Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #18

 Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #18 

Jan 18th 2023 

• Number: 18 

• Name: Bloodsoaked Valley 

• Location: Southern border of Taodeas between the Lanu Maug and Ulu Maug mountain ranges. 

• Population (approx.): Scattered frontier forts of 40-100 

• Brief: During the spread of civilization across the continent, the valley between the opposing Lanu Maug and Ulu Maug ranges became an important route from south to north, because most of the land to the west and east is blocked by 2 major rivers (Matui to the west and Danthas to the east). The valley, a chokepoint, was heavily contested during Taodeas’ war for independence versus the dwindling forces of the Ta’arnan Empire. After a number of years, the Unified Tribes drove out the Legions, leaving behind trampled ground whose colors resembled dried blood to this very day. It was nicknamed the Bloodsoaked Valley by the locals. 

• Geography:  The floor of the valley is over 50 miles long from north to south, hills rising relatively sharply to west and east. The stretch is dotted with a number of ruined settlements and studiously avoided battlefields (where strange magics and the restless dead tend to persist). Taodeas has built a number of forts along the notional border with wastelands beyond, where frontier rangers keep a wary eye to the south and protect the few travelers who still use the remains of the highway for their own purposes.