The Trader's Way (also seen as the Traders' Way[1][2]) was a caravan road that connected with the Golden Road at Kormul in the Shaar. Traveling south from there, it passed by the Wyrmbones and crossed the River Talar. Turning east, it passed through Rethmar and Channathgate before climbing the Landrise and reaching Three Swords, Eartheart, and Delzimmer before turning south to end at Cathyr in Dambrath.[3][4][5]
The Trader's Way also met the Dunsel Trail at Eartheart.[6][7][8][9]
This road was characterized by numerous cairns, pinnacles, and crags that shepherded caravans along the Way. They could be found irregularly spaced all along the eastern side of the road (technically the north side when the road was heading in an east-west direction) and helped travelers navigate when dust storms kicked up.[1][2] Most were crumbling or overgrown, but distinct enough to be used for meeting places or burial sites. When a carcass or a corpse needed burial along the journey (mainly to prevent carrion-eaters from disturbing survivors), these rocky places proved crude but effective tombs. Shifting the rocks to cover something newly deceased often uncovered a previous burial.[10][11] At least three of these cairns or pinnacles, just north and west of Delzimmer, had names: Harboot's Tooth, the Knife, and Daustable's Morrum.[2][12]
The Trader's Way skirted the eastern edge of the Forest of Amtar which was a favorite place for bandits to prey on caravans that were not adequately guarded. For those traveling lightly with goods that fit on muleback, guides could be hired in Khôltar or Delzimmer for escort along this stretch, staying well to the east of the road (and the forest) using the cairns as landmarks.[10][11]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ed Greenwood (April 2001–May 2003). Elminster Speaks archive (Zipped PDF). Elminster Speaks. Wizards of the Coast. p. 58. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2016-09-03.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ed Greenwood (2002-09-04). Part #48: The Road to Khôltar, Part 1. Elminster Speaks. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2017-06-10.
- ↑ Map included in Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Thomas Reid (October 2004). Shining South. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 106. ISBN 0-7869-3492-1.
- ↑ Karen Wynn Fonstad (August 1990). The Forgotten Realms Atlas. (TSR, Inc), pp. 10–11. ISBN 978-0880388573.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (April 2001–May 2003). Elminster Speaks archive (Zipped PDF). Elminster Speaks. Wizards of the Coast. p. 67. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2016-09-03.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (2002-10-30). Part #53: Khôltar, Part 4, Our Tour Begins. Elminster Speaks. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2017-06-17.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (April 2001–May 2003). Elminster Speaks archive (Zipped PDF). Elminster Speaks. Wizards of the Coast. p. 83. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2016-09-03.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (2003-03-19). Part #63: Khôltar, Part 14, A Brief History of Khôltar, Part 1. Elminster Speaks. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2017-06-17.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Ed Greenwood (April 2001–May 2003). Elminster Speaks archive (Zipped PDF). Elminster Speaks. Wizards of the Coast. pp. 59–60. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2016-09-03.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Ed Greenwood (2002-09-18). Part #49: The Road to Khôltar, Part 2. Elminster Speaks. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2017-09-23.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (April 2001–May 2003). Elminster Speaks archive (Zipped PDF). Elminster Speaks. Wizards of the Coast. pp. 58–59. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2016-09-03.