Slaver's Pass

Slaver’s Pass is a long, treacherous mountain pass that cuts through the rugged Stonewarden Heights, serving as the primary, and often perilous, route connecting Jou’lunn to the neighboring kingdoms of Eouma and Dhuma. The pass has earned its grim name from centuries of use by Jou’lunn’s slave traders, who march their captives through this brutal terrain toward the kingdom’s heart or onward to foreign markets.

Geography and Terrain

Slaver’s Pass winds through narrow valleys, steep cliffs, and rocky outcroppings, often shrouded in mist or snow depending on the season. The path is treacherous, with loose rocks and sudden drops that have claimed many lives over the years. What makes the journey especially dangerous are the frequent landslides and violent storms that sweep down from the surrounding peaks, further complicating passage.
The pass follows the course of a narrow river that has carved its way through the mountains, its icy waters making the air cold and damp even in the height of summer. The pass is marked by a series of rough-hewn stone bridges and narrow trails, often barely wide enough for a single cart or pack animal to traverse safely.

Historical and Strategic Importance

Despite its dangers, Slaver’s Pass holds immense strategic value. It serves as the most direct route for Jou'lunn’s slavers to transport their non-human captives from the more egalitarian lands of Eouma and Dhuma into Jou’lunn’s rigid, hierarchical society. The pass is not only a trade route but also a military access point, making it crucial for controlling the flow of both goods and armies between kingdoms.
The pass has been the site of several key battles, as armies from Jou’lunn and Eouma have clashed over control of this vital route. Blackwatch Bastion, located near the Jou'lunn side of the pass, serves as a heavily fortified military outpost to ensure the kingdom’s grip over this perilous passage remains secure.

Dangers and Legends

Travelers who make their way through Slaver’s Pass are often warned of bandits, wild beasts, and the harsh conditions. In winter, the snow can block the pass entirely, stranding those foolish enough to attempt the journey. Many captives never survive the crossing, succumbing to the brutal conditions, and their bones are said to litter the pass, giving rise to dark rumors.
One popular legend tells of the “Wraith of the Pass”, a spirit said to haunt the path, seeking vengeance on those who profit from the slave trade. Many travelers claim to have seen ghostly figures on the cliffs, believed to be the restless souls of those who died on the journey, their suffering etched into the very stones of the pass.

Control and Security

To maintain control over the pass, Jou’lunn stations regular patrols along its length. Watchtowers dot the trail, each manned by soldiers tasked with preventing escapes, ensuring the smooth movement of caravans, and defending against potential raids from Eouma’s more egalitarian forces. The kingdom’s reliance on the pass for slave trade and military movements makes it a highly protected, albeit heavily feared, route for all who pass through it.

Type

Mountain Pass