Control of the Valley

The valley has over a thousand people in it, and preparing for more. Many of them refugee farmers and whatnot, some of them soldiers or nobles and entourage. Also merchants, scouts, scholars... And none of these can agree on how the valley needs to be run. Quite frankly, it is a miracle that we're not just constantly bickering all day.
Well, I say a miracle, but that's also because a bunch of folks simply manipulate each other to do something constructive with their time instead. Rather than have constant fights about the limited resources, the various factions all try to get their hands on more instead. As a result, things actually manage to get done. Useful, no?
So, let's start with the big catalyst here. Not the dam-break, which flooded villages and ruined farmlands and infrastructure. No, what came after that. Refugees, that the eastern nobles feared as they represented the risk of societal upheaval. Which is why they supported us moving into the valley, rather than have angry mobs raid their storehouses.
Now, they want to basically squeeze us dry, find any excuse to not support us. They want their territories to be healthy, so that when the war ends, they have enough strength to no longer have to bow before the king. At the same time, they don't want us to find too many useful things here. So they stick around to be able to profit if we make it big.
So here we are, facing known and unknown dangers, while infighting could easily become the death of us. Best to proceed carefully but with haste, so that we can remain standing. To do that, we first must pay attention to what parties are all involved in this political strife.

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Old Powers

On one side, we have the Montchild Faction and their associates, the Order of the Steel Horse. Arrogant, ruled by pride, contempt for the common folks. Playing to their egos is the main way to get things done, asking earnestly will never get things done. They still are a threat, though, even though we need them.
They are opposed by the Kilcomb Faction and the Wooden Shields, nobles and knights that care about the people. They are not perfect, but they work well. And unlike those steel lumps, the Wooden Shields actually figure out decent tactics. They even advise Scouts on how best to deal with certain creatures.

The Rising Stars

First of, we'd be nowhere without the Claywell Group. They are trying to turn the valley into a profitable business, and as part of that, make sure to supply us. Furthermore, there's us, the Crow's Nest, here to help you scouts with your jobs. You're welocme.
Asides from various small groups of scouts, we find ourselves aided by the Shadow Lancers, cavalry mercenaries that help provide us with flexibility. There's also the Ravenmight Institute, which help figure out the valley, leaving no book unturned. Lastly, the civilians are also learning to defend themselves, which means more troops can be spared for explorations.