kalavarud

Kalavarud is a fictional city-state in the highland region of the continent of Elaria, created for a contemporary world-building project. It is described in sources accompanying the project as a neutral, non-real place.

The name Kalavarud, as used in the lore, is thought to derive from Kalav meaning stone and rud meaning river in the local Kalavish language.

Geographically, Kalavarud sits on a broad plateau above the Kal River, surrounded by granite ridges. The climate is temperate with dry winters and cool, misty summers.

Historically, the settlement began as a market camp in the early medieval period. By the 12th century, it recruited mining and trading clans into a loose confederation and later evolved into a semi-autonomous city-state.

The city is governed by the Kalavarud Assembly, a representative body drawn from guilds and district wards, which selects a mayor and oversees municipal policy.

The population is around 72,000 residents, predominantly Kalavish speakers. The economy centers on mining (iron and slate), metalwork, textiles, and river trade, with a tradition of stone carving and crafts.

Kalavish remains the dominant language; local customs combine ancestral ritual practices with merchants' exchanges. Annual fairs and public performances are common features of civic life.

Notable sites include the Kalavarud Citadel, the Bridge of Echoes, and the Market Ring.