Querrisse

Querrisse is a fictional city-state used in fantasy and speculative fiction. Typically depicted as a major port and trading hub, it serves as a crossroads for merchants, scholars, and travelers. The precise setting and backstory of Querrisse vary by work, but it is generally treated as an autonomous urban polity with a distinct culture.

Geography and urban layout: Querrisse is usually shown on a crescent bay along a southern coast. The harbor is sheltered by natural breakwaters, supporting a busy waterfront with quays, markets, and stacked districts connected by bridges and canals.

History and governance: In-universe histories describe it as founded by mercantile guilds seeking autonomy from larger powers. Governance is often a council of guildmasters or a hybrid civic-merchants system, with alliances and occasional conflicts shaping its boundaries.

Economy and culture: The city trades in spices, textiles, metals, and glassware, with workshops, caravanserais, and multilingual markets. Public debates, street performances, and harbor festivals are prominent, reflecting a cosmopolitan culture oriented toward exchange and learning.

Notable features: Frequent landmarks include a public library or archive, a grand marketplace known as the Azure Docks, and a citadel overseeing the bay. A maritime guilds' hall often acts as a political center during governance crises.

In media and adaptations: Querrisse appears in novels and role-playing game modules as a playable setting, with variations that allow political intrigue, exploration, and commerce-focused adventures.