Post/Author/DateTime	Post
thrinidel 08-11-07, 09:45 PM	I have a party in Melvaunt that wants to get to the Waterdeep... I'm exploring various options... As I see it, there are basically two options: overland via the The Black Road, or via ship down Moonsea and the Dragon Reach through the Sea of Fallen Stars to Westgate or Teziir, and thence by the Trader's Road to Iriaebor, overland to join up with the Trade Way at Scornubel. The latter sounds pretty convoluted, and rather out of the way... So I'm interested in more info on the Black Road. Other than a paragraph in FRCS and a sentence in Waterdeep City of Splendors, I've not found any more info. The fact that it's contolled (as much as possible given the nature of Anauroch) by the Zhentarim suggests some adventure is to be had in traversing it. Would the Zhents be actively hostile to non Zhentarim travelers? Would they require tolls? Any advice? Any other options someone can suggest? Thanks in advance...
dragonheart 08-13-07, 11:57 AM	At best the Black road is a chancy way. You have to deal with the Zhentarim who probably don't want nonzhents learning the route and potentially taking it over once they know "the lay of the land". You would also have to deal with the Shades who may or maynot have a deal with the Zhents (given the storyline in Shadowdale I strongly suspect they do have). but you also have yoru PCs running the risk of hiving their minds taken over by surviving Phaerimm. Once they get accross they still have to get from the edge of Anaouroch to Waterdeep through some pretty trecherous territory (Greypeak MTns, High moor, southern high Forest, Valley of the Delimbyr, Fallen Lands, Lonely Moor, etc.). AN alternative overland route would take them across the Moonsea to Hillsfar then down the Dale roads to Cormyr then along the trade road to Ireabor. From there overland to Scornubel and then north along the trade road to Waterdeep. Not the easist route but fairly safe. They could make a living out of the trip by hiring on as caravan guards fairly easily. It would only take them about 255 days gave or take a month or two :D (its only a bit over 2000 miles) If they have gold or magic the real way to do it is to hire a mage to cast a group teleport and do the whole thing in a few minutes.
thrinidel 08-13-07, 01:48 PM	At best the Black road is a chancy way. (snip) Wow, thanks for the in-depth response! Where are you finding this wealth of info? Are there other sources for details on Faerun other than the WotC products? If they have gold or magic the real way to do it is to hire a mage to cast a group teleport and do the whole thing in a few minutes. Well yes, but I'm trying to make the trip into an adventure in an of itself. Zipping to Waterdeep in the blink of an eye kinda cheapens the journey... Thanks again!
dragonheart 08-14-07, 11:59 AM	there are no canon sources other than WotC and the replys from Ed Greenwood on Candle Keep. Effectively there is little or no information on the blackroad. It seems like it was at least temporarily disrupted before the return of the archwizard's series by the actions in the novel Parched Sea. However, that was sveral years ago (game time & real time) and with the return of the archwizards, the Zhent-Elven war over Myth Drannor and the alliance between the Zhents and shaarians described in SHadowdale: Scouring of the Land it seems reasonable to me that the Zhents and SHade have rigged a deal to re-establish the road for their own uses. However I have a hard tiime believing the Zhents would allow anyone not in their employ to take the road at this time - so it is probably out. (or a more than slightly adventurous route across Faerun.) It would however make for a great campaign - having the PCs trying to shatter the black road, end the Zhentish trade, breakup the shade-Zhentarim alliance and perhaps create a trade coster using the route themselves. Maybe have them "persuaded" by some of the remaining Phaerimm and have them add the Phaerimm in bringing down shade as the enter epic levels as a conclusion to the story arc. :D SHort of that sort of line I think your PCs are going to be going overland or by sea. the 3 basic routes they have available are: 1. Moonsea - Dragonreach -Sea of Fallen Stars - Dragonmere - Trader's Road - Overland - Trade Way. 2. Moonsea - Hillsfar/Zhentil Keep - Moonsea Ride - Stonelands - Farsea MArshes - Marsh of Tun - Sunrise Moutains - Far Hills - Reaching Wood - The Trade Way ( or overland from the west side of the Farsea Marshes to the Trade Way running north of th Sunrise Mtns in which case they would be passing or going through the Well of Dragons, Battle of Bones, Hill of Lost Souls, Marshes of Chelimber, Forest of Wyrms & Serpent Hills and the High Moor). 3. Moonsea - Hillsfar/Zhentil Keep - Moonsea Ride (or Moonsea - Dragonreach - Harrowdale/Scardale - Sembia) - Cormyr - Proskur - Ireabor - overland to Scornubel/Elturel (Via the Reaching Wood or Berdusk) and then Up the Trade Way to Waterdeep. ANy of the 3(+) routes is going to take you about 9-12 months minimum and be filled with adventures. A good novel to read to get a feel for waht such a trip would be like as far as adventuring goes I can reccomend Louis Lamour's (yeah the western writer) Book The Walking Drum - it is set in Europe and the Middle east in about 1050 AD and follows the hero from Brittainy to Spain via Ship then around spain and then north as a member of a trade caravan to France, Germany, Russia and COnstantinople then on his own again south to Alamut and Persia and ends as he is heading from Southern Persia to India. - A ton of great ideas along the way.
MarkHall 08-14-07, 12:39 PM	I suppose hiring a wizard to teleport them is out of the question?
dragonheart 08-14-07, 12:55 PM	Well yes, but I'm trying to make the trip into an adventure in an of itself. Zipping to Waterdeep in the blink of an eye kinda cheapens the journey... yeah pretty much - he wants them to go overland some way - and adventure as they go - the question is which way :P I suppose if adventure is really the goal they could always go east across the endless wastes, pass through Karatur across the ocean it borders on to Maztica/ANchrome - cross it and take ship across the trackless Sea to waterdeep as well :schemes: :hides: :pint:
thrinidel 08-18-07, 10:53 PM	Thanks again for the awesome elucidation, dragonheart!