Muriedge

A cosmopolitan city of thriving commerce, varied culture, talented artisans and beautiful architecture, Muriedge is a port city spanning the mouth of the River Murie, which forms both a natural, deepwater harbour, as well as an inland shallow harbour. Known as the City of Fortuity, Muriedge is the only city in Curtana known to have a Guild Hall dedicated to every single form of artistry, trade and combat, including the more socially distasteful ones.

Muriedge is overseen by the Assembly of Masks, led by the First Councillor of Muriedge. There are twelve members of the Assembly of Masks, plus the First Councillor, to bring the government up to a total of thirteen members. After the betrayal of Arcanist Valduun, three hundred years ago, the identity of the members of the Assembly of Masks is known only to other members and is kept a closely guarded secret among them. The only publicly named member of the Council is the First Councillor themselves. The current First Councillor of Muriedge is Mendithia Awelontyner, an Elven Cleric of Arianrhod Bwalleuad, former adventurer and former High Priestess of the Elven Church of the Moon.

Etymology

Muriedge was originally known as "Brecht-Muriafyn", which was a shortening of the Old A'arden "brecht va ehr muri afyn", translating to "edge of the deep river". Additionally, the name "Murie", the name of the river, originates from the Fae-Sylvan name Muireall, which is Commonised as Muriel, and is believed to have been the name of a River Nymph that inhabited the river itself. When the time came for the settlement to establish itself as a town, late in the 5th Age, the people decided to rename their settlement in celebration. The name "Murie's Edge" was suggested by a ten-year-old child, believed to have been the folk hero Dair, keeping with both the origins of the settlement's and the river's name. The townspeople liked the idea, but shortened it further to Muriedge for the sake of simplicity.