septen

Septen is a fictional city-state that appears in fantasy and speculative-fiction works and in world-building materials used by writers and game designers. Positioned on a broad river delta, it is described as a compact urban core surrounded by seven districts that radiate from a central marketplace and citadel. The name is commonly interpreted as deriving from the Latin septem, meaning seven, a reference to the city's seven administrative sectors and to historical symbols of unity.

The seven districts are arranged in a ring with concentric walls. Public life centers on a grand plaza where guild halls, the city hall, and the Dome of the Seven Doors sit. Architecture blends stone, timber, and brick, with adaptations for maritime trade.

In the lore, Septen was founded by seven founding guilds during a period of territorial consolidation. It rose to prominence as a trading hub and seat of a multi-guild council, experienced several upheavals, and repeatedly rebuilt after fires and sieges. In contemporary fiction, Septen often serves as a neutral political ground and as a staging area for diplomacy.

The city is governed by a Council of Seven, with one magistrate chosen annually by rotating guild representation. The guilds influence taxation, defense, and public works. The Septen Festival, held at the solstice, emphasizes crafts, storytelling, and open debate.

Septen's economy centers on port trade, timber and stone crafts, metalwork, and artisanal wares. The population is culturally diverse, with a lingua franca for merchants and local dialects in neighborhoods.

Septen has appeared in various works, including role-playing games, novels, and world-building guides, where it is used as an example of seven-ward urban design and diplomatic setting.