Until Blackstone Chapel (twenty miles into the South Downs), the road is passable without much trouble, and suitable for carts and wagons, excepting a few trouble spots. However, within five miles the road after the chapel has disappeared completely except for almost unnoticable traces. The rangers were able to follow those traces without too many problems. Eighty miles beyond Blackstone Chapel the traces lead into a medium-sized valley, about 1 mile long and a quarter to half a mile wide. The far end of the valley forks, dividing east and south. Streams run down each of the forks into the center of the valley where there is a large pond. A large stream empties this pool and runs out of the valley through the end the party entered the valley (the northwest end). Beside the pool is a ruin, little more than foundation outlines and a pile of stones.
The party took the east fork and traveled about fifteen miles until they came to a tree surrounded by wolves. In the tree was perched a three foot tall near-human (of an unknown race), which the party rescued. It turned out he was the chief of a tribe, and in gratitude he invited them back to his home cave for a feast. The party agreed, and accompanied them to the cave (were there were two hundred or so little people), where they were served fine food and and absolutely the best ale they had ever tasted. However, after most of the party had nodded off they were attacked by the Little People. The party bravely fought off the attack and managed to escape the cave complex, capturing the chief along the way. The chief was killed during the escape, but one of the party, Bere (pronounced bear), carried the body along and after reaching a safe place he cut out the heart of the chief and ate it. It made him sick for several days.
They travelled about fifteen more miles and came to a deep, swift, and fairly wide mountain streem that they found uncrossable. In the middle of the stream is a large rock which looks as if it may have at one time supported a bridge. This stream is also inhabited by a large monster, which the party glimpsed only briefly. Though they did explore upstream several miles, they did not find any better places to cross, so they returned to the fork in the valley and took the south branch.
Following the south branch, they were surrounded by a tribe of humans with stone and bronze weapons. The party managed to convince the tribesmen that the party was not hostile, and became somewhat friendly with them. These tribesmen mentioned that there were several tribes in the mountains, and that all the others were hostile. They were greatly curious about the iron weapons of the party members, for iron weapons were only legends to them.
About twenty miles from the fork the party came to cliff-face. Only a rough footpath (not sufficient for pack animals, but adequate for careful climbers) is left on the cliff-face itself. While they were climbing the footpath, they came abreast of a cave mouth, in which appeared a mad-looking old man yelling “Who are you?” This hermit promptly fell out of the cave mouth, yelling “Now what is that spell…” A little while later he came climbing bck up to them, covered in white feathers. He tagged along with the party after that. He did not know the mountains, answering the party's questions in that direction with “Haven't the foggiest! I've never been here before in my life!” He did help them a couple of times by lighting the evening fire with a Fireball spell, though. After the clif-face they descended through the mountains for twenty miles until they reached the Vale of Morin.
When the party crossed the Vale of Morin they were accosted by Ghosts twice; both times they were asked if they were working to establish a trade route, the ghosts saying “we were promised this so our souls could rest.” The party replied that they were surveying for the trade route.
When the party reached Korsepolis they found that, although the humanoids were not having one of their frequent wars in the ruins, there were many of them in the surrounding mountains, and in the city itself. The ruins of Korsepolis are nestled in the mouth of a valley, through which runs the road into the Mountain Wall. The ruins completely fill the mouth of the valley, and a a half a mile wide or more. In the center of the city is an area that has been cleared of ruins and leveled by the humanoids. They piled the stones around the cleared area, making a circular mound around it, and many are living in it (about 150 to 200). Other than the watch around the central area, the humanoids do not seem to keep careful watch on the city, patrolling only once every three or four days or so. In the city there are ruins of what must have once been a small fort which could be rebuilt relatively easily. It seems to be newer than the rest of the ruins, and was built using rubble frmo the city. There are also two towers of the same sort in different areas of the city that could be rebuilt. The humanoids seem to avoid these areas for some reason, not coming close to them on their patrols through the city. After observing the city for a while BAMF sneaked through undetected and continued to the Watchtower.
When BAMF reached the Watchtower they found twenty-five Auhaami camped around there. The Watchtower itself seemed in good shape, and had not been entered. The Auhaami asked who the party was and what it was doing, and when told it was working for the explorers who came through several months ago three Auhaami decided to accompany them back to Seagate with a message.
On the way back through Korsepolis the party ran into a small group of orcs, which they managed to destroy. They left the city hurriedly before any other orcs found them.
On the return leg of the journey the party was attacked by Horse Nomads and several people were severely injured. While the old hermit held off the nomads with an odd assortment of spells the party retreated into the Thronewood, where they were found by an old woman. The old woman and the old man healed the injured party members, while arguing constantly over everything while they were together.
When the party reached the Brastor Holding the old man left them. The rest of the trip was relatively uneventful, except for several short battles with bandits along the roads in the Atrusian Hills.
The total time for the journey was 83 days, but the rangers estimate that travel time through the South Downs and the East Bounders would be fifteen to sixteen days.