Abbinde

Abbinde is a fictional city-state located in the northern highlands of the continent of Norelia. It serves as a regional cultural and economic hub, known for historic markets and a river port.

The name Abbinde is traced to an old abbey term and a regional suffix; exact origins are debated by scholars in the fictional setting.

Abbinde lies at the confluence of the Alvi and Kora rivers, with a temperate climate and terraced hillsides, orchards, and riverine plains.

Settlement by merchant guilds emerged in the late medieval period, growing through inland-coast trade routes. The city built walls and a fortress in the early modern era, and later adopted rail and schooling.

A council of guildmasters governs with a mayor chosen from among council members. The charter guarantees civil liberties, regulated trade, and limited suffrage for resident property owners.

The population nears 150,000, with Abbindese, Karish, and Lunari communities. A common lingua franca facilitates commerce alongside several local languages.

The economy centers on crafts, textiles, metalwork, glassware, and river trade, with growing tourism and a small services sector.

Market Week is a flagship festival of crafts, music, and street food. Architecture blends Gothic revival with vernacular and riverine influences; local cuisine emphasizes fish, herbs, and bread.

Notable sites include the Old Market, the River Bridge of Echoes, and the Crescent Abbey, together with the University of Abbinde.