Zavel

Zavel is a city-state located on the southern coast of the Ardian mainland, facing the Bay of Lyria. It occupies a compact urban core surrounded by hills and a busy harbor, with a mixed residential and commercial shoreline.

Founded as a trading settlement in the late medieval period, Zavel grew as a maritime hub through guild cooperation and port rights. It established a self-governing municipal government in the early modern era and achieved de facto independence through regional treaties in the 16th century. The city later expanded its fortifications and diversified its economy with shipbuilding and finance.

Zavel operates as a constitutional republic. The government is headed by a mayor and a Council of Ten, elected to four-year terms. The council drafts law, oversees the budget, and maintains the harbor, while judicial authority rests with an independent high court.

Its economy centers on fishing, shipbuilding, port services, and trade-based industries. In recent decades, Zavel has developed logistics, tourism, and financial technology sectors, supported by a modernized port, rail link, and digital infrastructure.

Population is diverse, with communities of Zavelian, immigrant, and offshore workers. The official language is Zavelian, with widespread use of Ardoran as a lingua franca in commerce. Cultural life centers on the old town, markets, and harbor festivals; cuisine emphasizes seafood and coastal herbs.

Notable sites include the Old Fortress, Market Pier, and the Library of Tides, which houses maritime records and regional history.