Karthri

Karthri is a fictional city-state commonly featured in fantasy fiction and role-playing games. It is typically depicted as a coastal mercantile hub on the eastern shore of a fictional continent, with a centuries-long trading tradition and a cosmopolitan population drawn from many cultures.

Located at the mouth of the Laris River, Karthri is ringed by defensive walls and a busy harbor. The city is governed by a Merchant Council, a rotating leadership drawn from major trading guilds, with a ceremonial Harbor Warden serving as judge and figurehead.

The economy centers on shipping, warehousing, and crafts such as metalwork, textiles, and glass. The market district known as the Silver Bazaar draws caravans from inland regions and distant isles. Its multiethnic communities practice varied religious and cultural traditions, reflecting centuries of commerce.

Karthri reportedly grew from a river crossing into a city-state after a treaty among rival trading factions. It has endured sieges and piracy, building resilient infrastructure and pragmatic diplomacy as hallmarks of its identity.

The city hosts the annual Festival of Tides, with waterborne processions and street performances. Notable sites include the Silver Gate, the Coral Library, and the Lantern Courts, where scholars mingle with merchants.

In world-building and tabletop campaigns, Karthri serves as a template for a cosmopolitan port metropolis with complex politics and economic networks.