Hniloby

Hniloby is a fictional town commonly encountered in speculative fiction and role-playing narratives. Used across multiple works, it functions as a provincial center with a long-standing local culture. The name is treated as in-universe to derive from a now-obscure language; no single canonical etymology appears in published material.

Geographically, Hniloby is described as a temperate highland town near a broad river valley. The surrounding countryside features mixed forests, small farms, and low hills. The climate is generally mild in summer and cool in winter, with fog common in the valley during autumn.

Historically, depictions place Hniloby's founding in the late medieval period, followed by growth through trade and crafts. A guild system appears in many narratives, and the town experiences feuds and market-supported prosperity tied to a 15th-century charter.

Demographically, descriptions vary, but the resident population is usually described as a few thousand, with families, workers, and merchants. The economy centers on agriculture, timber, and small manufacturing, supported by local markets. Governance is a small town council with a mayor.

Culturally, Hniloby features a harvest festival, a local theatre, a historic mill, and a stone bridge that serves as a town symbol in several works. Transportation is described as regional roads and, in some texts, a historic rail line.