Stone Valleys
Overview
The Stone Valleys are a collection of deep valleys situated in the northwestern reaches of the former Orethan Dominion, in the region that would eventually become the kingdom of Atrebla. According to A History of Rislandia, the valleys are described as "deep valleys where most of the population lives," making them the demographic and cultural core of Atreblan civilization. The site of Petra Magna is also located within this region.
History
According to A History of Rislandia, the Stone Valleys lay within the northwestern portion of the Orethan Dominion during that empire's era of dominance. The sourcebook describes them with the phrase "the Stone Valleys in the northwest (what would become Atrebla)," indicating that the region predated the formation of Atrebla as a distinct political entity. The kingdom of Atrebla is said to have "rose from the northwestern Stone Valleys," suggesting the valleys served as the geographic and perhaps political cradle from which Atreblan identity and statehood emerged following the decline of Orethan power.
Description
The valleys are characterized by their depth and their capacity to shelter large concentrations of people. A History of Rislandia twice repeats the description "deep valleys where most of the population lives," underscoring the centrality of the Stone Valleys to Atreblan life. The presence of Petra Magna within the region further attests to the valleys' historical and possibly political significance.
Legacy
The Stone Valleys endured as the population center of Atrebla long after the fall of the Orethan Dominion. Their role in sheltering the majority of the Atreblan people gave them lasting importance to the kingdom's society and governance.