Vordeng

Vordeng v$o d:eng Vòrdēng
City and Province
Country	Karduv
Area
• Total	445.46 km2 (171.99 sq mi)
Population
• Total	1,794,231
• Density	4,000/km2 (10,000/sq mi)
Official languages	Karduvic

Vordeng (Karduvic: v$o d:eng Vòrdēng) is the capital city of Karduv. It is the most populous city in the country, and the Xth most populous in Soltenna. Vordeng is part of a province sharing the same name, and contains the entirety of the city as well as some neighboring cities in the Vordeng Metropolitan Area. It borders only the province of Cumcur, which completely surrounds it. Vordeng was founded circa the 7th century BCE following a wave of Karduvic migrations and colonization efforts around the Lercur River, though it would not be noted as a settlement until 687 BCE. As various Soltennan migrations and various expansions of Qonklaks occurred, the Karduvic people would be forced further northward, where Vordeng would become the center of population growth. It would notably serve as the capital of the Kingdom of Zirjirng, where it would see considerable growth and development. Vordeng remains largely at the center of Karduv, serving as an economic and cultural heart of the country. It is one of the fastest growing cities in Karduv as well as Soltenna(?), and is influential in the internal politics of the country. X

Etymology

The name “Vòrdēng” in Karduvic is believed to have originated from the Proto-Kwang words *kwỳʔŋe meaning “door” and *dãŋ meaning “west.” Originally meaning “western door” perhaps being founded as a trade outpost for Karduvic peoples looking to settle around and beyond the Lercur River. Though it is also theorized that *dãŋ is in fact rather *dêŋ “dragon,” meaning the settlement would be called “dragon’s door” and that a shift in tones occurred due to historic sandhi. Due to a lack of records surrounding a so-called “Old Karduvic” stage of the language, many placenames in Karduv remain disputed in etymology. Relying almost exclusively on outside Qonklese records.