Ascanor Lodge. The place is nice. It also has a lot of guests that don't nessecarily make for the best rangers and hunters. But what got me was the kitchen: describing all the imported and exotic wines, fancy meats, etc. It sounds like every night you eat like a king.
Which begs the question: where does all that come from?
It's imported, obviously.
Okay, so there's caravans that are heavily laden with all manner of fine foods coming in and out of the lodge once a month, and the werewolves are cool with this?
Basically, anything that allows all this wine and meat to be imported to Ascanor so easily, also makes the Shudderwood a tame place. My party hasn't gotten to Ascanor (I'm not running CC yet until a few more books are out), but I know this is the sort of thing that will break mood and disbelief for them. How do we explain the existance of Ascanor while still keeping Shudderwood scary?
And that doesn't account for normal predators either (ie ettercaps, dire wolves, and pumas).
Teleportation spells
Ascanor Lodge. The place is nice. It also has a lot of guests that don't nessecarily make for the best rangers and hunters. But what got me was the kitchen: describing all the imported and exotic wines, fancy meats, etc. It sounds like every night you eat like a king.
Which begs the question: where does all that come from?
It's imported, obviously.
Okay, so there's caravans that are heavily laden with all manner of fine foods coming in and out of the lodge once a month, and the werewolves are cool with this?
Basically, anything that allows all this wine and meat to be imported to Ascanor so easily, also makes the Shudderwood a tame place. My party hasn't gotten to Ascanor (I'm not running CC yet until a few more books are out), but I know this is the sort of thing that will break mood and disbelief for them. How do we explain the existance of Ascanor while still keeping Shudderwood scary?
** spoiler omitted **
Yeah..again...see ROADS (or the lack of them)
Ascanor Lodge. The place is nice. It also has a lot of guests that don't nessecarily make for the best rangers and hunters. But what got me was the kitchen: describing all the imported and exotic wines, fancy meats, etc. It sounds like every night you eat like a king.
Which begs the question: where does all that come from?
It's imported, obviously.
If you stick to the info Caravans up the Silent Path are out
MB Page 8
....an ancient and rarely used hunting trail that is one of the most direct and covert routes through the Shudderwood. Marked in places with strange bone fetishes, the trail runs several hundred miles through the forest, crossing both the Beustral and the Calscroix rivers, passing by Ascanor Lodge, and f inally ending at the town of Chastel on Lozeri’s southeastern border.
I think the best methode is by BOAT from Ardagh or Karcau up the Moutray River and then up the Calscroix rivers to the Lodge. The way down from Lepidstadt per boat isnt realy working as there are these Waterfalls @ Schloss Caromarc (Trial of the Beast)
I think the best methode is by BOAT from Ardagh or Karcau up the Moutray River and then up the Calscroix rivers to the Lodge. The way down from Lepidstadt per boat isnt realy working as there are these Waterfalls @ Schloss Caromarc (Trial of the Beast)
I agree with the boat bit. Werewolves would have a much harder time attacking a riverboat than a caravan after all. Rule of fear also implies that boats are the preferred method for guests to arrive, but no mention of supplies. It states that the servants are stuck there because "none can afford passage upon the guests' luxurious riverboats." I'd think any supply boats would be more affordable for the servants though.
As for the waterfalls, you could easily say that there is a nearby portage to bypass them. Lepidstadt is a prosperous city after all and the river would be be best way transport goods to and from the city. Even the maps of Lepidstadt imply commercial boat traffic and bypassing those falls is the only way to get to other major cities by water (well except for Courtaud). It makes economic sense for the city to accommodate river transport. Perhaps with a wagonway to move boats around the falls.
Of course there is still the issue of why the Silent Path is recommended instead of telling the PCs to take a boat.
Of course there is still the issue of why the Silent Path is recommended instead of telling the PCs to take a boat.
Keep in mind Ascanor lodge is not the PCs destination.
It's where the trail of the Whispering way goes cold.Which totally validates your point.
You answered your own question.
Caravans.
Big caravans, with guards, like caravans are supposed to have.
You might, as a werewolf, mess with the lone travelers, but is it really worth your trouble to go after an armed caravan?
This...
And the werewolves aren't exactly secret, and Ascanor Lodge seems to be a bit of a posh place, so ticking off the rich people who frequent it probably isn't that smart. And could result in retribution.
and This.
Also, the werewolves might not want to risk possible retribution from the local lord. There might be an unspoken accord so to speak.
Its not to say lesser-defended merchants will not get ambushed occasinally either. If you wander off the trail, it'll probably be a certainty. There are also multiple tribes, so patrols from these various tribes will probably not number enough (or be organized enough) to want to tangle with a well manned/defended caravan.
As far as random attacks on Ascanor people in the wild... If they risk hunting in the Shudderwood, they are fair game and understand the risks before going out into such a dangerous wood. "If you get caught, you are on your own" mentality probably works for both sides.
At least thats how I would explain it if I were running it.. :)
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Ascanor's pretty old as well, which means a lot of things just sort of collect there.
Lots of visitors with lots visitors with lots of money. Some of them arrive with a few cases of wine, just to put on a big show, drink half and leave the rest for the cellars.
Most of the guests come by riverboat, during the day, and often with a party that includes servants and men-at-arms.
I think Sunderstone's depiction is pretty accurate. The Shudderwood is dangerous (ask Echtmor Draavin), as are its wolves, however they're interested in an occasion meal, not a war.