"Phaeacia is an island nation inspired by its namesake in the Odyssey, the enchanted isle ruled by Alcinous. Imagine palaces of gleaming bronze, with golden gates guarded by dogs of gold and silver. In enchanted gardens filled with fantastic trees, fountains and marble statues, wise men entertain their queen with song and poetry. In a city of marble craftsmen and weavers of unequaled skill make trade goods and silk garments famed throughout the world.

When I worked on Mekone and Phlegra, ideas popped up that were too interesting to be ignored. In one of my Ars Magica TTRPG campaigns the players were lost at sea during a storm and arrived at an enchanted island colony of surviving Phoenician Ba’al worshipers, blessed with longevity. The Ulysses tale combined with my TTRPG campaign and previous ideas on Berytos resulted in the new island nation. Phaeacia is one of the nations where my imagination runs wild, probably due to the fact that it is influenced by several sources, including my own TTRPG setting. Finally, the nation needed some new mechanics, sites and events to become what I wanted. The dark vessels and the island start, make the nation play differently than other nations and I hope that they are reasonably balanced in MP games." - Illwinter

Phaeacia is an island queendom of dark-skinned men of great stature, the Colossi. Their fabled Dark Ships traverse the seas without oars or captains. Once a colony of Berytos, the island flourished and became rich and influential, known for its traders, craftsmen and marvelous shipwrights. When Berytos was destroyed by the armies of Arcoscephale the island of Phaeacia was able to stave off the conquerors thanks to ample tributes and its remote location. The queendom has since grown in power and influence. Their traders and explorers have traveled to the far reaches of the world and brought one of the world's greatest marvels back to Phaeacia, a sapling of the golden tree of the blessed gardens of the Hesperides. Now most inhabitants of Phaeacia live unnaturally long and blissful lives detached from the strife of the world beyond their island. Phaeacia is also the home of giants descendant of Mekone. When the Gigantes’ futile war upon gods came to a disastrous end, the Gigantes that did not join the armies of the God-slayer fled to Black Korkyra, an inhospitable island of the Phaeacian archipelago. The king of the Gigantes married the Colossi queen of Phaeacia and their daughters have ruled the island ever since. Most nobles of the island trace a legacy to the Berytian Colossi as well as to the Gigantes of Mekone. There are also a few of the pure blooded Gigantes remaining on Black Korkyra. Upholding the old bargain they arrive each spring to pledge the queen their allegiance. They are not cursed as their Phlegran kin and retain some of their former glory.

If you are considering picking this nation to play, what should you know?

Magic Access	Alt. Access	Unit Summary	Core Abilities	Buildings
4 (rare 5) 3 (rare 4) 2 (rare 3) 2 (rare 3) 1 (rare 2) 2	Hero 33 Summons 3322 (req. 31)	Human and Colossi Infantry Special Mages in Coastal Castles A few Gigantes arrive yearly.	Sailing	Standard Forts Starts with a Fortified City Starts on an extra rich island if possible. Trace income across oceans. Income bonus in coastal castles.

Capitol Gems: 232

Productivity limit + 1
Magic limit + 1

Prefers Heat Scale + 1

Dark Ships: All MA Phaeacia's commanders can sail, if both the origin and destination provinces are in friendly dominion. The Dark Vessels ability cannot be transferred to other nations. Disciples do not benefit from the Dark Vessels. If Phaeacia is ruled by a disciple, it can still use its Dark Vessels in all lands under their pretender’s dominion.

• Purple Silk Garments: (Construction 3)
  11 and 23
  Commentary here.
• Silver Silk Garments: (Construction 7)
  11 and 23
  Commentary here.
• Windcatcher Sail: (Construction 5)
  2 and 10
  Commentary here.

• No Fire magic.
• 4 on one-in-four Prince Consorts (capital only), 3 on one-in-three Wind Caller (coastal forts), 2 on Colossi Storm Captains.
• 3 on one-in-four Prince Consorts (capital only), 2 on one-in-three Wind Caller (coastal forts), 1 on Mage Pilots.
• 1 on one-in-four Prince Consorts (capital only) and one-in-five Colossi Weavers.

• 2 on one-in-four Colossi Queens (capital only) and one-in-five Colossi Weavers.
• No Death magic.
• No Nature magic.
• 2 on one-in-four Colossi Queens (capital only), 1 on one-in-five Colossi Weavers.

• No Blood magic.
• 2 on Colossi Queens (capital-only), 1 on Phaeacian Priests off-capital.

• 42/33: Blizzard, Freezing Mist
• 321: Protective self-buffs (Flying Shield, Shroud of Flying Shards), Watchers
• 321: Scrying Pool, Water Kobolds, Cloud of Dreamless Slumber
• 3211/2311/2221/2212: Mind Protection (Mind Blank, Mirror Mind), Curse
• 111: Farstrike, Gifts from Heaven (with Communions)

See Magic Access. These guides supplement the summaries at the top.

No National Access. No simple summons.

4 Prince Consort (1 in 4) already starts at the key path for Air but it's the Colossi Queen who can attempt the unique Tome of High Power.

3 Prince Consort (1 in 4) starts at the key path for Water but has no useful crosspaths.

1 Prince Consort (1 in 4) needs a level of empowerment to get to the first Earth booster. It's technically possible to get to 44 for a Staff of Elemental Mastery but requires hard to get boosters.

2 Colossi Queen (1 in 4) can attempt the unique Tome of High Power and, with boosters, the unique The Trapped Dreams of Hruvur.

31 can Contact Hesperide for a 3. With boosters, it can attempt the unique The Forbidden Light.

No National Access. No simple summons.

No Recruitable Access. The hero, Melite - Aegaeide, has 3 but no useful crosspaths.

31 can Contact Hesperide for a 2, which can, with a Nature booster, make a Moonvine Bracelet.

2 Colossi Queen (1 in 4) still needs a level of empowerment to make a Glamour booster, but then, with boosters can attempt the unique The Trapped Dreams of Hruvur. The Prince Consort seems like it might be helpful, but isn't likely to have Glamour and Earth at the same time.

No National Access. No simple summons.

How to win as the nation. Feel free to use the following sections, or delete them, or change them.

Different expansion options.

Early game options.

Mid game options.

Late game options.

What are the nation's weaknesses?

Add links to guides or other overviews for this nation here.

Nations
Early Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Ulm • Pyrène, • Marverni • Sauromatia • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Mictlan • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Agartha • Tir na n'Og • Fomoria • Vanheim • Helheim • Niefelheim • Muspelheim • Rus • Kailasa • Lanka • Yomi • Hinnom • Ur • Berytos • Xibalba • Mekone • Ubar • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Therodos
Middle Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Sceleria • Pythium • Man • Eriu • Ulm • Pyrène • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Asphodel • Vanheim • Jotunheim • Nidavangr • Vanarus • Bandar Log • Shinuyama • Ashdod • Uruk • Nazca • Xibalba • Phlegra • Phaeacia • Ind • Na'ba • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Ys
Late Ages	Arcoscephale • Pythium • Lemuria • Man • Ulm • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Jomon • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Midgård • Utgård • Bogarus • Patala • Gath • Ragha • Xibalba • Phlegra • Vaettiheim • Feminie • Piconye • Andramania • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Erytheia