High Road

The High Road was an inland trade route along the Sword Coast North that stretched from Waterdeep in the south to Luskan in the north.

Geography
At its southernmost point, the High Road entered Waterdeep (at the Northgate ), where it passed through the city as one of its most important streets and continued south as the Trade Way. Hence, some accounts referred to the Trade Way as part of the High Road.

From the North Gate of Waterdeep, it skirted Thornhold and the eastern edge of the Mere of Dead Men where it passed beneath Iniarv's Tower before going through Leilon. Shortly afterward, it intersected with the western Triboar Cutoff then went through Neverwinter and Port Llast before coming to Luskan. It was roughly between Leilon and Neverwinter and  between Neverwinter and Port Llast.

History
The High Road was older than the Long Road, which ran from Waterdeep to Mirabar. However, both roads predated Waterdeep, having been develop to connect to the harbor city.

"The Mad Dwarf", Gulyaikin Dzrund, who dwelled in the caves of Mount Sar north of Waterdeep in the 1280s DR, was known to roll boulders down onto the High Road, killing hapless travelers there.

Travel Times
On a regular wagon journey circa 1357 DR, a trip from Waterdeep to Leilon took 11 days, from Waterdeep to Neverwinter took 17 days, from Waterdeep to Port Llast took 19 days, and from Waterdeep to Luskan took 23 days. This was 25% longer by foot and 60% faster by horse.

Activities
To avoid having to camp close to the Mere of Dead Men and risk being swallowed by its bogs or falling prey to its hazards, such as the will-o'-wisps that could be seen from the road, travelers commonly kept going through the night for three days' straight.

The Neverwintan militia patrolled the High Road between Leilon and Port Llast.

Waterdeep's City Guard also patrolled the High Road.

Because of the dangers on both the High Road and the Long Road, metal exports of the North were forced to leave Luskan by sea.

The dracolich Daurgothoth, the Creeping Doom, kept an eye on traffic on the High Road, Long Road, and other areas within his domain, from his lair northeast of Waterdeep.

Rumors & Legends
According to Varleth of Neverwinter, parts of the High Road near where it was sunken by the Mere of Dead Men had their own mythals, which altered the spells of mages who stood within those sections in peculiar ways, such as empowering them or cancelling them.