Darythian

Darythian is a city-state and cultural region in the fantasy world of Eldoria. It centers on the river valley of Daryth, with the fortified city of Daryth at its core and a ring of towns that rely on river trade and upland pastures. The region is renowned for metalworking, archives, and scholarly guilds.

Geography and demography: The heartland is a broad valley flanked by foothills; climate temperate with cold winters. The population is diverse, with artisans, farmers, and scholars, many organized through guild houses that line the city’s Market Quarter.

History: Darythian history begins in the early centuries of Eldoria, formed as a federation of artisan towns. It gained autonomy after the Shattering War and later developed a constitutional Council moderated by a High Archivist.

Governance and economy: Government is led by the Council of Makers, ten guild delegates, overseeing law, defense, and trade; the High Archivist heads the Library and education. Economy centers on metalworking (iron, bronze, and damascene), crafts, and river trade; currency is the mithvar.

Culture and language: a tradition of inscriptions and engravings; language Darythi, written in a runic script; festivals include the Festival of Sparks and the Night of Lanterns.

Landmarks: The Grand Forge, Gate of Echoes, Library of Echoes, and the Bridge of Silver mark the built environment and function as hubs of commerce and scholarship.

In fiction: Darythian has appeared in several fantasy novels and role-playing settings as an example of guild-based governance and craft-centered culture.