A great forest runs north to south much of which acts as a border between the coastal kingdoms and the empire of the sun. Rumours that the forest is haunted, plagued by goblins, spiders or woodfolk are always leveled at it. Woodsmen steer clear of it'd depths and nobody can say of anyone who ever returned after venturing into it's interior.
The forest would cause anyone wishing to travel between the north and east to the south and west a huge inconvenience, adding months onto the journey time was it not for the Old Road that runs through it, linking east with west. The Old Road is not for the faint-hearted though, as it plunges straight into the deepest parts of the forest and travellers report of strange goings on and even attacks from monstrous forest beasts and unseen foes.
The road has been there for as long as records of the region can be found. It is a single lane track, never overgrown or muddy and it avoids all but the most minor hillocks and dells. All along the route are way stones, ancient and carved into the shape of forest creature both renown and unknown. The 3ft tall stones appear neither weathered or new and are placed about a fifty paces apart. In several places the road descends underground briefly, for no more than three or four hundred paces and an eerie luminescent green moss coats the ceilings of the tunnels.
Experienced travellers sleep on the road itself, and the journey across is a week on foot. Guards should be posted and it is best to flee any attacks that might occur, as the fauna seem reluctant to travel along the road themselves. Some say that lone travellers are blessed by ancient spirit and need never fear the inhabitants of forest. Unfortunately robbers do sometimes pray on less guarded merchants and individuals.
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