The Blood Vale - by @smitchellmaps In all the world there is no place like the Blood Vale. It straddles the shores of both old Almatia, and Culis, divided by the Meredesang as it empties into the Sea of Contest. Its capstone city, Portasong, is the gateway of the world, and all trade from Edor and Adoran is passed on its journey by trade from Rivas, Thendare, and Caltovis. It is the last true remnant of the Sargosian Empire, and though it carries the prestige of its legacy, it is in no way bound by it. All ethnicities and races have a presence in the Blood Vale, from the exotic to the mundane. All religions, systems of magic, philosophies, old grudges, and new, mix in a volatile cauldron of terse acceptance tempered only by a desire for trade, and opportunity. The Scar Lands to the east are dangerous, yet filled with riches and the promise of adventure. The principalities that constitute the vale guard over uneasy borders, and hungry minor lords have ample opportunity and motivation to expand their holds. Where there are feuding minor lords there are mercenary companies seeking their own fortunes. The Ichor, and the decades of war with Virida and Accipitera have left ample room for settlement and development. The conquest of Avaris in Amon has given the Blood Vale an alliance with Rivas, and they have begun to establish themselves as a new kingdom in and of itself. The Keepers of the Gates, and the Mage Colleges of Bardsey, both call the Blood Vale home. Both are powerful institutions in their own right, but their presence only serves to underscore the growing strength and influence of the Vale at large.