The Valley Sorn is tucked in a bend in the Elysian Divide at the southwestern most reach of the Kestran Empire. It is a rural and underdeveloped region which is, as a result of ancient magics, trapped eternally between fall and winter.
The Eastern region of the valley is permanently in a state of fall. The trees rain red, yellow, and orange leaves which pile up around small villages and dense forests. This factor plus the emergence of convenient international travel and sudden increases in disposable wealth has turned the historically backwards valley into a major tourist destination. Many towns in the Eastern Valley cater to tourists who come year-round both to experience the wonderful weather, food, and quantities of more simple life away from the hustle of the city.
The most popular destination in Sorn is the city of Alryne, which is considered modern and cosmopolitan. Being mostly a resort town, it is filled with upscale restaurants, museums, coffee shops and hotels which cater to the city's wealthy clientele. The University of Elvania maintains a campus in the city, and the city is the headquarters of the Jeweler’s Guild, the de-facto government of the eastern valley.
Eldham is a medium-sized settlement south of Alryne which caters to those who wish to experience a more ‘authentic’ experience of the simplicities of rural life. A halfling-majority village, it through frequent festivals in the styles of the old revelries and is home to several major breweries. It is also a major farming town.
Ascott is another medium-sized village in the southern valley. Besides tourists drawn for its historical buildings and impressive city wall, the town is one of the most renowned hunting destinations in the Empire. Skilled trackers operate a number of hunting lodges where dire elks and boars are hunted by adventurous patrons.
Though not a popular tourist destination, Ebonfield is the religious center of the valley and home to the valley's Bishop and major Cathedral. There are other settlements too, but wouldn't you know it, your brochure doesn't say anything about them! Huh!
The Western reaches of the valley are eternally snow covered in an eternal state of winter. This region is poorly developed. You have seen a news story detailing how recently a pretender to the throne of the technical capital of the valley, the city of Fulchenstead, has begun an insurrection attacking people at random. A military squadron has been deployed to the region, and travel into the region is currently forbidden. Luckily no one really goes there anyway.
And while it is not technically within the Valley Sorn (it is an independent city) The City of Wellbush is close by, and it is impossible to get to the valley without passing through. The downtown offers a lively nightlife, a cutting-edge shopping district, and all other luxuries of a modern city Fun!
The brochure doesn't state this, but the city has a reputation for being a seemingly endless urban sprawl of smog choked tenements, nondescript factories, and winding alleyways. The city is known for having one of the highest crime rates in the empire, and a significant corruption problem.