oshirib

Oshirib is a fictional coastal city-state that appears in a range of fantasy novels and role-playing materials. It lies along a network of tidal channels in a broad river delta and serves as a major port for trade, shipbuilding, and cultural exchange.

The name is derived from the Oshiri language, in which oshiri is associated with harbor and shelter. The city’s signifiers and symbols—such as its emblems and public inscriptions—are often described as reflecting a maritime identity.

Historians within the fiction describe Oshirib as emerging in the early medieval era as a gathering point for coastal clans. It later formed a merchant council that gradually asserted authority over surrounding towns, achieving de facto independence through a series of treaties in the 12th to 14th centuries.

Governance and economy: The city is governed by a merchant council and a magistrate elected by guilds. The population is commonly cited as around 120,000. The economy centers on fishing, timber, spice trade, and shipbuilding; it maintains a bustling port and a small manufacturing sector that serves regional needs.

Culture and landmarks: Maritime traditions are central to everyday life. Oshirib hosts an annual Tidal Festival and a Night of Lanterns that festival accounts describe as a weather-driven spectacle. Notable sites include the Great Gate, the Lantern Market, and the Archive of Tides, a seaborne library and record hall.