Vauras

Vauras is a fictional archipelago in the northern seas of the fantasy world Ardentia. It frequently appears as a setting in speculative fiction and tabletop role-playing campaigns, portraying a coastal society with a strong maritime tradition.

The archipelago consists of five principal islands—Ael, Brin, Dorsa, Fin, and Keld—plus numerous islets. The climate is temperate maritime with long winters and frequent fog. The population, referred to as Vaurans, numbers about 12,000 in the core regions. The official language is Vauran, a member of the Ardentic language group.

Vauras developed as a maritime fishing and trading network in the early Middle Ages. It grew into a small duchy and later joined the Confederation of Ardentia in the 14th century, gaining a measure of autonomy during periods of central weakness.

In the present depiction, Vauras has a unicameral council of 15 members and a governor who acts as head of government. Local courts follow civil-law principles, with customary maritime law applying at sea.

The economy centers on fishing, small-scale timber, shipbuilding, and seasonal tourism. Sustainable practices are commonly noted in lore, emphasizing quotas and reef protection, though variations exist by locale.

Vauran culture emphasizes seamanship, ropework, and sea-kettle cuisine featuring smoked fish and seaweed. Annual festivals, especially the Day of the Tide, celebrate coastal heritage and maritime deities.

Notable sites include Mareport Lighthouse, the Circle of Stones, and the Old Docks, depicted as hubs of navigation and memory in fiction.

Vauras is widely used as a setting in novels and role-playing game sourcebooks, with slight variations across authors.