Kiern Vale Handbook

Chapter 3: Life in Kiern Vale

Travels and Transportation in Kiern Vale

During the imperial era, travelers – mainly those from high rank or in imperial service – had a variety of transportation means at their disposal. Those means ranged from horse exchange stations, well-built, enhanced ships, and even magical forms of travel, such as magical portals between different temples of the same Celestial Reflections, located in different parts of the empire. In contrast, in the contemporary Kiern Vale, means of travel are much more limited and basic. They mostly consist of carts pulled by slow mules, rafts sailing on the Kierna river and other waterways, and of course – walking on foot.

Times of travel

A horseback journey at a regular pace, crossing the entire vale from the icy steps descending from Karansil ridge in the east to the ruined entrance of the underground road of Telmora’s ravine in the west, or Gren-A-Drum fortress in the north-west – takes between ten to twelve days. For a person traveling on foot, the journey could be significantly longer, taking at least double the time. Sailing on the Kierna from the waterfalls in the east to Gren-A-Drum in the north-west, might take seven to ten days – depending on the season and whether one travels downstream (from east to west) or vice versa.

Are the roads safe?

Traveling the main roads was until recently still considered relatively safe and feasible even for a lone traveler carrying goods or wandering afoot. At least in most seasons.

Unfortunately, the situation has gone from bad to worse in recent years, and perilous encounters and outright attacks have become more frequent.

One of the most dangerous stretches of the main imperial road crossing the vale, is the segment of the road passing between Lake Relarn and the lands of Lord Anzarion in the central part of the vale. The reason is that both the imperial road and the Kierna river pass close to the deserted and plague-stricken mushroom forest “Three mills”, rumored to be inhabited by dangerous creatures, possibly even some groups of men-eating, deformed humanoids known as Pur’rati.

Other roads which are considered passable, though dangers lurk along them as well (especially outlaws or rogue sell-swords) include some parts of the Vyrth pass which connects the vale to Vartharon forest to south, and the parts of the mountain roads to the east which lie outside the purview of Lord Kor-Om’thel’s guard. Those cold mountain roads are never entirely safe, but in winter they become a life-threatening danger – not only due to encounters with rocklings and hungry packs of savage snow wolves, but primarily because of the extreme weather conditions.

Joining a group of caravans with armed escort, though more expensive, may prove worthwhile. There are several regular convoys, both of merchants and of some nobles, which are a well-known sight in the vale, making their way to and from the gates of En’mirlor, which travelers can always join for a certain fee.

Horses and other means of travel

Exceptional and rapid horses, of the breeds and quality that once served the imperial messengers, have become extremely rare and expensive. Most of the highborn breeds used in the western part of the empire, were bred in the central regions of Orm’theril, such as the Westwold, which has recently become a desolate and cursed land. Nowadays, only few farms still breed such magnificent steeds, and even lesser fast riding horses or warhorses.

More outlandish means of travel, like the griffins of the Mistweavers, not to mention the magical portal of the En’mirian temples, have become nothing more than a legend from distant days.

The Tale of the Prefect’s Griffin

Legends about the Mistweavers kingdom tell of magnificent griffin mounts of the knights sworn to the Queen of Light. Those stories even recount their battles against the fire-breathing dragon hawks used by their sworn enemies – the Ral’krilg.

The only known riding griffin in Kiern Vale was a creature with deep blue feathers, that belonged to prefect Los’tirn and his half-Mistweaver wife.

On the night when the prefect and his family were murdered, 45 years ago, it is said the griffin sensed danger, then fought fiercely, but the assassins were numerous and too skilled. After suffering severe injuries, and covered with blood, the griffin was forced to flee, screeching in anger and grief.

It is unclear what became of its fate and whether it succumbed to its injuries. However, mountain hunters living in the ridges north of Kiern Vale, claimed to occasionally hear distant, echoing screeches coming from the high peaks – suggesting that the creature or its descendants adapted to wild life, establishing a lair in a remote and nearly inaccessible location for those without wings.

It is rumored that Lord Avaril was arrogant enough to send two expeditions to try to obtain a griffin egg or hatchling, hoping to acquire a magnificent flying mount for himself. These attempts ended in utter failure, and one of the expeditions was caught in a sudden storm, resulting in the death of all or most of its members.

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