moddalar

Moddalar is a fictional city-state in the fantasy world of Ardentia, frequently depicted in novels and role-playing campaigns. It sits on a sheltered harbor and has a longstanding reputation for skilled metalworking and maritime trade.

The name Moddalar appears in early chronicles as Moddalaren or Moddalâr. Linguistic scholars suggest a northern coastal origin, combining elements meaning forge, craft, and city.

Located on the northern shore of the Valen Sea, Moddalar is built around a natural basin and tidal canals. Street plans emphasize quartered districts aligned with major crafts, with the Forgebreak District near the harbor and the Market Quarter inland.

Moddalar arose in the early medieval era when guilds established a trading post to secure metal supplies. Over centuries it expanded through ore mining, shipbuilding, and maritime caravans, surviving wars and shifting alliances to become a self-governing city-state by the late medieval period.

The city is governed by the Guild Council, a body elected from major craft guilds. The council appoints a magistrate, with authority over civil affairs. The economy centers on metalworking, shipbuilding, timber, and cross-regional trade through a busy port.

The population numbers around 70,000, predominantly humans with a significant dwarven artisan minority. Common and Dwarven are spoken, and the city hosts annual craft fairs such as the Day of the Anvil, celebrating smithing traditions.

Notable sites include the Forgebreak District, the Grand Dock, and the Archive of Iron Lore, which are well-known landmarks within Moddalar.