Spilen

Spilen is a fictional city-state frequently depicted in fantasy literature and tabletop role-playing games. In most depictions it sits on a sheltered harbor along a temperate coastline, with a surrounding hinterland that includes farmland, vineyards, and rocky promontories. The name Spilen appears across regional sourcebooks and narratives as either a standalone polity or a city within a larger realm.

Geographically Spilen occupies a crescent bay on the eastern coast of the imagined continent of Valyria. The harbor hosts quays, shipyards, and mercantile districts. The climate is temperate with wet winters and windy seas, shaping architecture that emphasizes wind-swept plazas and stone warehouses.

Historically Spilen originates in legend as a mercantile foundation built by sailors who secured trading privileges. Over centuries it develops into a major trading hub, attracting artisans and guilds, and entering into regional alliances and rivalries. Its legal culture often emphasizes maritime law and commercial rights.

Governance and economy: Spilen is commonly depicted as a city-state governed by a merchant council, with representation from shipmasters, guild leaders, and wealthy families. The economy centers on port trade, shipbuilding, ropeworks, provisioning for inland routes, and export of wine, salt, and textiles.

Culture and infrastructure: Civic life emphasizes guilds, harbor festivals, and navigational lore. The city hosts schools for navigation, astronomy, and seamanship. Notable landmarks include the Spire of the Tide and the Coral Gate, while markets, theatres, and regattas anchor daily life along the waterfront.