The Guildlands

The rocky and mountainous strip of land separating the Malagar continents once served as a significant barrier to trade between East and West. That is, until the Archmages of Waylandell carved the Grand Canal through the center of the continent, clearing a usable waterway directly between Palas in the west and Dancingwater in the East. The neutral Alliance of Guilds arose as a compromise to the tension that followed, taking on oversight of the Canal and ensuring trade flowed freely between the continents while minimizing the power-struggle over the viatl piece of land.
Today, mountain settlements of various size have begun to spread throughout the Guildlands. All of them, however, rely on the bustling metropolis that has sprung up surrounding the Canal to survive.