Dro'eladrim
Dro'eladrim (Elvish for great dark valley) is a region of the Arak Mountains inhabited and ruled by Drowkin Elves. The valley is located in the north-central portion of the great Arak Mountain range about 150 miles south of the southern-most frontier of the Elven Realm of Naru on the Arial River.
The valley is a deep, steeply-sided rift between two spurs of the Arak Mountains. Impassable mountains surround the valley on the Western, southern and eastern walls of the valley, with only a 5 mile wide opening to the north allowing access to the forests and plains of the Arial plateau. The valley itself is 18 miles east-to-west at its widest point, and is more than 30 miles north-to-south. Within the valley are many small rivers and streams that all feed into the Dro'eloth, a wide, swift river that flows north out of the valley and meets the Arial River more than 250 miles distant. The Dro'eloth (Elvish for "dark river") is famous for its deep reddish-brown color caused by the many tannins leached out of the countless bogs and swamps of the Dro'eladrim highlands.
The valley floors, closest to the main river, are the best and most fertile soils in the valley. As one progresses higher in elevation, the soil becomes much more rocky and less suitable for traditional farming practices but still provides many thousands of acres of pasture for herd animals of all types.
The Drowkin Elves of the valley number just over 80,000. In addition to the Drowkin there are also roughly 30,000 slaves of all races and species living and working within the valley, as well.
Geography
A long, steep-sided valley running south to north, with valley walls made up of high mountains and steep rocky slopes. The opening of the valley spans less than six miles of relatively level ground at the northern end and gives access to the foothills and high plains of the Arial valley. The valley has a wide, slow moving river called the Dro'eloth (dark river in Elvish) running through it. The waters of this river are a dark, dirty reddish color caused by the tannins leached out from the many miles of peat bog and mires found nearer its headwaters.
Localized Phenomena
The Dro'eloth is the name of the main river flowing out of the valley, and it gets its name from the dark reddish-brown water that flows through it all year long. The water's color is caused by the decayed plant matter from the many bogs and marshes of the valley that provide the abundant tannins that stain the water. The water of the Dro'eloth has a slightly astrigent quality to it because of this and lacks many of the more familiar and expected varieties of fishes that might be found in fresher water. Carp and catfish are the most common fish harvested from the river.
Climate
The Dro'eladrim Valley enjoys a more sheltered climate than much of the surrounding mountains due to the steep valley walls that shield it from the harsh winter winds and violent summer storms. The most measurable climactic danger is from the very real possibility of flooding due to snow melt or heavy rain in the surrounding mountains. These flood events are typically a risk at the height of summer and at unseasonably late winter storms or very warm springs.
Fauna & Flora
The Dro'eladrim has been truly pacified by the Drowkin in the centuries since they arrived. Within its steep and protected valley, few dangerous predators remain (other than the Elves themselves). Even the Hill Giants and Dragons that menace so much of the surrounding mountains avoid the valley for fear of the Drowkin legions that defend and protect it.
Within the valley one finds large herds of horses, cattle, sheep, goats and hundreds of flocks of geese (the preferred poultry of the Drowkin). Living amongst these herds are thousands of trained dogs that are primarily to assist in the managing of the herds but can also be counted on to raise an alarm of strangers are encountered in places where they shouldn't be.
Natural Resources
The Dro'eladrim Valley is a resource-rich area of the Arak Mountains, with large deposits of iron ore, tin, copper and lead. The bedrock is a heavy banded sedimentary rock that is well suited for quarrying and construction while the Dro'eloth riverway provides ample supplies of gravel, sand and chert. Within the flood plain of the river, the soil is most condusive to farming. As one moves away from the main river and up the valley walls, the soil becomes more stony and less productive but still provides ample grazing for heards of sheep, cattle, goats and horses.
Tourism
The Drowkin Elves of Dro'eladrim are not considered a welcoming society. They are very insular in their view of non-Drowkin peoples, and are openly hostile to races such as Halflings, Gnomes and very nearly all Humans. They are slightly more hospitable to Dwarves but only in so far as they can benefit from Dwarven technical skills and labor.
The cities and towns of the valley do have some places where travellers can find food, rest and supplies but to get to these places one first has to gain access to the valley itself, and that is not an easy prospect for any non-Elves.
Type
Valley
Location under
Included Locations
Related Ethnicities
