Solading sits less than one hundred miles from Draventh, the capital of Ognenstrof. It also lies less than three hundred miles from Maadigan, the capital of Hireotha. This position gives the city unusual reach. Ocean-going vessels cannot travel farther upriver. Because of this limit, Solading serves as the final deep-water port on the inland route. Cargo must transfer here before moving north or east.
The southern east–west trade route passes just north of the city. This road links coastal traffic to inland markets. Together, river and road place Solading at the center of western commerce. Goods arrive by ship, wagon, and barge. From here, they spread across the continent.
Unlike other Free Trade Zones, Solading does not answer primarily to the Transportation Guild. The Information Guild holds the strongest influence instead. Its agents shape policy, manage records, and monitor activity throughout the region. Surveillance and knowledge guide decision-making more than tariffs or tolls.
Solading is home to the first Information Guild House. Historians believe a refugee named Messo founded it in the early days of settlement. Archaeological evidence suggests the city grew from one of the oldest inhabited sites in Cendomvita. Layers of construction mark centuries of continuous use.
From the city’s higher ground, residents see the Central Mountains rising to the north. On clear days, smoke drifts from the volcanoes of the Ashen Peninsula far to the south. These sights remind citizens of both stability and risk.
Solading is the most densely populated of the Free Trade Zones. People from many regions pass through its streets. Traders, scholars, and couriers crowd its docks and markets. The city thrives on movement, information, and constant exchange.