Vias Ebonaas (veeahs ebahnahs)
The Vias Ebonaas ("black road" in the Karni language), or the North Road to the Oshahni elite, is an ancient stone roadway built at least 1,800 years ago (perhaps much earlier) by peoples unknown today. It stretches from the east banks of the Karn River to the west banks of the Kaldee River, exactly 114 miles from water to water. The road is incredibly straight, given that it cuts through some very hilly terrain, and deviates from a perfect line by only one and a half miles from end to end. The Vias Ebonaas has at its western extreme the ruins of either a massive fortress complex or a fortified city, and at the eastern end of the road is a huge stepped pyramid surrounded by a massive wall.
The western ruins are today known as Tigrosh ("place of the tiger" in Karni)and there is a small garrison of Oshahni posted there for three months at a time before they are relieved by another garrison. This garrison is tasked with patrolling the area around the ruins to prevent an invasion from Burna to the west, but as it is very rare to even see a single human being on the far side of the river, let alone spot an invading army, patrols are rather lax and infrequent. A garrison at Tigrosh is typically 25 heavily armed and very poorly motivated men led by a single Oshahni officer who is typically as unmotivated as his charges.
The eastern pyramid complex also has a contingent of Oshahni guarding it, but this group is smaller than its western counterpart and even less motivated. Usually only 12 to 15 Oshahni are stationed here for the three month duty, and patrols and sorties are even more infrequent. Days are typically spent drinking ale made the week before and then sleeping heavily in the warm humid nights to begin drinking again with the rising sun. This ancient complex is known as Pottokosh, which means "pony place" in Karni.
There are no towns or villages between Tigrosh and Pottokosh, and the journey between the two towns generally takes 7 to 8 days. There are established campsites that travellers along the road can utilize for rests and overnight stops, usually a solid day's travel between each site, but they are by no means secure sites. There are no buildings, walls or cellars to take refuge in in the event of an attack by predators or people. However, Oshahni do not travel the North Road. Garrison troops are brought to and from the encampments via the rivers, and never via the roads. The trip from the coast to Tigrosh takes five days and returns in four, while the trip from the coast to Pottokosh takes only two days and returns in only 30 hours.
Purpose / Function
The original purpose of the road (beyond connecting the ruins at Tigrosh with the ruins at Pottokosh) is as unknown as the identity of the builders. However, the construction technique and materials have lasted for at least 1,500 years and are still perfectly functional today. Relatively smooth, curbed to shed water, and amazingly resilient to abuse and weather.
Hazards & Traps
On the north-facing side of the Road, the wilderness of the Arak Coast is usually less than a mile from the road's centerline. The dangers of the wilderness cannot be over stated. Carnifex roam the region routinely, and are famously attracked to sounds and smells of even a single horse or pony. Arakan Tigers are also a very real danger, especially near the riverlands around Tigrosh (which actually means "plae of the tiger" in Karni).
Type
Road
Parent Location
Included Locations
Owning Organization
