Nodderton lies to the southwestern coast of Gaelwyn and is one of the larger City States in my writing.

It sits at the mouth of the Wych and borders the sea, so it’s a very strategic location and coveted by other City States.

When I imagine Nodderton, I think of a dense 20,000 population with lumbering tall castles, an extensive market, theater, and an expansive port and waterway.

Therefore I think it to be the seat of the Merchant Guild where there are extensive rules for commerce and taxation. I think of dungeons and a classic medieval prison system. Nodderton is ruled by a king. There’s an established monarchy, a court, and all of the palace intrigue that goes along with it. In my mind, Nodderton is a classic setting for fantasy stories.

I think there are a lot of different views of Nodderton though. In The Knave of Nodderton, I introduced a character named Aut Khronig, a corrupt intelligence minister; he wasn’t very nice. But I also introduced readers to a pleasant merchant named Faw Kag in the same story, as well as hinted at Nodderton’s theater culture. And I described the Athenaeum, a secret library, in Love’s Repast. I want to think that the place has a lot of depth; that there are many surprises under the hood.

It’s not all kings, taxes, courts, trade, and gloom, but its basic backdrop is well-suited for telling serialized fiction. I don’t have to describe it too much. It’s another shorthand for telling my stories.