Selara

Selara is a fictional city-state that appears in multiple works of fantasy and science fiction. In most portrayals, Selara sits along a strategic harbor on the western coast of the imagined continent of Arion, functioning as a major trading hub and cosmopolitan entrepôt. The political structure varies by author, but common elements include a constitutional council influenced by merchant guilds and a system of legal codes known as the Seals of Selara. The city is depicted as densely built around the harbor, with districts for shipbuilding, glassmaking, and scholarship, and a population drawn from many languages and cultures.

Economically, Selara relies on maritime trade, provisioning fleets, and artisanal crafts. Its currency is the sel, though exchange practices differ between narratives. Culturally, it is noted for its festivals of tides, its open bazaars, and a tradition of navigational learning. Landmarks frequently appearing in fiction include the Gate of Dawn, a fortified harbor gate; the Basilian Temple, a center of intellectual life; and the Old Quarter, known for its winding lanes and guild houses.

In media, Selara is used as a setting for diplomacy, intrigue, and commerce, sometimes as a neutral bargaining ground between rival powers or as a flashpoint in regional conflicts. The details of its geography, government, and history vary by work, making Selara a flexible world-building element rather than a fixed canonical place.