Sharlayan, or the Old World as it is also referred to, is an island nation in the far northern Bloodbrine Sea. We do not know much about the city-state admittedly, but this is what we do know. Sharlayan is composed of several smaller isles. It prizes knowledge and higher learning before all else, and as such, offers public education to its citizens at a school known as the Studium.
That said, I don't believe its possible for any civilization to not have a lower socioeconomic class in its population, even though Sharlayan's might be very small. A great way to justify this is the Sharlayan exodus of 20 years past. After peace negotiations with Garlemald failed following the fall of Ala Mhigo, the city-state of Sharlayan located in Dravania was abandoned nearly overnight to return north across the Bloodbrine to their island Sharlayan home. Lore from the Sharlayan area, fates, and quests suggest that many of the scholars were forced to leave behind everything, including their life's work. Imagine one such family returning to Sharlayan in such a fashion, empty handed. You could easily say your character's parents were one such family who returned to the Old World with nothing to their name and just never truly recovered financially.
Now, there are trading vessels which run the incredibly dangerous sea route from Vylbrand to Sharlayan so that part checks out. If you wanted to make the ride over exciting, know that the route passes through both Sahagin and Garlean controlled waters.
Here's some more links to lore on Sharlayan:
-Sharlayan Lore
-History of Sharlayan
-In Louisoix's Wake
-The Waning of the Sixth Sun
-Geography of Hydaelyn Lore
That said, I don't believe its possible for any civilization to not have a lower socioeconomic class in its population, even though Sharlayan's might be very small. A great way to justify this is the Sharlayan exodus of 20 years past. After peace negotiations with Garlemald failed following the fall of Ala Mhigo, the city-state of Sharlayan located in Dravania was abandoned nearly overnight to return north across the Bloodbrine to their island Sharlayan home. Lore from the Sharlayan area, fates, and quests suggest that many of the scholars were forced to leave behind everything, including their life's work. Imagine one such family returning to Sharlayan in such a fashion, empty handed. You could easily say your character's parents were one such family who returned to the Old World with nothing to their name and just never truly recovered financially.
Now, there are trading vessels which run the incredibly dangerous sea route from Vylbrand to Sharlayan so that part checks out. If you wanted to make the ride over exciting, know that the route passes through both Sahagin and Garlean controlled waters.
Here's some more links to lore on Sharlayan:
-Sharlayan Lore
-History of Sharlayan
-In Louisoix's Wake
-The Waning of the Sixth Sun
-Geography of Hydaelyn Lore
