Runasti

Runasti is a fictional town that appears in fantasy literature and tabletop role-playing games. It is commonly positioned in the northern highlands of the continent of Eldara, serving as a regional market town and administrative center. The name Runasti is used across multiple works, but there is no single canonical etymology; proposed origins include a local dialect root meaning "rise" or "watch" and a later influence from trading tongues.

Geography and climate: Runasti sits at roughly 800 to 1,000 meters above sea level, in a valley framed by pine-covered ridges. A braided river runs south of the town, providing water for mills and irrigation. The surrounding forests supply timber and game, while poor soils limit large-scale farming to terraced plots.

History: In the fictional chronology, Runasti arose as a fortified outpost in the early medieval era, gaining a charter as a town after the Silver Pact. It became a staging point for regional trade and a site of skirmishes during the Wars of Eldaran Decline.

Economy and culture: The economy centers on crafts, textiles, and timber, with markets drawing traders from neighboring districts. Local culture emphasizes guild solidarity, seasonal markets, and a ranger festival celebrating the valley's harvest.

In other media: Runasti has appeared in several novels, map compendiums, and role-playing game adventures, sometimes with different borders or governance structures. Within these works, it is usually depicted as a multilingual town with a diverse population.