Bindaela

Bindaela is a region of Malaena that comprises a large plain dotted with rocky hills along the course of the Sarabal River. and it's tributaries. The name comes from Noulaenic *bin* (high) and *dael* (valley). The region is home to Noulian. It is currently divided into several feudal kingdoms, of which Sarenmen is the largest.

## Geography

Bindaela is a series of broad floodplains at similar elevations surrounded by steep hills. The Binnar Range, with crests reaching 3300 paces, sits to the west and provides the source of the two largest rivers forming the flood plain, the Sarabal and Nusbal Rivers. The hills to the north rise to a height of 2443 paces at the summit of Suscarus Mountain. The two main tributaries flowing from the north, the Carasac River and the Susuc River flow from the western and eastern face of Suscarus, respectively.

The hills to the south are lower but form a steeper edge at the boundary of the plain. Few rivers flow into the basin from the south, with Faronil River, a short, fast river flowing from a the large Farolin Spring, being the only tributary of considerable size on the southern side. Other rivers in the hills south of Bindaela flow away from the valley, feeding the Nilfalum and Dafado Rivers.

The Nusbal River joins the Sarabal River near the western edge of the plain and forms a large, slow flowing, meandering river that continues along the central plain, growing as additional tributaries flow into the river. At the eastern edge of the plain the plain narrows and eventually the river enters a gorge with fast flowing rapids (The Sarabaluol Rapids).

The main plain sits at an elevation of 450 paces at the eastern edge, rising to 520 paces at the western edge. There are several smaller plains in the region as well. The Carasac River flows through a small plain roughly 25 paces higher than the Sarabal plain, passing between two steep hills at the historical site of Narmein before dropping to enter the Sarabal basin. The Faranbaen Plain occupies the southeast corner of Bindaela and is 30 paces higher than the main plain. This region was part of the Sarabal floodplain in pre-historical times but changes in the river course removed it from the floodplain, which has since eroded to its current lower level, leaving Faranbaen relatively high and dry compared to the rest of the region.

The main entrances to the region have historically been the Sarabal gorge to the east and the Nusour Pass (2400 paces elevation) over the Binnar range in the west. There is also a less traveled route to the south following the Faronil River to Fasfalan Pass and from there to the Nilfalum river gorge.

## Politics

The Bindaela region is currently divided into four feudal kingdoms ruling over small walled cities and surrounding farmland. The largest modern cities in the region, by order of population, are Sarenmen (55,000), Carasacaen (50,000), Farolin (43,000), Noulian (40,000), Sarenfalin (25,000), Sarabalul (20,000), and Faranbaen (18,000). The total population of the region is 800,000. The largest kingdom, Sarenmen, controls Sarenmen, Noulian, and Sarenfalin and most of the land north of Sarabal in the main valley. The Kingdom of Faranbaena controls the Faranbaen plateau and the eastern section of the main valley, including Faranbaen and Sarabaluol. The kingdom of Narmen controls the Carasac Valley including Carasacaen. The Kingdom of Farolina controls most of the main valley south of the Sarabal, the Faronil river course, and the city of Farolin.