Anomaaliad

Anomaaliad is a fictional city-state in the northern reaches of the Liric Archipelago within the world of Eldoria. It sits at the mouth of several tidal channels and is connected to the mainland by a network of causeways, functioning as a major maritime and craft hub.

Name and geography: The name derives from ancient terms Anomi, meaning sea, and laad, meaning harbor, reflecting its historic role as a trading port. The urban core centers on stepped quays and water-filled courtyards threaded by bridges and narrow canals.

History: Anomaaliad emerged from a seasonal trading post into an autonomous city-state by the early Eldorian medieval period. Merchants and shipwrights formed a guild-based oligarchy that governed through the Guild Council, balancing commerce with navigation and coastal defense.

Governance and society: The Guild Council comprises heads of seventeen merchant guilds. A mayor is elected from among council members for a four-year term. Political participation is linked to guild membership and property ownership, with civic service valued as a public duty.

Economy and culture: The city remains an export center known for glassmaking, boatbuilding, and textile weaving. Its Harbor Festival features illuminated barges on the canals and seasonal markets that draw visitors from neighboring realms. Institutions include libraries focused on navigation and metallurgy.

Landmarks: Notable sites include the Glass Strand, the Gate of Tides, and the Library of Echoes, which preserves maritime logs and lore.