In Genin's Footsteps

By Julian Verdreth, 715 TR, a caravan guard for several years going back and forth on the trail.

Those traveling south along the Genin Trail rarely use the water route. It is certainly possible to float downriver on the Kald from Tashal to Two Rivers and up the Nephen a couple of leagues to Ternua. This would make better time than the overland route, but both horses and oxen tend to be uncomfortable and accidents have happened. Besides, the fairly short trip – some have made it in a single long day – offers a chance to make sure caravan staff members are in the most appropriate assignments.

As a result, the preferred route has become Tashal down the Ternua Road to Nustane, a distance of about a half-league. Nustane is a fair town, about a hundred and fifty people, and the land is wondrously rich. The Bailiff of Nustane has worked hard indeed to maintain such fertile land, and much of the crops are prized by the King himself.

From Nustane, the road (unpaved, alas) continues to Bilo, a distance of just over a league. Bilo is a quiet place, near two hundred people that are hardworking and pleasant, with fertile fields and an interest in caravans.

Bilo to Zutlin is a bit over a league and a half. The land here has been worked for many generations, but still holds up well, consistently reaping good harvests when the weather permits. There are a bit over two hundred people in Zutlin, and an inn that I recommend if weather forces an early camp. The Weary Traveler is near to Zutlin keep and therefore has access to a good-sized commons. Travelers may expect to pay a half-toll for the privilege of camping on the Lord’s grounds, but the easy access to good water and the excellent greensward provide fair value.

Zutlin to Hask is a bit over a league. Hask is a smallish place, held by the reeve in trust to Zutlin, and promises to become a prosperous estate soon. When last I came through, Hask was still recovering from the depredations of boar out of the woods just to the west. In a few years, they should be able to raise enough money to rebuild the wooden keep in stone.

From Hask to the Temple of Peoni at Erone is a good three miles. Travelers may expect the usual warm reception, but should be forewarned that this is a retreat of the all-female Order of the Balm of Joy. Overnight guests are not normally permitted within the estate boundaries, and I have personally had to remind those with little self-control that the Order is one of peace and healing and good works – not a brothel. I suspect that the Order has means to mount an adequate defense, should one be needed to defend their own. Outside the walls there is a fair village, well-tended and quite faithful to Peoni. Several hundred people live there, largely serfs – tenants to the Temple. Even if the Order itself does not take up arms in its’ defense, I am confident the villagers will. The inn at Erone has consistently served good ale and excellent bread, but rarely serves red meat. Fish from the local stream can often be found, though. The fields through here seem to benefit from Peoni’s presence and Erone rarely has a poor harvest.

From Erone to the Hundred Moot at Ulben is a bit over a league. About a hundred and fifty people live there, working in the fields. Ulben has a reputation for growing excellent rye, often trading with surrounding villages. If I can get a decently early start out of Tashal, it usually isn’t too hard to make Ulben by late afternoon.

From Ulben to Abbel is about two miles. Owing fealty to Ternua, Abbel is home to about a hundred and seventy-five people. It is a smallish crossroads by a year-round stream. Woods to either side and a fair wooded hillside make for a pleasant sight, but the place is not particularly worthy of remark. It does have a nicely-built stone keep and a good commons. Since it is only about a long mile from Ternua, it is often used by travelers who wish to move through Ternua, cross the bridge, and keep going with little pause. Indeed, I have done so myself and recommend the practice if Lord Verdreth is in the mood to dally with caravan women.

Ternua, of course, sits hard beside the southern bridge across the Nephen. Ternua Bridge is a solid structure of heavy timbers, but fairly recent. It’s been rebuilt several times: I hear the first bridge goes back five hundred years or more. Whether going north or south, I try to stop just long enough to pay toll and move on through. The town around the keep is a bit close to the Baron for my taste, and the women of South Ternua have seen too many miles.

Bendaled is only about a mile and a half further, and the tavern has good ale. It is also officially part of Thelshire, where Ternua is part of Semethshire, just like the whole route up to Tashal. If you’re being pursued by the law, being on the opposite side of the Shire border can be a damn good feeling.

It’s about 8 miles from Bendaled to Claydon, through fields and windbreaks. There aren’t any woods along that section of the route; it’s too fertile to remain uncultivated. Claydon’s a small place, only a hundred people or so. The stream is easy enough to ford at several places, and may run dry in the fall.

I recommend making camp at Wylain a couple miles further. It’s a chapter house for the Order of the Lady of Paladins, with a sizable village around it. They have extensive fields, a decent inn, and it would be difficult to imagine better security than dozens of Laranian knights in the area. The Knight-Commander there has been a decent enough sort on my trips. The view from the top of their fine stone keep is pretty impressive.

From Wylain it’s about a league to Ledyne. That’s a Laranian abbey for the Spear of Shattered Sorrow; they sponsor the Order of the Lady of Paladins but try to remain somewhat less worldly in their affairs. Ledyne is often a fairly quiet place, but generally accommodating to well-intentioned travelers. The stream just south of Ledyne rarely runs more than a couple of feet deep and can be crossed without too much trouble. Over the years, a double row of large flat stones has been laid across the ford to make the crossing easier; beware of the gaps between the stones – needed to let the water through.

A couple miles down the road from Ledyne is Varlin. The village folk are friendly enough, but the bailiff there is unfriendly indeed. I do not recommend tarrying; the bailiff’s men may try to extract toll fees. Less than a mile further is the tiny village of Ravelin, fairly new and struggling to grow. It is still run by the village reeve, who reports frequently to Lord Larquste of Eliten. The stream hard by the village runs faster and deeper here than downstream at Ledyne. I have asked about this, and am told that sandy soil north of Varlin soaks up much of the water.

Two miles further is Eliten. It is one of the wealthiest fiefs in Kaldor, and produces some of the best nuts and berries. Many bushels of Eliten fruit are sold in Tashal every season. Many caravans stop here for a day to trade and to relax at the Smiling Boar Inn. The food is excellent, the pies are justly renowned, and the beds surprisingly comfortable. Lord Larquste is one of the wealthiest knights in Kaldor, and his military force is formidable; it is a good thing that he is friendly to travelers. There is a limit to his friendliness, however; because Eliten is at the crossroads going to Qualdris and to Sirendel, there is a royal tollhouse. As is usual, Lord Larquste is allowed to keep a portion of the proceeds as his fee for administering the tollhouse. Fortunately, only the standard toll is charged and the guards are fair.

Lord Larquste has a reputation for fairness and is well-loved by his people; he plays the game of court politics well, and seems to have many influential friends and few enemies.

Although it is common for caravans to tarry here, I prefer to travel and prefer to overnight in Chantal, a long league down the road. About halfway to Chantal is the small village of Zarbizan, a bare fifty people overseen by a reeve reporting to Larquste’s bailiff at Satel. I count it of little moment now, but in a generation or two I expect it to grow nicely.

Chantal is a fair place, a hundred people or so and good forage near a cheery stream. However, for me the attraction of Chantal – and the reason I tend to overnight there – is that it is the last village on the way to Qualdris. Staying overnight at Eliten only means another league to travel the next day, and from Chantal to Qualdris is already a full five leagues through hills and woods.

The trail through the rocky hills is several leagues long. It can be trying enough on a short day, and bandits have been seen often enough that I suggest keeping a keen eye on the surroundings and an arrow loosely nocked. About halfway there to Qualdris, a short detour to the south – a few hundred paces – brings you to a stretch of stream that I recommend on a hot day. The way is well-marked, and is the dividing line between Thelshire and the Oselshire.

Most travelers are very happy to get near Qualdris and see the cultivated fields to either side of the road. So close to the city, the bandits do not dare trouble travelers, for Lord Meleken deals with them promptly and harshly.

Qualdris itself is a bustling city of six hundred or so with a fine stone keep and lords who have been gentle both to the land and their people, but are always prepared to defend either. Caer Qualdris is a long, boat-shaped affair on a hill, surrounded on three sides by the city. A good arrow-shot away to the south-east, is the local miller and the crossing over the Siloryne River. Immediately north of the crossing the Valganra River joins the Siloryne.

When in Qualdris, I suggest staying with the Pig and Whistle or the Genin’s Rest. The Pig and Whistle is certainly the busiest of the inns, and the food is always superb. Quality is excellent, but the prices are also high. I personally tend to stay at the Genin’s Rest; the prices are far more reasonable, although the food is not as good. The building is over 300 years old, and in need of work, so I like to contribute to the cause. Either place has a good commons, right by the inn and fenced. The Genin’s Rest is hard by the keep; the Pig and Whistle is on the far side of town from the keep and right next to the spacious western commons.

If you have any business in town, I recommend staying a day and trading. Kobing is about a third the size of Qualdris.

Take the Genin trail (hereabouts, it’s called the Kobing Road) to the south-east out of town, across the river. Water for the animals should not be a problem for awhile; the trail runs near to the Valganra River for nearly a league.

Barely a mile out of Qualdris is Hylesim. It’s the local hundred moot, with a population of a hundred or so. Quiet place, and a minor crossroads. No inn, and the tavern could stand a better ale.

Less than a mile further is Brinel. In another thirty years Brinel will either be well-established or empty. There are less than fifty people there now, with a wooden keep for the reeve. The village owes fealty to the bailiff at Hylesim, which says much about the significance of Brinel.

Just over a mile beyond is Lence, another small keep struggling to survive. The local reeve oversees the place and reports to the bailiff at Khaen, a mile to the east.

About a league further is Bertine, a decent place, well-established but only a hundred fifty people or so. Last time I was there the local lord made me pay a toll for passage, but the place is a crossroads.

About a mile beyond Bertine is Hilgere, a hundred people farming their hearts out with woods on either side. If travel has been hard or you are interested in stopping early, this is a place to consider. There is no inn, but the tavern does fair business and there is a good-sized commons.

A mile further is the hamlet of Vinfel, another tiny place trying to stay in existence with about fifty people, a reeve and a wooden keep.

Another mile beyond that is the hundred moot of Torret, a hundred fifty people and rocky soil.

After another half-league of travel, you will get to Riana, where the road makes a sharp bend to the south. It’s a minor crossroads, with about a hundred people and a reeve, but they have weathered the past few years well and the foundation has been laid for a stone keep. That suggests that their lords at Nebulan have gained confidence. The reeve was an older man when last I chatted with him, but seemed very knowledgeable.

A mile or so south of Riana is Nebulan itself. I recommend this as a place to spend the night. It’s about halfway between Qualdris and Kobing, and a chapter-house for the Order of the Lady of Paladins. They are sponsored by the clergy at Fancet, less than a league away. Just as at Wylain, travelers should feel reasonable safe there amongst all the Laranian knights. There may be fewer knights in the immediate area, as the Pagaelin have a tendency to occupy the extensive woods to the south-west, but the commons area is large and easily defended. The woods are cleared back well outside of arrow-shot. Nebulan village isn’t much more than a hundred people, but the inn there has good food and better ale.

After passing the clergy at Fancet, the traveler won’t see much but fields and light woods until Qualire, nearly a league further. It’s a pretty typical village held by a bailiff, keeping affairs in order for about a hundred and fifty people. It sits right on the south bank of a fair stream with good fishing. The best fishing spots are easily guarded from the keep, so be sure to get permission first lest you find warning arrows hitting the ground around you.

After Qualire, it’s a fair stretch – nearly three leagues to Inderen. Not far outside Qualire you have to cut through a range of hills that can be treacherous after a hard rain. I have several times had to stop to clear mud and debris from the road. It would not be a good place to be attacked; the cut through the hills is pretty rugged and there is a lot of ground cover between the trees. Keep your arms right at hand and be prepared to waste a few arrows shooting at unseen disturbances. The sheriff says there aren’t bandits, but I’ve lost 2 men and three horses to somebody up in those hills with good aim. Never did see anyone, though.

Inderen is a nice place, though. Right on the south back of a small river, a friendly lord who welcomes caravans, a couple hundred people all interested in your wares.

A mile after Inderen is Brium, the last tiny hamlet on the way to Kobing. If there’s fifty people there I’d be surprised, but the place looks like it’s doing tolerably well. Only a wooden keep and a reeve, though.

That route will get you to Kobing. Kobing itself is only a couple hundred people, but very much the local center of civilization and a common resupply point for caravans in both directions.

Lord Orsin Firith is a very active Lord, keeping a hand in many local matters. However, he is caught in something of a political trap. In addition to being the Lord of Kobing, he is the Lord Marshal of the Oselmarch, which requires him to patrol the Genin Trail between Kobing and the Oselbridge – deep in Pagaelin territory. He has repeatedly asked the king for permission to build a crenellated keep right at the bridge, so as to be able to better protect travelers (and his men). Thus far, his requests have been denied; he seems to believe that this was because of the influence of the merchant guilds. They want to maintain trade with the Pagaelin, and – understandably – feel that a fortified keep in disputed land would give the Pagaelin tribes reason to begin a sustained general attack.

An unstated but very important point is that the mere presence of the keep would give Lord Firith the power to tax travelers for military protection and maintenance of the keep. It’s another point the merchants aren’t happy about.

I suspect that it is because of this conflict that he tends to react quite poorly to traveling merchants. In general, Lord Firith has a reputation for decisions that are rather firm but fair. Still, his support for the Crown seems to be fading.

Just 2 or 3 arrow-shots beyond Kobing lies Mornisar, a small village headed by a bailiff. It says much that within a league of Kobing as you head south between the hills on the Trail, there are two villages with stone keeps and one (Tabral) with a wooden keep. Although Kobing is often regarded as “the last outpost of civilization in southern Kaldor”, that honor should really belong to Varden, a league from Kobing and barely a hundred people.

From Kobing to Oselbridge is about 13 dangerous leagues through Pagaelin territory. The easy part is over.

The actual crossing of the Osel River is merely a matter of paying the toll and walking across a bridge forty yards long. As an event, it is negligible. As a symbol, it is potent. The land north of the Osel can be claimed reasonably well controlled by the Army of the Oselmarch, under Lord Firith. To the south of the Osel is land over which Kaldor has only the most tenuous control.

It is no exaggeration to say that between Varden and Oselbridge lies land over which Kaldor and the Pagaelin constantly fight, but that between Oselbridge and Meldun manor in Chybisa is simply Pagaelin land.

Therefore, proceed with caution and be as ghosts upon the land. Do not permit the scouts and watchers to become unobservant; rotate them frequently. Keep a cold camp as often as possible. When you need to make a fire to cook, do so before Nolomar sets, when it will attract less attention. Be always mindful of smoke; setting a small fire of very dry wood under an overhanging dense branch will scatter the smoke and make it far harder to detect.

Place a low screen of brush around the camp, and keep the camp as small as possible. The screening around and above the fire will make it harder to detect.

Dig your latrines close to the camp and do not screen them; the loss of privacy is of consequence when compared to the loss of field of view, and the possible loss of life. If women are along, try to dig the pit deeper and provide only a chest-high screen of brush or fabric; this will provide them with necessary privacy and yet not impair the watchers’ view much.

When the camp beds down, use extra blankets for warmth, and lay them upon a thick layer of dry leaves. This will keep the sleeper much warmer than lying upon the ground. Since all will be warmer, keep the fire as small as possible to reduce light and the smell of fire.

Detail a rotating watch to stay up with the animals, and pay attention to them. They will need to be just beyond the firelight, but keep them close. Many a caravan has been slowed because one or two horses were stolen during the night, or an ox killed by a silent dagger across the throat. Remember that the animals themselves will be your best sentries; if the horses are nervous, something is nearby

Keep all your sounds as low as possible. Children are not a benefit in such ways; their high-pitched voices carry a long ways and are easily distinguished from the natural sounds of the area. To a lesser extent, the same is often true of the voices of women. Men’s lower tones and the usual sounds of the animals will carry a long distance, particularly at night, but more readily blend with the sounds of the wildlife.

When moving, your sentries should be no further away than you can see them, unless they are on a specific task. If they are out of your sight, know how long they should be gone – and if they are gone longer than that, get into a defensive posture fast. Better to take the time to do this a few times and lose mileage, than to fail to do it and lose lives.

It may be necessary to remind people that there ARE no false alarms when crossing Pagaelin land, only alarms raised before the crisis is truly upon you.

Of course, passengers who knowingly raise alarms that are truly false can, with much justice, be bound and gagged – and left behind. As one who has made this trip more than once, I can say with confidence that such a sentence is richly deserved, and will be met with approval by many caravanmasters to whom you tell the tale.

Bear the above cautions in mind as soon as your party crosses the Oselbridge. If you have a chance to meet with the Macullok in peace – perhaps at the trading post itself – ask them where the other tribes are, and how much risk you will be amidst at different places along the way. They will expect payment for such valuable information; be free with your money and goods, but not too free. Grunda, the merchant, might be persuaded to conduct such negotiations for you.

It is sometimes possible to hire a few Pagaelin warriors to come with you as native scouts, but this is not always a wise policy; they might betray your caravan to their own tribe. Rest assured they will NOT betray you to other tribes, as that would reduce their standing among their own people.

South of the Osel, woodlands are sparser and fewer. The entire area receives as much rainfall, but seems drier because the water soaks deep into the ground more readily. As a result, dust is more readily raised, surface water can be more difficult to find, and so forth. Whenever you find good water, refill your water barrels.

Make the best time you can. After leaving the bridge, the trail runs south by west for several leagues, then turns more sharply south as it follows a series of flat valleys. The way is slightly uphill, although few people could tell it; much of the Lower Osel drains north into the river. Just about five leagues south of the Oselbridge, the trail turns to the south to follow another series of valleys.

In most of these valleys, the ridgeline is not more than a couple hundred feet above the valley floor, and the valley itself may be a half-mile wide. The terrain is largely soil, with the occasional outcropping of sandstone and limestone. I am told that rich deposits of clay may be found throughout the area, but I leave mining such deposits to others.

This is the way the trail will seem from the Oselbridge most of the way to Chybisa. It runs roughly south for about ten leagues, then turns to the south-east. From here, the valleys run nearly as straight as a sword cut to Meldun, twenty-five leagues away.

On a good trip, we encountered the Pagaelin only three times by outrunning them whenever we saw sign they were in the area. On a bad trip, not a day went by that we didn’t have to deal with them in some fashion.

One of the signs that the trip is coming to an end is sighting the Ulmerien Forest, to the west of urban Chybisa. This wide, dense section of woodland means the end of the sparse hills and the end of looking for water. It also means that only about 8 leagues remain of the trip. About the time the trail comes out of the hills and gives a view of the Ulmerien Forest, the trail runs next to a series of streams. For the rest of the trip, water will not be a problem. In the years since I stopped making the Genin run, I have heard that there are sometimes troops assisting travelers along this portion of the trail.

About 2 leagues from Meldun, the trail runs right through the forest. This is a fairly dark stretch, with some unnerving sounds from the wildlife, but I have not yet been attacked by the Pagaelin while within the forest. It is a spooky place, and probably awakens superstitious fear within the barbarians.

Meldun manor will be visible right after leaving the forest, and the road improves beyond that. Meldun lies where two streams join. There is a simple ford through a small stream to get to the Hearthfire Inn, and a wooden bridge over the other stream to connect the Hearthfire’s commons to the rest of the village and the trail south.

Many people choose to stay for a day or two at Meldun, resting at the inn and resupplying. This ends the dangerous portion of the trip. Sir Ernald Kasing, bailiff of Meldun, is a stern man but fair. The village around the manor holds about a hundred and seventy people, nearly all serfs. The place is doing tolerably well, and the crops have the usual high yield that one expects of Chybisa.

Avoid Mad Dalya. Her tiny hut is close to the bridge across from the inn. She is generally regarded as a witch and terrifies many of the neighbors. It is likely that she would have been cast out of the village years ago, were it not for her extensive knowledge of healing herbs.

Once your nerves have recovered, the remainder of the trip is straight-forward. Beyond Meldun lies Docialon, a small hamlet of about a hundred. A mile or so further is Kynadin; smaller yet, but the beginning of an actual road rather than a track in the mud. A bare mile beyond Kynadin lies Caermel, a village of nearly two hundred and the seat of Baron Rythal, Lord of the last three villages and several others as well.

Past Caermel the road runs due south to Brigmer, hard on the north side of the Ulmerien River. Across the river lies Burzyn, the castle of the King of Chybisa. The bridge across the river is actually two spans that connect an inhabited island to the banks on both sides. A single toll is charged for the entire span.

Once you are in Burzyn, there are only two inns. The Blue Horse caters to wealthy merchants and travelers. The rooms are well-kept, the food is excellent, the master ostler friendly, and the prices are high. On the other hand, The Southron’s Rest is patronized by those with little money, and riff-raff. Hodiri tribesmen are often found here. Both establishments broker Hodiri horses.

I have stayed at both inns. My recommendation is to either stay at the Blue Horse, or remain on the caravan commons. Of course, if you wish to hear the local gossip, a low place such as the Rest is ideal – if you can handle the crowd.