Setting
The main Trade route north from Skysong City, this hard packed, rutted road is in remarkably good repair, and spans from the main gates of the city to the southern edge of Shore's Haven on the coast, 400 miles (or two to four days' ride) to the north.
Crossroads and other smaller roads and paths from hamlets and villages set off of the main route feed out onto this road like streams to a river, and at every crossroad, signs point travelers the correct direction. Every now and then, Inns and Taverns come into sight, rest stops for foot weary travelers and caravans.
As the road progresses steadily northward, the surrounding habitat morphs seamlessly from inland evergreens and hardwoods to coastal plains and vegetation, wildflowers in the spring showing to be quite varied from the inland varieties. The air grows warmer, and gains the scent and flavor of sea salt.
As the traveler gets closer to the Northern Coast, the soft, soothing undulation of the sea's waves crashing ashore and hushing over white sandy beaches becomes apparent to the ears, and the cries of sea faring birds rise stridently over the pitch of the waves.
As the City of Shore's Haven comes into view, the sounds of settled civilization eventually mingles like a melody with the sounds of the natural world around the city; bards strum lutars and sing of great warriors, and the distant shouts and calls of the sailors on the docks and wharf can be heard.
The Road itself is safe, for the most part; every trade route has its fair share of trouble, but with the recent removal of a bandit group, the roads are much safer this way.
Crossroads and other smaller roads and paths from hamlets and villages set off of the main route feed out onto this road like streams to a river, and at every crossroad, signs point travelers the correct direction. Every now and then, Inns and Taverns come into sight, rest stops for foot weary travelers and caravans.
As the road progresses steadily northward, the surrounding habitat morphs seamlessly from inland evergreens and hardwoods to coastal plains and vegetation, wildflowers in the spring showing to be quite varied from the inland varieties. The air grows warmer, and gains the scent and flavor of sea salt.
As the traveler gets closer to the Northern Coast, the soft, soothing undulation of the sea's waves crashing ashore and hushing over white sandy beaches becomes apparent to the ears, and the cries of sea faring birds rise stridently over the pitch of the waves.
As the City of Shore's Haven comes into view, the sounds of settled civilization eventually mingles like a melody with the sounds of the natural world around the city; bards strum lutars and sing of great warriors, and the distant shouts and calls of the sailors on the docks and wharf can be heard.
The Road itself is safe, for the most part; every trade route has its fair share of trouble, but with the recent removal of a bandit group, the roads are much safer this way.
Northbound Caravan Trade Route
The main Trade route north from Skysong City, this hard packed, rutted road is in remarkably good repair, and spans from the main gates of the city to the southern edge of Shore's Haven on the coast, 400 miles (or two to four days' ride) to the north.
Minimap
northwest |
north |
northeast |
west |
You are here. |
east |
southwest |
south |
southeast |
Northbound Caravan Trade Route is a part of 
Serenia.
1 Places in Northbound Caravan Trade Route:
1 Characters Here
Redfire needed no coaxing to start after the man and his –yes - fluttering cloak. The Queen chuckled softly, draping the reins over the stallion’s withers and listened as they trotted toward the courtyard exit of the stables. “Ever been chased by horses in the air?” That he spent most of his life running from guards and their dogs didn’t surprise her in the least. “We use hawks and Falcons occasionally, but they take convincing. Very proud creatures.”
Snakes? She peered after him, catching his eyes with an arched brow as he looked back. “Snakes? They can climb, yes, but they’re also rather vain.” She grinned at him as they broke into the courtyard. “Unless we found one big enough to eat the perpetrator. They enjoy a good meal.”
It was as the sun was setting that the sky overhead, already beginning to thicken with clouds, gave in and let the bounty of rain free. It was a heavy, soaking downpour, and Redfire snorted his displeasure at the soaking while Briena unfurled the rump blanket for the horse before attending to her own cloak. There was no displeasure in her tone, nor sarcasm as she tossed at Patch, “Fine time for a rainstorm, eh?” She settled more comfortably in the saddle, and nodded ahead down the road. “There’s a tavern about ten miles to the north; The Screaming Swordsman. Think you might start looking there?”
Vegetation that had been free of drops now wept freely as the rain coursed over leaves and blades of grass. Her own cloak, spelled to repel rain, dripped under the deluge. She paid the storm little mind, her attention on Patch while her senses maintained a wide radius about them, alert for troubles.
Snakes? She peered after him, catching his eyes with an arched brow as he looked back. “Snakes? They can climb, yes, but they’re also rather vain.” She grinned at him as they broke into the courtyard. “Unless we found one big enough to eat the perpetrator. They enjoy a good meal.”
Five Hours Ride/Walk Later: Dusk – 40 Miles out.
It was as the sun was setting that the sky overhead, already beginning to thicken with clouds, gave in and let the bounty of rain free. It was a heavy, soaking downpour, and Redfire snorted his displeasure at the soaking while Briena unfurled the rump blanket for the horse before attending to her own cloak. There was no displeasure in her tone, nor sarcasm as she tossed at Patch, “Fine time for a rainstorm, eh?” She settled more comfortably in the saddle, and nodded ahead down the road. “There’s a tavern about ten miles to the north; The Screaming Swordsman. Think you might start looking there?”
Vegetation that had been free of drops now wept freely as the rain coursed over leaves and blades of grass. Her own cloak, spelled to repel rain, dripped under the deluge. She paid the storm little mind, her attention on Patch while her senses maintained a wide radius about them, alert for troubles.
Patch laughed cheerily at the sudden rain, which had apparently raised his mood instead of dampening it. "Rain is the best weather. Covers tracks, covers smells, makes it hard to see but doesn't slow you down on foot. Cooling when you're warmed from a jog. What's to hate?" he asked with a broad grin. However that taverns name left him a little curious.
"I take it there is a reason it is called 'The Screaming Swordsman'?" he asked with a cock of his neck, "Or was the founder just eccentric?" He threw an arm casually into the are that disturbed his cloak and sent with it a shower of water raining down around him, along with a very distinct metal 'tink' that he failed to notice as something fell onto the floor around his feet.
"I take it there is a reason it is called 'The Screaming Swordsman'?" he asked with a cock of his neck, "Or was the founder just eccentric?" He threw an arm casually into the are that disturbed his cloak and sent with it a shower of water raining down around him, along with a very distinct metal 'tink' that he failed to notice as something fell onto the floor around his feet.
It was amusing the things that cheered up the man. The deluge seemed to bolster his good spirits, even as it soaked the earth, and the laugh brought a slight, bemused grin to her face as she tugged the hood of her cloak over her head, though her hair was already soaked through, the color darkened to a bloody red. Her head tilted as she listened to his comments about the weather, nodding. They were all true, even if Redfire didn't quite agree with the rain being the best, and she gave his side a light nudge as she saw the horse's rain soaked ears flatten to his poll, reminding him that biting the man was out of the question.
A soft chuckle answered the query Patch made about the tavern. "Ah, yes. When the owner... perhaps you'd best experience it first hand." As he threw his arm out and sent water scattering from his cloak, Redfire tossed his head, snorting and stopping as both his and the Queen's ears caught the faint clink of metal hitting the ground. Briena shifted in her seat, leaning forward to peer through the rain at the ground, and the rain splattering mud of the road. Something metal.
After a long moment, she slid from the saddle, dropping a shield over the seat to repel the rain and bent to examine it, then straightened to look at Patch. "Ah... Patch. Did you happen to check your own clothes for your card?" She bent, picking up the dagger that was distinctly one of his own and offering it to him for his examination, eyes gaining a twinkle of growing mirth.
A soft chuckle answered the query Patch made about the tavern. "Ah, yes. When the owner... perhaps you'd best experience it first hand." As he threw his arm out and sent water scattering from his cloak, Redfire tossed his head, snorting and stopping as both his and the Queen's ears caught the faint clink of metal hitting the ground. Briena shifted in her seat, leaning forward to peer through the rain at the ground, and the rain splattering mud of the road. Something metal.
After a long moment, she slid from the saddle, dropping a shield over the seat to repel the rain and bent to examine it, then straightened to look at Patch. "Ah... Patch. Did you happen to check your own clothes for your card?" She bent, picking up the dagger that was distinctly one of his own and offering it to him for his examination, eyes gaining a twinkle of growing mirth.
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