Ardrune

Ardrune is the western capital of the Runic Empire, situated in the river dense valley below the Arda Mountain Range. The city itself is large and spread out amongst the river broken landscape, often described by the Runic people as the “city of bridges”. The streets are wide and the buildings are large and ornate structures of stone blocks and coloured whitewash. Though it’s origins as a settlement stretch back many millennia, it’s dominance as a large city is fairly recent as the western Runic tribes took up large mining and shipping efforts which greatly enhance their bureaucratic endeavours and their influence within the empire itself.
Despite being the de facto capital of the empire, the city has no walls or significant defensive structures, instead relying on the river and canal network as well as a series of forts that line the empires borders to serve as its protection. The emperor stays within the city most of the year, at the grand palace situated at the city’s northern edge. Travelling only occasionally to other parts of the empire, instead allowing the local governors reign over these regions.
Ardrune wealth stems from its central position within the region, making it a prime trading location for the empires western extent. While its rivers do connect to the Bryn, the waters are shallower and narrower than ideal. The extensive canal system that interconnects Ardrunes districts and even settlements many miles in each direction are often heaving with local traffic, therefor over land travel to the port towns of Arynsall and Butterburn are common for long distance travel. Ardrune being on a relative flatland is ideal for horse raising and farming, as well as local sources of food and salt from riverside deposits and mines.