selhala

Selhala is a fictional port city that appears in fantasy literature and tabletop role-playing campaigns. In most interpretations it lies along a crescent bay on the southern coast of the Serene Archipelago, where sea lanes meet inland trade routes. The city is known for its glass markets, timber quays, and a network of canals that weave between merchant warehouses and guild halls. The toponym Selhala is commonly linked in-universe to the Selha language, often interpreted as "shorelight" or "bright harbor," though specifics vary by author.

Historically, Selhala is depicted as a mercantile republic or a guild-led polis. It rose to prominence through shipbuilding, glassmaking, and salt production, coordinating a diverse population of sailors, artisans, and merchants. Political life centers on a city council composed of guild delegates and a rotating mayor. The city’s fortunes waxed and waned with sea conditions, piracy, and trade winds.

Economy and culture: The economy depends on maritime trade, glassware, spice import, and tourism. Cultural life emphasizes festival of lanterns, harbor markets, and schools of glassblowing. The population is multinational, reflecting centuries of immigration.

Landmarks: The Azure Gate, a wide basalt arch at the harbor entrance; the Glass Market, an open-air district of glassworks; the Twin Docks, the largest shipyards.

In fiction: Selhala appears in multiple works and game settings, often as a nexus of commercial power and political intrigue, with variations in geography and governance.