Although the perils of the Kingswood lie between the Lands of the Night Cattle and the lands of men and dwarves, trade still passes through along a curious road.
From the western plains, past the edge of the Kingswood and up into the northern mountains to the Titan’s Skull (33.00) lies the Welt Road. It was built by the men who herd the night cattle, who dig deep trenches at night, raise support beams and then cover the road with dirt and sod. These men, who cringe at the sight of the sun, can then scuttle between their keeps during the day, which also makes it easier for caravans to travel east into their lands. Grass does not grow well above the Welt Road and the support beams are often left exposed by the elements, giving it the appearance of an angry welt cut across the skin of the suffering land.
The Welt Road is not an easy one to travel. Ventilation in the long tunnel is poor and the smell is nearly unbearable and along some stretches of the road, two carts cannot pass each other. Worse yet, some portions of the road have not yet been completed or have fallen into disrepair and in others cave-ins are common and elves of Court of the Kingswood wait above to ambush any man who feels the sun upon his face. Some less scrupulous elves can be bought off with human infants, if any are willing to pay that price. In some parts of the Welt Road, heavy logs cover the floor and strange sounds can be heard coming from below.
Although great riches can be won by those who know it well and travel it often, many people fear to tread the Welt Road. Whole caravans have vanished into the earth, but the man who is now known as Crossbow Henry (41.02) led caravans along the road for years and never lost a man, amassing great wealth.
Elven Raiders wait above the Welt Road to prey on travellers.
Places along the way
- The Sundial Inn (25.04)
- Titan’s Rest (33.01) is the final stretch of the road before it ends at Titan’s Skull
- The Market Pits (28.04)
- Olmsted Keep is the destination for many travelling the Welt Road (31.04)
- Winds
- The Order of the Broken Chain has its headquarters in a secret lair somewhere along the road (27.04)
Connections
- During the Lion’s Day, the road’s stuffy air becomes almost unbreathable.
- Drogo’s thieves are permitted only to raid caravans travelling the Welt Road.
- Gnolls were brought in cages along the road for the Lady (40.06)
Hooks
- What are the sounds that come from below?
- Who are some of the characters who frequent the Welt Road?
- What happened to the caravans that disappeared? Why was Henry so successful? What happened to all of his money?