Northknife Pass

Northknife Pass was a mountain trail leading across the Dustwall, from Raurin to Bralizzar.

Creatures
Besides bandits, there were bugbears, wolves, yeti, worgs, mountain goats, mountain lions, and grizzlies, some of them hostile. The Hetmann of Bralizzar hired a hill giant at least once to keep the path cleared of rocks.

Description
The pass lay approximately forty miles away from Bralizzar.

The pass rose abruptly from the valley where Bralizzar lay. The Dustwall mountains around the pass were gray with red streaks reminiscent of wounds. The mountain tops disappeared around misty clouds. It followed the course of a mountain stream, which zigzagged its way down the mountains, ascending slowly.

A quick ford, about 30 feet wide and several feet deep, lay near the start of the pass. Its ice cold waters were perilous to cross; this one was known as Sweepaway Ford.

The trail crossed two natural stone barriers, one 300 feet tall and one even higher, closer to Raurin. Both were crossable only by paths too narrow to allow for more than a single file; they one closest to Bralizzar was known as Breakheart Cleft, and the one further up the road was Giant Step Cleft. Ambushes were likely in such spots; a small stream of water formed the left side of both passes.

A small spring lay close to the highest point in the pass, surrounded by a flowerbed: it had tiny purple and white flowers, with occassional large crimson blossoms and pure white lillies. The water was so cold it numbed the mouth, and animals would not willingly drink it. It was also the last source of water in the pass, and known as Resurrection Spring.

Between the spring and the highest point in the pass, there was a cave about 40 feet up on the face of the mountain, often used for refuge by passing travelers. It was a total of 100 feet above the trail itself.

There was an impressive view from the top of the pass. At dawn and dusk, the polished sides of the pyramid of Amun-Re were visible, flashing in the desert. The distant Hinjaz could also be seen from there.