Caeric

Caeric is a fictional coastal city-state in the western region of the continent of Aldoria. It is known for its deep-water harbor, metalworking industries, and scholarly archives.

The name Caeric derives from the Caeran root caer, meaning fortress, reflecting its origins as a fortified settlement. The city sits at the mouth of the Caeris River, where inland hills meet a sheltered bay, and its shoreline is lined with basalt piers.

Caeric arose as a fortress city founded by the Caerin dynasty in the early second millennium. It grew into a mercantile republic engaged in metals, glassmaking, and long-distance trade, maintaining independence through treaties and urban institutions. By the 11th century, it had formal governance and a guild-based economy.

Governance rests with a council of guild representatives and an annually elected Alderman who chairs the council. Citizenship is linked to residence and guild membership. The city maintains a standing militia and a municipal court.

The economy centers on shipbuilding, metalworking, and trade passing through the harbor. The Great Archive of Caeric houses manuscripts and inscriptions, while artisans produce rune-carved artifacts. Cultural life emphasizes guild festivals, maritime rites, and public exhibitions; Caeric hosts language variants and a syncretic sea-ancestor religion.

Notable sites include the Dusk Gate, the Harbor of Glass, the Great Archive, and the Caeric Maritime Academy. Local architecture combines basalt forms, arcaded courtyards, and inscribed stonework.

In modern fiction, Caeric serves as a hub of political intrigue and maritime commerce, linking regional networks of trade and culture.