Hidden Valley

(I still need a name for this place, and the village, and so on. Hidden Valley works, though.)
The hermitage of St Ignatius and the Library of Thoth are located in a valley in the foothills of the Lower Althas Mountains. A small, fresh river runs through the valley, and creates a pleasant area, able to grow crops and support itself. The ground is rough and hilly, away from the river itself, but good for grazing, as well as raising grapes, olives and the like. There is a reasonable amount of rain, and the river brings down water from the mountains, to provide for agriculture. For many years this has been a relatively safe and pleasant little spot, protected by geography from the worst raiders, able to feed itself.
The valley and surrounding area have traditionally been the domain of a lord, a Baron, who had a castle overlooking the river and valley. This lord had prospered in a modest way through the generations. He was charged with defending the valley from threats - sometimes for higher lortds, sometimes independently - and had done so. The hermitage operated independently in this land, though usually peacefully and profitably with the lord.
That changed about 5 years ago. The current baron, Lord Baldwin, got ambitions, and did himself in. He went off on adventures, and died, leaving an infant heir. When that child died, the power structure of the valley collapsed. It was menaced snd contested by bandits, raiders and rivals, though none got a permanent hold on the place. Then the Hermitage fell. The monks and scholars became reclusive and then hostile, and it is thought they also began to give aid and comfort to some of the bandits outside. It left the bandits in control of the castle, able to raid far and wide, to make themselves a danger to the world at large as well as the valley. They do not rule the valley, but they exploit it, demanding to be fed, demanding all the livestock they want. They are a menace, but there is nothing anyone can do about them.

Demographics

Mostly humans in the villages. Some goliath, dwarves, gnomes around the edges of the place, and monsters, some of them partly integrated.

Government

Past: a baron. Present: None, though power is distributed among a bandit gang in the castle, the headman of the village (and a couple other small village leaders), and the agents from the hermitage.

Defences

The land itself is a significant defense.

Industry & Trade

This is mostly gone now, as the bandits engage mostly in raiding.
Previously, there was a decent trade in wine, olives and oil, sheep, wool, and so on, and some mineral wealth from the hills.

Assets

Grazing, olives and grapes, subsistance agriculture. They are on a river, so are well watered.

History

The castle was built by crusaders, who established it as a guard on the frontier.

Architecture

Stone, brick, etc. Wood frames, as this is in the hills, and there are enough trees to build.

Geography

River valley, surrounded by hills, surrounded by mountains.

Type

Village

Location under

Althas Mountains

Owner/Ruler

Baldwin