Beragast Vale

Lying south of The Shattered Kingdoms of Lisun and north of the Kingdom of Sien, the Beragast Vale is a dry grassy region, with settlements clinging to the few forests and flowing rivers to sustain themselves. Historically home to the The Iron Order, the Vale is dotted with the remains of old fortresses and strongholds built into the ridges and cliffside of the Vale.  The denizens here remember their past quite fondly, for the most part, Dragonborn and similar folk are warned to stay away from the Vale, or at least not enter towns there alone. 
While sections of the southern Vale technically fall under the jurisdiction of Sien, Valesmen like to act as independently as they can, though they do pay their taxes to the Siennian crown.

"Y'know what 'Beragast' means in Old Elvish? Empty. Now that sure ain't the kindest descriptor I've ever heard."

— Vale Rancher

Geography

Rolling hills and grasslands make up the majority of the region, with the Vale itself winding its way across the land. Ridgelines and rocky crags form along the vale, offering some natural barriers. Copses of trees and small woods can be found dotted around the Vale, but no forests of remarkable size are present. Streams and springs offer the only reliable year-long sources of water, settlements often have several sources nearby including wells, just in case.

Natural Resources

The open fields and gentle hills leave much room for pasture and fields, most towns having a herd or two of hardy cows as a community resource, larger towns also having sheep or pigs on the side. Agricultural fields cut into the Vale's hills provide beets, beans, carrots and wheat for food and trade. Meat is the staple food of the Vale from their own livestock or hunted game, the area is home to hares, small deer and boar. Foraged foods like mushrooms and berries add variety into the diet and are often preserved.
Some settlements continue their ancestors tradition of cultivating Dragonsbane, as in very small doses it can act as a peppery spice to vary the flavours available. Growing Dragonsbane has recently been becoming more of a profitable practice, as with the rising interest in the Iron Order and the The Reforged, people are starting to have need of the anti-drake plant.

History

Amidst the general chaos of 1E, the Vale was the birthplace of many early adventurers and knights, those that would one day form the Iron Order. The protection of the Order allowed the residents of the Vale to have greater security than many other young growing settlements of the time, populations flocked to the strongholds to build communities there. This allowed the Iron Order to flourish as their fortresses had direct access to food and supplies. Over time as the draconic population decreased, there was less need for so many strongholds, and arming contingents of heavily armoured knights was an expensive endeavour. This combined to the dragon presence swelling in the far north led to a partial exodus of the Order as they began travelling further afield to hunt their quarry. 
During 2E when The Lisun Empire gained control of the region, they were the ones to name it Beragast Vale, after the large distances between settlements and lack of notable landmarks. Once the Empire outlawed the Iron Order the Vale began to decline rapidly, with strongholds stormed and fortresses torched many people moved back to the sites of their old settlements, though others remained in the shadow of their former lives. With few Valesmen left living that still knew how to fight or smith, the practices of the Order became a fiercely guarded secret, and with the utter destruction of the Empire the Vale was once again left to fend for itself.

Type

Vale