Aelorn

Aelorn is a fictional city-state in a high-fantasy setting, located on a crescent peninsula along the eastern Shimmering Sea. It features a well-protected harbor and basalt-clad streets, and serves as a regional hub for trade, shipbuilding, and crafts.

The etymology of Aelorn is uncertain. Some scholars link it to river-dialect terms meaning “bright harbor,” while others associate it with a legendary ruler named Aelos. The local language blends maritime vocabulary with inland dialects and reflects the city’s cosmopolitan trading culture.

Governance is a council of twelve guild elders assisted by a steward who represents the city externally. The Corpus of Harbor Rights codifies commerce, citizenship, and property. The city’s population includes artisans, merchants, sailors, and rural workers from nearby valleys.

Economy centers on the Glass Market, timber and salt trade, and shipbuilding. Cultural life concentrates in the harbor districts, with festivals such as the Night of Lanterns and Tidewright games. Several temples and a scholarly quarter support religious and intellectual activity.

Aelorn traces its origins to a ninth-century trading outpost that grew after a defensive pact with inland clans. Notable sites include Moonspire, Lumen Gate, and the Great Aqueduct. Today it remains a key node on eastern trade routes, balancing independence with regional alliances.