Jeff
Road, Mud and Moccasin along the Old Wenelian Road
Winding from Ralios to Esrolia through the rough hills and forests of
Wenelia is the “Old Wenelian Road.” Wide enough for two carts, the road
is
surfaced with gravel or stone. In marshy places, split logs make an
uneven
but sturdy roadway. The simple fords crossing most streams are
impassible
during heavy rains but bridges often grace river crossings –
occasionally
these made from stone. Small towns sprang up around major river
crossings
or where goods are transferred to waiting boats and canoes.
Castles, way-stations and shrines ensure that caravans have a safe haven each night and every traveler gets a friendly welcome, warm food and strong drink in accordance with their station. During its heyday, as many as three or four caravans a week would travel the road during Fire and Earth seasons; dozens of carts or wagons plodding slowly along. With the decline in east-west travel, the road mostly sees local traffic and carts carrying goods to market and many of the inns and trade-stops stand abandoned. Trader Prince magic and local labor kept the road in good repair over the centuries but now the forest encroaches further each year. Dirt and gravel replaces the flagstone and pediments washed out by rain – if ever.
Rates of Travel
Travel Method Distance in Miles Per Day
Canoe* 40-60
Portage 3
Jhoral Boat* 30-40
Portage <500 feet per day
Raft 10 (30 downstream)
Cart or Wagon 10-15
Foot 20-25
Horse 25-30
*rates assume relatively slack water. Traveling with or against the current can increase or decrease the distance traveled by up 1/2.
Terrain greatly affects distances traveled, as do heavy burdens. The
above
rates assume lightly-loaded vehicles or bearers traveling on roads, good
paths or placid water. Heavy loads (as carried by most caravans and
convoys) reduce travel to 2/3 the listed rate. Rough terrain such as
hills, ridges, deep forest or poorly cleared paths also reduces the rate
to 2/3 normal. Travel through unknown wilderness or rugged terrain such
as swamp, mountain or jungle reduces travel to 1/3 – and may prove
impossible for carts or wagons. Penalties are cumulative (thus, a
heavily loaded cart
travelling over hills along poor paths would count itself lucky to
manage
five miles a day.
The Trade Road, long maintained by Trader Prince magic, is blessed and blesses those who travel it and can be considered “good road” or “excellent water” allowing those traveling it exclusively gain a 1/3 bonus to their daily travel rate.
Abilities and personality traits can affect daily mileage. The simplest method is to treat such abilities as march, tireless, couch potato, lazy as simple positive or negative augments. Forced marches require a contest against the base distance traveled modified by the ease/difficulty of travel.
Example: Someone hiking on a trail, with normal hiking gear and food in hills, would travel 2/3 of 20-25 miles or 16 miles a day.
-- Flight to Peru - £1000 Camping gear - £200 Native guide to take you into the mountains - £50 Radiation detector to find mysteriously radioactive old tomb - £150 Sledgehammer to break down stone door - £12.99 Awakening one of the Great Old Ones - priceless. There are some things man was not meant to know. For everything else, there's Mastercard.
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