From the writings of Guniya Cress
If only Almecca were more like the Vale.. I think it must have been, once upon a time. It's central city of Umiswavi is gorgeously fluid and organic in it's architecture, as if the city grew from the blue-green stone, rather than was carved, and perhaps it did, it is older than anything the archives can find.
Beyond the center of it's culture, government and power, the Vale is largely pastoral, long green swathes of neatly manicured farmlands, villages, lone cottages. The land is vaguely bowl shaped and is ringed by impressive bastions that protect the interior very effectively.
Raven's Reach casts a shadow over the Eastern Vale, but it's citizens pay it little mind. Indeed, it is well governed by it's High Princess, Mardenna Larauleigh, elected from amongst her peers in the nobility for a period of 18 years, as is their tradition, she was groomed for and has taken to the role with wondrous alacrity.