Fertile Valley

Intro Formed by the tectonic divergence created by The Separation, the Fertile Valley is a wide rift valley in eastern Dendralis which separates the Greenwood from the Darkwood, and makes up the southern half of the Great Eastern Corridor. Denoted by it's rich, fertile soil, the Valley is known as the Breadbasket of Dendralis, as the land is devoted almost entirely to agriculture, with wheat and other grains being the primary crops of the region. In addition to crop farming, the region is also home to a large wool production industry, for which Shepherd's Run - the man-made aqueduct river flowing through the center of the valley - was named. Dairy farming has also solidified itself as one of the primary industries of the region.

History

Like the rest of the Great Eastern Corridor, and it’s sister valley, the Great Western Corridor, the Fertile Valley is a relatively new geographic region compared to the remainder of Dendralis’ mainland. Though the sudden changes of the land resulted in extremely fertile soil, the gap was respected as a buffer zone by the Olosse, while those of the Darkwood remained cloistered in their darkened lands, leaving the region unsettled for thousands of years. During this period, wild game flourished in the region, with the westernmost reaches of the valley becoming prime hunting ground for the Olosse.
With the arrival of human settlers in the early Third Era, civilization slowly began to arrive in the Fertile Valley. Taking advantage of the uniquely fertile soil, these early farms thrived, their success luring a large wave of settlement in the early 400s, with mass movement ceasing by the middle of the century, at which point mankind had firmly cemented itself as the dominant race in the region. By 500, 3E, settlement politics had been put in place, with cooperation between the settlements via the Mayoral League coming less than two decades into the 6th century. Today, the region remains the agricultural heart of Dendralis, with farming deeply ingrained in its culture and livelihood.

Geography

The Fertile Valley is an expanse of gently rolling hills and knolls, blanketed by lush, vibrant, windswept grasses. Stretching from valley wall to valley wall, the fertile land is an unbroken patchwork of cultivated fields and open pastures. The valley walls rise steeply, with slopes just gentle enough for hardy grasses to thrive. Small streams trickle down the walls, feeding the farmland below and ensuring its bounty. Sparing stands of oak and elm creep down the valley walls, dotting the landscape.

Demographics

The Fertile Valley is the most human dominated region in all of Dendralis. While the Olosse of the Greenwood refrained from expanding into the region, seeing it as a buffer from the evil that lurk in the Darkwood, the humans arriving from the Olde World found a land prime to continue their old ways of life. Due to the workability of the land, word spread quickly to the docks of Crescent City, encouraging a swift settlement of the region, solidifying the human dominance of the region in relatively short manner. Today, humans make up the vast majority of the population, with halflings, half-elves, and other non-humans comprising less than 12%.

Politics

While the professional lives of Valleyans barely differ from those in the Olde World, the region’s politics tell a different story. Rejecting the monarchies many settlers left behind, the Fertile Valley operates under a unique system of electoral representative politics known as the Seated Republic. Each settlement functions as an independent city-state, led by a democratically elected mayor supported by various chairpeople who represent local interests. These positions often go to leaders in farming, craftsmanship, and hospitality, reflecting the region’s agricultural focus. The settlements are connected via the Mayoral League, a convention of the region's mayors to promote camaraderie and trade between the various localities.

Settlements

The Valley is home to a number of settlements, ranging from larger towns to tiny, uncensured farming thorps. Among the most notable settlements in the valley are:

Farmingdale

Farmingdale is the largest town in the Valley, and serves as a primary hub for the transportation of goods. While the majority of exports from the Breadbasket travel through Farmingdale (including all exports to the Greenwood), Farmingdale is also the main entry point for all imports to the region. The town, thusly, finds itself the regions busiest and most diverse community.

Greenbarrow

Greenbarrow, the regions second largest town, sits on the Shadowspring River at the point where Shepherd's Run flows in. The town serves as the political and logistical home for all residents south of the Shadowspring, giving it sway over the largest landmass of any settlement in the Valley. Goods traveling directly to the Emerald Shores from the central portion of the valley will often stop through Greenbarrow as well

Shepherd's Hook

Named for the hook shape present in Shepherd’s Run where the village resides, Shepherd’s Hook is a small farming settlement in the eastern portion of the valley. The largest settlement in the valley’s east, “The Hook” is a fairly quiet town that features a surprisingly large footprint within it’s proper borders. With the Dreadwood so close and no natural barriers between the village and the evil forest other than the valley walls, many of the farmers in the region keep their primary homes within the village, and only a barn or small cabin in their farming lands. Many of these workers will commute daily to the nearer farmlands, while those further away will camp out a few days at a time, before returning to safety in numbers in the village.

Somersong

The Hook’s counterpart in the west, Somersong is a small farming village situated on the western side of Shepherd’s Run. The footprint for the village is actually quite small, with very few farmers relying on commuting to their lands, leaving many farmhouses to be scattered through the area. (The region is even home to Verdant Hill, a collection of extravagant farm houses located west-southwest of the village near Shadaowspring River. Somersong is often viewed as the safest and cleanest locale within the valley.

Eugenia's Rest

A tiny hamlet on the valley’s western edge, Eugenia’s Rest was founded by Gebidiah Greenhand, an early farming settler in the valley. Gebidiah and his wife Eugenia had a farm located near today’s Verdant Hill. One winter, Eugenia took ill and failed to recover, passing before the frost completely thawed. Racked with despair, Gebidiah could no longer bask in the view of their farm, took his wife’s remains and made a pilgrimage to the edge of the valley where he buried Eugenia. After spending a month at the site of her burial, Gebidiah built up a cabin on the land and began to return to his farming ways. The harvests immediately saw numbers far greater than what he had grown at their old farm, a feat of immense proportion when considering he farmed only 1/4th of his old acreage of land. Needing help, four families moved to the area to help Gebidiah on the farm. These families carried the farm onward after Gebidiah’s passing, preserving the memory of the farmer and his wife in Eugenia’s Rest forever.

Spellbrook

Located just outside the reach of the Darkwood, Spellbrook is another tiny hamlet, though one of uncertain origins. No founding documents for the town are available, nor do any locals have stories for the founding. When stepping foot in the hamlet, travelers have reported feeling the uneven air and darker energies seeping in from the Dreadwood. A sense of being watched has also been a common refrain from those who report on the settlement. Despite being an official locality on the latest census, Spellbrook is the lone locality to not send a representative to the Mayoral League.

Woolcrest

Woolcrest is situated in the north of the Fertile Valley, near the valley’s mouth. The small village is a hub of wool farming as the cooler temperatures in the north create a more suitable climate for large herds of sheep, goats, and even some alpaca. Culturally, the village is just as separate from the rest of the valley as it is physically. The unique challenges faced in the region, from a cooler climate to more animal and beast threats to their flocks, have produced a hardier and more reserved population. The residents are acutely aware that they are the last significant population before the unknown cold of the lands northward.

Climate

The Fertile Valley enjoys a temperate climate, with mild winters and warm summers that support year-round agriculture. The northern reaches remain cooler throughout the year, fed by snowmelt from the mountains, which helps keep the grasses lush and vibrant even in summer. In contrast, the southern stretches experience drier, warmer summers, with golden hues spreading across the landscape as crops mature. Rainfall is gentle but consistent, with spring and autumn bringing the heaviest showers to replenish the soil and sustain the valley’s rivers. Gentle breezes sweep through regularly, offering relief during warmer months and aiding pollination.

Ecosystem/Flora

The Fertile Valley thrives as a balance of cultivated farmland and natural ecosystems. Wheat fields and pastures dominate the landscape, while scattered stands of oak and elm provide shade and habitats for wildlife. Sparrows, larks, and hawks are common sights, while hares and field mice scurry through the grasses. Streams like Shepherd’s Run support fish and amphibians, enriching the ecosystem. Though predators such as foxes and bears occasionally roam the fields, the edges near the Dreadwood carry whispers of more sinister creatures.

Natural Resources

The Fertile Valley is extremely rich in its natural resources. The exceptionally fertile soil grows crops to such strength that their bounty is nearly double that of anywhere else in Dendralis, while also providing the lushest, fastest-growing grasses on the continent, perfect for grazing fields. This rich soil has resulted in the valley becoming the Breadbasket of Dendralis, as it is the primary source for grains and flours across the continent. Additionally, the Fertile Valley also leads Dendralis in production and distribution of wool and dairy products. Due to the high volume of exports from the region, the Fertile Valley’s resources are necessary for modern living to exist as it does in Dendralis.

Maps

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  The Fertile Valley - 847, 3E

Alternative Name(s)

Breadbasket of Dendralis, Verdant Valley

Type

Valley

Included Locations

• Farmingdale