> One point I haven't seen: ground frost. Not the little
> irksome frosts you might get: *permafrost*. A winter
> so bad, when the spring planting comes you realize
> that the frost lurks a foot or two below the surface,
> waiting... winter lurking just beyond...
Again, a big thing in Finland. Roads have to be laid very carefully here to survive the winter frosts.
Hence my thoughts on those magical roads of King Sartar and his kin. (I think I wrote about it here earlier)
Basically the roads are elevated somewhat, so that the winter winds sweek snow off them, and so that travellers can see potential bushwackers more easily. The enchantment also keeps the roadstones warmer than they should be. They freeze over in the hardest winter-chill, but usually are warm enough to stay clear of frost.
The road itself is made from large stone cubes, about a foot on each side, on that bed of enchanted earth. The winter frost makes the road warp and the stones move, but when the road warms up again, the stones slowly align themselves once more. The same of course keeps the traffic from degrading the road.
The warm road is an offence to Hollri and other winter daemons, spirits and essenses, so occasionally they attack and try to destroy the roads. Thus there is still some upkeep, or at least vigilance required from the clans along the roads.
-Adept
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