke to the island. With the navy looking over their shoulder, the pirates were forced to either give up their trade or find a new port to hide in.

In modern times, the city is fairly small, but remains a popular destination. It has largely embraced its history, and the more touristy sections of towns are bedecked in gaudy and largely historically-inaccurate pirate decorations. Swansea is also renowned for being good at sports, though thus far no one has been able to determine a reason why.

Popular Landmarks

 * The Temple of Rayquaza
 * Located at the highest point on the island, just north of the city. Rayquaza was honored due to its purported ability to stop storms.
 * The Military Base
 * Located away from the crowded beaches, this is home to both Ainsleigh's navy and airforce. It was once a large driver of the economy, though this has slowed in recent years.
 * The Beach
 * The most popular summer destination in Ainsleigh. Numerous resorts line the sandy shores, and it's a convenient walking distances from a number of shopping centers.
 * The Ferry
 * Located too far out from the mainland to be reached by bridge, the car ferry is the only reliable way to reach Swansea. The boats sail once every hour, starting at 8 AM and stopping at midnight.